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SS Arctic
SS ''Arctic'' was a 2,856-ton paddle steamer, one of the Collins Line, which operated a transatlantic passenger and mail steamship service during the 1850s. She was the largest of a fleet of four, built with the aid of US government subsidies to challenge the transatlantic supremacy of the British-backed Cunard Line. During its four-year period of service, the ship was renowned both for its speed and for the luxury of its accommodation. In September 1854, while on passage to New York from Liverpool, ''Arctic'' collided in fog with the French steamer ''Vesta'' off the coast of Newfoundland, and sank four hours later. ''Arctic's'' lifeboat capacity was around 180, enough for less than half those on board; the boats were launched in an atmosphere of panic and disorder, and the principle of "women and children first" was ignored. From around 400 on board (250 passengers, 150 crew), 24 male passengers and 61 crew survived; all the women and children were lost. No one was called to account for the disaster, and no official enquiry was held. Lifeboat provision on passenger-carrying ships remained inadequate until well into the 20th century.
==Background==
The first shipping line to begin regular transatlantic steamer services was the British-backed Cunard Line, which began operating on July 4, 1840, with the departure from Liverpool of RMS ''Britannia'', bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston.〔Flayhart, p. 19.〕 As the principal transatlantic mail carrier, the Cunard Line received subsidies from the British government and from the United States Post Office Department; many Americans, however, thought that an American line should benefit from these subsidies.〔Brown, pp. 18–19.〕 Thus, in 1845, the United States Postmaster General asked shipowners to tender for the right to operate a subsidized passenger and mails service between the US to Europe. The successful bidder, announced on March 3, 1847, was Edward Knight Collins. On the basis of the mails contract Collins founded the New York and Liverpool United States' Mail Steamship Company, familiarly known as the Collins Line, and begin an ambitious steamship construction program.〔Flayhart, p. 20.〕
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