The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-20

PASSENGERS AND crew or TIE ARCTIC. The
following Geographic despatch was received from
Quebec on Saturday morning;
Capt Luce, Of the Inflated steamer Arctic. with
seven or eight Of his passengers and FIVE Of his
crew, were picked up from raft by the bark
Cambria Capt Russell, and arrived here last night
After the collision, and when Capt. Luce found
that The Arctic must go down, lie with the passen.
gers, tor by this time all the seamcn had lelt with
the exception Of one-the ID oticcr,) lost no time
in flashing spars together TO form raft The life.
boat was the only one LEFT at the time, and 10 get
the raft constructed il was necessary TO get the
fe.boat into the water, but the oars were len in
the Arctic TO prevent the lile.boai from being TAX.
EN- away from the ship. ....,.-.
The following Is correct lit Of those saved
with Capt. Luce: ,............ .......-. .....
Pa,NngGy Fred. May, G. F. Allen and James
Smith, THE Arciic'-J. A. Govet Francois Of the
Vesta. n
Seamen Patrick Moran, Alex Grant, Michael
Russell, John Riley and John Patterson. .. ...
II seems now TO be asceriained that the French
propeller Vesta, took none Of the passengers Of the
Arctic to st. Johns, Newfoundland. The report
originated from the fact that IL Of the crew and Is
passengers on the boats under Mr. Baaham,
reached ST. Johns about the same time with the
Vesta. Consequently, there are 81 lives less saw.
ed than was supposed. II is not yet certainly
known that q single woman escaped death,
although there may have been some in the boats
which still remain to be heard from. The full
statement Of Capt. Luce may be found under our
ielegraphc head. A messenger was sent 10 Mrs.
Luce at Yonkers, on Saturday, conveying the
joyful intelligence Of her husbands safety.
We copy the above from the Boston Atlas OF
Monday. Capt. Luce's statement respecting the
collision does not vary particularly from that made
by Mr.. Baahlan which was published in our last
He says that after Intellectual attempts had been
made to stop the leak he resolved to have the boats
go, ready and have as many ladies aud children
placed In them as they could carry, but no sooner
had the attempt been made than the fremen and
others rushed into them in spite Of all opposition
We extract from Capt. Luce's statement which is
addressed to Mr. f, X. Collins, New York, and
dated at Quebec October 18th, the following re.
spcctin. the incidents which occurred on board Of
the Arctic after preparation was made TO get out
the boats, and the particulars Of Capt Luces pre-
servation after the vessel went down.
Seeing this state Of things, ordered the boats
asiern, TO be kept ready until order could be re-
stored. To my dismay, saw the ropes in the
bows had beea cut, and they soon disappeared IN
the fog Another boa, was broken down by per.
sons rushing at the davts, by which MANY were
precipilated Into the sea and drowned. This &C.
Cured while had been engaged in getting the
starboard guard boat ready 10 launch, OF which
had placed the second officer in charge, when the
same fearful scene was enacled-men leaping from
the top Of the rail- height Of twenty feet, bruis.
ing and manning those who were in the boat,
al la thap prbe IN. thp nj
Ger, Mr.. Baahlan, TO let 60 and drop asern Of the
ship, keeping under or near the stern, to be ready
to take on board the women and children, as soon
as the fires on board the Arctic should be put out
by the WATER and the engine stopped. My atten.
lion was then drawn TO the other quarter boat,
which found broken down, bu, still hanging by
one tackle. A rush was also made for her, when
some fifteen persons jumped in, cut the TICKLE,
and we've soon out of sight. now found that not
n seaman or carpenter was leil on board, and we
were without any tools by which we might con
struct a raft, which was our only hope. The only
officer left was Mr.. Dorian, the third officer, who
aided me was also assisted by many OF the
passengers, who deserved the greatest praise for
their GOODNESS and energy, In doing all in their
power, IN TO the very last moment, when the ship
sank ......... .. ....
The chief engineer with several of his assis.
tants, had taken the smallest OF our deck heats,
and had, with about fifteen persons, pulled away
before the ship went down We had succeeded
in getting the fore and main yards aud two top
gallant yards overheard, together with such other
small spars and materials rs we could collect,
when became fully convinced that the ship must
go down in very short time, aud that not mo.
nent was TO be lost In getting the spars dashed TO.
gether TO form the ran, TO do which II became
necessary TO get out the life boat, the only boat
lc0. This being accomplished, placed Mr.. Do
ran in charge OF the boat, taking care TO keep
back tho oars, that the boat might not be taken
away, as still hoped to get most Of the women
aud children in this boat at Inst. We had made
considerable progress in the connecting of the
spars, when an alarm was given that the ship was
sinking and the boat was showed or without oars
or any means Of helping themselves and when the
ship sunk the boat was probably an eighth OF a
minutes 10 p. NJ, The ship went down, carrying
every soul on hoard with her. soon found my.
self on the surface again, and amer brief strug.
Cling with my own helpless child in my arms,
again felt myself impeIed downward TO grca,
depth. and before reached the surface the second
time, had nearly persisted, and had lost my hold
on my child. As again struggled upon the sur
face Of the water a most awful and heart rcnding
scene presented itself 10 my view; women and
children struggling together amids, pieces Of wreck
of every kind, calling on each other for help and
Iimploring God 10 assist them. Such another up
pslling scene may God preserve me from ever
witnessing. ..., '.. ...HG .fTl-.
was in the act of trying to save my child again
when portion Of the padde.box came crashing
up edgeways, just grazing my head and iating
with its whole weight on The head Of my darling
child. In another moment behcld him llieless
corpse upon the surface fthc waves. Succeed
cd, in company with eleven others, in getting on
the top Of the paddle.box. One, however, finding
all could not be supported on this piece OF the
lpaddle.box, len for another which was floating
near The others remained until they were one
| by one relieved by death. We stood up 10 our
knees in water at the temperature OF forty.hyc
degrees and frequently the sea broke directly over
us. We were soon separated from our friends on
other parts Of the wreck, and passed terrible
night, each one expecting every hour would be
came, accompanied by dense fog. Not a living
soul but our party to be seen, Of whom only seven
men were left In the course Of the morning we
saw some water casks and other things belonging
to- orr Inflated ship, but could get nothing that
would aiIori us any relief, and oui rain was rapid
Isl M Woodruff breaihed his last, and all the 9TH
lcrs. except Mr.. Geo +. Allen, OF New York, and
myself began TO suffer overwhelmingly for want Of
water In this respect we were very much favor
ed, although we had not drop OF fresh water on
the raft The day continued very foggy, except
lust a, noon, as near as we could judge when we
had clear horizon for about halran hour. Moth.
ing could be seen but water and sky Night
again came on, thick and dreary, and our minds
were fully made up that none OF us would aguln
see the light Of day. Very soon three more Of our
suffering party were washed or and sank TO rise
no more, leaving only Mr. Allen young man
and myself. ) ii.'y o,T1y'H = 11imp. .
Finding myselfvcry much exhausted, now sai
down Tor the first tune, mt about 8 clock, PM,
on n trunk, which had providentially been found
through the night and became somewhat refresh.
ed. In about an hour from daylight we saw q
vessels light near US, and ell three Of us excrted
ourselves 10 the utmost Of ocr strength in haiIns
her until we became quite exhausted. In about
quarter Of an hour'the ligh, disappeared 70. The
Eastward 81 u.s. Soon unef daylight. baraue
|lishtened little. She was apparently steering
|for us Int in n short time she seemed 10 have