The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-05
WRECKS rEcoMiYo RAErr.

in collision between Havre and New
York in 1873, s26 lives.
wRrcks BECOMING RAEEE.
1t is comforting to notice that the
losses in the earlier days oil steam navi-
CATION are much heavier than they have
been in recent years, but the later dis
asters are still numerous. The foregoing
summary, which is Incomplete, shows
the Cimbria, the Naronic, the Geiser
and the Sud-Amerika have all been lost
within twelve years. The Elbe tragedy
reminds us that the danger ia always
present. The liners appear to have had
better luck in recent years. Accidents
OF the most alarming character have
happened without loss oil life. The sink
ing OF the Oregon of Fire Island in 1885,
without fatality, seems miracle. The
accident to the City OF Paris, which
placed her for DAYS at the mercy Of the
least rough weather that might come
up, is not less wonderful. Better equip.
ment, discipline and life.saving appli.
ances must reasonably be supposed to
have something TO do with the fortunate
ending Of shese accidents.
An historic ocean calamity was the
sinking Of the Arctic. by which great
many well known New York families
were bereaYed. She was the crack ship
Of tha Collins line, an American firm,
and was built In New York. Leaving
Liverpool on September 20, 1854, she
was struck when seven days gu. by the
French screw steamer Vesta. The
Arctic was worked by paddles. OF
more than four hundred passengers
about one.tenth escaped. Some seventy
oil the passengers were tranferred just
ne the ship was sinking to a, large raft.
a passenger named McCabs was event.
ually the only person OF the whole mum.
Der to reach land. Hero is an extract
from his story:
McABE's STORY.
The sea, though not strong, was
rough, and the waves, as they rushed
remor,elessly over tho raft, washed
away portion OF its living freight. 1t
was an awful scene--a multitude Of
human beings in the midst OF tho ocean,
without the slightcst hope Of assistance,
while every minute one by one was
dropping into watery gave from sheer
exhaustion. Those who had liio.prc-
servers did not sink. but foated with
their CHASTITY faces upward, reminding
those who atill remained alive OF the
fate that awaited them.
"Of those who dropped away, como
hoaled of and were gnawed and eaten
BY fshos, while others were washed I'M
der the raft, where their faces could be
Rsen through the openings as they were
swayed to aud fro by the waves. The
'Talt at one timo was 60 crowded that
many had to hold on by one hand.
Very few words were spoken by any,
and the only sound to BIO heard was the
splash OF tho waters or the heavy
breathing OF the poor sufferers, rs they
tried to recover thoir breath after Il
wave had passed over them. Nearly all
were submerged TO their armDits, while
a lew could with difficulty keep their
heads above the surface.
"The women were the first to 20.
Theyworo unable to stand the exposure
moro than three or four hours. They
al iCIt Ol tub ihib WithOus u "oiht u$s-
cept one poor girl, who cried out in in.
tense agony: oh. my poor mother and
s Bisters!"
AT the end OF the day McCabe was
the only person left alive on tho raft,
During the night OF the second day ho
wa, rescued by the second officer and
some sailors OF tho Arctic in n boat.
Not single woman Of the Arclic's pas
sengers was saved.
THE CENTRAL AMERICAS LOSS.
The steamship Central America,
when she left Aspinwall for New York,
on September 8. 1857, carried more
than four hundred passengers and
$1,000 1000 Of treasure, shipped from San
francisco. Sho encountered ono OF
tho fercest gales ever known, sprang a
leak aud sank off Cape Hattoras on Sep.
TENDER u. lhres.fourths OF her pas.
sengers and all her cargo were lost.
Several vessels came to tho assistance OF
the Central America in her distress, but
were only able to sayo 157 pasaongers.
A, firemen, named Alexander Grant,
who vn . a ovad frop, ti,la ahin had oIpn