Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-19
Washiaaton Seminal.
From the New York Times.
THE ARCTIC DISASTER.


Capt Luce left Montreal Yesterday morning
Tor New York. When the train fiom the north
reached Troy, nearly .tre thousand people had
collected an the depot at that city to greet him
ana u was with great difficulty that he was
transferred to the Hudson river railroad cars
on which the superintendent had generously
set apart car for his use and that Of ris
friends. lie was met at Troy by Mr.. s. II
Fearing, his brothern-law.
From Captain Luce our reporter, in the
course of conversation, obtained information on
a variety of interesting topics, which we pre-.
sent below.
After the collision with the vesta, it viii be
remembered that boat was sent from the
testa, which was run over by the Arctic. Fer
dnand Keyn, the Young German who was saved
or the piece Of the wreck with Captain Luce
and MIR. Allen, threw overheard rope to one
OF the occupants OF the boat and by this act ne
was rescued. He proved to be French fisher.
man, named Francois Gajoick. Subsequently,
when they were floating about on the ocean, in
sight OF the Cambria, and unable to attract at
tention from their extreme distance, this same
fisherman CHANGED to float near the Cambria
was discovered and picked up. Immediately
upon going on board he intimated by signs tina,
there were Others on other pieces Of the wreck
IN the immediate vicinity, and this led to the
rescue OF Capt Luce and the others.
Some of the most interesting facts that our
reporter obtained from this interview with Capt.
Luce, icere dispositions occupied by the different
parties 'oho Uere supposed 10 hare been lostaohen
he last sao them.
When he saw that they must inevitably be
lost, and every person on board as keenly APP
preciating this fact as himself, (Mr. Dorian's
boat having cut loose from the raft,) all on
board gathered together on the upper deck.
The passengers, each in turn, came to Captain
Luce, gave him farewell shake of the hand,
and many Of the facts connected Herewith
Captain Luce distinctly remembers.
Mrs. Childe and daughter, of Springfield,
Massachusetts, came to him and babe him an
affectionate farewell as the ship was going
down.
During the time succeeding the discovery
that the vessel must inevitably be lost, young
man, named Stewart Holland, al engineer
learning under instructions, had been con-
stautly firing q cannon. About ten 10 fifteen
minutes prior to the vessels sinking, he discoy-
cred that further efforts in that direction we're
useless, and as he fired the gun for the last
lime, young DIR. Waring approached Captain
Lnce, and shook him warmly By the hand, and
said to him
Captain, should you ever live to reach the
land, let the world know that here's one man
who has done his duty hravelyn
know it" said Captain Luce, " for have
seen him throughout
And more brave, courageous, and self.
sacrificing being never sew" said Capt Luce
to our reporter.
Mr.. Babcock aud his lady, of this city, were
on deck, also, up to the last moment Mrs.
Babcock had been lying sick during most of
the passage.
4 think, said Captain Luce, a that shook
hands with them both"
81 think" added the captain, " that Mr.. Nc
Cracken and his sister, Mrs. Scott, were on the
upper deck, Also
Mr.. Newbold was one of the most efficient
among the passengers, and but short time be.
fore the ship went down, was working with all
his power TO get spar overheard. He was on
the ship TO the last.
About a minute before we went down,
saw Mrs. Collins, with her daughter and son,
sanding on the deck. The two former, !
think, had on life-preservers. Master Collins
had taken of his coat and boots.
Mr. Stone and his family, and Mr.. Day and
his wife and daughter, we're also on the deci..
and were standing together when the vessel
went down.
"Mr. Grant and his wife aud son we're stand.
ing together on the upper deck and we're swept
off with the rest.
al spoke to Mr.. Guinet and his wife not two
minutes before the vessel sank.
al saw Mr. Benedict and lady with the
oilers.
~ was speaking with Mrs. Hudson, who
was standing, with her child, with the other
passengers. She wished that would allow
Ter to 90 with me, as she supposed that was
going to take the boat. / told her should
stand by the vessel to the last.
~ saw the Due De Grammont make spring
Into the bows OF Mr.. Dorian's 1.-THE ast) boat,
but those near him dsVce him out again. That
was the last that 4 recollect OF seeing Of him.
"a large number Of persons got on water
casks; some dashed two together, thinking
they were thus secured. But in many in
stances the lashings became loose, and OF
course the casks became useless. saw six
different persons climbing up and endeavor-
ing TO sustain themselves by two casks. They
kept above water for a time, but but finally
sank.
After the vessel went down, great majority
OF those on board, as they rose, got on the raft
which Ind been built A large number got on
nall pieces Of the wreck, doors, and other
fragments floating by. These gradually sepa-
rated, and each one soon lost sight of the other.
When the last boat was upon the deck, Cap
tln l.. succeeded in getting Mrs. Collins and
number Of other ladies into it. But they
we're forced TO leave as we required the boat
for service in making the raft They did so
without any apparent reluctance. Capt. L.
says, in this connection that the ladies, after
the first fright was over, were as calm as can
well be imagined under such circumstances,
and seemed perfectly resigned TO whatever
might be their fate.
TnE SINKING OF THE ARcTIc-DEArH OF
CkrTAIN LucE's SoS.-The Arctic settled
stern foremost She went over gradually, un-
Ill the upper deck got level with the water,
when the sea swept over us.
HAs went down." said Captain Luce, "after
the sinking ofthe vessel, was carried down a
great distance, with my son Willie in my arms.
I opened my eyes, to see if / could discover
light through the water. II was some time
before I could do so, and then il seemed
- L r.. 4 II Il.