New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-12
STATEMENT OF Mr.. MCABE.


Peter Nj Cabe 20 year of age, native of Dublin,
winter in the second cabin of the Arctic, gives the
following account Of the disaser and his suderings:
About II o'clock on Wednesday, one week exactly
from Liverpool, the propeller struck US about forty
mites from Cape Race. After we struck in the fog,
the first officer, Mr. Gourle, took some sailors with
BIN to ascertain if the propeller was hurt.
They went in the boats to the relief Of the propel
Ter, but the fog was dense that could not
half the length from bows. The passengers and
fremen Of the Arctic Immediately went TO work at
the pumps. The ship ST. aiming ahead after she
struck, ard one of the passengers Of the propeller
got on board at the time Of the collision, bat the poor
fellow was sfttrwsrd drowned.
After while Mr.. GOurlie came back with the boat
with those only whom he took out Captain Lice,
thinking he would be able to make land at Cape Race,
did rot stop to take board the first officer and his
u. in the boat.
Instantly after the collision saw about four men
in the water; they washed under the paddles of
the Arctic and killed.
As the propeller passed US on the sarbosrd side tho
FIRST time there were cries of distress but the
ond time she passed round us We heard some shouts
and screams from Der passengers.
The propeller made hole in the starbosrd bow OF
the Arctic and the wster began TO pour in and filled
up the csrgo. The ship was filling up rapidly all
around and in about an hour the water reached the
boilers ard extiDgushed the fires.
Up 10 this time the passengers by the Arctic were
perfectly calm, and the utmost quiet prevailed on
board.
The pumps were kept in operation by the passen
eers and fremen until the water got up to the second
cabin. They then knocked of.
The passengers al crew then got Axes and went TO
work cutting down the two fore yard arms.
One yard was launched at time and the two were
fastened together in the water for the purpose Of max
ing q raft. After THE done. the fremen lashed
three or four water ca.ks together and at the
tim. tberewere good many people, men and women,
floating on doors and beds
When the water casks were fastened together, we
Al ~ afr he t.ct offb a al
them, but they capsized on the deck The water was
DOW on The main deck. Two were turned under
the water-cesks, but they afterward got up, and
with them rap to the salocn deck.
A soon as We reached there, i was Immediately
covered with water. The Arctic wa, fast sinking,
and afterward saw nothing more of the men who
went there with me. As soon as / came on the top
Of the water seized hold of door which had been
tai en- down TO cave the passengers.
then got from the door to the raft. There were
people Try ing 10 get on the raft than il would
bold Some we're clingng to the raft with one hand.
There were four ladies on the raft Altogether there
were seventy Elk persons on the raft when separated
All died or were washed from the raft at 81 O'Clock
the came night but myself
was on the raft all that night and the next day.
The third officer, after he had discharged his boat
load into the bark, saw the raft on my hands
and knees, and came to my relief
hept my LEFT leg under rope OF one OF the spars,
"a keep from being washed away. ate nothing from
Tuesday night until | was taken of.
vas just about throwing myself overheard when
be discovered the bark. was worn down with
fatigue, and my eyes were becoming dim.
In consequence of holding on TO the raft Mr.. Nc
Csbe's bands were bruised, and bis strength was all
but gone. HE left ankle was squeezed between the
water cssk and the yard arm the raft The water
was washing over him most of die time, and the in
jury to his ankle grew worse.
Mr. McCabe felt easier yesterday though he is con.
fined to bis bed.
He says the Arctic had 60 many passengers that
they wanted more men, and he shipped at Liverpool
for the voyage to New. York.
STATEMENT OF THE OFFICERS STEWARD. |
Thomas Snson, the officers steward is also a. the
Seamens Retreat Staten Island. He is suffering
from injury to his right shoulder.b blade and right
arm, caused by the upsetting of the quarter-bost
The boat at the time flied with uen and women
all OF whom were arowae except StL-on and another
nan. He afterward got on board OF the Arctic, and
coon sgep left her. He close by the Arctic when
abe went down.
Stnson says heheard very little screaming till within
minute or 80 before the ship sunk. He large
numbers OF passengers swimming in the water, bat
help could be afforded them n saved nothing b1t
wha; what on his back. The officers OF the ship
Lebanon gave him a change OF dress.