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1036 THE LEADER. PfiAm.^v
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MR. PETO AND THE KING OF DENMARK. It app...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Loss Op The Akctic. Details Of The L...
rith the first boat was being enacted , men leaping from he top of the rail down twenty feet , crushing and ? aiming those who were in the boat . I then gave irdera to the second officer to let go and row after the ihip , keeping under or near the stern to be ready to take > n board women aud children as soon as the fires were jut and the engines stopped . My attention wa 9 then iirected to the other quarter-boat , which I found broken down , but hanging by one tackle . A rush was made for her also , and some dozen or fifteen got in and cut the tackle , and were soon out of sight . " In the meantime I found that not a seaman or
carpenter was left on board ., and we were without any tools to assist in building a raft , as our only hope ; and the only officer left was Mr . Doran , the third officer , who aided me with the assistance of the passengers , who deserve great praise for their coolness and energy in doing all in their power up to the very last moment before the ship sunk from un der us . The chief engineer , with a part of his assistants , had taken our smallest deck boat , and before the ship went down pulled away with about 15 persons . " We had succeeded in getting the fore and main yard * maintopsail , arid two topgallant yards overboard , and such other small spars and materials as we could collect , when . I was fully convinced that the ship must go down in a very short time , and not a moment was to be lost in getting the spars lashed together to form a raft . To do this it became necessary to get the life-boat , ' our only remaining boat , ' into the water .
" This being accomplished , I gave Mr . Doran charge of the boat , taking care to keep the oars on board , to prevent them from leaving the ship , hoping still to get th . e most of the women and children in this boat at last . They had made considerable progress in securing the spars together , when an alarm was given that the ship was sinking , and the boat shoved off without oars or anything to help themselves with , and when the ship sunk the boat had got clear , probably the eighth of a mile to leeward ; la . an instant , about a quarter to five p . m ., the ship went down , carrying every soul on hoard with her .
" I soon found myself on the surface , after a brief struggling with my own helpless child in my arms , when I again found myself impelled downwards to a great depth , and -before I reached the surface a second time had nearly perished and lost the hold of my child . As I struggled to the surface of the water a - most awful and heart-reading scene presented itself to my view , ; over two hundred men , women , and children struggling together amidst pieces of wreck of every kind , calling on each other for help , and imploring God
Almighty to help th . em . Such an appalling scene may God preserve me from witnessing again . I was in . the act of trying to save my child , when a portion of the paddle-box , came rushing \ ip edgewise , just grazing my head , and . falling its whole weight on tlie head of my darling child . In a-nother moment I beheld him lying lifeless in the water . I succeeded in getting him on the top of the paddle-box , in company with eleven others . One , however , soon left for another piece of the wreck , finding it could not support him .
" Others remainedl till they were one by one released by death . We stood in water at a temperature of 45 deg . up to our knees , and frequently the sea broke entirely over us . W ^ c soon seemcrl to sejmrato fronv our friends on other parts of the wreck , and passed the dreary night , each one of us expecting every hour would be our last . At Last the wished-for morning came , dreary and cold , with a dense fog ; not a living soul to he seen but our owav party , seven now being left . In the course of the morning we saw sonic wator casks and other things belonging to our ship , but nothing that wo could get could afford us any relief .
" Our raft was steadily settling , as it absorbed more nncl morn Avntcr . About noon , Mr . S . M . Woodruff , of New York , was relieved by death . All the others now began to suffer very severely for tho want of water , cxeopt Mr . Gcprgo I <\ Allen , and myself . In that respect wo were -vary innuh favoured , although we had not n drop on tho raft . 'JTlie day continued foggy , except just at noon , ' as near as we could judge . ' Wo had a clear horizon fov about half un hour , and nothing could bo soon but -wetor nml sky . "Night oamo on thick and dreary , with our minds made up that neither of ua would livu to sou tho light of
another day , and very noon three moro of our suffering p .-irty wero relievod by ( loath , leaving Mr . Allen n young ( Jormiin , and myself , Pooling myself getting oxliausted , 1 now nn t clown for tho ( Irst time , about eight o ' clock in tho ovonintf , on u trunk which providentially h «< l boon I ' mind on tlio wrook . In this way I slept , a , little through tho night , and became Homewhiit refreshed . About nn hour I ) oiV » ro daylight , now Friday , tho 2 Jtth , wo Haw a v < MHeTrt light nour to us , and wo all three of us oxortcil oursolviiM to tho ut most , of our strength in hailing , until we beeunuu quite exhausted . In about u quarter of an hour tlii ) light ( liaiuppoarod to tho oast , of us .
" Soon after ( lreylurht n Imrquo liovo in sight , to tho N . W . of iiH , tho fog now having lighted a little , Htuoriii ( j ; apparently for uh , Tint in u short time who seemed to have changed her course , and a ^ ain wo wore doomed to disappointment . Yet 1 feel in hopes that some of our followt * nHuron ) may huvo been » oon and returned by them . Shortly aftur we luul given up all hopofl of boiny rescued by tho barque a ship w «« discover ed to tho oust of un , Bt coring directly for ua .
" We now watched her with the most intense anxiety as she approached us , with the wind varying , causing her to change her course several points . About noon they fortunately discovered a man on the raft near them , and succeeded in saving him by the second mate jumping over the side and making a rope fast round him , by which , he was got on board safely . This man proved to be a Frenchman , who was a passenger on hoard the steamer with which we came in collision . He immediately informed the captain that others were on pieces of tlie wreck , and by going aloft he saw us and three others . '' We were the fir 3 t to which the boat was sent , and safely taken on hoard about three o ' clock p . m . The next was Mt . James Smith , of Mississippi , second-class passenger . The others saved were five of our iiremen . Tho ship proved to be the Cambria , of and from Glasgow , bound to Montreal , Captain John Russell , who commanded the barque Jessie Stevens , and was rescued at sea by Captain Nye , of the Pacific . * Of Captain Russell it would be scarcely possible to say enough in his praise for the kind treatment we every one of us have received from him during the time we have been on board his ship . His own comforts he has given up in every respect for our relief . Tlie Rev . Mt . Walker and lady , and Mr . Sutherland , wlio were passengers on board the Cambria , have been unceasing in their endeavours to promote our comfort . To them , and to all on hoard , we shall ever owe a debt of gratitude for their unbounded kindness to us while on board the Cambria . " From the Frenchman who was first picked up we learned that the steamer with which we came into collision was tie iron screw-steamer Vesta , from St . Pierre , Newfoundland , bound and belonging to G-ranville , France . As near as I could learn , the Vesta was steering E . S . E ., crossing our course two points , with all sail set ; wind W . by S . " Her anchor stock of iron , about seven by four inches square , was driven through the bows of the Arctic , about eighteen inches above the water line , and an immense hole had been made , most likely at the same instant , by the fluke of the anchor two feet below the water line , raking fore and aft the plank , and finally bTeaking tlie shank , leaving the stock remaining in and through tie side of the Arctic ; and it is not unlikely that , as so much of her bows had been crushed in , some of the heavy longitudinal pieces of iron running through the ship may have been driven through out sides , causing the loss of our ship , and , I fear , hundreds of most valuable lives . " Saturday morning , seven o ' clock , 14 th ;—We have safely arrived at Quebec , and I am left without a penny in the world to help myself with , or anything but sincere gratitude to repay those from whom I have received such unbounded kindness since I have been so providentially thrown among them , and with whom I am now about to separate to go to my home of sorrow . " I learnt from the doctor at quarantine last evening that the Vesta had reached St . John ' s with some persons from tho Arctic , but could not luarn the particulars . As soon as 1 can get on shore I shall make arrangements to l « nve for New York with the least possible delay , and to take the steamer for Montreal this afternoon . —I am , dear Sir , very respectfully , your obedient servant , " James C . Luck . "
1036 The Leader. Pfiam.^V
1036 THE LEADER . PfiAm . ^ v
Mr. Peto And The King Of Denmark. It App...
MR . PETO AND THE KING OF DENMARK . It appears that at the recent opening of tho new line of railway in Denmark , constructed by English engineers , -with English capital , the King conferred a high honour on Mr . Peto , the principal contractor . Just previous to this latter event , however , an occurrence took place probably most interesting to the English reader . The * King , accompanied by his premier , Count Moolkc , to whom a ceremonious presentation of tho local imthorities of Tonning had just been made , descended into tho saloon of the Cygnus , mid having summoned Mr . Pcto , invested thnf . gontlorown with tho insignia of Knight Cominnndor of tho Dannebrog—one
of tho highest distinctions in tho power of Danish royalty to bestow , equal in titular rank nncl social stnttis with the . ( iartbr in England , the order dating nearly a century anterior to that institution , namely , 1219 , having been revived in 105 ) 3 , and reconstituted ' in 1808 . It wiim one , nncl tho most , ancient , of the floventeon orders of foreign knighthood worn by tho Dulco of Wellington ; nnd , liko our own order of tho ltath , is applicable to either military or civil services . Tho investiture was * not nn impromptu , but n promeditnted act on the pnrfc of tho King , bringing with him tho Chancellor
ot tho Order ( who wan assisted by the Minwtor of the Interior ) for tho express purpose ; ami in handing over tho decoration , his Mnjebty requeued Mr . 1 ' oio ' s acceptance of . it , not merely as a memorial of approval from the sovereign in whoso reign a grout Danish work wan ojcoonted by n groat British capitalist , and contractor , but ait a souvenir of tho King ' s personal ont « om find regard for an otttiinnblo , liberal-minded , and accomplished English privuto gontloinnn . Tho recipient ' s acknowledgments of this remarkable favour were probably embodied in hia speech aftorwards .
MR . BERNAL OSBORNE IN TIPPERARY . A . School of Artand Design , in connexion with the Clonmel Mechamcs' Institutes , has been opened in Tipperary— " Cedant arma . " The disturbed county is invaded by the peaceful arts , and the Secretary to the Admiralty leaves his warlike preparations to deliver an inaugural address . There was a lar ^ e gathering , and Mr . Osbome was " rapturously" received . He spoke at length , commencing thus : " Though the pressure of official duties only permits me to pay a short visit to this countTy , I feel my time could scarcely be more profitably employed than in seconding useful undertakings for the benefit of Ireland . Indeed , to have one ' s name associated with any work
which has for its object the elevation and refinement of our felknv-creatures , must ever be a subject of just pride to a public man ; but permit me to say that in the observations I am about to offer on the l School of Art , ' I speak not in my capacity as a member of the Legislature , but as a country gentleman and neighbour , keenly alive to the fact that every impetus given to industry in your town must have a salutary effect on the surrounding districts , and that I feel as the townspeople of Clonmel are educated and thriving , the tenantry of the adjoining estates will share in the beneficial results . It is , therefore , in my idea , not only the duty * ut the interest of every landed proprietor to promote , by all means in his power , -institutions like the present , since experience has
shown that in proportion as the abilities and manufacturing energies of the town are developed , so will the material comfort of the rural population , as well as the value of the neighbouring land be alike increased . Fox these reasons I saw with pleasure the first commencer ment of your Mechanics' Institute , and beheld its completion -with ah additional source of gratification : that you acted on the doctrines of self-reliance , so constantly and necessarily pTeached , and raised this commodious structure from j r our own resources . I now hail this second undertaking of connecting a ' School of Art' with the Institute as a proof that the mechanics of Clonmel are up and stirring , determined not to be left behind in the march of improvement and instructed industry ! In
1785 the Dublin schools -were first placed on a parliamentary foundation , an annual grant was made to the society , and' so important were the schools considered , that it was one of the provisions of the Act of Union that this annual grant should be continued by the Imperial Parliament for twenty years after the union . What was the result ? Need he mention the galaxy of Irish talent which those schools produced ? Need he mention the names of Sir Martin Archer Shee , Jones , Barry , Behnes , Panormo , Sir Richard Morrison , Martin Cregan , Petrie , Hogan , M'Donnell , and Maclise . The
necessity of encouraging art had only been of late years recognised as a matter of public policy . A central school of design was instituted in 1837 at Somerset-house . Students who might distinguish themselves were allowed 50 J . per annum to prosecute their studies at the central school , and were eligible to appointments as masters and professors . That was a great incentive to youth . All classes were interested in the success of schools of art ; no distinction was to be niado between education for what was termed high art and that for practical purposes of manufacture : they were inseparable . "
Adverting to the subject of the war , Mt . Osborne concluded as follows : — " I cannot refrain from reminding you that , the arts have always reached their highest perfection where freedom was best developed . J . s it not , then , a great tribute to the soundness of those institutions under which we live , that , whilst our fleets and armies , in conjunction with our gallant Allies , are engaged in a sanguinary struggle , not for conquest , but in defence of the liberties of tho world , avo nn > thus able to promote domestic improvements , and during a time of war are engaged in an endeavour to graft a new scion on the olivo branch of peaceful industry ? Such a meeting as this , assembled for such a purpose , would be impossible in a despotic
state . The arts arc only cuinpatibLu . with free institutions . When tin * liberties of Gree-co fell , her artists became meretricious in design , and spiritless in execution . Under the ruins of tho Western Empire learning and art found a common grave . Koseoc , on the authority of Petrarch , ntfikvs that in the lU ' tei'nlh century , such had been tho desolation oinisod by lmrlmrinu conquerors in Italy on works of art during tlie middle agw , oven Imperial Koine could only boast of nix statucw , remain a of her former splendour . < Jod grant that mich denotation may not bo enacted in our time . Hut think you if the northern despot were to succeed , " \ vo should faro better tlum Koine of old ?—Tho Allius mv on ^ iiffod in no
common struggle—it is a war between oivilbit ion and bivrbnrlnin — between Kroodom and l > espotic I ' owor—where tho Cossack trend's Art withers—whore ( ho Czar conquorfl , Freedom dies . . Such would be the fa to of Europe , wore Russia to succeed in her designs . Do I tromblo for tlio result . ? No ; I liave conlUleneo in ovr ouuao . As tho light , whicli burned in the ancient promontory of ( no Chersonese bun been rtillt by Knf ? Hsh and Irish hands , so may we yet bo tho means of bearing the light of sclonce , civillasition , and art to regions no-w slumbering in biirbnriu ignorance iiml slavish serfdoui , and future ages may found Mechanics' Institutes and Schools of Art in the inclement regions of tho Kussiun dospot . "
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 4, 1854, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04111854/page/4/
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