New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03
THE WILLIE DU HAVRE.
FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE WRECK.

MEDIATE ASSISTANCE - DESTIIUTioS OF lHL
URvVORs-sAGACrTY OF THE ENGINEER.
LONDON Tuesday Dec. 2, 1873.
Eleven Of the survivors from the Vile du Hayre
departed for Paris tonight. The railway company
kindly provided saloon for them. During their
short stay in London everybody We'd with each
other in comforting the survivors. Marks Of aiiec-
ton oynced the storekeepers refused to accept
payment These offers were resisted with dliiiculty
The steamers agents provided funds, while Morgan
Brown and others offered home. All this was
unnecessary. as several of the surviving gentlemen
saved suticiency Of funds. Mr.. Bishop had I5Vo
in English notes and gold. II is a remarkable
fact that several others seemingly had ample
time to dress completely. Bishops watch stopped
at 22S. Cramei's watch stopped exactly at q. lhls
leads to a suppositi0n that much valuable time was
lost in lowering the boats, owing 10 the utter
absence of discipline after the collision No orders
were given The officers were distracted. Each
helped himself. This fact is.undisputed. The long
boat contained trstcass passengers. Sailors ana
coal boys rushed AID took POSSESSION all rescues
being effected subsequently. The Scotch ship was
prevented from preparing Immediately lor the
rescue from its ignorance as 10 whether serious
damage was done to the steamer winch
arose probably from inability TO communicate III
French, consequently the Loeb Earns boats were
life-preseryor was in is proper place. One
gentleman, searching vainly through four cabins,
ascertained that the occupants Of three Il lou
cabins in the midslips We're probably killed when
the Scotchman struck the Vile du Hayre The
most Of those rescued had been floating from half
an hour to an hour before they We're picked up.
The Scotchman had little comfort to extend to the
rescued beyond open hearts and good will The
ladies changed their drenched nght-dresses for
sailors sl9thins. !. -sso9a. ioweyer. BECAME a
question whether tie L9eh Earn offered
safety to those on board Capt &, sur
mont declared his determination to trfusiei
the crew to some other ship when possible, lear "
the passengers behind. This was resisted by the
mate and BellSnap, and after consultation
with the carpenter, they overclme, with
some difficulty Surmont's opposition, when
the Trimouutan was sighted. transfer
effected, aud the American captain, who is mar
RED offered the ladies increased comfort in the
neat cabin, occupied by his wife. Still when
landing effected at Cardiff at twilight on Mon
day. the ladies in state of semi-nudlty, some
having only blankets TO protect them. no bonnets.
and their feet covered with sailors stockings. They
arrived at the hotel. when the agents
Immediately provided clothing. All the ladies
assembled in the parlOr, having short notice
10 dress prior to their departure for London.
When the signal was given, the gentlemen
asked whether they ready, and the door was
opened, when all realized the fearful tragedy. all the
ladies being clad in mourning. The herolsm OF the
ladies was beyond all praise, that Of Miss Hunter
being especially conspicuous. All gratefully
aclnowlege the mOtheTy care with which they
were treated, t..-
At the time Of tho collision the second officer was
in charge of the ship. lie persisted. The sailor on
the lookout Rescued. He maintains that ten
minutes prior to the catastrophe he reported to the
officer in charge and that the latter gave confused
directions to the man at the wheel
The few saved owe their lives to The saglcity of
the engineer. who stopped the engines in time, thus
preventing further loss of lie by shortening the
distance between the vessels.
A Scotchman the steamer the only ..i.,
among the crew who knew English. The remain
der were French. The steamer was steering J.. S. H.,
starboard tack, taking off two points prior to
striking Tho Scotch vessel was running three
points free port tack. The weather was
clear and stars were shining. The ship
had on all sails except studdng
sails. Two hours later the sea was roughish.
court of inquiry was opened at Cardiff. Capt. Sur
mont blames the officer in charge. There are no
signs of the Loeb Earn.
The detailed account given by the survivors is
narrowing and distressing. Air. Waite was separ-
ated from his sister in the vortex caused by the
sinking ship. Miss Beeden left the wreck
hand in hand with her father. The latter
was drowned. Mr. Bishop had secured two planks,
and gave one to his friend Mr. Taylor who was
drowned. The former narrowly escaped. sailor
attacked him, but he loft his plank aud swan for
another
McCloskey Butt, lad of II years saws he was
reused from sleep. lie rushed on deck and found
nearly everybody praying Mrs. Buckley prayed
aloud. Ii seemed like inspiration Judge Peckban
was standing near his wife, encouraging her and
saving: If go down, let us go brayely.'
Butt observed Mrs Murray Mrs. Plat, and Mrs
Kennett. The latter had her infant, a fayoritc with
all the passengers. She handed il to the while
fetching the second child Before she was able 10
return the ship went down.
Butt thinks he foated twenty minutes on spar
Many were prevented from swimming By their
overcOats.
Capt. Sumont remains at Cardiff, Frustrated. All
attribute the blame to want of discipline.
WHEN THE LOCH EARN WAS SIGHTED.
LONDON. Wednesday, Dee g. 1878.
Later details of the wreck of the Vile du Hayre
report that the Loeb Earn sighted by those on
board the steamer from 10 TO Il minutes before the
collision occurred.
CRITICISM On SHORE.
THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The question of responsibility for the col
ison eagerly discussed In insurance circles yeste
day. An officer OF OF the largest OF the marine
insurance companies said he could not ac-
count for the collision II stated tie
weather clear. IL true that a general thing
sailing vessels the right OF way but they were ex
pected exercise all needed precautions. In this case
IL would seem that the Loeb Earn struck the steamer