Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-11
Sinking of the Steamship Vile du
HaVre.

The telegraph has briefly described the
loss Of the French steamship Vile du
Havre, and two hundred and twentv-six
of her passengers and crew in mid-0cean,
in consequence of a collision with the
British ship Locherne. The vessel was
formerly called the Napoleon III. She
was, with the exception Of the Great
Eastern, the largest vessel atl0at. Herdi-
mansions were 430 feet by 48 feet, and her
carrying capacity was $500 tons freight
and measurement She was elegantly
upholstered and appointed, had urbane
and accomplished officers, and was de
servedly a t~avorite with those who had
occasion to o the Atlantic.
The Vile du Havre left New York on
the 10TH Of November, under charge Oi
Captain Surmont. With the exception OF
foggy weather and light variable winds
nothing occurred worthy of note until
the morning of November %, when being
in latitude 4s.21 and longitude 3J.41, the
steamer was struck amidships by the
British ship LOcherne, and sunk IT
twelve minutes afterWaTd. The Vile du
Havre went with two hundred and twenty.
six of her passengers and crew to the
bottom. Only ninety-two souls were
saved out of that multitude which left
New York 50 gayly only a week before.
The purseI Of the Vile du Havre gives
the following account Of the disaster:
The steamer was struck on the star
board side, and the mainmast and rigging
were carried away. The long boat was
not crushed on deck, but after being
lowered, the miZzenmast falling upon il,
and killing nearly all its occupants. The
mainmast tell after the miZZen, topping
sons. In q deck, and killing many per
over on Tie few minutes the ship began 10
sink, amidst great disorder and panic and
terror. The air was rent with shTieks,
but some were heard saying calmly: AS
we must die, let US die nObly." The
water rushed into the hold with incTedi
bic velocity. | undressed myself, and
with a companion jumped overheard and
swan toward the Locherne, then half a
mile distant. AS | left | heard the ship
cracking, and looking back saw her 60
down with one plunge forward. For a
moment the shrieks were terrible; then
all was silent; it was the silence of death,
The captain remained on the bridge OF
the Vile du Havre during the whole time,
and went down with the ship. He was
picked I'D an hour atterward. All the
officers who were rescued were saved in a
similar manner, except the first lieutenant,
whom the captain sent to the LOCheTHe
to see if she were able 10 receive the pas
sengers of the Vile du IIavre. ! swan
hall an hour and finally reached the
Locherne, but missed the ropes thrown to
me. | remained in the water another
quarter of an hour, but was eventually
rescued by the Locherne.
Among the passengers on the deck OF
the Nilled u Havre was a French gentleman
of remarkable GOODNESS and presence OF
mind. He comforted many by his words.
A priest asked: Are you a Roman Cath
olic?" Yes" was the answer. "Repent'
Them said the priest, land forgive your
sins" With these last words the priest
sank in the waves. The penltent was
saved.
The boats crossed and recrossed the
scene of the disaster, searching Tor sur
vivors, until 10 A. NJ. Further efforts were
then abandoned as hopeless. The sur,
vivors remained on the Locherne until .
P. NJ, when they were transported TO 'he
Trimontain.
Among the lost were Judge Il. W.fecN
ham of the New York Court OF Appears
and the four children of H. g.. Spanofu'
Esq, of Chicago. Eleven of the vlc'lll9
resided in the latter city.