The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21
THE ARCTIC CALAMITY.
United States circuit Court.
Before Hon. Judge Belts.


Before Hon. Judge Belts.
rsssksrAnr OF THE UNITED STATES GRAND JURY
RESPECTING THE LOSS OF THE srEAMsR ARCTIC,
AND RxAoNsrRAscE OF ONE OF THs GRAND
JURoRs. s.a
JAN 20-It has been generally known for some weeks
past that the United States Grand Jury have had under
Investigation the circumstances connected with the
disaster which befel the steamer Arctic in September
last and great anxiety has been manifested for the
result of their deliberations This morning they came
into Court and made the following presentment which
was read by the Clerk
PREsESrMBNT.
To DE Hon. Samuel r. Belts Judge Of the United States
OYrcua Court for the Southern District Of the State Of
ReV Fork.
The Grand Jury of the above court have had no
ubject before them, during their recent session. of
reater Importance than that connected with the cir
cumstances attending the loss of the steamer
Arctic, q casualty involving the destruction Of life
and property to an almost unparalleled degree and
one in which the sympathies of our people were
ended from far and near toward the friends and rea
tives OF those who the sufferers in that event.
The attention OF those having in charge the public in
terest seemed imperatiyely called to critical examna
ton of the circumstances connected with this
renee with view provide remedies against similar
accidents in future. The Grand Inquest have there
fore caused brought before them such witnesses
could give evidence pertinent to the casualty ITSELF
and others who, from their nautical experience
supposed to be competent to suggest against
their recurrence.
III
Arctic, Of the Collins line, Captain j. Q. Luce LETT
Liverpool the 10th of September 1854; that the
10th afog was encountered which continued increas-
ing in density at intervals, until the 27th that the
ship continued under her usual rate of speed and
suing the usual practice under like circumstances,
made OF signals by the bell, whistle gun,
signify her position Not long previous to the acct
dent passenger asked Captain Luce il they could
through the log far as they could run in three
minutes. Captain Luce replied, eyes, just about.'
At the rate the ship was going, 1t would be about
halfa mile
AT about T. or Ave minutes past IL O'Clock at noon
the 9th September, the ship in latitude So deg
as min, and longitude 81 deg, steering, west by compass
land, the fog still continuing, and the vessel going
the rate Of about twelve miles per hour AT the time
mentioned the man on the look out at his station dis
covered vessel approaching, aud called out "Hard
starboardp which repeated by the officer of the
deck, (Mr. Baalam) and answered by the man at the
wheel Almost instantly thereafter the Arctic was
struck about forty feet from her cutwaer her
board side by the bow of steamer, which afterward
proved be the French IRON steam propeller Vesta
the result OF the collision being as afterward ascer
tanned to make in the side of the Arctic three holes
above and one about two feet below the water marx.
Capt Luce being a. the time Ia his aud hearing
the word meimmediately deck together with
raj OF the passengers and The vesta observed
abe passed. to have her bow carried away aud large
number OF people discovered her decks The sig
nal given to stop the Arctic and the captain ordered
the boats to be lowered The chief mate, Mr. Gouray,
with five or six of the put off to the assistance Of
the vea The Arctic then went ahead and sailed around
the vesta two three times. Some fifteen twenty
minutes elapsed when Of the passengers and
OF the Arctic observed that she careened and ut that
moment the chief engineer reported to the captain that
she making water very fast, and that shs go
ahead in order to work the blgepumps The order to
lower the remaining boats was then counermanded by
the plain they beng at the time but partially lowered
and difficult to clear. Mr. Gourlay, in the boat under
his command, seen making for the ship, when ths
captain called to him. saying I'VE cannot wait the ship
must go ahead No more OF that boat and
crew and the yesta at the time lost in the log
the conclusion was that she had gone down.
Tue order was then given to steer northwest for tue
land being supposed that the leak could be sufficient
y stopped to enable The vessel to reach shore Tue
hsnd-pumps worked, and all movable things
psced the opposite sis of the vessel The carpenter
being let down by rops to ascertain the nature of the
injury, reported the hole to be about six eight feet
in direction BY two in another BY direct OF the
captain the carpenter went below to endeavor to cut
away aud get at the leak the inside but failed to find
It, Saiis were let down with view to the Leak
and il by some proposed to stop the ship Roadway
which by others opposed and the latter opinion
ing topreva the shipwenton Notwithstanding that
iron bars attached to the sails the ships side
with view 10 keep them in their place 1t found that
from the sharp build OF the bows and the natura
totally iueIee,ua Mr.. Gram. second saSia p Ws
senger, with the assistance of Captain Luce ant
Others, erected stage over the side of the vessel
with pillows, blankets and mattresses, attempted
stop the leak hut uusuccesstuly. AT this junctur
the fires in the lover hold reported to be cut
aud scene Of some confusion commenced amoai
the coal passers and hremea, who rushed decs
being repeatedly ordered by the assistant enginee
to return to their duty, they complied but momsnta
rily, ADD after passing coal into the upper fire
again returned deck. The second boa
was nov prepared for. the passengers, and
in IT, with few OF the hands of the ship; but by som.
Encouragement in lowering the boat the rope at
end let too coon, and all in the boat but TIVE
iost in the This accident occasionei
great CONSERVATION among the passengers, and a
ahsr greater 0p chances Of life Mr. SANFORD
one OF most distinguished citizens, expressed his
preference for remaining by the ship rather than nger
out little enger existeace in the boat The ship
at this time going the rate OF about hve miles hour
soon after Mr. Baalam the second mate ordered by
the captain to man third boa, and drop astern He
~ n of hau a I'll
Themselves down by the falls and from under the wheel
placed themselves in the boat Observing this and that
the boat fast being filed to her capacity, the
captain ordered her to be cut loose At the
time several passengers and hands were, with the
captains kno wledge filing boat the opposite side
OF the ship; the ships butcher who the
ber cut the rope unknown to the captain the boat lett
the ship, and has not since been heard from Mr. Baa
ANS boat picked up several passengers who had jumped
from the ship into the seathsy had been watching this
boat for the opportunity when she left Meauwhilc the
ship was moving slowly ahead those In the boat
could the bell but the fog prevented q sight of
the vessel Rowing the direction of the SQUAD they
came in sight of the ship, and met smaller boat
tanning twenty persons IRON these taken
into Baalams boat making total OF twenty six In the
latter After come consideration upon the chances of
being OF service to those this ship aud upon the
poets OF their safety 1t judged best to AXE for
the land steering the that the ship directed
to take before they left This Wednesday the 9th
September, at O'Clock, p. NJ The two boats reached
land lat Cape Race on Friday morning the 18th.
Tue hres IN the steamer having gone out the ship
with hands, under the excuse OF going to the leak,
manned tho fifth boat. They stopped moment at
the leak and then left the ship-not having since
been heard OF, they are supposed to be lost II
suggested, for the first time to construct raft
and as many spars could be found thrown
overheard. Nothing could be obtained to fasten the
spars together but few spikes aud some rope
yarn. The carpenter having left, they could not
6nd implements 10 WORK with. The only aiming
was the quarter deck filed with ladies' and children
waiting for the ship TO down thinking that TO be their
only chance for safety Mr. Dorian, requiring this boat
to facilitate In constructing the raft obliged TO
quest them TO leave it. While this boat was launched
many were preparing small rats of DOORS settees &c.
others assisted in constructing the large raft The
tain detained the from the boat and ordered that
should lay between the ship and the raft. Mr. Do
ran placed two men in the boat, with axes in their
hands, TO protect the boat while the raft being
structed The ship at this time discovered TO be on
the point Of sinking rush made and the oat wa,
showed outside the raft, and whsn the ship down
the boat with thirty one persons board pushed