Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-13
TIE Loss OF THE ARCTIC.
The fate Of the steaamrger Arctic has sprca

i ne iale OF the steamer Arctic has spread q
gloom over the whole community The intelli-
gence of her loss will be read with solemn awe
Z by the inhabitants Of two continents--while
/. many will read, in her fate, the sad'record Of
their own bereavement
From one Of the evils generally attendant on
such a catastrophe, this was, to great extent
free. The confidence Of her owner, and of many
experienced seamen, that she was yet safe, and
had merely met with some temporary cause of
delay, relieved every one from that sad suspense
which falls upon the heart with almost the
full weight of realized affection. But while the
absence of suspense prevented the prolonged
anxiety of those who were most deeply interested
in her safety, it added agony to the crushing
blow which fell with the intelligence of her
loss.
The heart-rending accounts of those who
witnessed the catastrophe have already been
Published. No one who was present can live
SO long as to raze from his memory the rooted
sorrow Of that moment The shrek Of despair
from. hundreds of helpless victims, is still ring
ing in the ears of the generous survivors, and
the bitter recollection of the scene must cast
cloud Of sorrow over the future.
We cannot admire too highly the cool and
gallant conduct of the brave captain of the yes
sell When all was lost, at least to him who
had determined to share her fate, with calm and
dauntless courage, and with heart filed with
true humanity, he exerted himself exclusively
for the safety of those who had been confided
to his protecting care He died bravely in dis
charge of duty. No man can claim nobler
epitaph. Of those who are reported to be
saved, we observe large proportion are the
officers and crew Of the vessel This probably
arose from the fact that they were together in
the same boat, and were more skilful in its
management than the inexperienced passen-
gers. Indeed, the boat that was relieved by
the Huron was the sixth, or last boat that was
launched, andthe safety ofthese gallant seamen
is but Just reward for their disinterested re-
gard for the safety of others.
For the safety of one of the unfortunate
passengers, who has long been a cherished
friend, we feel more than a common solicit
tude. DIR: Carter Page johnson, professor
of anatomy in the medical college of Vir-
GINA, was returning from brief visit to
Paris, where he had gone to enlarge his own
experience, and to establish scientific cores
pondence between the medical faculty there
and the institution of which he was a member.
His brethren ofthe college are even now await
ing his arrival to resume the duties of his
school. On them, and on his bereaved family
the intelligence Of his probable fate viii fall as
heavy blow. Though yet in the pride and
prime OF life, having scarcely attained his thir-
teth year, he had already gained for himself in
the city of his birth, the deserved reputation Of
man of science and ofgenius. But these high
qualities are as nothing when compared with
the genial nature of his heart, which made him
the beloved, as he was the pride Of the society
in which be moved.
There is another and a sad reflection which
all must have experienced in reading over the
long list Of those who we're thus called from
life TO watery grave by this relentless sum
mons. There is not point which is not the
centre Of some circle of its own and there il
probably no individual among the victims Of
that fated steamer who does not, by his death,
make gap in his own kind and kindred" In
that list, which we scanned with so much trem
bling anxiety lest we should find the name o
some treasured friend, there is not one who il
not the object Of some peculiar interest," and
some tender solicitude, The names of those
whom we thus pass over will, in their turn
arrest some straining eye, and melt il into
tears. Then let not se6sh nature mourn toe
exclusively over the loved lost one, or con
gratulate itself too gladly that il is free from
the common grief Let the generous tribute
of tears Aow freely for all who have thus sadly
passed away