Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-12

The fog was so dense that the vessel could moi
be seen minute before the collision. The vince
was put hard starboard, and the engine stopped
and instantly backed Al full speed until clear Of
minutes.
The propeller was believed 10 be French yes.
sci, and was sinking bow first Captain Luce inn
medately gave orders 10 clear away the quarter
boats, which being done, Gomley the chief officer,
left the Arctic in charge Of the starboard boat.
On lowering the port boat the captain exclaimed
I" hoist up that boat again, Mr.. Belham, and beck
oned me 10 go 10 him. Upon doing so he ordered
me 10 20 over the steamer TO ascertain if posi-
BILE, what damage he had done. / then found the
holes aforementioned.
Upon Informing him Of the facts he gave orders
TO get the sails up, and TO try and get them around
the bow 10 endeavor to stop the leak, which was
promptly done, but was Of no advantage whatever,
so much Of the bow broken of Of the other steam
or projecting that the sails could not be brought
close TO the vessels side.
The carpenter was then lowered over the YES
sells side, and pillows and mattresses passed down
10 him 10 try and force them in, but the leak was
found TO be 20 far below the water line that they
could not be got in. ~
Every exertion 10 stop the leak having proved
unavailing, Captain Luce then ordered that the,
ships head be kept for land, which bore N. w. by
w. BY this time we had lost sight of the chief
officers boat aud the other steamer, which are
supposed TO have sunk.
In ABOUT thirty minutes all Inc lower nree were
out and thirty 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 crew in keeping the deck pumps going, and in
tightening the ship forward for the purpose Of en-
deavoring to get az the leak from the inside. II
was, however, found 10 be useless, and numbers
of them were going into the boats, which were
still hanging to the davits.
g We had not been our course more than five
minutes before we ran over boat and crew be-
longing 10 the other vessel, all Of whom persisted
with the exception of one who caught hold Of a
rope hanging over the bow. Directly the boat was
seen orders were given to stopthe engine, which
the chief engineer said could not be done as the
ship was fast sinking.
Forty-6ve minutes after the collision / came up
from the forehold and informed the Captain that
the water was on a level with the Lower deck
beams, and that it was impossible 10 get at the
leak then asked him what he thought would be
the fate of the Ship when he stated his belief that
there was no hopes Of saving her. He then told
me 10 see 10 my boats.
On going TO the boats on the port side, found
them completely filed with men, women and chill
dren, and no possibility of getting near them.
Immediately went TO the starboard side and or
dered two Of the crew TO lower the guard boat,
and asked the captain what were his intentions
He said that the ships fate should be his. then
asked him Il he would not allow his son to go, he
returned me answer that he should share his
fate.
II was discovered that there was no hope of
saving the Arctic, and the lady, daughter and SON
of E. X. Collins, with several ladies' were put on
board boat, and in the act Of lowering il one of
the tackles gave way, and all except one lady, who
cung 10 a sailor, who held fast TO the boat, were
precIpitated into the sea and lost.
/ then jumped into boat, and was ordered by
Captain Luce TO cut the tackle falls, and drop
der the stern; did so, and at the same time
about twenty persons jumped overheard, Of whom
seventeen or eighteen were picked up. We fell
in with another boat which had been lowered
from the other side, and lghiened her Of part Of
her complement, leaving nineteen in her and
tweuty-six in my boat.
The last sight had of the ship her guards were
level with the water, and the surface of the sea
was strewn with human beings who jumped over
board, TO whom il was impossible TO render any
assistance, and we soon lost sight Of all as the fog
continued very dense.