Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-10-20
NUMBER 80.
Loss OFTHE ARCTIC.
An interesting but Heart-rcndimg
NnrrAtiYe.

the telegraph column--this nai ratise gives
the reader all the incidents connected with
the loss Of this splendid steamer with her
freight Of four hundred souls, We have
no words to offer, at this moment. 10 COM
mentng upon this great calamity, The
Union is in mourning over it, and ten thous-
and prayers are offered up for the hearts
that are SO bereayed. a,as =
Halifax, Oct. IL.
No advices of the missing boats of the
Arctic.
In addition to the Brigantine Anne Eliza,
dispatches to Warren d. Brother state that
under an arrangement with the American
Consul and other officials we are happy TO
state that the Rt. Rev. Mr.. Field has plac-
ed his yatch Hawke a. the disposal OF Mr.
Newman who lost no time in engaging
crew and fitting her for sea. She left at
l P. M, yesterday, with instructions TO
cruise for six days to the southv ard Of the
islands.
1t is generally expected that Mr.. White.
of the New York, Newfoundland and Lon
don Telegraph Company, would have dis
patched the steamer Victoria in search of
the Arctic The steamer arrived from the,
westward yesterday. We understand the
reply to Mr. Newman's application for her
was that she could be had for$eOO per day.
She is about two hundred tons burthen.
The following statement Of BALKAN, the
Second Officer, appeared in an extra on
Tuesday. Mr. B. and the other officers and
crew, saved in the two boats, arrived at the
Broad Cove and reached here on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the 9th Sept, at noon,
Cape Race bearing N. W., IS miles, while
running in very thick fog was struck on
the starboard bow about go feet abaft the
cut water, BY sniron steamer, which made
three large holes in the side, feet below the
water-one of which was about g. feet in
length, and 4 wide Gearing the whole cut
water and stern off the iron steamer) clear
through the Arctic's side. So dense was
the fog that the vessel could not be seen
one minute before the collision. The helm
was put hard a starboard and the engine
was stopped instantly and backed at full
speed, and until clear Of the other steamer
which occupied couple of minutes. The
French steamer seemed to be sinking bow
first. Capt. Luce Immediately gave orders
to clear away the quarter boats, which was
done; and Mr.. Gurley, Chief Officer, left
the Arctic in charge of the stsrboard boat.
On lowering the port boat the Captain ex-
claimed "hoist that boat again." Mr.. BALKAN
beckoned to 60 to him. Doing SO. he told
me to 60 over the bow to ascertain, if pos
sible, what damage had been done IL then
found the hole above mentioned. Upon in
forming him of the fact he gave orders to
get sails up to try and get them round the
bows and thus endeavor to stop the leak,
which was properly done, but to no advan-
tage whatever. So much Of the bow and
iron broken off the other steamer was pro-
jecting that the sails could not be brought
close TO the vessels side. The carpenter
was then lowered over the vessels side and
pillows and mattresses passed to him, If
possible to force them in, but the leak was
found SO far below the water line that hey
could not be got in, and every exertion to
close the leak proved unavailable. Capt
Luce then ordered the ships head to be
put about. which bore N. w. by WY
this time we mad los, sight of the Chief Of
ficer's boat and the other steamer, which
we supposed had sunk.-We had not been
on our course more than four or five minutes
before she ran over boat and crew belong.
in to the other vessel, all who perished
with the exception of one who caught hold
of rope hanging over the bow. AS soon
as the boat was seen orders were given to
stop the engine, which the Chief Engineer
said could not be done as the ship WAS fast
sinking. In about so minutes all the low
er fires we're out ana, at least, feet Of wa
ter in the ship fore and aft. BY this time
the confusion among passengers was very
great. but they used all efforts to assist the
crew--keep the deck pumps and in light
ing the ship forward for the purpose of
getting 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 davits. II As minutes after the
collision | came up from the fore hole and
informed the Captain that the water was
on a level with the lower deck. 1t was
impossible to get at the leak. then ask
ed him what he thought would be the fate
of the ship when he stated his belief to me
that there was no hopes of saving her. He
then told me TO see so my beats, On GO
ing to those on the port side found them
completely piled with men, women and chill
dren 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 wha
we're his intentions, and he replied that the
ships fate should be his. then asked him
If he would not allow bis son to 60. as in,
tended 10 take boat. He answered that
he should share his fate. As soon as il
was discovered that there was no hopes o.
saving the Arctic, the daughter and son o
E. X. Collins and several ladies were pu
on board a small boat In the act Of low
ering the boat one of the tackles gave way
and all except one lady, who clung to
sailor, were lost. I then jumped into
boat and was ordered by the Captain to Gu
away the tackle--and drop a-s;ern, and a
the same time about 20 persons jumpe,
overheard. of whom IL or 1s were picked
up. We fell in with another boat whicl
had haan Io,,a.ol Co.. Az -tl, =. e.1o -,