Connecticut western news., 1892-09-08
HE DIED LIKE A MAN.

The year 1854 is memorable for the number of wrecks which took place dur ing its course among Atlantic steamers. The loss of no fewer than five large yes sells had already been chronicled when, on the Sd day of October, news reached New York that the Arctic, of the Col lins line of Liverpool steamers, had gone down under circumstances of pe- culiar interest and horror.
 She was one of the finest vessels of her time. She was side wheeler. had cost $700, ,000, and was insured for $500, 900. a
 On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1854, she was on her return trip to New York with 226 passengers Exclusive of children), mostly homeward bound tourists; a crew of 175, valuable cargo and a heavy mail, and had gotten within sixty five miles of Cape Race, the southeastern extremity of Newfoundland, when, ex- actly at noon, while steaming through dense fog, she was struck by the propeller Vesta, bound from St. Peters to Granville. .-. .. .. t.-...e
 Although the Arctic had two men in the lookout at the time of the accident the fog was so thick that the Vesta was not sighted until within minute of the time of the collision.
 The Arctic was making twelve miles an hour and the Vesta eight, and they struck head on. The stern of the Vesta struck about twelve or fifteen feet abaft the stern of the Arctic. At the moment of collision the Arctic was on the crest of large wave or swell, while the Vesta was in the corresponding trough, and the bow of the Arctic being ele- vated the Vesta struck her below the water line. The anchor of the Vesta was driven through the timbers of the Arctic and broken, and part of it was left sticking in the orifce. The Arctic was pierced in three places, two of the breaks being below the water line. The Vesta had about ten feet of her bow literally stove in and crushed off, and when Captain Luce, of the Arctic, hur- ried on deck and saw the Vesta he thought she must immediately go down.
 He dispatched his first mate, MT. Gomley, and boats crew to the Vesta to offer assistance, and turned his own vessel in the direction the Vesta had taken, and, reaching her vicinity, he steamed twice around her.
 He found to his surprise that no as- sistance was needed. The Vesta, though in appearance a nondescript craft, was provided with a bulkhead, which, re-enforced by 150 mattresses, pialliasses and other effects of the crew, kept out the water sufficiently Especially after the foremast had been cut away) to keep the vessel afoat until she reach ed port with the 149 persons who still remained aboard her.
 Soon after the collision Captain Du- chesne, of the Vesta, dispatched boat with crew of ten men to the Arctic to offer assistance, but in attempting to board the Arctic their boat was cap sized and all but one of it's crew were lost, either by being struck by the 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 the fog and did not get back to his ship, but eventu- ally reached shore. It was not until shortly after the Arc tic had resumed her homeward course that the gravity of her injuries was dis | covered. She was found to be taking water rapidly, and efforts were 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 l to tighten her bow, but the fragment o1 the Vesta's anchor was wedged in the timbers so firmly that it was impossible to dislodge it or to get the sails close enough to her to keep out the water. | The seriousness of the situation now became apparent to Captain Luce. The Vesta was out of sight in the fog and 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 hou1 | good speed was made, but the lower fires were then quenched by the rising water, although the steam handpump' were both at work. In another hal hour the upper fires were out, and the1 the great ship was helpless wreck. | at the occurrences of this sad day tha the outcome was so appalling. But al ill 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 all her passenger and crew had he found out that the, needed assistance. He thought whel she parted from him that she had gon straight to New York. As soon as Captain Luce found tha the Arctic must sink he took measure to save his passengers. Even then, hal good order and discipline prevailed, al could easily have been saved Tn
 Arctic foated for five and quarte
 hours after the collision (although nc
 body knew but that she might go dow
 at any moment). The sea was smoot
 and so remained for twenty-four hours
 and boats and rafts could easily hay
 gotten to land.
 But it was not to be. A sad scene 0
 insubordination and selfishness now be
 gan to be enacted, relieved, God b
 praised, by some flashes of noble hero
 ism.
 Five boats remained after the frs
 mate left. Four of these were taken b
 the engineers, sailors, a few passenger
 and the remaining officers. except CaI
 tain Luce and Third Mate Francis Do
 rian. The second mate, with two boat
 and forty-ive passengers, reached shore
 Captain Luce, Third Mate Dorian an
 George H. Burns. messenger of tn
 Adams Express company, started tn construction and provisioning of larg Eakt while soms of the passsussfs q,