Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-20
The Sinking of the Vile du Havre

After the collision no orders were
given. The officers were distracted.
Each person helped himself. This fact
is undisputed The longboat con-
tanned no frst-class passengers. The
sailors and coal boys rushed and took
possession of the boats, all rescues be-
ing effected subsequently.
On board the Vile du Havre no life
preservers could be found in their
proper places. One gentleman among
the rescued searched four cabins for
these articles in vain.
1t has been ascertained that the &C.
cupants of three or four cabins amid
ships were probably killed when the
PROV of the Loeb Earn crushed in the
plates of the steamer. The greater
number of those rescued had been float
ing from half an hour to an hour.
When the landing was effected at Car
diff, on Monday at twilight, the ladies
were in q state of semi-nudity, some
having only blankets, none having bon
nets, and all having their feet covered
with sailors stockings. When they ar
rived at the hotel the agents immediate
ly provided clothing. All the ladies
were assembled in the parlor for the
purpose of dressing, having short no.
tice to do SO, prior to their departure
for London. When the signal was
given that the time for starting had az
rived the gentlemen asked whether all
were ready. An affirmative answer was
given, and when the door was opened
all who witnessed the scene wildly
realized the fearful tragedy which had
occurred, all the ladies being clad in
deep mourning.
At the time of the collision the Sec
ond Officer, who persisted, was in charge.
The sailor who was on the lookout was
rescued. The latter maintains that ten
minutes prior to the catastrophe he re-
ported vessel in sight to the officer.
The Second Officer, he states, gave con-
fused directions to the men at the
wheel.
The few saved owe their lives to the
sagacity of the engineer, who stopped
the engines instantly, thus preventing
the loss of all on board by lessening the
distance between the Scotchman and the
steamer.
The detailed accounts given by the
survivors are narrowing and distressing
in the extreme.
Mr.. Waite, who was accompanied by
his sister on the voyage, became sepa-
rated from her in the horrid vortex
caused by the sudden sinking of the
steamer. When the latter went down
huge waves came surging out from the
closing of the momentary chasm, and,
amid the boiling waters, brother and
sister were torn asunder. The brother
alone was saved.
Miss Breedon left the wreck hand-in-
hand with her father. The latter was
drowned.
Mr.. James Bishop had secured two
planks and gave one to his friend, Mr..
G. H. Taylor, who was drowned. Mr..
Bishop narrowly escaped. A sailor, at
taching himself to the plank, Mr..
Bishop left it and swan for another.
Robert McCoskey Butt, lad of II,
says he was reused from sleep by the
shock and rushed on deck. There he
found nearly all praying. Mrs. Bulk
ley's invocations aloud sounded like in
spiration. Judge Rufus w. Peckham
was standing near his wife encouraging
all and saying, If we must go down
let us go bravely."
He observed Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Plat
and Mrs. Kenneth. The latter was
bringing her infant on deck, the little
one who had been the favorite of all the
passengers. She handed the child to
the nurse while she went to fetch the
second child. Before she was able to
return the ship went down. Butt thinks
he foated 20 minutes on a spar. Many
were prevented from swimming, having
had their overcoats on.
All attribute the blame to the want OF
discipline on board.