Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-10-19

ming IN very thick fog. the Arctic was
struck on the starboard bow. about sixty
feet abaft the cut water. by an iron steam
er. which made three large holes in the
ship, two below the water, one of which
was about st feet in length and one and
half wide leaving the whole cut-water
and stern of the iron steamer clear through
the Arctic's side So dense was the fog
that the vessel could not be seen a min
ute before the collision The helm was
put hard starboard. the engine was stop.
ped instantly and backed at full speed un.
til clear of the other steamer which occu-
pied couple Of minutes.
The iron steamer seemed 10 be sinking
bow first. Capt. Luce Immediately gave
orders to clear away the quarter boats
which was done. and Mr.. Gourley, chief
officer, left the Arctic in charge of the
starboard boat. In lowering the port
boat, the Captain exclaimed. Hoist up
tha, boat again, Mr.. Balhom.' and beck
oned me to 60 to him; doing so. he told
me-'We have now to ascertain, if pos
sible what damage has been DONE then
found the holes above mentioned. Upon
informing him of the fact, he gave orders
to get all ready. for the purpose OF en-
deavoring to stop the leak. which was
promptly done. but to no advantage what.
ever. There was SO much of the bow and
iron broken off the other steamer pro-
jecting, that the sails could not be
brought-close to the side. The carpen-
ter was then lowered down over the YES
sells side, and pillows and mattresses
passed down TO him. to try if possible.
10 force them in, but the leak was foun1
to be so far below fhe water line that
they could not be got in, and ever, exer-
ton to stop the leak proved unavail-
ing.
Capt Luce then ordered the ships
head to be kept ahead, which bore n. w.
by w. By this time we had lost sight
of The cheif officers boat and the other
steamer. which we supposed had sunk.
| We had not been on our course more
than four or i've minutes before we ran
over a boa, and crew belonging TO the
other vessel. all of whom persisted, with
the exception Of one. who caught hold Of
q rope hanging over the bow. Directly
the boat was seen. orders were given 10
stop the engine which the chief engi-
neer said could not be done os the ship
was fast sinking.
In about 80 minutes. ell the lower fires
were out, and at leas. three feet of water
in the ship, fore and aft. BY this time.
the confusion among the passengers was
very great. but they used all efforts to
assist the crew in keeping the deck pumps
agoing, and in lighting the ship forward.
for the purpose of endeavoring 10 get at
the leak from the inside. which was found
to be useless. Numbers Of them went in.
to the boats, which were Still hanging to
the daviis.
In As minutes after the collision,
came up from the fore hold and informed
the Captain that the water was on lev
ell with tie lower deck. and that it was
impossible TO get at the leak. then ask
ed him what he thought would be the
fate Of tho ship, when he stated his belief
to me that there was no hope of saving
her. He then told me TO see to my boats.
On going TO those on the port side. |
found them completely filled with men I,
women and children al nd there was no pos
sibili,y Of getting near them. imme-
diately went to the starboard side and Or
dered the crew to lower the guard boat,
ard asked the captain what were his in
tentions. He replied that the ships fate
should be his. then asked him If he
would not allow his son TO go, as | in
tended to take boat, but he returned
me the answer that he should share his
fate.
1t was soon discovered chat there was
no hope of saving the Arctic, and the la
dy, daughter. and son of Mr.. E. X. Col
| Inns, with several ladies'. were put on
board boat. in the act of lowering when
one Of the tackles gave way, and all ex-
cept one lady. who chung to a sailor hol
ding fast to boat. were precepitated in
to the sea, and lost. then jumped into
boat, and was ordered by the captain
TO cut away the tackle fall. and drop a
stern. | did so, and al the same time
about twenty persons. suppose. jumped
over board of whom IT or Is were pick
ed up. We fell in with another boat
which had been lowered from the other
side and lighted.
am informed that he sent off two yes
sells which he had employed about his
ship. Mr.. Allen Goderich. of Renawa,
sent away a vessel on Saturday evening
1t is with the greatest regret | have to
report that no trace of the Arctic or the
boats could be found. but rs there were
many vessels in the neighborhood of the
disaster. it is not improbable that many
lives may have been saved. No doubt.
however is left in my mind. as to the to-
tai loss Of the Arctic. The following is q
| list of the passengers saved: Messrs.
Ward. Duparen. w. A. Young.
George bonds. f. M. Jones. J. Bogart
G.. Dulalen.
List of crew saved.-John L. Crib,
| Purser; VIM. Bariham. I'd mate; Mark
Graham. 4th mate; John Deignor. LIST
Assistant Engineer; David Reed, boat
swain's mate; and the following sailors:
Allen, Weeks. Linn. Davis. Humphrey
Upper, Page. Jones. MCGEE. McRath,
Blake. Fleming. Bailey. Thomas Smith
Henry. and Bailey; carpenters and fire.
men, Messrs. Lardin, Nation. and Mer-
cor. Hancock "a hedroom servant. War