The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-19

Francis's patent metallic, No. 727, from which
her capacity can be ascertained and compared
| with tho number rescued.
RespcotfulIy. GEO. H. BURNS,
Hams s Co.'S Express, Philadelphia.
New York, October 10, 1854.
| STATEMENT OF Mr.. BALKAN.
Tho following statement of the loss OF the
Arctic is given by Mr.. BALKAN, second Ciiicer,
who. with other officers and crew, and some
passengers, saved in two of the first boats,
reached the shore at Broad Cove, and arrived
1T ST. Johns on Tuesday last 1t has been for
wsrdcd by telegraph:
On Wednesday, the 27th, ct neon, Cape
Race bearing N. W., sixty-fvc miles distant,
while running in O thick fog, was struck on
tho starboaTd bow, about sixty feet abafs the
cutwater, by sn iron steamer, which made
threo large holes in the ship--two below the
watcr-one Of which was about five and half
feet in length and one and half feet wide,
letting the whole cutwatcr and stem of the
iron steamer clear through the Arotic's side.
The fog was 30 dense that tho vessel could
not DO seen minute before the collision. The
wheel was put hard a-st.rboard, and the en-
CINE stopped and instantly backed at full speed
until clear of the other steamer, which occu-
pied couple of minutes.
The propeller was beloved to be a French
vessel, and was sinking bow first. Capt. Luce
immediately gave orders to clear away the
quarter boats, which being done, Gomley, tho
chief oliicer left the Arctic, in charge Of tho
starboard boat Ga lowering the port boat,
thu captain exclaimed, Hoist up that boat
again, Mr.. BALKAN" and beckoned me 20 go to
him. Upon doing SO, he ordered me to 90 over
the sscsmer, to ascertain, if possible, whs:
dnmsge had been dono. then found the holes
abovs mentioned. Upon informing him of the
facts, he gave orders to get the sails up, and tc
try and get them around the bow, to endeavo,
to stop the leak which was promptly done
but was Of no advantage whatever, 80 much Of
tho bow broken off from the other steamer PRO.
jeoting that the ssils could not be brought ccsc
TO the vessels side. The carpenter was then
| lowered ever the vessels eide and pillows and
mattresses passed down to him to Try and force
them in, but the leak WAS found to ba 80 far
below the water-line that they could not be
got in.
Every e1cTtion to stop the leak having proved
unsvaling, Captain Luce then ordered that the
ships head be Kept for land, which bore N. w
by w. By this time We had lost sight of the
chief ofhcer's boa. and the other steamer, which
are supposed TO have sunk.
We had not been on cur course moro than
five minutes, before we ran over boat and
crew belonging to the other vessol all of whom
persisted, with tho exception Of one, who caugh;
held Of a rope hanging over the bow. Directly
the bDst was seen, orders were given to stop
the engine, which the chief engineer said could
not be done, as Tire ship was fast sinking.
In about thirty minutes, ell the lower fires
were cut, aud three feet water in the ship
fore and oft.
By this time the confusion among the pas
sengers was very great, but they used all Of
forts to assist tho crew in keeping the deck
pumps going, and in tightening the ship for
ward, for the purpose OF endeavoring TO get
at tho lcsk from the inside. 1t was however
found TO to rseless and numbers Of them were
| going into the boats, which were still hanging
| to the dsvits.
Forty.fvs minutes after the collision,
came up from the fore held, and informed the
captain that the water was on level with
| the lower deck beams, and that it was impos
J eible to set at tho leak. then asked him wha
he thought would be the fate Of the ship wher
| he stated his belief that thcre was no hop.
| Of saying her. He then told me to 500 TO my
| boats.
Or going to the boats on tho port side,
found them completely filed with men, women
and children, and no possibility of gestins
near them. | Immediately went TO the star
board side, and ordered two of tho crew Il
lower tho guard boat and asked tho captain
what were his intentions He said that tn
ships fate should be his. then asked him i
he would not allow his son to go; lie returned
mo answer that 10 ehould share his fate.
1t being discovered that there was no hop
Of saving tho Arctic, the lady, daughter, an
son Of e. K. Collins, with several ladies' wer
r,1t no. hoo NJ u sbo &c
ing it, ono of the tackles g1vo way, and all
except one ledy, who chung to a sailor VIII
held fact to the boat were precipisatsd int
the sea, and lost.
then jumped into a boat, aud was ordcre
by Capt. Luce TO cut tho tackle falls and dro
under the stern. | did 90, and at the sam
time about twenty persons jumped overheard
cf whom seventeen or eighteen wero pickle
up. We fell in with another boat which ha
been lowered from the other eide, and lighter
cd her of a part of her confb Element, leaviD
nineteen in her and twenty-six in my boat.
The last sight had of the chip, her guard
were Lowell with the water, and the surface
the sea was strewn with human beings wh
jumped overheard, to whom it was impossible
TO render any assistance, and we soou los
sight of all, as the fog continued very dense.
We were about sixty miles southeast of Cap
Race, and, deeming it my duty to take ii
nearest course for the safety of all, aftcr pull
ing for forty hours with nothing 20 guido .
but the run of tho sea, which | took to b
neaving from the southwark, and in thick fol
which lasted ell tho timo, we reached Broa
Cove, twelve miles north of Cape Raco, an
: then proceeded by land to Renews, which "
reached on Friday last.
We there obtained, and took charge of,
small schooner, which was hired, and procee;
cd Immediately in search of the wreck or boat
cruised around Ii g strong gale of wind frol
northeast, but discovered no trace Of the shi
or boats
J | cent word to Captain Leitch, of the City
Philadelphia steamer, aequainting him wit
j the catastrophe; and | am informed that
sent off two vessels, which he had employe
about his own ship.
1 No trace of the Arctic or boats could
found; but, as there we're many vessels in Il
neighborhocd where the disaster occurred, it
not at all improbable that many lives ma