Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-10-24
Loss Of the ocean steamer Arctic.

NEW YORK, Oct. II, 10 A. M.-Geo II.
Burns. express messenger for Adams & Co
on board The Arctic. gives The following in
regard to The loss Of the steamer: On
Wednesday. Sep. 81, precisely a, l2 o'clock
NJ, In dense fog. we came in contact win
a barque.rigged iron propeller, with black
hull, salmon colored deck and boats, and
black pipe. She was bound eastward, and
had all sails set, with strong, fair wind.
The speed Of the Arctic al lhe time was
about Ihireen knots an hour. The shock 10
US appeared slight, but the damage TO the
other vessel was lrightful Capt. Luce in
s'aplly ordered the quarter boats cleared
away, and the chief mate, boalswain and
three sailors went TO her relief. Before o,h.
er boats lel, the order was conr.erman6ed.
The Arctic then described circle twice
around, The wreck, during which time caught
glimpse Of more Than two hundred people
cluslered on her hurricane deck. A, this
juncture il was first ascertained thai we had
sustained injury, and the water was pouring
in at our bow when the frs, officer came
| alongside to repor. The Captain was un.
able 10 take him up, but headed N. n. w.
in The hope Of making land.
AT the lime Of the collision we were sup.
posed 10 be about 40 miles from Cape Race,
The pumps were vigorously worked, and an
anchor chain thrown ovei board: bur in spite
Of all exerions, the engines stopped, and The
water ex,nguished The fires. -Four Of the
five other life boats believed 10 have been
well Provisioned. containing the engineers
sailors, few passengers, and all the officers
excep. the captain and third MAZE, lei. the
ship at an earIy Stage.
Theinsjori,y Of The passengers were work.
ing al the pumps, some firing the signal guns
and Others launching spars. Under the di.
rec.on Of Capt. Luce and Mr.. Dorain, the
third maIe formed raft; in order TO facili
tate this latter work, the sixth and last boa
was lowered Dorain. one or two fsemen
three OF The passengers saved, and myself
were busy lashing water casks and seMees io
the main yard, Two top gallant yards anc
several spars. The captain with number
of gentlemen were protecting the work by
keeping back the crowd, when panic seizeC
all on board.
i A ,ush was made, passengers and fivemer
prtcipiIa,ed themselves over The buwark,
on 10 the. rafi and in q moment our hui,
boat was full. and in imminent danger o
being sunk in this emergency.
Drain ordered the rope which held us IL
the steamer 10 be cut. and with ou, hands
and axes, we padded from the RATS side
The mate. who throughout. preserved grea
presence of mind and labored with heroi,
energy, cried OUT, "For Gods sake, Captain
clear The raft SO that we can work. ! won
leave The ship while there is q timber abov
water" Blu, The ship was now flush will
dead lights. in less then three minutes from
} The time he spoke. the Stern sunk. Th
foam ven, boiling over The .umbIing heap q
I 4nio1 : sess-.-..s Many were dcshed forwar'
against Me pipe. ! heard one wild yell. sill
ringing in my ears. and saw tho Arc,c an
,hs struggling mass rapidly engulphed. Tn
! contents Of oiheriboais supposed 10 be saved
'tthAp, thirty known 10 be safe; other boar
IL. -yesDeard from. Most Of those saved il
Z tho other boats were altachees Of The Arctic
J but lew of the passengers were with Them
Captain Luce, wife, daughter aud son Of E
K Collins, were lost.
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