Year: 1879

CAPTAIN JAMES C. LUCE


Captain James C. Luce twenty 1--WE years ago COM
manaer of the i'll ,aed steamship Arctic OF the Collins
line died carly yesterday morning at his residence
in New Rochelle after very brief illness. He was
born at Rochester. Mass. April IL. 1905. and had
reached the ripe old age Of seventy-four years.
In his boyhood he had a strong passion for the sea-
and roseto be master of foreign trading vessel at
the age of nineteen. He commanded the Argus. Con-
steaton and other fine vessels that sailed out OF Bos
ton Harbor and early the existence of the Collins
steamship Company was given charge Of one OF
their best vessels He was q tall athletic. thorough
going seaman, OF pleasant and popular manners. ana
one in whom his employers placed the most uniim-
tied confidence. He took command OF the Arctic
after she was launched. followed her fortunes for
years and went down with her in the end. The loss
of this vessel with two hundred lives on board
made the most profound sensation of any marine
disaster that had happened up to that time 1t
brought sorrow and mourning to many house
holds throughout the land, and especially to the
home and heart of the enterprisng man who estab-
lshed the line of steamers to which the Arctic be-
loneed-Commodore Z. K Collins. who lost his wife
and two children in that appalling disaster. Cap
tain Luce lost his son. a boy of nine years to whom
he was devotedly attached and of whom he never
ceased to think till the day OF his death. Inc
news of the wreck created the most intense excite
ynent in ali the seaboard cities and the gallant
duct of the captain along with the thrilling MARIA
tive of his escape. with few others, from watery
grave were the themes Of every tongue and made
Luce the hero Of the hour But the popular ap-
plause had little solace him. The terrible
he had passed through and the loss of his idoized
boy made him resolve never to go to sea again.
resolution he kept to the end He became attached
TO the Great Western Marine Insurance Company,
in the capacity of Inspector and continued in this
employment till he died. The great feature OF his
life was of course his connection with the wrech OF
the Arctic, for otherwise his days were devoid or
incident The story is an absorbing one:-


The Arctic of the Collins line. sailed from Lv-
erpool September 20, 1854 with 233 passengers and
about $50 of a crew. Nothing of special note oc-
CURED during the passage until Wednesday. Septem-
ber 27, when she the Banks. The weather
had been foggy during the day. Generally dis
tance of half to three quarters of a mile could be
seen but ut intervals of lew minutes very dense
fog followed and it impossible to see 100 yards
ahead. At OF that day Captain Luce, who had
lett the deck the purposs of working out the po
sition of the ship, heard the cry OF Hard q star
board from above. and, rushing deck. just in
time to feel % crash forward and steamer under
his starboard bow. The next moment she struck the
Arctc's guards and passed astern. The bows Of the
strange vessel seemed to Captain Luce to be literally
cut ten feet and seeing that she must prob
ably sink in afew minutes, and taking nasty glance
at his ship, believing that he comparatively
uninjured. his first impulse was to endeavor to
the lives of those on board the sinking vessel The
boats cleared, and the first officer and six
left with boat. and then it was discovered that
the Arctic herself leaking fearfully.


The engineeSi set to work to put on the
steam pumps and the four deck pumps were worked
by the passengers and crew. The ship headed
for the land. which thought to be fifty miles
away. several inef:ectual attempts were made to
stop the leak by getting sails over the
a be most gawerxl eorts 70 tesn
her the Captain resolved to get the boats ready
and to place many ladies and children in them 9s
ha1t
than the fremen and others rushed into them in
spite of all opposition. Seeing this state of affairs
the captain ordered the boats astern to be Kept in
readiness until order could be restored, to his
dlsmay he saw the sailors cut the ropes in the bow
and soon disappear astern in the fog Another boat
was broken down by persons rushing at the davis,
aud many were precipitated into the sea and
drowned. This occurred while Captain Luce had
been engaged in getting the starboard boat ready
and placing the second officer in charge, and while
ooing this the same fearful scene as with
the first boat was enacted-Inen leaping from
the top of the rail down twenty feet crushing and
manning those who were in the boat. Orders were
then gwen to the second officer to let go and
after the ship, keeping under the stern to
be ready to take on board the women and children
Is soon as the and engines stopped.
About this time rush by the sailors and firemen
made tor the quarter boat. which was hanging
by one tackle Some fifteen got in cut the tackle
aud out of sight. Then the Captain found
that not seaman or carpenter was lett on board.
and they were without any tools to assist them in
The only officer left Mr. Dorian. the
third mate. The chief engineer with part Of his





and before the ship went down pulled away with
about fifteen persons. The Captain and mate
had succeeded in getting the fore, main ard two
topgallant yards overheard. and such other small
spars and materials they could collect, when the
Captain became convinced that the ship must go
down in a very short time and not moment to
be lost in getting the spars lashed together to form
raft. to do which it became necessary to get the
lifeboat. the only boat remaining, into the water
This being accomplished. Mr.. Dorian. the chief
officer took to keep the board to prevent
them from leaving the ship. hoping still to get
he
had made considerable progress in collecting the
spars when an alarm was given that the ship was
sinking. aud the boat showed off without the
oars or thing to help themselves with. and when
the ship sank the boat had got clear about eighth
OF a mile. In an instant and at about quarter to
i've +. NJ. the ship went down, carrying every soul
on board with her.
BRIEF struggle. holding his little boy in his
The next moment lie was impelled downward to u
great depth. and before he reached the surface o
second time he had nearly perished and had lost
hold OF his child. When he came on top
men. women and children struggling together amid
pieces wreck of every kind. calling each other
Tor help and imploring God to assist them. The
Captain in the act of trying to his child
when portion of the paddle came rus hing up edge
wise. just grazing his head, and falling with its
whole weight the head OF his darling boy.
The moment he beheld him floating
lteless on the water. He succeeded in get
ting TO the paddle box in company
for another piece finding that the paddle box could
not support so many and others re until they
were relieved after another by death. The tenn
perature of the water As degrees. and the sea
frequently broke over them. When morning
came not living soul be except the
seven on the paddle box. one of whom Cap
tain Luce. As dsy they suffered severely
want Of water TO drink. The day continued foggy,
except at noon, when they had clear horizon for
about halt hour. Night thick and dreary
ond their minds made up that o them
would see the light OF another day. Soon the party
diminished by four. VINO were relieved by death,
and three only remained. An hour before
daylight on Friday, the 10Th. they saw a
vessels light them, and all three ex-
erted themselves TO the utmost OF their
strength in hang her until they became quite
exhausted. In quarter of an hour the light dIsap.
peared. After daylight bark hove in sight. which
watched with the most intense interest. She
altered her course at time and their hearts sank
down in despair; but about noon she fortunately
discovered man a raft near those the paddle
box. and he taken on board, alter which he in
formed the Captain that Others pieces ci
the wreck and going aloft the skipper them and
they were sent tor and safely taken ON board. The