Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-12-11
General News.
The VILE du Havrs Calamity.
Further Oetsils Of the Horror.
THE SECOND OFFICER RESPON.
SIBLE.
General News.
Sfatenst ut Of the Captain.


ii~rsisn Of she America. Wssses.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-The following adj
ditional facts relative to the loss of the
Villa du Havre were published this morn
ing uLder date OF Havre:
Captain Surmont and sixty survivors OF
the crew arrived here this morning and
were greeted by an immense crowd Of
people on the wharf.
As soon rs the party landed they pro-
ceeded to the office of the steamship com
pany where the captain was closely inter.
rogated IN relation to the circumstances
attending The disaster which had beiallen
his vessel.
One of the officers said when questioned
that In his Judgment the collision WAS I'M
exampled in the Inanuer of its occurrence
He said further that 1t would never have
happened if the officer of the deck had
been Capt. Surinount. The only ACCUSE
tons made are against him and the I'd
Lieut.. Anduvand, who committed suicide.
The informant. who was in bed, i'm
medately rushed on deck aud saw that
four OF the boat, had been disabled. and
the nasts were already overheard.
Some OF the sailors state that the lookout
forward gave warning that lights were
approaching. through the fog. and the
officers in command. Lieut.. Anduvand
lave orders based upon such warnings,
but his command was too late. Others OF
the crew assert that he gave 10 orders.
They affirm that he trusted to the chances
of being able to pass clear across the face
OF the Loeb Earn. and that the first order
was gwen ny capt. Surmount, who sprung
tn the deck just too late. however, to be
able 10 avert the catastrophe. The Lieut..
took the desperate chance of running clear.
but had miscalculated, and seeing the
astounding calamity which had resulted
from his error Of judgment, In his despair.
accepted suicide as solution OF his own
embarrassment. There IL no reasonable
doubt hut that he could have saved him.
self.
Five or six of the sailors who were on
duty at the time say they saw the lights Of
the Loeb Earn hive minutes before the
steamer struck.
Col. Montague's daughter was the first
one killed BY the falling OF the mast.
All the passengers united in PRAYER
during the few moments of terrible Sus-
pense. General admiration IL expressed
at the courage OF the American ladies'. who
deported themselves with great calmness
and made no confusion. Seeing their
almost inevitable fate they knelt and
prayed. No one thought the end vas
coming so quickly A. il did.
The despatch from Havre further says
in regard TO the Vile du Havre disaster.
that OF the total muster Of eight If. boafs
i've were disabled and three only remained
IN condition for service, and these saved
many people.
It's believed that Capt. Surmon, CHARGED
the disaster To the negligence of Lieut.,
Anduvand. All are united. however. In
the belief that the captain did hi. duty
under the circumstances. Capt. Surmont
says he had been on the deck until 10
o clock, and that when he retired he gave
orders TO be aroused At 2 O'Clock prompt
ly. He was called and saw the Loeb Earn |
almost instantly In collision, but believed |
there would be time to save all He II
once gave orders TO each officer 70 take |
OF . boat. but saw that two |
boats were disabled by the collision, ana |
two minutes later others Vers destroyNi |
by the falling maDtA. He states that the |
best order prevailed among the crew, Who |
placed themselves under perfect control. |
lie sent the first officer aboard the Loeb |
Earn to sppriss them Of the steamers |
danger aud ask assistance OF their bunts.
The crew remained on the Loeb Earn.
The captain Of the Loeb Earn sent ont
three boats from his vessel TO pick up the
passengers.
The captain remained 1T his post also,
end endeavored to save the passengers.
but before the boat had returned . the
Loeb Earn the steamer went down.
Capt Surmont and HE offlceys blame
those OF the Loeb Earn, who we're eaid TO
be deep in cause for blame. But II 10 the
general opinion among the cree Of the
Vile du Havre that had Capt. Surmont
been on the deck the disaster would never
have happened.