Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HAyRE.
Thrilling Account OF the Disaster.

Mr.. G. G. Waite of the Brevoort House, New
York, has received the following letters from
his son, who was one OF the saved from the
Willie du Havre, giving highly interesting details
of the sad event:
on BOARD SHiP rRrxorSrAIS, Nov. %, 1873.
Ny Dear Fdtker and Mother Here l am safe
and no worse in health than when LETT New
York, bat in q sad state of mind. hard TO
describe, considering what l have passed
through. have only Providence to thank for
being alive and able to write.
Nov TO nv voyage:-Shortly after leaving
New York gales commenced, breaking one blade
of our screw on Monday. From that time till
Friday morning there was continuous fogs and
gales, when il cleared and we had a lovely day,
also fine evening, with clear sky and stars.
Julia, poor darling, had stayed bel0E till that
evening. About O'Clock we went for walk
O'Clock, and remained In the ladies' cabin until
half past 10. She then retired. l, not being
sleepy, again went on deck, and remained until
II O'Clock, when also retired. At q little be
fore l was startled by shock and noise, which
TO me seemed to indicate the breaking of the
screw. cried out TO the lsdies not to be alarmed,
to keep quiet. l Immediately ran on deck to
ascertain in regard 10 the damage, when was
told IL was a collision; and upon looking over the
starboard side | saw a hole reaching from the
kitchen, extending ahout 40 feet aft and pene-
below the water line. was back again in my
cabin in a moment, and found Julia dressing |
told her and the ladies to hurry, bat not he
alarmed, as all would be right. She dressed
"
AS quickly as I was dressed we went together
to the deck. Then I looked at the situation,
and decided at once what course to plrsus.
Seeing the large starboard quarter boat lying
partially on the deck, one of the dayits hav ny
been broken by the collision, placed Julia,
with Mrs. Buckley, Miss Bucklev cher dsugh
ter and Miss Wagstaff. and told them to stand
still few feet from the boat. l then went to
work with two other gentlemen, cut the cover
off, and was in a fair way TO get IL aioat; but
while at work the steamer gave one last plunge
and the waves rushed over, covering her at
once. As saw the water come over the side,
CREEPING UP THE DECK,
thought it only wave, 80 jumped from the
boat to the deck to pull Julia and the three
around them, when We were all carried over the
side of the steamer. For an instant we were
together; then l was struck with piece of tim
Ter on the head, which, for moment, rendered
me insensible. When I returned to conscious
ness i saw no one near. i then struck out and
swan for a time, when timber, such as sus-
tains the cover of the boats, hoated near me.
got astride of 1t and floated for time. Then
two children came near me. / caught them,
and held one under each arm, until, my strength
failing fast, was obliged to let them go. Short
ly after i was picked up by the boat of the
French steamer and taken on board of the ship
which had sunk us. It proved to be the Loeb
Earn, from London to New York, an iron clip
per, Captain Robinson commander. She had
broken her b0wsprit short Off and stove her
stem down to the water line. Otherwise she
had received no damage. We were all taken
care of by the captain and steward. | found
was one of the first saved, coming in the first
boat, together with Captain Surmount, of the
steamer, who was found swimming in the sea,
having sunk with his ship and risen again.
THE PURsER,
brave man, and was picked up by the same boat
with scarcely any clothing but instead of com
ing on board the English ship remained in the
boat, and rowed from an hour and a half to two
with us. helped pull her in. Her mother was
lost There were several others saved the same
boat. When | got on board the English ship
found it was ten minutes of three O'Clock, 50
must have been about three quarters of an hour
in the water. It could not have been more than
10 or II minutes from the time the ship struck
us before the steamer sunk. 1t was half-pa
four O'Clock before all the people came on
board, so you can imagine my feelings during
hat time, looking at each one as they came
over the side of the ship, with the hope OF
seeing Julia, but, alas! she came not. She
must have gone down without a struggle,
IS Mrs. Buckl ey, of whom I spoke before, SAYS
piece of timber came between her and the
-est of the party and she saw them all go down.
She thinks must have been the only one saved
If the little party of US who were together few
minutes before, as she is confident the Others
lid not come up. Finally, when the last boat
,ame, i gave up all hope OF ever seeing Julia
lgain. 1t is SO sad that she should have been
Ost for me, as she would not have come had it
lot been for my comfort; so, in certain de-
gree, 1t is my fault that she is lost. I suppose
'ught not to feel thus, as God, in His all-wise
% has taken Julia to her home to Him. Aboat
light O'Clock Saturday morning a ship was
lighted, and being signaled, came near. She
TIRE AMERICAN SHIP TRINoUyrAIN,
Captain Crquhart, from New York for Bristol
En- gland. BY the advice of Captain Surmont,
no thought the English ship too much damsg-
Il to be a-worthy, we were ira rs ferred to the
were taken on board aud cared
or as well as human beings could be under the
Captain Urquhart IL a noble
n. T.
to us, and, having carried his wife
'ften with him, was able to provide the ladies,
II whom there are eleven, with dresses AMI
'ther comforts. OF cours. the provisions were
1ery plain and not very plenteous; but he has
)een able to give the ladies three meals and the
men two every day. They have been mostly OF
neat and pork, but, as the cargo was principal
y of flour, we have plenty of good bread.
twenty four of us slept on the floor of the cabin
IN improvised beds. or the conduct of the Off
,ers of the steamer think those did every
put the steamer sunk SO quickly that there was
hardly time to launch the boats or do any
hing. would give you longer account OF the
disaster, but there is no spare paper on board
he ship, but will write you at length when get
On shore. shall go directly from Bristol to
arts via London. saved my drafts and some
money, and lost all else.
THE FAULT OF THE COLLISION
was with the second lieutenant of the Willie du
Havre, SO far rs we are now able to form an
opinion. Good bye. Remember me to all at
ne mouse. Mss dear little Minnie ana Lille Tor
ne. 1t seems 1 am so far away from every one
and must wait some time before / can see any
Of you again. ] dare not 60 home just now;
irst, because 1 fear reaction when / get on
bore, which the excitement here has over
,ome, and, again, because l cannot 90 to you
ret without the poor darling that was lost in
he sea. God bless you both and help you to
bear this great trial, and believe me ever your
OWN loving son, CHARLIE.
"THE LADIES BRAVE AS LIONS"
SUNDAY. Nov: 80, p. m.
My Dear Father and Aother:-I have found
another small piece of paper, and will give you
few more items. We are Off Cardiff, with
pilot on board. Shall be at anchor within an
hour. 1t seems so good to zee land again. l
would not pass through the anxiety have suf-
cred the past nine days for all there is In this
world. 1t has been fearful waiting SO long.
yesterday We had severe gale, but the ship
being well handled came out all right. Am
better, and hope / shall continue to improve,
although fear the reaction when get ashore
will lay me up for few days. The ladies are
quite contented and more reconciled
o their grief. One poor woman, Mrs. Spatford,
" Chicago, who lost four children. has been
yery low, and we feared for her life. OF the
Mixter family, of Boston, only the two daught-
RS remain. Mr.. Barbanson and Mr.. McCreery
end their kind regards. Shall leave Cardiff to-
morrow, pass Tuesday in London, and reach
Paris on Wednesday. ! must take Miss Breeder
teamer were as brave as li0ns-Julia partIcu-
larly 30. Q.
SCRATCHING MATCHES ON SILK DRESS
There was quite q comm0tion at the residence
II Mr.. Charles Rhodes, on Western avenue,