Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-23

4
offer assistance, but In attempting to
board the Arctic their boat was cap
sized and all but one Of Its crew were
lost, either by being struck by tho wheel
of the Arctic or by drowning, or both.
The single survivor was saved by the
crew Of the Arctic. Mate Gomley, OF
the Arctic, lost his way In tho fog and
did not get back TO his ship, but eventu-
ally reached shore.
1t was not until shortly after the Arc
tic had resumed her homeward course
that the gravity Of her injuries was dis
covered. She was f0nd to be taking
water rapidly, and efforts wero made to
stop the break In her hull by passing
sails under her and by thrusting mat
tresses and pillows into the holes. The
anchor chains were thrown overheard
to tighten her bow, but tho fragment Of
the Vesta's anchor was wedged In the
timbers SO firmly that 1t was impossible
| 70 dislodge 1t or TO get the sails close
enough to her to keep out the water.
The seriousness Of the situation now
became apparent to Captain Luco. The
vesta was out Of sight In the fog and
a considerable distance away, beyond
hearing Of the signal guns. He headed
directly for Cape Race, some forty five
to sixty miles away. For half an hour
good speed was made, but the lower
fires were then quenched by tho rising
water, although the steam handpumps
were both at work. In another half
hour the upper fires were out, and then
the great ship was a helpless wreck.
II seems strange as we look back
at the occurrences Of this sad day that
the outcome was so appalling. But an
i'll fate seemed to hang over the vessel.
When Captain Duchesne, Of the Vesta,
saw the Arctic steam twice around him.
he had no idea she was seriously hurt,
and afterward reported that he could
have accommodated ~ her passengers
and crew had he fottnd out that they
needed assistance. He thought when
she parted from him that she had gone
straight to Now York.
AS soon as Captain Luce found that
the Arctic must sink he took measures
to save his passengers. Even then, had
good order and discipline prevailed, all
could easily have been saved. The
Arctic foated for five and q quarter
hours after the collision (although no.
body knew but that she might 60 down
at any momont) The sea was smooth
and so remained for twenty-four hours,
and boats and RATS could easily have
gotten to land.
But 1t was not TO DO. A sad scene Of
insubordination and selfshness now be-
gan 10 DO enacted, relieved, God be
praised by some flashes Of noble hero
Ism,
Five boats remained after the first
mate left. -Four Of these were taken by
the engineers, sailors. fow passengers
and tho remaining officers, except Cap
tain Luco and Third Mate Francis Do
yian. The second mate, with two boats
and forty-five passengers, reached shore
Captain Luce, Third Mate Dorian and
George II. Burns, messenger Of the
Adams Express company, started the
construction and provisioning Of large
raft, while some Of the passengers and
those Of tho crew who remained worked
at the pumps and fired signal guns.
The boat had been lowered TO assist in
building the raft. and Captain Luce and
some Of the male passengers were help
ing keep the crowd back when panic
seized those on deck and they rushed
over the bulwarks onto the raft, at the
same time almost sinking the boat. In
this emergency Dorian cut tho boat
loose, and he and those assisting him
hurried 1t away from tho raft. The
noble man behaved throughout with
great presence Of mind and labored with
heroic energy. When the panic started
he cried: "For Gods sake, captain, clear
the raft 80 that we can workl won't
desert the ship while there's timber
above wateri'
Thus much precious time was lost.
The people did not believe that those
who were trying to assist them were
sincere, and prevented them from pro-
viding means Of escape.
The captain, when urged to leave,
stated that tho fate Of tho ship should be
his and his little sons.
Master Collins, son of tho proprietor
of the vessel, when offered life pro
server refused 1t, saying he would not
take y while any woman on board was
without one. He perished with his
mother and sister.
Another faithful one, and one whose
quiet heroism shone out brighter as the
prospect became darker, was young
man named Stewart Helland. He was
ON engineer under instructions and but
49, A. ~ a
bis companions In the engine room took
10 the boats and deserted, no remained
ond did all he could to help save those
loft In tho ship. Just before tho ship
went down he was helping fire the sig
pal guns. Dorian called TO him to get
into tho boat with him. but he refused;
and Just as tho waters curlod over tho
ships sido as she went down his last gun
doomed over the SEQ and no sank with
tho moro than two hundred others still
ON the ship. most Of them to rise no
more. and among whom were all tho
women and children.
There was something go romantic and
heroic In the self sacrifice Of one so
young as Stewart Holland that his story
caused q sensation. He was n Washing
ton boy and had at ono time been en-
ployed In the navy yard hero. Tho peo-
pie Of Washington felt proud Of him,
and In response to general demand
subscription was started to erect mon
u,,a.,k 49, bio ,na,pnry 1,tba,r~ov,l,