The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-10-14
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

We continue the publication Of statements from
persons on bosrd the Inflated steamer at the time
of the collision. The following is from Peter Nc
Cabe. the solitary individual, 90 far % known al
present. saved from the raft. We copy from the
N Y Herald
srArxMKNr OF PRrRR M'cABT
Among ell the recorded instances OF physical
endurance, it would be difficult to lind one more
remarkable than that presented by the case of Pc
ter McCabe. who after twenty six hours exposure
on frail raft was rescued by Mr. Dorian, the
third mate OF the Ill fated Arctic. McCabeis q na
tive of Dublin, ireland, and is about twenty five
of countenance, and has altogether the appearance
of man who even under the most discouraeing
circumaances, would hope on to the last When
we visited him yesterday st the Seamen's Retreat,
on Staten Island, he did not appear like man who
required the care of physician: and had we not
seen the extent of his injuries before we left. we
should have thought he had perfectly recovered
from the effects of his long exposure One of his
feet, however is in horribly iacerated condition,
large pieces of the flesh having been turn from Il by
places quite bare. The skin has also been torn
from his fingers, and both of bis hands have par.
boiled appearance. He has, at our request, fur.
nished US with the following painful Interesting
particulars of his escape from the wreck
We left Liverpool on the 20.h of September, and
up to Wednesday, the 27th, nothing particularly
worthy of note occurred About twelve o'clock Of
that day when we were about forty miles off Cape
Race, and enveloped in fog, we came in collision
with some unknown vessel which was afterwards.
however, found to be propeller. The Arctic was
running at the rate of thirteen knots an hour but
the conclusion appeared 20 slight that no one on
board, not even the Captain, supposed that the
damage was so extensive. His fears were only
excited by the condition of the other vessel hich
it was believed must be In a sinking state. Imme.
diately after the collision the propeller passed US
on the starboard SIDE when 1t was discovered that
her bows were completely stove In, and that she
was otherwise extensively damaged. Our course
was instantly reversed, by orders of the Captain
and we went in pursuit of the vessel for the par.
pose of rendering her all the assistance n our pow.
er, little imagining that We were SO much 10 need
of it ourselves at the time.
On coming up with the propeller we passed
twice round her, and then saw between two and
thr ee, hundred people on her deck. By order of
Captain Luce, one boat containing the first officer
Mr.. Gourlie, the boatswain and four or five sailors
was sent to her relief but before they returned be
ascerained the fearful extent of the damage to our
own vessel. The propeller had struck her with
terrible force, making large hole in her srarboard
bow, through which the water was pouring in tor
rent. Soon after the collision with others rush
ed upon deck, having no apprehensious, however,
as to our safety; but in very short time we were
made aware OF the terrible reality. The boat arr
we'd from the propeller, but Captain Luce refused
to take the men on board, as he knew they could
be of no assistance and that it was better to keep
them In readiness to receive the passengers. The
bremen and engineers, driven from their post by
the water, now came upon deck, increasinp the
number OF the terrOrstricken crowd
Every one now prepared himself for the worst
The life preservers were brought into reouisition
and portion OF the crew set themselves to work
in the construction OF RATS The two forevard
arms were cut down and lashed together making
raft about forty feet long and three or four feet
wide. was engaged with the rest In making this
raft, and Mr.. Dorian, the third mate, took most
active part in the work. When it was finished. we
launched 1t on the iarboard side, and In few min.
utes after there were about seventy persons cling.
ing to it, four of whom were women Several
other RATS were made, but none OF them SO large
as that on which was engaged. Doors barrels,
and, in fact, everything that foated, was used
On some of these there were two and three, but
the largest could not support more than four or
ave.
l remained on the vessel till she sank. when
went down with her. had been employed few
minutes before with two others, one of whom was
called "Tom the storekeeper," in lashing some
casks together, when l was driven away by the
water, which was now rushing in with fearful i'm.
petuosify. Jumping upon the paddle box, | sprans
ON the saloon deck, and In an instant engulphed
10 the surging waters, which soon closed over our
heads Down, down we sank with our noble yes.
sci into the bosom of the ocean, and the terrible
thought took possession of my mind that was
that ] should never see my dear friends
or home again. retained my consciousness how.
ever, all the time was under the water and it was
with feeling of intense joy that found, after
about half q minute, that was RAPIDLY rising TO.
wards the surface 1t was all darkness before, but
now could see dim light above ME, and In a few
seconds was on the top of the water struggling
for life. Being a good swimmer, and having, be-
sides, the support of q life preserver, l succeeded
in reaching door, which was floating lew feet
from where l rose. l looked around me but there
was no trace ofa vessel except a few loose tmbers
aud the RATS which were floating about, some with
and others without passengers. Finding could
not retain my hold of the door with safety left
and swan to barrel which lay few feet from me:
from this again swan to the large raft which had.
as have said about seventy persons clinging to It,
Inc sea, taough nor strong, was rough, and the
waves, as tney dashed over II, washed away a nor
ton OF its living freight shall never forget the
awful scene. There we were In the midst of fine
ocean, without the slightest hope of assistance.
while every minute one or more of our unfortunate
fellow passengers were dropping into their watery
grave from sheer exhaustion. Those who had life
preservers did not sink, but oated with their ehast
iy faces upwards reminding those who still re.
nained alive OF the fate that awaited them
10 the midst of all this, thank Heaven never
lost hope, but retained my courage the last One
by one saw my unfortunate companions drop of;
some OF them hsated OF, and were eaten and gnaw.
ed by fishes, while others were washed under the
raft, and remained with me till was rescued.
could Bee their faces n the openings as they were
eWayed 10 and iro by the waves which threatened
every moment to wash me off, The raft at one
time was SO crowded that many had to hold on by
one hand. Very few words were spoken by any,
and the only sound that we heard was the splash
OF the waters or the heavy breathing OF the poor
sufferers, as they tried recover their breath after
wave had passed over them. Nearly all were sub.
merged to their arm pits. while few could with
great difficulty keep their heads above the surface
The women were the first to go. They were una
BILE to stand the exposure more than three or four
hours. They all fell off the raft without word, ex
cept poor girl who cried out, ia intense agony
Oh, my poor mother and sisters"
When / was about eighteen hours on the raj,
there were not more than three or four left. One
OF these gave me what appeared to be small map
put which understood him to say was a sort 81
nile deed to his property. In few moments after
look II, he too unloosed his hold and was added
70 tne number that foated shout the raft.
enaea avored 70 get the paper into my pocket
but found this impossible, on account of nv cramp
ed position, sol placed it between nv teeth. and
held II there till was over,shelmed bv Z wave
when lost my bold Of II, and Il was vasbed avav
Another. who had an oiled six coat On. called or
me- for Heavens sake TO assist him. = Ria strenetb
was rapidly falling and he must fail ofi. If not Re
heved. Az he was about lour five or feef from me
Was difficult 10 reach him; but After considerabIs
exartions succeeded IN doing 90. and hejped hin
with one of my knees until became oujte faint
when was obliged 70 leave him to his fste. Poo1
fellow, he promised me, he ever rot 10 Nav Yorl
alive, he would reward ms well. He elunr via
terrible tenacity 70 lie, but he, too dropped of