Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-10-21
sTATEMlENT OF CAPT. LUCY.

/ Inns Ef-.t5 ~ -- ff.t - s /
Capt Luce, at the time of the collision, was below
working out the position of the steamer He inn
mediately ran on deck and the iron steamer un-
/ der the starboard bow, and passing asterm grazing
| and tearing the guards in her progress The bows
of the strange vessel seemed to be literally cut or
crushed off for ten feet and seeing that she must
probably sink in ten minutes, and taking glance
| at our own ship, and believing that we were COM
paratively uninured, the boats were cleared, and
the first officer and six men left with boat to board
the stranger and ascertain the extent of her damage
The engineers were Immediately instructed to put
on the steam pumps and the four deck pumps We're
worked by the passengers and crew. The ship was
at once headed for land and several Intellectual at
tempts were made to stop the leak by getting sails
over the bows.
Finding that the leak was gaining them very
fast, Notwithstanding the very powerful efforts to
keep her Free the captain resolved to get the boats
ready, and have many ladies and children placed
in them as possible. No sooner, however, had an
attempt been made to do this, than the iremen and
others rushed into the boat in spite of all opposition
Seeing this state of things ordered the boat astern
to be kept in readiness until order could be restor
ed, when to my dismay [ saw them cut the rope IN
the bow and soon disappear astern in the fog
Another boat was broken down by persons rush
ing in at the davits and many precipltated IN
to the sea and drowned. This occurred while had
been engaged in getting the starboard guard boat
ready. had placed the second officer IN charge,
when the same enacted as with the first
boat then gave orders to the second officer to let
go and row after the ship, keeping near the stern,
as the fires out and the engine should stop.
My attention was then drawn to the other quar-
ter boat, which found broken down, but hanging
by tackle. A rush made for her also, and
fifteen got in and cut the tackle and were soon
ont of sight. Not seaman was left on board, or a
carpenter, and without too to assist US in
building raft only hope, and the only officer
left Mr.. Dorian, the third mate, who worked
noblv for the succor of all.
Many of the passengers, who deserve great praise
for their GOODNESS and energy, did all in their power
until the latest moment before the ship sunk. Mr.
Rogers the chief engineer, with part of his assis
tants had taken one of the small deck boats, and
before the ship went down. pulled away with about
Is persons.
To form a raft it became necessary to get the only
remaining boat, the life boat, into the water This
being accomplished Mr.. Dorian, the chief officer of
the boat, taking to keep the on board the
steamer, to prevent those in the boat from leaving
the ship, proceeded to work, still hoping to be able
to get the women and children on board his boat at
last. They had made considerable progress in col
lecting spars, when the alarm WAS given that the
ship sinking, and the boat showed off with
out anything to hold themselves.
In an instant after, at about a quarter past o.
clock, P. NJ, the ship went down, carrying every
soul on board with her. l soon found myself on the
surface, after brief struggle, with my own helpless
child in my arms when again found myself impell-
ed downward to great depth, and before reached
the surface a second time l had nearly persisted,
and lost the hold of my child 1 struggled up
wards
most awful and heart rendng presented itself
to my view. Over two hundred men, women and
children were struggling together amid pieces of the
wreck, calling upon each other for help, and implor
ing God to assist them. Such appalling
may God preserve me from witnessing again.
Amid the struggling mass of human beings dis
covered my child, and was in the act of trying to
save him when portion of the paddle box
rushing up edsewards, just grazing my head and
falling with all its weight upon the head of my dar
ling child.
l then succeeded in getting on top of the paddle
box in company with eleven others. One, however,
soon left for another piece, and others remained I'M
til relieved by death. We stood in water up to our
knees, the sea frequently breaking We
parated from friends of the wreck, and passed
the night, each expecting every hour to be his last
The morning came, but not living soul could be
seen but our own party, consisting of seven men.
About noon, MIR. n. Woodruff, of New York, was
relieved by death, and all the others now began
suffer severely from the want of water except Geo.
L. Allen and myself Night at last came on, thick
and dreary, with minds made up that neither of
would see the light of another day. Very soon
three more of our suffering party were relieved BY
death, and Mr.. Allen, young man and myselfwere
all that were now left, and were much exhaust
cd We slept for a while during the night, and be-
came somewhat refreshed.
About an hour before daylight on Friday the 29th
we saw vessels light We all exerted
ourselves to the utmost of our abilities in hailing
but the light disappeared to the eastward of us.
Soon after daylight bark hove in sight to the north
west. The log lightened little and we observed
that she was steering apparently for us, but in
short time heappeared to have changed her course
again, and we doomed to bitter disappointment
yet feel hopes that some of our fellow sufferers
may have been and rescued by them.
Shortly after ship discovered to the east
ward, steering directly for us. As she approached
they fortunately discovered a on a raft near
them, and succeeded in saving him. This man saw
ed is a Frenchman, who a passenger on board
the steamer with which we came in collision. He
informed the Captain that others were on pieces of
the wreck, and he proceeded to cruise around in
search of them. We were taken on board o'clock
P. NJ, after exposure of forty-sx hours in most
exhausted condition.
Shortly after Mr.. James Smith, of Mississippi, was
discovered and rescued. About dusk another piece
of the wreck, on which were five of our fireInen
was discovered, and the sufferers rescued. Non.
others could be found.
Capt. John RUSSELL Of the Cambria, proves to
have been the Captain of the Jesse Stevens, whose
memorable rescue by Captain Nye of the Pacific
will be remembered.
Captain Luce with his fellow sufferers expected to
leave for New York on Saturday evening.
Captain Luce adds, that at the time of the collis-
ion the anchor of the steamer Vesta was drawn
through the bows Of the Arctic about inches above
the water line, and an immense hole had been made
at the instant by the luke of the anchor about
two feet below the water line, raking the fore and
aft plank, and finally breaking its chain, left the
stock remaining in and through the Arctic, which
rendered the attempt to draw a sail around the bow
of the vessel, impracticable
Outrage Priest
New YORK, Octsl6. The Rev. Mr. Basset Cath.