CHAPTER V.

Dangers of Atlantic Navigation—Collision of _Arctic_ and _Vesta_, 1854—_Arctic_ founders—Loss of _Pacific_, 1856—Renewed exertions of the Collins and, also, of the Cunard Company—Launch of the _Persia_—Collins line relinquished, 1858—_Scotia_—Her great strength and speed—_Russia_, first Cunard iron screw-steamer, 1862—_Bothnia_ and _Scythia_, 1874—Their construction, outfit, and cabin accommodation—Vessels now owned by Cunard Company—Comparison of _Britannia_ and _Bothnia_—Cunard Company never lost a life nor a letter during thirty-five years—Reasons—Value of punctuality—Admirable discipline in their ships—Regulations of the Company—Most disasters may be prevented by foresight—Success depends on fitting means—Cunard line shows what can be done. [Sidenote: Dangers of Atlantic navigation.] A voyage across the Atlantic must ever be attended with greater peril than almost any other ocean service of similar length and duration; arising, as this does, from the boisterous character and uncertainty of the weather, from the icebergs which float in huge masses during spring along the northern line of passage, from the dense fogs frequently prevailing, and from the many vessels of every kind to be met with, either as employed in the Newfoundland fisheries, or in the vast and daily increasing intercourse between Europe and America. In such a navigation the utmost care and caution requires to be constantly exercised, especially by steamships. Nevertheless, though the Collins line of steamers performed this passage with a speed hitherto unequalled, they encountered no accidents worthy of note during the first four years of their career; but terrible calamities befell them soon afterwards. [Sidenote: Collision of _Arctic_ and _Vesta_, 1854.] On the 21st of September, 1854, the _Arctic_, according to her usual course, left Liverpool for New York. She had on board 233 passengers, of whom 150 were first class, together with a crew of 135 persons, and a valuable cargo. At mid-day on the 27th of that month, when about 60 miles south-east of Cape Race, and during a dense fog, she came in contact with the French steamer _Vesta_. By this collision the _Vesta_ appeared at first to be so seriously injured that, in their terror and confusion, her passengers, amounting to 147, and a crew of fifty men, conceived she was about to sink, and that their only chance of safety lay in getting on board the _Arctic_. Impressed with this idea many of them rushed into the boats, of which, as too frequently happens, one sank immediately, and the other containing thirteen persons was swamped under the quarter of the ship, all on board of her perishing. When, however, the captain of the _Vesta_ more carefully examined his injuries, he found that, though the bows of his vessel were partially stove in, the foremost bulkhead had not started. He, therefore, at once lightened his ship by the head, strengthened the partition by every means in his power, and by great exertions, courage, forethought, and seamanship, brought his shattered vessel without further loss into the harbour of St. John’s. [Sidenote: _Arctic