The passengers on the ARCTIC were at lunch when their vessel was struck, and they immediately rushed on deck. Through the dense fog could be seen very indistinctly on the starboard bow a screw steamer, which was afterwards found to be the French merchant steamer VESTA. No apprehension of danger was felt by those on board the ARCTIC, and a boat in charge of the chief officer was sent off to the rescue of the passengers and crew of the other steamer. On board of the VESTA no hope was entertained of her ultimate safety, the crew and passengers relying upon being taken off by the crew of the ARCTIC. When the collision occurred there were several men on the bow of the VESTA, presumably on the lookout, one of whom was killed and the others severely wounded. As it was feared that the steamer was sinking, a rush was made for the boats, and two were launched. The first boat was swamped, but the second boat floated, and was at once boarded by several of the passengers and two of the crew, who, ignoring the captain’s orders to return on board, cut themselves adrift, and abandoned their shipmates. While these occurrences were taking place on the deck of the VESTA the ARCTIC had disappeared in the fog, those on the VESTA still hoping, however, that she had not deserted them. Meantime, the officers on board the ARCTIC had discovered that there was little hope of saving their vessel. Mrs. Collins, the wife of the managing owner, with their daughter and son, were passengers, and the captain’s first thought was for their safety. They and several ladies were placed in a lifeboat, but while it was being lowered one of its tackles gave way, and all, with the exception of one lady who clung to a sailor holding fast to the boat, were cast into the sea and drowned. A second boat was lowered successfully, and stored with provisions. It was soon filled with passengers—ladies and gentlemen—but by a strange oversight on the part of the officer in charge none of the crew accompanied them. The difficulty and danger of lowering the boats was greatly increased in consequence of the impossibility of stopping the ship for that purpose, the pumps having been attached to the main engines in the attempt to keep the vessel clear of water, which was pouring into her through the breaches in her side. Cape Race being within about four hours steaming distance, she was headed in that direction, but after running about fifteen miles the water had risen so high in the stoke-hole as to extinguish the fires, and, in consequence, the engines ceased to work. Almost immediately after the ship stopped, the remaining lifeboats left the ship. There was one large boat on deck, which was capable of carrying fifty persons, but there were not sufficient seamen left on board to launch her, and it is supposed that she was filled with passengers in the hope that she might float off when the steamer sank.