New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-25
THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ARCTIC

To the Editor Of The N. Y Tribune.
SIR: 1t is with deep regret that feel myself called
upon TO vndicate the conduct of my only brother on
the occasion Of the late disaster of the Arctic and
nothing but the fact that he is unable to answer for
himself would mpel so to do but as 1t Is he is not
TO be left to the merciless animadversions of some
who though board at the time, seem incapable or
unwilling to do him Justice. One eyewitness states
that he did all he could to the ship and left her
only when it was impossible to stay any longer for
fear Of being enguphed with the sinking vessel
Another says he went the bows under tent as he
supposes of fixing the sail so as to cover the leak.
Who gave the writer of that article such discrimna
ting pOwerf Nothing but an intaned Imagination.
He must have judged others by himself! know my
brother too ii TO believe word of it, for he has
commanded steamboats, many years before he occu-
pied his late position on board Of the Arctic and 1t
was no doubt painful in the extreme for him to witness
the inefficient efforts of the captain on that trying oc
casion. His duty was TO obey orders, not to give
them but when confusion became worse confounded
after painful lapse of nearly four hours after the col
son he sets about securing the safety OF himself and
others. His presence of mind is most remarkable IN
providing for the emergency Of not being able to re-
gain the deck of the ship by throwing on board OF his
boat some provsiOns But his efforts were fruitess
as rushed over the side OF the snip ana put
sop to bis humane eXertions by nearly sinking his
boat his constant protestatons that he
would not isr. the ship until she sunk, and Capt Luce
himself states that he only pulled away at the latest
moment, with his boat tregnteu "uh human me- Is
he TO be censured for not sinking with his ship, as
though il were a merit TO die Any man can
do this. True courage consists in living and causing
as many others to live possible, and the truth yet
to be revealed fear and come lives have beenspared
TO receive the benefit oft that an agency was at work
on that occasion that untitled some for the discharge
of entire duty. Confident am in my own mind that
Mr. Collins with whom deeply sympathze, viii not
feel entirely satisfied with statements so far as they
have reached us 1t is awful tragedy that so many
lives have been sacrificed, and, we conceive need
lessy and this bect is to be probed to the bottom
however dsagreeable il may be TO many to stand the
test of nvestg alton. If my brother Is censurabe let
il fall where il is deserved but hope in God his vau-
able life is spared and that long he will be ableto
answer for himself have studied this most remark
Die affair as closely perhaps any other person de-
string if possible to learn the fate of one dearly be-
loved and up the present time have not dlscov-
erred that any man has dared to do than lnsRud
TO his disadvantage. Tie was Chief Engineer OF the
Atlantic when she missing so long, and officers
and passengers on that occasion awarded him the
merit of highest skill Services OF plate were gwen
him and the press echoed his praises and shall he sink
now from his former exalted position No! but ist
us wait until his statement shall be heard ana
feel confident that the sunlight of innocency will yet
shine on his now seemingly darkened horizon
yorrs ,nost rssneetfully d. NJ. ROGERS,
Pastor Of 81 E. Church, There's, Jefferson Co.. n. Y.