 There were roughly 400 persons on board "Arctic" – approximately 250 passengers and 150 crew.Captain Luce's first thought was to give assistance to the stricken "Vesta", which appeared in danger of sinking, but when he was told that his own ship was holed beneath the waterline, he decided to make for the nearest land.As attempts to plug the leaks failed, "Arctic"s hull steadily filled with sea water.