New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-14
NARRATIVE WRITTEN FROM THE NOTES
OF VI. DUPASSECR.
COLLISION

On Wednesday, the 27th of September, the Arctic
was a. near as could be aseertaned about forty
miles from Cape Race. The weather was calm, the
sea Tranquil, but covered with light caps Of FOAM
The ship was proceeding at full speed eight bells
noon we're about TO be struck, and the passengers
in the cabin were preparing to place themselves at
table for lunch some of them were engaged in draw
inc The numbers Of the miles that had been run by
the steamer during the last twenty-four hours-a
kind OF lottery which took place daily on board the
steamer.
Auat once, a shock was ie: in the fore-part eff the
weasel on the larboard side, then second, then
third These blows not sufficiently violent to
cause any serious apprehension, and some persons at
trbuted them simply to wave having struck us.
Nevertheless they ascended TO the deck when they
nerceiyed over the larboard bulwark iron vessel
without national colors, whose bow was completely
broken of and which half submerged, seemed t. be
about TO be engulphed.
Cant. Luce caused boat to be launched, with
which the second in command, Mr.. Gourlay, and five
sailors threw Themselves in order TO go TO the assist
auce Of the stranger al the same time the Arctic
wheeled round TO cooperate more actively in the res
cue. But scarcely had this maneuyer been executed
ere the critical situation Of steamer was per
cevod and the imperative necessity of looking after
our own safety was forced upon US. The unknown
vessel had struck with its bow upon the front OF the
Arctic little after the cutwater on the starb)ari
side, causing an opening of eight feet wide bY five
high. in which q part OF her own bow still re-
NAMED. Two other lesser openings were seen az
intervals, approaching toward the paddle-box
corresponding TO the second and the third shocks
fe,t during the collision Through these three open
pes the sea rushed into the interior Of the vessel,
which rendered all obstacles opposed to il poweress
and all efforts frutess. While they were making
the useless efforts arrest the nro sd Of the water
and the passengers were working the pumps, they
made FOR the land, with the hope Of being able to
keep the steamer saost sufficiently long to beach her
by putting on al steam.
In order not 70 lose single minute, they were
obliged TO renounce any idea of assisting the stranger
which meantime had disappeared, and every one
imagined had sunk; were also obliged 10 leave the
boat, ard six men in her behind. AT the mo-
uent tlst they turned a second time, in order to
take tbs new direction, boat was seen little
in advance Of the paddle wheel containing eight or
ten men. who implored assistance in foreign tongue
Cphspply it was TOO late to stop our Roadway Lees
than minute afierwsrd The boat and all in her, dis
srpoared I, was reasonably supposed that II De.
lcneed 10 the unknown vessel. But the time had
come when all were engaged in looking after men
own safety. Scarcely had any one been at me pain'
az questioning one Of the strangers who hsd man
aged TO leap on board al the moment OF the
ion Of the boat. All that we learned from hin Wa
TIA. the vessel we. French.
II. THE BOATS.
We experienced now the sad certainty IN sp''e
all our activity a. the pumps, that the wafar wa
gaining on U. with terrible rsgidiiy, and would s9o