The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-21

Further Particulars OF the Loss Of the Arctic.
HALIFAX, Oct. IL.
No advccs of the missing boats of the Arctic.
The following statement of Mr.. BALKAN, the Sc
cOnd officer has appeared:
On Wednesday, 18th, at noon. Cape Race
bearing northwest Is miles, while running in a
very thick fog, were struck on the starbo I'd
bow. about 60 feet abatt the cutwater by an iron
steamer, which made three large holes in the
ship. two below the water. one of which was
about five feet in length and one and q half in
breadth leaving the whole cutwater and stem
of the steamer clear through the Arctic.
So dense was the fog that the vessel could
not be seen minute before the collision. The
helm was put hard a-starboard, the engine was
stopped instantly and backed with full speed
until clear of the other steamer, which occupied
a couple of minutes. The French steamer ap-
pcarcd to be sinking. bow first. Capt. Luce
Immediately gave orders to clear away the
quarter-boats, which was done, and Mr. Goun-
~. chief officer left the Arctic in charge of the
starbOard boat.
In lowering the boat. the Captain exclaimed
Hoist up that boat again. Mr. BALKAN beckon-
ed him to go. when upon doing SO he told me
to 20 over the bow and ascertain what DANA re
had been done. | found the holes above men
toned. On informing him OF the fact, he gave
orders to get up sails, and try and get them SO
as to stop the leak. Every means was tried
but so much of the bow and iron was broken of
and 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 passtd
down to him to try if possible to force them in
but the leak was found to be so far below the
water that it could not be got to. and every ex-
crtiOn to stop the leak proved unavailing
Capt. Luce then ordered the ship's head to he
kept ahead, which bore n. W. by n. by this
time we had lost sight of the chief officer boat
and the other steamer, which we supposed had
sunk. We had not been on the course more
than four or five minutes before she ran over a
boat and crew belonging to the other vessel.
all of whom persisted with the exception of one
who caught hold of a rope hanging over the
bow. Directly the boat was and orders were
given to stop the engine, which the chief cnr;-
nccr said would not be done, as the shin was
fast sinking.
In about thirty minutes all the lower fires
were out, and at least three feet of water i'm the
ship fore and aft. BY this time the confusion
among the passengers was very great. but they
used all efforts to assist the crew in keepinr
the deck pumps going, and in lighting the shlD
fore and aft, for the purpose of getting at the
leak from the inside, which was found to be
useless. and numbers of them going into the
Doats, WHICH were sui hanging TO the darts.
In twenty-four minutes after the collision
came up from the forehead and Informed the
Captain that water was on leyel with the low
er deck, that it was impossible to get at the
leak. and then asked him what he thought
would be the fate of the ship: he stated to me
his belief that there was no hopes of saving her.
He then told me to see my boats on going to
those on the port side, found them completely
filed with men, women and children. No pos
sibilty of getting near them, l Immediately
went to the starboard side and ordered the crew
to cover the guard-boat and asked the Captain
what were his intentions he replied that the
ship fate should be his. ! then asked him if
he would not allow his son to GO, as intended