The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-11-03
From the N. Independent.
LOSS OF TIE tARCTIC."

l1eWaTKaOle year appears 10 nave culHhhu'
ted now in the total loss of the u. s. mail
steamer "Arctic," by collision at sea, or
the 9Th Of September, involving the loss
Of between three and four hundred lives
The news is brought by George H
Burns, messenger of Adams g. Co.'s Ex,
press, one Of thiriy-lwo survivors, who
are all that arc known to have escaped
The "Arciic," had 226 passengers, ex-
elusive Of children, with ships compa>
ny Of IT'S, making above 400 souls; also,
a valuable cargo, and heavy mail She
lef, Liverpool OH the Goth September,
and on tho 9th, at l2 o'clock NJ, Do
miles off Cnpe Race, while going at l3
knots, was run into by baIk>rigged iron
propeller, bound eastward under full sail,
with strong, fair wind. Mr.. Burns
says:
The shock TO us appeared slight, but
the damage TO the other vessel was fright
full. Capt. Luce instantly ordered the
quurter.boats cleared away, and the chief
mate boatswain and three sailors went 10
her relief; before other boats left, the or,
der was coun!ermande9. The "Arctic,n
then described a circle twice round the
wreck, during which time | caught q
glimpse Of more than two hundred peo-
pie clustered on her hurricane deck. = .is
AT his junciure it was first oscertained
that we had sustained injury, and the wa.
Ter vas pouring in at our bows. The
pumps were vigorously worked, aid an
anchor>chain thrown overbourd; but, in
spite Of ull exerlions, the engines stops
ped and the water exlinguished The fires
Four Of the five other life boats, believed
to have been well provisioned, contains
ing the engineers, sailors, few passcn.
gers, and all the officers except the cap
tain and third mate, left the ship at an
early stage. The majority of the pass
engers were working al The pumps-soaie
firing the signal guns, and others launch.
ing spars, under the direction Of Captain
Luce and Mr.. Dorain, the third mate, TO
form raft.
In order TO facilitate this latter work
the sixth and last boat was lowered.--
Dorain, one or two 6remen, three of the
other passengers saved, and myself, we're
busily Engaged lashing water casks and
settees 10 The main yard, two topgalladf
yards, and several smaller spars-the
Captain with number Of Gentlemen,
protecting the work by keeping back the
crowd-when panic seized all on board,
rush was made, passengers and firemen
precipitated themselves headlong over the
bulwarks on 10 the raft, and in a mo
ment our little boat was full, and in i'm
mineni danger Of being sunk In this
emergency, Dorain ordered the rope
which held us to the steamer 70 be cut,
and with our hands and axes we padded
from the rafi's side. The mate, who
throughout preserved great presence Of
mind, and labored with heroic energy,
cried out: "For Gods sake, Captain,
clear the raft, SO that we can work. ]
won't desert the ship while there's tim
ber above water"
The sea was now flush with the
dead-lights. In less than three minutes
from the time he spoke, ,be stern sank
the foam wen, boiling over the tuulbjing
heap ofhuman beings-many were DASH
ed forward against the pipe. heard
one yell, (s,ill ringing in my ears, and
the Arctic" and the struggling mass
rapidly engulfed. Numbers ye: clung 10
the imperfectly constructed raft; but alas
we could render them no aid. Our own
situation was no loss prccalious; and cru
el as il seemed, we were forced 10 aban>
don them 10 fate. Heaven forbid that |
should ever witness such another scene.
We, however, picked up two more men,
and then, with an overloaded at,wiihout
oars, tholepins, food, or drink, avoiding
with difficulty the fragments Ofthe wreck,
and passing many dead females, prepar-
ed for night upon the ocean. We se>
cured floating pumpkin and cabbage to
guard against Immediate starvation, LASH
ed spar to The brow Of our boat 10 keep
her head 10 the wind and sea, and thus
drified until daylight; the night was cold
and foggy, with heavy swell, and, in q
cramped, drenched, and balf.naked con-
di,ion, we suffered terribly.
The next afternoon, about sunset, they
were picked up by the bark "Huron,' y
Capt. Wall, Of ST. Andrews, N. b. bound
for Quebec, where they were treated
with all kindness. On the Goth, the ship
Lebanon" Capt. Story, Of New'York,
came alongside, and took is Of the mum.
Der, who came up 10 the city in pilot>
boat about 3 o'clock On Wednesday NOR
ming. ,ag~
/ Among the passengers supposed 10 be
lost, are the wife, son, and daughter oi
Mr.. E, K. Collins, proprietor Of the Coll
l:ns' steamer; seven members OF the IA
mily OF Mr.. James Brown, Of the leading
house of Brown, Brothers s. Co.; the
Duke de Grammoni, Of the French Iem>
bassy; the wife and son of Mr.. George
Howland. Of Brooklyn; Edward Sanford,
ESQ. New>York; R. s. Williams, a broth
er of Mrs. H., and son Of the laso Rev