The North-Carolinian., 1854-10-21
FAYETTEVILLE, n c., SATURDAY, OCTOBER a. 1854
less OF THE STEAMER ARCTIC.
INTERESTING PARTICULARS

| Less OF THE STEAMER ARCTIC.
| INTERESTING PARTICULARS.
The following particulars of the loss of the
steamer Arctic, bound from Liverpool to New
ork, will be found interesting:
STATEMENT OF Mr. BALKAN, 2D OFFICER OF THE
ARCTIC.
On " Wednesday, 9th, at noon Cape Race
bearing n. w. 65 miles distant, while running
| IN thlck log, was struck on the starboard bow
4about 60 feet abaft of the cut-watcr, by an iron
steamer winch made three large holes in the
snip, two below the water, one of which was
about % feet in length and l J feet widc lett
ling the whole cut-water and stem of the iron
steamer clear through the Arctic's sides.
| The fog was SO deYse that the vessel could
mot be seen minute before the collision. The
| wheel was put hard q starboard, and the en-
ginc stopped, and instantly backed at full speed
until clear of the other steamer, which occupied
a couple Of minutes.
The propeller was believed to be French
vessel, and sinking Low first. Capt. Luce
| Immediately gave orders to clear away the
quarter boats, which being done Gomley, the
chief officer left the Arctic in charge of the
starboard boat.
On lowering the port boat the Captain ex-
claimed, ''hoist up that boat again, Mr. Balbam,"
| and beckoned me to go to him. Upon doing
so he ordered me to go over the steamer to as
certain if possible, what damage had been done
| then found the holes above mentioned Upon
informing him of the facts he gave orders to
get the sails up, and to try and get them around
| the bow to endeavor to stop the leak, which
promptly DONE but was Of no advantage what
ever much of the bow broken off from the
other steamer projecting, that the sails could
| not be brought close to the vessels side. The
carpenter was then lowered over the vessels side
and pillows and mattresses passed down to him
to try and force them in, but the leak was found
to be so far below the walcr-nc that they could
not be got in.
Every excrtion to stop the leak proved I'M
avaing, Captain Luce then ordered that the
ships head be kept for land, which bore \. w.
by w. BY this time had lost sight of the
chief officers boat and the other steamer, which
supposed to have sunk.
We had not been on our course more than
five minutes before we ran over boat and crew
belonging to the other vessel, all Of whom
perished, with the exception of one who caught
, hold of rope hanging over the bow. Directly
| the boat was seen, orders were given to stop
/ the engine, which the chief engineer said could
not be done, as the ship was fast sinking
| In about 80 minutes all the lower fires were
out and three feet water in the ship fore aud
| aft. BY this time the confusion among the
passengers very great, but they used all
efforts to assist the in keeping the deck
pumps going, and in lighting the ship for the
purpose Of cndcavoring to get at the leak from
| the inside. It was. however, found to be use
less, and numbers of them were going into the
boats, which were still hanging to the davts.
| Forty-fve minutes after the collision | ca me
up from the forelnold and informed the captain,
thai the water level with the lower
deck beams, and tina it impossible to get
at the leak then asked him what he though hit
would be the fate of the ship, when he stated
his belief that there was no hopes OF saving her
He then told me to to my boats.
| On rOnr n he hOatS on tho mort ciIo I
found them completely filled with men, women
and children and no possibility of getting near
them | Immediately went to the starboard
side and ordered two of the to lower the
guard boat, and asked the Captain what were
his intentions. He said that the ships fate
should be his l then asked him if he would
not allow his son to go. He returned Inc an
swer that he should share his fate.
1t was discovered that there no hope Of
saving the Arctic, and the lady, daughter and
son of E. K. Collins, with several ladies, were
put on board boat and in the act of lowering
it, one of the tackles gave way, and all, except
one lady, who clung to sailor who held fast
to the boat, were prccipitated into the sea
and lost.
then jumped into boat, and was ordered
by Capt. Luce to cut the tackle falls, and drop
under the stern. | did so, at the same time
about 20 persons jumped overheard. of whom
II or Is were picked up. We fell in will
another boat which had been lowered from the
other SIDE and lightened her of part of he1
complement, leaving her, and % in my boat
! The last sight had of the ship, her guard
were level with the water, and the surface o
the sea was strewn with human beings who hao
: jumped overheard, to whom it was impossible
t to render any assistance, and we soon lost sigh
of all, as the fog continued very dense.
; We were about GO miles S. F.. of Cape Race
and deeming it my duty to take the nearest
!: course for the safety of all, after pulling fort,
r hours with nothing to guide us but the run o
: the sea, which [ took to he heaving from th'
southwark, and in a thick fog, which lasted al
the time we reached Broad Cove. 2 miles nortt
: of Cape Race, and then proceeded by land t.
Renems, which we reached on Friday last
We there obtained, and ! took charge of
small schooner, which was hired and proceede
Immediately in .search of the wreck or boats
, | crused around in strong gale of wind fror
= northeast but discovered no trace of the sh
al or boats.
l sent word to Capt. Leitch Of the City G
r the City of Philadelphia steamer, acqualnte
o him with the catastrophe, and ] am informe
l. he sent off two vessels which he had engage
about his ship.
s. No trace of the Arctic or boats could be foune
;: : but as there were ma2y vessels in the neighbo
+ hood where the disaster occurred it is not
.; all improbable that many lives may have bee
e saved. No doubt however, is left in my min
y q as to the total loss of the Arctic
STATEMENT OF MR. BURNS