Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-10-16

the hfe-boat from being taken away from the
ship.
The following is correct list of the saved
with Capt. Luce:
Passengers Frederick May, &. T. Allen,
and James Smith, of the Arctic. ]. A. Goyet
Francois, of the Nesta.
Seamen-Patricll Moran, Alexander Grant,
Michael Russell, John Riley, John Patterson.
Concerning the fate of the family of Mr..
Collins, we regret to say that there seems to
us little room for doubt or hope. They either
persisted by the upsetting of one of the boats,
or went down with the ship. The only chance
of their having escaped was by the long-boat
on deck, which up to within few minutes of
the ships sinking, certainly had not been
launched
The report that the Vesta brought thirty
one of the crew into st. Johns turns out to be
an error.
INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER.
We compile, from various sources, but prin-
cipally from the narratives of persons saved
from the wreck, some of the most interesting
incidents connected with that sad disaster.
CAPT. GRAMS STATEMENT.
Capt. Paul f. Gram, of New York, states:
The propeller lowered boat, which got un-
der the starboard wheel of the Arctic and was
swamped Que man only escaping, a French
Canadian, who got on board of the Arctic, and
was most probably subsequently lost. When
l came on deck they were lowering away the
boats. Capt. Luce requested me to go below
and ascertain, if possible, where the leak was;
went below and broke out cargo; could hear
water rushing in; the carpenter was ordered
below 6et,ceet decks to stop the leak, and COM
menced cutting away the ceiling; went to
work with crew and passengers breaking out
cargo from lower hold, but very soon diScov
cred that it would be impossible to stop the
leak, as the water was over the cargo; l then
left the hold and went on deck, where [
learned that the lower fires were out, and from
this time all order and discipline ceased on
board. The water was up to the lower deck,
and gaining rapidly, passengers and crew still
laboring at the pumps. The Arctic had 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.
Two of the quarter boats were taken by the
second and 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, al.
though the boat ,oas not ftsH heard that re-
volvers were threatened to be used on this &C.
casion.
The fourth quarter boat was hauled along
side by Capt Luce, the third mate, and my
self. One Of the ships quarter masters was
placed in charge; into this boat Capt. Luce
placed some ladies, but how many there We're
or who they were, L do not know. Several of
the gentlemen passengers then made a rush
and jumped into the boat, and as it was full,
the painter was cut, and the boat drifted
astern. She had oars, but l 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 construc-
ton. We took the oars out of this boat, so
that those who got into her should not desert
US while lashing the raft.
We took the main yard, two topgallant
yards, some stun'sail booms some few graf
ings, and some water casks to construct this
raft. We cut the brails from the main spen-
Ger, and also procured 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 Sd mate an
other young man, Il think fireman) and my
self We were ON the spars, and frequently
in the water. While we were lashing the
raft, the crew and firemen, and some passen-
gers commenced getting into the boat, climb
ing down over ths ships side. and across the
raft. This in'erfered very much with our
work, and we soon saw that it would be i'm
possible to finish the raft as it should be done.
AT this moment the boat aoas 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 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.
Mr.. 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 foremost. We heard
one fearful shrek, and saw the passengers
| swept forward against the smoke stack, and
| then all was over.
| W e saw Tue rat dlleE inc DOdL went QONu,
apparently crowded with human beings but
were obliged to keep away from her.
Mr.. Thompson, of New Orleans, says that
he saw six or eight female passengers in one
Of the boats, one of whom, he was informed
was Miss Schmidt, who, with her father. was
on board, on her return from tour in Eu-
rope. The father was among those seen on
the wreck when it went down.
Mr.. VIM. P. Rathbone, of Providence, who
was saved in one of the boats which reached
land in safety, gives the following particulars
| in relation to the loss Of our townsman, +
w. Gale and his family:
The boat in which escaped, was once fill.
ed, principally by women and children, as she
| hung at the davits at the quarter but in low
| ering her the stern tackle was run out toe
fast, and they were all thrown into the set
| and lost, except Mrs. Gale, of Worcester, who
| chung to thwart, and shrieking was taker
into the ship. Mr.. Gale was lost Mr.. anC
Mrs. Benedict left in the first boat, and may
be picked up by some vessel. Among thost
thrown into the sea from the boat was Mrs
E. K. Collins, Of New York, with her son anc
daughter, as l am told by the purser.
l was fully sensible of the danger of run
ming a steamer in thick fog thirteen miles
all hour, without striking the ben, and had
been in conversation with an Englishman on
the subject about two hours before we struck
the propeller. We came full tilt, bows on
she under full sail and steam. She was all
stove in, and we opened under water hole
full eight feet by three. The fires were al
out before | left her,