New-York daily tribune., 1858-08-21
MARINE AFFAIRS.
THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE ARABIA AND
EUROPA.
STATEMENT OF TIE PASSENGERS OF THE ARABI.

EDEOfA.
STATEMENT OF TIE PASSENGERS OF THE ARABIA,
OS Board THE ARABIA, Aug. II, 1853.
oollsion having taken place between the snsn.
slip Europa, bound from Boston to Lv1pool, snd the
s'esrnship Arabia, bound from Liverpool to New
York, about ii O'Clock the ever;ug Of Saturday,
Aug. Ia, OF Cape Race, the subscribers. passengers
on board the Arsbis, desire TO pu! On record their
profound sense Of their Obligations to the Captain and
oiceTs Of tie ship, for the ski1, promptituds and
c6ursge, which ayered the impending Danger Toe
Arabia wss pursuing Ler course two men being on the
eok out at II bows, and each paddle b1I the
first officer, Nr. Anderson hs officer Of ths wa.ch q!
the tne standlr nearly sGdships, and Capt. Stone,
a. or near the sterp when Mr.. Anderson cav light,
which proved to be that Of the Earops on the star
boud bow, and very near. From the statements OF
eye witnesses, it appears that when the light was
fret discovered the relative positions Of the vesssls
and the speed at which they going, rendered q
collision at seme point inevitable. The alarm bell
was instantly rupg, and Mr. Anderson gave the order
to put the helm sstsrbosrd. The general rule in the
case Of vessels meeting each other from opposite
directions in the ocean, is that each shall put the
helm a-port. 10 this case the officer, Mr.. Anderson
saw that by following the rule, the Arabia would be
driven directly upon the course Of the Earops, and
must strike ber at right anges. Such c,i.on would
have sunk ship and perhaps both. The responsi.
bty of deciding what TO do Of the grsvest chsr
soter, and had to be taken instantly under circum-
that might well sppsll to the stou'sst heart.
Mr.. Anderson showed himself equal TO the emergency
and without an instsns hesitation, took the RESPONSE
bilty Of giving the order helm ostorbodrd which wa,
instantly executed This altered the Of the
Arabia about two points bsfore the ships came to-
gether, and the colson took place in slantDg drec
tioD at the bows. Both chips somewha. dam.
aged, but neither Of them fatally. No injury Of any
moment was done to any person on board of either
ship. The dan sge dore to the Europa csusng her to
leak made it necessary TO put into st. Johns for re-
pairs. Some injury was done to the bows OF the Ara
bs, and the pow-block Of the starboard paddle
wheel was much injured that it bscsme useless.
A detention of twelve hours was caused by the ne
cessity Of dscornectng the engine from the disabled
Wheel and making it fact and this injury is likely to
proloDg tie Arsbss voyege two or three days. Tais
appears to be the utmost extent of the dam.ge, in
collision between two powerful steamships Of nearly
equal force, under heavy fog and al full speed. So
extraordinary result we believe to be due under
Providence, to the admirable sesu anship Of Captain
Stone his officers and the engineer to the excellent
discipline of the men, and to the promptness and cour
age with which the officer Of the watch made up his
Judgment and gave the order in accordance with it.
We therefore, feel il duty TO express to them our
entire confidence in their capacity, skill and rmness
and belief that to these qualities, exercised in
most dangerous emergency, we are indebted, under