Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-10-19

deck, and gaining rapidly. the passen-
gers and crew still laboring at the
bumps; the Arctic has six boats; the
first boat was lowered with chief mate,
boatswain and three men; this boat was
lowered to ascertain the condition of
the other steamer, and was left behind
when we found we were sinking; she
is probably safe; two of the quarter
boats were taken by tie second fourth
officers and crew; another boat was
taken by the engineers, and was sup
piled with provisions, water, &C.; there
were only eight or nine in this boat, and
they would not permit any one else to
come On board, although the boat was
not full; / heard that revolyers were
threatened to be used on this occasion.
The fourth quarter-boat was hauled
alongside by Capt. Luce, the third mate
and myself. One of the ships quarter
masters was placed in charge; into this
boat Capt. Luce placed some ladies,
but how many there were or who they
were, do not know. Several of the
gentlemen passengers then made rush
and Jumped into the boat, and as it was
full, the painter was cut and the boat
drifted astern. She had oars, but do
not know whether provisions or water.
The sixth boat was on the quarter
deck, and after having launched over
lot of spare spars to construct raft,
we launched this boat for the purpose
of aiding the construction. We took
the oars out of this boat so that those
who got into her could not desert US
while lashing the raft.
We took the main-yard, two top-gal-
liant yards, some stun -sail-booms. some
few gratings and some water casks to
construct this raft. We cut the brails
from the main spencer, and also procur-
ed coil of ratline stuff to lash the raft.
The only ones employed upon the raft,
lashing it, after the spars were launched
were Mr.. Dorian the third mate, anoth-
er young man, l think fireman, and
myself. We were on the spars and fire.
quently in the water. While we were
lashing the raft, the crew and firemen,
and some passengers commenced get
ting into the boat climbing down over
the ships side and across the raft
This interfered very much with our
work, and we soon saw that it was I'M
possible to finish the raft AS it should be
done.
At this moment the boat wds full as
she could hold, and the painter was cut
and they commenced showing her off
from the raft. The passengers were
now coming down over the side on the
raft, and striving to get to the boat
The ship had settled to her upper dead
lights, and saw it was my only chance
and jumped for the boat as she was
leaving. Dorian helped me into the
boat, and in an instant we were away
from the ship. We picked up two men
who jumped after the boat and swan
for her, and then picked up some pieces
of board and padded away from the
wreck.
About ten minutes after we showed
off the steamer went down, stern fore
most. We heard one fearful shrek,
and saw the passengers swept forward
against the smoke-stack, and then all
was over.
We saw the raft after the boat went
down, apparently crowded with human
beings, but were obliged to keep away
from her.
After it became evident that the ship
must sink, many of tie passengers went
to work constructing temporary RATS, by
lashing settees together, mailing boards
to spars, &c., so that it is possible that
more may have been saved besides
those on board of the boats.
While pulling for the Huron we dis
covered man on raft, and after put
ting the remainder of our boats crew
on board of the Huron, the captain of
that vessel gave us boats crew, and
Dorian and myself pulled to the raft
and took him off. We found him to
have been one of the stewards gang,
named Peter McCabe, who stated that
he was the only one left of 70 men and
4 women, who were on the raft the
night before.
HALIFAX, Oct. 1--we have receiv-
ed New Foundland dates to the 4th
inst.
The French screw steamer "Vesta"
arrived at St. Johns, New Foundland,
on the s0th ult., with her foremast and
bows shattered to pieces--she being the
vessel which came in collision with the
Arctic. She had on board 81 of the
Arctic's crew, which she had picked up.
She lost 13 of her passengers in the
collision.
RE- In justice to the Loeofoco de-
pendants who are fattening at the sever