Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-10-21
LOSS OF TIE STEAMER ARCTIC


on the llth inst, bringing Intelligence
that the American steamship Arctic, ntt
the Collins line, had been sunk by a col.
ision with the French propeIl. er Vesta,
within a few hours run Of Cane Race.
The collision was in &ense loo en- the
27rh ulr., and resulted in the sinking of
the vessel and perishjng of nearly the
whole crew, numbering about 400. The
details FINISHED by the survivors rescued
are Painful IN the extreme. The follow
rg sta.ement by Peter McCabe, who was
picked up after floating on raft for twen-
ty-six hours, will give an idea of the suf-
tering attending this terrible disaster
81 left the door, and got upon the raft,
which had been partially constructed from
the spars we took from the vessel. 4
great many persons were trying to get Or
the raft. Some were clinging TO It with
oae hand, and, although ii was already
crowded, others were striving to get
foot-hold. Among the number who were
upon it saw four ladies. Their names
| did not know. Altogether, there were
yeveaiy-Sir persons on the raft The sea,
though not strong, was rough, and the
waves as they dashed over ii, washed a.
way a portion of its living freight. |
shall never forget the awful scene. There
we were, in the midst Of lie ocean, with
out the slightest hope of assistance, while
every minute one or more of our unlortu-
nate fellow passengers were dropping into
their watery grave from sheer exhaustion.
Those who had life Preseryers did not
sink, but Aoa!e4 with their ghaslly faces
upwards, reminding those who still re-
NAMED alive of the fate that awaited them.
sin the midst Of all this, thank Heav-
en-, never lost hope, bat retained my
courage TO the last. One by one | saw
my unfortunate companions drop OF;
some Of them GoaIed oil, and were eaten
and gnawed by fishes, while others were
washed under The raft, and remained with
me ill ! was rescued. | could see their
faces IN the openings as they were sway /
ed to and fro by the waves, which threat /
ened every moment to wash me of. The /
raft at one time was SO crowded that ma
ny had to hold on by one hand. Very
few words were spoken by any, and the
only sound that we heard was the splash f
of the waters or the heavy breathing OF
the poor sufferers, as they tried TO recov-
er their breath after wave had passed /
over them. Nearly ali were submerged .
to their aru-pils, while few could with
great difficulty keep their heads above the
surface. The women were the first to
90. They were unable TO stand the eX-
posurc more than three or four hours. T.
They all fell of the raft without word,
except one poor girl, who cried out in IN
tense agony, oh, my poor mother and
sisters
"When | was about eighteen hours on
the raft there were not more than three
or four left One of these gave me what
appeared to be a small map, but which |
understood him to say was sort OF title
deed to his property. In few moments
after took it, he 100 unloosened his hold
and was added to the number that lloaled
about the raft.
81 endeavored to get the paper INTO my
pocket, but found this impossible, on ac-
count of my cramped position, so placed
it between my teeth, and held II there til!
was overwhelmed by wave, when |
lost my hold Of it, and it was washed a
way. Another, who had an oiled silk
coat on, called on me, for Heavens sake,
TO assist him, as his strength was rapidly
failing, and he must fall of if not relieved. /.
As he was about four or five feet from
me, il was difficult to reach him, but after
considerable exerlions | succeeded in do
ing so, and helped him with one of my
knees until became quite faint, when |
was obliged to leave him to his fate.
Poor fellow, he promised me, if lie ever
GOT TO New York alive, he would reward
me we'll He chung with terrible tenacity
to life, but he, too, dropped oil IN his turn.
Il was now left alone OIL the raft; not
solitary being was alive, out of seventy;
but still my hope continued Strong. The
night Of the second day was about closing
on me, and during the whole time | had
been in the water had not eaten a partl-
Gle of anything or drank drop. My
strength, found, was beginning to give
way, and my sight had become so dim
that could not perceive objects a few
feet Of; even the ghasty faces OF the
dead, that looked up at me from under
the raft, were hardly discernablc. | de-
termnct on making one more effort for
life; raised myself on my knees upon
the raft, and through the dusk of the ev'
ening saw, or thought l saw vessel.
My strength seemed to revive, and in
few minutes heard the voices of persons
in boat approaching me. Fen minutes