New-York tribune., 1873-12-22
REPORTS FROM THE LoCH EARN.

REPORTS FROM THE LOCH EARN.
CHARGES OF COwARDICE AGAINST THE FRENCH
CREw-CAPT. sURMoNr EXONERATED FROM THE
CHARGES.
)n the 9th of December the pilot cutter
Isdore brought into Plymouth the officers and crew Of
the LOoh Earn. After standing by their ship for six
days they compelled at length 70 abapdon her in
sinking condition 1900 miles from land. and were
brought 70 The Channel by the British Queen, whence
they transferred to the pilot boat The following
particulars taken from The London Standard:
The captain and OF the officers and men remained
a. Plymouth pending the decision OF court OF inquiry
The whole OF the crew have made statements as to the
circuus OF the collision. These differ IN very
Vile The latter vessel appears 10 have been
the sole OF the collision but the officers ana men
almost without exception are charged with having
looked themselves and left the passengers to per
isn Tbev were snoken of in terms of the utmost
tcmpi when the col lison occurred Mr.. Boldchd, the
second officer Of the Loeb Earn was in charge and an
"A. b. named Hitler, IN the lookout. lie was on the
port tack. The ship was close hauled, gong ABOUT III
knots thC weather ne and clear. When the hghts OF
the Vile du Havre were reported the Loch Earn he9
course accordance with the accepted rule or
the No notice appeared TO be taken OF the Loch
been ' gong rive minutes before the steamers horn
was sounded. As the Vile du havre did nothing
iorh Earu'4 bows the helm Of the latter at the last
moment was pat hardu up. There was not then time,
shock the two vessels came into contact. SO terrible
the conclusion that 1t Al first thought the Loeb
Earn sinking. orders were gwen TO clear away the
boats ana the port eoOat was got IN the daVts READY
Tor lowering With the collision she came right aback,
and was brought on the starboard tack Ceasng TO
make headway IL was after ascerained that what
other injuries the Loeb Earn ght have sustained
ehr no. in any immediate danger for on the pumps
being sounded no water foun1. Immediately
boat manned by four men with an officer came of from
the steamer The first idea ON board the L0oh Earn was
tult haf been sent TO render help but this was
complete mistake. The officer in charge of the boat
asked II there were any passengers on board the ship,
understood the reply TO ne that there not We
say "unsers,ood although informant had no doubt
ON the point IL Is quite certain that although II was
stated shat the steamer was Injured not the slightest
information ot the extent OF the injury was gwen,
aud thai the captain and crew OF the Loeb Earn were
LETT 60 nd out that for themselves by seeing the steamer
Almost immediately after the arrival Of this first boat
the captain Of the Vile du Havre came alongside in
similar boat, also manned by forr men, and with either
another officer or female for on this point there ap
pears 10 Do some difference OF opinion. He came on
board the Loeb Earn and then while the crew OF that
vessel were dong all they cOuld 10 save the browning
multitude whose shrieks now filed the air. he is said to
have remained doing nothing. and one OF the OF
Capt Robertson appealed TO him TO tell his men who
done Capt. Robertson then asked saloon
wIO had t been brought on board, and who knew both
fench and English well TO speak 20 the captain. This
done and the latter then went to the rail and called
20 ais Their only reply was to go two
the Engish bv this iDactiOn that Mr.. Banks the
otcer Of the Loch Earn threatened shoot them
who struggling IN the water within couple
of hundred yards; All was of no avail. They
renamed deaf alike 10 appeal or threat in this
nearly ali ther fellows tbongb one Frepch boat
that passengers who clasped tie sides OF one OF the
boats their despair had their grasp loOsened in
terrible fashion. What is certain is that before this
the whole the Loeb Earns boats had been away.
and that some had returned and started ON their
second trip. Had the two boats of the Vile du Havre
made the slightest attempt at reseuing the drowning
beo3gnS 20 the French vessel astern of the Loch Earn
hanging on and when Capt. Robertson found he could
do nothing with the captains boat, he ordered
some OF his 10 jump into her and take her off
the wreck in spite OF ner occupants This was at
frustrated ny those on board the boat pushing of
to such , distance that the Engshmen could not get
her In point OF TACT the whole OF the crew OF the
Loeb Earn, from the captain downward, agree in
pressing their detestaOn OF the cowardy conduct OF
the OF the Vie du Hayre and ~ stating that but
for the efforts made by the L0ch EaIn hardIy soul
except who saved themselves and left the helpless
20 perish could have been rescued.
at denial Is given TO the statement that any officers
OF the Vile du Havre swan To the L0ch Earn. II
did 30 they managed 10 keep their clothes dry Only
picked up alongside the latter vessel; but one
woman the strength OF her maternal love, swan
thither with her child III her She clasped one Of
ropes that had been thrown over the side IN safety
but while beng hauled In was compelled 10 let the child
was saved When the Vile du Havre sunk she
was within yards OF the Loeb Earn but the boats
they had brought back all they could md among the
wreck they put of again. but by TINS time the ship and
the wreck had drifted little distance apart, and
there was some difficulty IN the dark in working TO
windward aud finding the wreckage When 1t was found
All who had clung to II and had not previously been
rescued had sank The boats remained out, however,
all the morning in the hope of picking up some strag
gers aud far on Its errand of mercy AS 10
se sight of the ship altogether Most Of the passengers
were in thoroughly destitute and helpless condition,
the officers and OF the Loeb Earn supplied them
with apparel for the time and little later IN the day
they were transferred 10 the TEmountan. Three only
were left on board the Loch Earn-0r Weiss who was
very ill., (and with whom his friend. the Rev MI Cook,
remained and Zafere OOe OF the nremen OF the Nlile
du Hayre VINO was for time deirous from the shock
aud from right. but has now recovered MI Weiss is nke-
wise better Nothing but great pluck and dogged de-
termination stick their ship to The last could have
lad the officers aud Of the Loeb Earn TO remain in
her She was only saved from meeting the fate Of the
VILE du Havre by bukhead about 25 feet aft from the
stem While force OF the collision was such that 1t
cut the steamer down, the bowsprit OF the Loch Earn
knocked right out of the keel, aud the whole bow
was iatered completely, shattered right down to the
keel Bat the bukhead she must have sunk at once
od IN all human probability not soul OF either vessel
would have saved To tell the tale, as they were dis
Tan, 800 miles from the nearest land
Capt Robertson contradicts the statement that the
eaptan OF the French ship left the vessel in cowardy
manner charge 70 have arisen from the Cos
sip OF one OF lie that the charge apples
only 90 The crew believes the captain to have gone
down with The vessel aud to have been picked up after
x.rlb bv 10 boats