Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-14


Respectfully, Gro. H. BURNS,
Adams s Co.'s Express, Philadelphia.
New YORK, ocroBER 10, 1854.
STATEMENT OF MIR. BALKAN.
The following statement of the loss of the Arctic
is given by Mr.. BALKAN, second officer, who, with
other officers and crew and some passengers, saved
in two of the first boats reached the shore at Broad
Cove, and arrived at ST. Johns on Tuesday last.
It has been forwarded by Telegraph:
On Wednesday, the 9th, at noon, Cape Race bearing
NV. sixtyfve miles distant, while running in thick
fog struck the starboard bow about sixty feet
abaft Of the cutwater by iron steamer which made
three large holes in the ship below the water OF
which was sbout five and half feet in length and one
and half feet wde letting the whole cutwater and stem
of the iron steamer clear through the Arcc's sides
The fog dense that the vessel could not be seen
minute before the collision The wheel was put hard
sarboard and the engine stopped and instantly backed
full speed until clear Of the other steamer which
cupied couple of minutes
The propeller believed to be French vessel, and
was sinking bow first Capt. Luce Immediately gave
ders to clear away the quarter boats which being done
Gomey the chief officer left the Arctic in charge of the
sarboard boat On lowering the port boat the captain
exclaimed, Hoist up that boat again, Mr. Ballam and
beckoned to go to him. Upon doing he ordered
60 the steamer to ascertain if possible, what
damage had been done. then found the holes above
mentioned. Uponinformng him of the facts, he gave
orders get the sails up and try and get them around
the to endeavor to stop the leak which was prompt
y DONE but was Of advantage whatever SO much Of
the bow broken off from the other steamer project
ing that the sails could not be brought close to the
side The carpenter was then lowered over the yes
sells side and pillows and mattresses passed down to him
In Int leak 10
far below the waterne that they could not be got in
Every exertion to stop the leak having proved unava
ing Capt Luce then ordered that the ships head be Kept
for land which bore NV by w. By this time we hadlost
sight Of the chief officers boat and the other steamer
which are supposed to have sunk
We had not been course than FIVE minutes
before boat and belonging to the other
vessel all of whom persisted with the exception of one,
who caught hold of rope hanging over the bow. Di-
recty the boat orders given to stop heen-
gne which the chief engineer said could not be DONE
the ship was fast sinking
In about thirty minutes all the lower fires out and
three feet 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 in
keeping the deck pumps going and in tightening the ship
forward for purpose Of endeavorng to get at the leak
from the inside 1t was, however, found to be useless
and numbers of them going into the boats which
were still hanging to the davits.
Forty five minutes after the collision came up from
the orehod and informed the captain that the water
on level with the lower deck beams and that it was i'm
possible to get at the leak then asked him what he
thought would be the fate of the ship when he stated his
belief that there hopes Of saving her. He then
| told me to see to my boats
On going to the boats the port side found them
completely filed with men, women, and children, and no
possibility Of getting them. Immediately went to
the sarboard side and ordered two of the to lower
the guardboat and asked the captain what were his in
teniions He said that the ships fate should be his
then asked him if he would not allow his to he
returned me answer that he should share his fate.
Il being discovered that there was hope Of saving
the Arctic the lady, daughter and of E. K COLLINS,
with several ladies' were put board boat and in the
act of lowering of the tackles way and all
cept lady, who cung to sailor who held fast to the
boat, were precipitated into the sea and lost.
then jumped into boat, and ordered by Capt.
Luce to cut the tackle falls and drop under the stern
did So and ct the time about twenty persons jump
ed overheard whom seventeen eighteen picked
up We fell in with another boat which had been lowered
from the other side and ghtened her of part Of her
complement leaving nineteen in her and twenty six in
my boat.
The lest sight had Of the ship her guards level
with the water and the surface of the strcwn
with human beings who jumped overheard, to whom II
was impossible render any assistance and lost
sight of all, as the fog continued very dense.
We were about sixty miles southeast Of Cape Race,
and deeming it my duty to take the nearest for
the safety of ALL after pulling for forty hours with
thing to guide but the Of the sea- which took to
be heavng from the southwark and in thick fog which
lasted all the time reached Broad Cove twelve miles
north Of Cape Race and then proceeded by land to Re-
news which reached on Friday last.
We there obtained and took charge Of small schoon-
er which was hired and proceeded Immediately in search
Of the wreck boats. cruised around in strong
gale of wind from northeast but discovered no trace OF
the ship or boats.
sent word to Capt Letch, Of the City OF Philadei
pha steamer acquaintng him with the catastrophe, and
am informed he sent off two vessels which ne had en-
poyed about his own ship.
No trace Of the Arctic boats could be found but as
there we're many vessels the where the dis