Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-20
WILLIE DU HAVRE.
Interesting Letter of Capt. Sur
mont,

Detailing Incidents Of the Collision.
New DIRK, Dec. 19-Capt. Surmont OF
the Vile du Hayre has made statement
concerning the disaster to the vessel, ana
those on board, but it adds little to what
was previously known Ofthe tragical occur
renee. He says: l got up from the sofa at
two and left my cabin. At this moment a
ship under full sail showed herself all at
once on our path and l had hardly time to
lump on the bridge when the Vile du
Havre was already struck right in the side
opposite the main mast. The damage was
enormous, being
Hole of at Least sixteen Feet,
rendering it certain the ship could remain
a very little time afoat. The engine was
stopped at once and the valves were opened.
The water rushed in SO quickly that there
was not time to close the door Of the bulk
head. which separated the engine from the
boilers. Besides, the bulk-head OF the coal
bunker, having been forced into the engine,
the water poured in that way INTO the
boiler. | estimate that there was not more
than twelve minutes between the collision
and the sinking of the ship. Capt. Rob
erson, of the Loeb Earn, who says he saw
me. saws ten minutes. Others say ten.
Till JueIc are OILY IhO VI blhtC 10
question. must say that i'll that short III
terval the passengers were examples OF
GOODNESS, calmness and resignation, and at
the dreadful time OF this lamenta0le oc
currence, when $50 persons were justly
alarmed at the thought OF certain death at
anv moment and their only hope OF safety
was disappearing,
The Women
were the first to give an example. Capt.
Surnonts story of the failure TO get the
boats afoat does not differ from that told
by the telegraph. The rapid filling OF the
vessel and the falling of the mast, were the
causes. He also says: | have the satisfdc-
ton since the wreck of learning, by ques-
tioning the survivors Of the crew, that every
one was at his post, that each did his duty,
and that all
Went Down with the Vessel
and were picked up from the sea. The
loss Of the unhappy officers who command
ed the watch at the moment Ofthe collision,
| renders me unable to give an exact account
of the occurrences before taking command
myself. but | can declare that the Lochearn,
| TO which | showed my ships sides and
which consequently had nothing to fear
| from me, struck directly against my vessel
| at the risk Of smashing herself as we'll,
| when. by slight stroke of the helm up
ward. for it was almost so already, this
terrible collision might have been avoided.
Another Version.
The Tribune publishes a letter dated
Paris. Dec. ), from Rudolph \. WhittOnS,
| Jr.. a passenger on the Vile du Ilavre,
who SAYS when he reached the deck after
being awakened by the crash, he took in
the position at glance. l then made up
INV mind for the worse, and went aft to see
what the chance was for me in the boats,
for two or three were already in the water,
and as | came aft, saw them put off to
the ship which had run us down, and
which, fortunately, had kept afloat,
and hove to about half mile under our
stern. These two boats were filed entirely
with French sailors and tiremen. Some
forty men were making frantic efforts to
get another boat over the side, and half OF
these cowardly rascals were already in the
boat. Seeing that the crew were entirely
demoralized, gave up all hopes of being
saved from the steamer by boat, and looked
around me for some means OF keeping afl0ai
when she shOuld 90 down. Then saw a
man near me hammering at the taitralI
with the capstan-bar, trying to get life
preseryer loose. Wilthaus procured SAL
or's knife and cut loose Il number Of life
preseryers, one ofwhich he secured himself
fixed it on and jumped over the stern and
came to the surface to see the steamer disap
pear. | got hold of piece Of the wreck, il
company with two French sailors, and wa:
finally rescued, half naked and nearly fro
zen, by an English boat. His subsequent
story is substantially the same as that al
ready published as to other passengers.