The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-20
TIE Loss OF THE ARCTIC.
additional Facts anil Thrilling Incidents

The awful disaster 70 the steamship Arctic still
engrosses public attention, to the exclusion Of al
most every other topic The New York press
severely condemns the conduct Of the crew in SO
hastily leaving the ship. The Courier notes the
heroic sacrifice of himself made by Captain Luce,
the steady fidelity, the sublime courage, the grand
presence OF mind, and contrasts it with the heart
less conduct Of most of the subordinates Who es-
capped.
Patrick Tobin has published an interesting state
ment of the scenes that transpired when the COLI
sion occurred, After stating that the was
calm, the fog quite dense, and the steamer goin g
at her ordinary rate, he gives an account OF the
collision. and says:
MIR. Walker persisted in his duty, keeping up
steam until the water put out our fires. Our only
thoughts now were as 10 measures of escape
When got on deck all was confusion passengers
were working with desperate energy at the for
ward pumps. Frenchmen, Germans and English
were all calling in their different languages to the
firemen to help-them, and running to and fro on
the deck, sometimes rushing to the pumps and
rushing way again when relieved by Others.
Still the passengers seemed hopeful of being
saved. The absence of Mr.. Goure, the frs,
| mate, was great loss. He had been sent after
the collision 10 ascertain what damage had been
done to the propeller, aud when he returned, he
could not be taken boatd, we were making
| all speed for land. believe that if he had been
fon board to keep the sailors to their duty, and
have RATS rugged, many more would have been
saved.
The second mate, Edward Baalham, acted bad.
| ly, in my opinion. He lowered one OF the quar-
boats about 2 o'cIock-the ship did not 60
down until about 4 o'clock-and himself and mos
-of The sailors got into It. | saw nothing OF them
| after | came deck Thirty.two were saved in
our small boat, and the second mates boat nigh
-, a. IL 1L.Hy -.
The departure Of Baalham and the sailors, lef
! Capt Luce without experienced hands at rigging
RATS, the fremen knew Iiltle OF what should
| be done. Mr.. Rogers, the chief engineer, seemed
most active in his efforts to reduce the leaks and
do all he could under he circumstances He s;aid
by the ship until it dangerous for him to stay
longer, his boat in imminent risk of being
swamPed by persons jumping overheard, or being
carried down by the vortex made by the vessel
sinking.
| Dorian, the third mate, was most active, and
| staid by the ship until she, went down. The pas
| sengers, with despairing energy, stuck to the
| pumps, working to the last They were working
| on them up 10 the las. moment. 1t was awlu
sight. ! got TO the third mates boat just Ilule
| before the final catastrophe.
When first attempted to leave, the Captain
caught me and tore the shirt off my back TO pre-
vent my going, exclaiming-" Let the passengers
go in the boats - He also seized kind of axe
and attempted to prevent the fremen reaching tia
boat but it every for himself, and nc
more attention was paid 10 the Captain than tc
any other man on board. Life was as sweet to
US 10 others. -
Capt. Luce seemed like man whose judgment
was paralyzed. He paced the deck as if there
was no resort but to sink with his ship. He could
easily have saved himself had he sought his own
safety. saw him a few minutes before the Are.
tic disappeared. She went down by the stern;
| and with uplifled hands and a piercing yell which
| cannot describe, the crowd OF human beings on
/ her deck shared her fate. -s.-'.
The raft had not been cleared away when the
ship went down, and one of The spars caught un-