The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-10-11


Steamer Arctic:
HALIEAx, October IL.
No advices Of the missing boats of the
Atetfe.y In addition " I The Ibrigantine Ann
Eliza, despatched by Wsrren & Bros. un.
der arrangements with the American Consul.
and other vessels, we are happy to state that
the right Rev. Mr. Field has placed his
yacht Hapk, at the disposal of Mr.. Newman,
who lost nc. time in engaging a-eFsW and #.
ting her out for sea. She left at I p. M.
yesterday, with Instructions to cruise for six
days to the southward of the Island.
1t is generally expected that Mr.. White,
of the New York, New Foundland and Lon.
don Telegraph Company, would have de.
spatched the Company's steamer Victoria,
in search of the Arctic The steamer arri.
we'd from the westward yesterday. We nm.
derstand the reply to Mr.. Newman's 8 applica.
ton for her was that she could be had for
500 per day. She is about 400 tons burthen.
The following statement Of the loss of
Mr.. BALKAN, I'd officer, appears in an extra
of Tuesday. Mr., B. and the other officers
and crew saved in the 9 boats, arrived ut
Broad Cove, and reached here on Tuesday:
"On Wednesday the 9th, noon, Cape
Race bearing northwest 65 miles, while
running in very thick fog, we were struck
on the starboard bow about go feet aback
the cut-water, by an iron steamer, which
made three large holes in the ship. two be.
low water, one Of which was about 81 feet
in length, and II wide,. leaving the whole
cut-wuter and stem of the iron steamer
through the Arctic's side. So dense was
the fog that the vessel could not be seen a
minute before the collision. The helm was
put hard a starboard. .,as r;aB
The engine was stopped instatly and back.
ed at full speed until clear of the other
steamer, which occupied about two minutes.
The French steamer seemed to be sinking
bow first. .-. rs.,...,,
Capt. Luce Immediately gave orders to
clear away the quarter boats, which was done
and Mr.. Gourley, chief officer, left the Are
tic in charge of the starboard boat. On low
ering the port boat the Captain exclaimed,
"Hoist up that boat again, Mr.. Balham," and
beckoned me to go to him. Upon doing 30
he told me to 90 over the bow TO ascertain if
possible what damage had been done.
then found the holes above mentioned. Up-
on informing him of the fact, be gave orders
to get sails out to try and get them round
about to endeavor to stop the leak, which
"uo ploubpbAy uoHCt put " uU duVHuLnR6
whatever, as SO much of the bow and iron
broken off the other steamer was projecting
that the sails could not be brought close to.
the vessels side.
The carpenter was then lowering down
over the vessels side, and pillows and mat
| tresses passed down to him to try if possible,
to force them in, but the leak was found to
be SO far below the water line they could
not be got in, and every exertion to stop the
leak proved unavailing Captain Luce then
ordered the ships head to be kept ahead,
which bore N. w. & w. By this time we
had lost sight of the chief officers boat, and
the other steamer, which we supposed had
sunk. We had not been on our course more
than or minutes before she ran over a
boat and crew belonging to the other vessel,
all Of whom perished with the exception Of
one who caught hold of a rope hanging over
the bow. Directly after the boat was seen,
orders were given to stop the engine, which
the Chief Engineer said would not be done,
as the ship was fast sinking. f"
In about 80 minutes, all the lower fires
were out, and at least three feet of water in
the ship, fore and aft By this time the ,n-
fusion amongthe passengers was very great,
but they used all efforts to assist the crew in
keeping the deck pumps going, and in light
ing the ship forward for the purpose Of en-
Sdeavoring to get at the leak from the inside,
which was found to be useless, and numbers
of them going into the boats which were
still hanging to the davits. 1: 3@.5 %'lsf7
! In As minutes alter the collision came
up from the fore hold and informed the Cap
tain that the water was on level with the
lower deck, and it was impossible to get ut
the leak. then asked him what he thought
would be the fate of the ship; when he sta
ted his belief to me that there was no hope
of saving her. He then told me to see to
my boats. On going to those on the port
side, found them completely filled with
men, women and children, and no possibility
of getting near them. / Immediately went
| to the starboard side and ordered two of the
crew to lower the guard boat, and asked the
Captain what were his intentions. He re-
| piled that the ships fate should be his. Z
then asked him if he would not allow his som
to 60, as intended to take boat; but he.
| returned me the answer that he should share
his fate.
1t was soon discovered that there was no
hope of saving the Arctic, and the lady,
daughter, and son Of Mr.. E. K. Collins, with
several ladies', were put on board boat
In the act of lowering which one Of the
tackles gave way and all except one lady.
who cluug to sailor holding fast TO boat,
were precipitated into the sea and lost.
then jumped iuto q boat and was ordered by
the Captain to cut away the tackle fall and
drop astern. .,.as
did SO, and at the same time about 20
persons, I suppose, jumped overheard, Of
whom II OILS were picked up. We fell in
with another boat, which had been lowered
from the other side, and lightened her Of
part of her load, leaving 10 on her and 26
on my own boat. 'jnl3 +7'ss.t llFH ..+
The last sight we had Of the ship her
guards were level with the water, and the
surface of the sea was covered with human
beings, who had fallen or jumped overheard
to whom it was impossible to render assis-
tance, and we soon lost sight Of all, as the
fog continued to be very dense. i then ask.
ed the boats crew whether they were willing
to be governed by, me, which was unanis
mously assented to, and was put in com.
plete command of both boats. We were
then so miles south of Cape Race. alE
Deeming it my duty to take the near est
course for the safety Of all, after pulling fos
40 hours with nothing to guide us but the
run Of the sea, which took to be heavy
from the southward and on thick fog which
lasted all the time, we reached Broao Cove,
some twelve miles south of Cape Race
Al. Ill n