A view of the US Mail Steamship 'Arctic' rapidly sinking after a collision with the French steamer 'Vesta' off Cape Race, Newfoundland on Wednesday, September 27, 1854. Passengers crowd the upper deck of the steamer that is already engulfed in water up to the railing at the stern. A group of passengers stand on a large piece of debris on the left side; a lifeboat filled with people is in the left foreground. Other survivors cling onto debris in the water, and a man in a top hat stands on a makeshift raft in the right foreground. At the time of the collision, there was heavy weather and foggy. No less than 322 lives were lost.
