The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-10-26

hold of nv chllO. AS oS"AH " 90
to the surface of the water, most awful
and beartrending scene presented itself
20 INV view-over two hundred men, wo-
men and children struggling together a.
midst pieces of wreck of every kind, cal
ling on each other for help, and implor-
ing God to assist them. Such an appal-
ling scene may God preserve me from ev-
er witnessing again.
81 was in the act of trying to save my
child when portion of the paddle-box
came rushing up edgewise, just grazing
my head, falling with its whole weight
upon the head of my child. Another
moment I beheld him ]ifeless in the wa
ter. | succeeded in getting on to the top
Of the paddle box, in company with elev-
en- others; one, however, soon left for an
other piece, finding that it could not sup
port so many. Others remained until
they were one by one relieved by death.
We stood in water at a temperature OF
45 deg, up to our knees, and frequently
the sea broke directly over US. We soon
separated from our frie nds on other parts
of the wreck, had passed the nighht, each
one of US expecting every Ecur would be
our last.
"At last the wished for morning came,
surrounding us with dense fog-not a
living soul to be seen but our own party
seven men being left. In the course Of
the morning we saw some water casks
and other things belonging to our ship,
but nothing that We could get to afford Us
any relief.
"Our raft was rapidly settling, as it
absorbed the water.
About noon Mr.. S. M. Woodruff, OF
New Y ork was relieved by death. All
the others now began to suffer severely
for want of water, except Mr.. Geo. +. Al
len and myself. In that respect we were
very much favored, although we had moi
drop on the raft. The day continued
foggy, except just at noon, as near as we
could Judge, we had clear horizon for
about half an hour, and nothing could be
seen but water and sky. Night came on
thick and dreary, with our minds made
up that neither of US would again see the
light of another day. Very soon three
more of our party were relieved oy death
leaving Mr.. Allen, a young man and my
self Feeling myself getting exhausted
[ now sat down for the first time, about
eight o'clock in the evening on trunk
which proyidentially had been found Oh
the wreck, in this way slept q little
throughout the night, and became some
what refreshed.
About an hour before daylig ght-noW
Friday, the 29th-we saw vessels light
near to US. We all three of us exerted
ourselves to the utmost Of our strength ii
hailing her, until we became quite exhaust
ed. In about quarter Of an hour the Iii ght
disappeared to the east of US. Soon at
ter daylight bark hove in sight to the
northwest, the fog having lightened lit
tle-steering apparently for US; but in
short time she seemed to have changed
her course and again We were doomed to
disappointment; yet l felt hope that some
of our fellow sufferers may have been seen
and rescued by them.
"Shortly after we had given up al
hopes of being rescued by the bark, {
ship was discovered to the east of us
steering directly for us. We now watch
ed her with the most intense anxiety as
she approached The wind changing
caused her to alter her course several
points. About noon they fortunately dis.
covered a man on a raft near them, and
succeeded in saving him by the second
mate jumping over the side, and making
a rope fast around him, when he was got
on board safely. This man saved proved
to be Frenchman, who was passenger
on board the steamer which we came in
collision with.
He informed the captain that others
were near on pieces of the wreck; and,
going aloft, be saw US and three others.
We were the first to which the boat was
sent, and safely taken on board about 3
P. NJ The next was Mr.. James Smith,
Of Mississippi, second class passenger
Tue others saved were FIVE of our fremc a.
The ship proved to be the Cambria, from
Glasgow, bound to Montreal, Capt. John
Russell.
Captain Luce reached Montreal in safe
ty, and on Monday last arrived at his
residence in Yonkers, by railroad Thous-
ands turned out to greet him at all the
cities through which be passed; and when
he alighted at Yonkers his neighborS and
friends literally took him in their arms
and bore him like conqueror to his
dwelling.
The whole number of souls on board
the Arctic, passengers and crew, was 800
Of these between 80 and 90 are saved,
leaving over 800 to be set down among
the lost. Nearly all the persons saved
belonged to the crew. Not more than Is
or 20 pa assengers escaped.
The value of the Arctic was about
$4,000. The ship and cargo were in
sured principally in Europe.
The vessel which came in collision with
the Arctic, was the French steam pro-
peller VEsTA. She arrived at St. Sohn's
Newfoundland on the 30th of September,
three days after the collision, in a shat
tered condition. Her bows and fore
mast were damaged to very great ex-