Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-10-28
THE ARCTIC CALAMITY.
CAPT. LUCE,s STATEMENT.

LIE AM liz CALl1Nl1 L L.
CAPT. LUCE,s STATEMENT.
QUEBEC, Oct. IA, ls54.-E. K. COLLINS
Dear Sir: 1t becomes my painful duty to in
form you of the total loss of the Arctic, un'
der my command, with your wife, son and
daughter.
The Arctic sailed from Liverpool on We'd
nesday, Sept. 30, attll A. NJ, with 233 pas.
sengers, and about $50 of q crew. Nothing
of special note occurred during the passage,
until Wednesday, Sept. 81, when, al noon, we
were on the Banks, in lat. 45.46 n, and long.
50 west, steering west by compass.
The weather had been foggy during the day;
generally a distance Of hall to three quarters
Of q lille could be seen, but at intervals Of q
few minutes a very dense fog, followed by be-
ing sufficiently clear to see one or two miles.
At noon ! left the deck for the purpose of
| working out the position of the ship. In about
fifteen minutes ! heard the cry of Hard Star.
board" from the officer Of the deck. ] rushed
on deck, and had just got ont when | felt a
crash forward, and at the same moment saw
q steamer under the starboard bow; at the next
nome she struck against our guards, and pass
| ed astern Of US. The bows Of the strange
vessel seemed to be literally cut or crushed off
for full ten feet; and seeing that she must pro-
badly sink in a few minutes, and taking a has
ty glance at our w ship, and believing that
we were comparatively uninjured, my first lm-
pulse was to endeavOr to save the lives OF those
on board the sinking vessel. The boats were
cleared, and the first officer and six men left
with one boat, when it was found our own
ship was leaking fearfully.
The engineers were set to work, being in
strpcted to put on the steam pumps, and the
four deck pumps were worked by the passen.
gers and crew, and the ship headed for the
land, which ! judged 10 be about fifty miles
distant. I was compelled to leave my boat
with the first officer and crew to take care of
themselves.
Several Intellectual attempts were made to
stop the leak by getting sails over the bows;
but finding the leak gaining on US very fast,
notwithstanding all our very powerful efforts
to keep her free, I resolved TO get the boats
ready, and NJ many ladies' and children placed
in them as possible; but no sooner had the at
tempt been made, than the frenen and others
rushed into them in spite Of opposition.
Seeing this state Of things, ! ordered the
kell4 ssaefn, p Be kept IN readiness until OF
der uN0a6efessss5jdsWhe men, te my dismay, !
saw them cut the ropes in the bd 1 -
disappear astern in the fog. Another boat was
broken down by persons rushing at the davita,
and many were precipitated into the sea and
drowned. This occurred while ] had been en-.
gagged in getting the starboard guard boat rea>
dy, and placed the second officer in charge,
when the same fearful scene rs with the first
boat was being enacled-men leaping from the
top OF the rail twenty feet, pushing and maim-
ing those who were in the boat. then gave
orders to the second officer to Jet go, and row
after the ship. keeping under Of near the stern,
to be ready to take on board women and chill
dren as soon as the fires were ont and the en-.
gines stopped. MY. attention was then drawn
to the other quarter boat, which ! found broken
down, but hanging by one tackle. A rush
was made for her also, and some fifteen got in
and cut the tackle, and were soon ont Of sight. |
| found that not q seaman was left on board, or |
carpenter, and we were without any tools 10 |
assist Us in building . rat. ~ our only hope
The only officer left was Mr.. Dorian. the third
mate, who aided me, with the assistance Of ma.
ny Of the passengers, who deserve great praise
fbr their Goodness and energy in doing all ia
their power up to the very latest moment be-
fore the ship sunk. s3E@'
The Chief Engineer, with 4 part Of his as
had taken our smallest deck boat, and
before the ship went down, pulled away with
about ffteen persona.
We Ind succeeded 10 getting tie fore and
msin yard and two top gsfiantyar overheard,
and such other email spars and materials as
se cooid cclIect, when 1 was fully convinced
~ ship must 60 down in = very short time.
~ ASk AA-~-A --- A. 49, -. n al