Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-02
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
THE LATE OCEAN DISASTER.
rs, c ss.Ss Vii: ?. &: ~ as We. Of

NEw YoRK, December IA Hpeo.A'
from London to the Tribune gives the
following details Of the loss Of the steam
ship Vile de Havre; The surviving pas
sengers report that the Vile de hAvre
was cut down in mid ocean Saturday
morning, November 2Sd, by the sailing
ship Lachern, from Glasgow. The news
reached Cardiff, Wales, by the ship Tri'
Mountain, which brought twenty-seyen
passengers, six officers and iihy-four o.
the crew. On the night Of the 2lst there
was heavy wind and heavy sea- but
bright and starlight. The Captain went
to bed at midnight, leaving the second
officer of the Inflated steamer IN
charge, and two hours later the COLI
sion occurred. With terrific blow the
Lachern struck her amidship. Men,
women and children, seized with terror,
rushed on the deck in their night cloth
ing, aud all was confusion. The Lach'
srn's bow had cut assure in her deck
twelve feet in depth, and the iron rail-
ing Of her side was crushed for dis
lance of thirty feet. Many OF the pas
seurers we're too much terrified to save
themselves; many prayed. and many
laid down with calmness and utter des'
pair. Some, on hearing the water pour
ing into the ship, never left their state
rooms. Whole families thus went down
together. Many escaped, but we're
crippled by two boats being crushed
by the main.mast, which fell
Eve minutes after the collision, killing
and mangling many persons. Two
beats we're launched, a whale boat under
command Of the First Lieutenant, and
the Captains gig, manned by sailors oil
the Lachern. After getting clear she
sailed mile, aud then sent four boats
to the wreck, which sunk twelve minutes
after the collision. The whale boat
saved load Of passengers, who were
nut on board the Lachern. The boat then
returned to the wreck and saved a Sec
ond load, including the Captain, who
remained by the Vile de Havre till she
sank. The boats found the passengers
and crew floating on the waves, holding
to bouys, spars, or whatever could be
seen of the wreck. Some of the women
saved we're floating in the water for two
hours or more before being picked up.
One officer of the steamer SWAN to the
Lachern. The Captain of the Vile de
Havre is said to be quite exhausted by
his three days and nights duty. The
officer in command when the collision
took place was lost. Boats remained
about the wreck as long as there was
hope of saving more people. Among
the survivors was one lady whose hus-
band and four children perishedi three
young ladies lost their father and moth
er; one young man lost his father moth
err and sister, and another gentleman
lost bis sister. He was taking her to
France .or her health. The suffering
of those rescued were intense, the cold
being very severe. Many persons were
nearly insensible, and would have per-
ished in few minutes more. The vessel
was much damaged by the collision, and
hoisted signs of distress. The Tri-
Mountain sighted her and Fespcndsdl at
eight o'clock in the morning the passen-
gers we're transferred to the Tri-Moun-
tain. The French authorities will in
quire into the cause and responsibility
Of the collision.