The New York herald., 1873-12-16
THE VILE DU HAvRE.
Private Letters from the
Rescued Passengers.
MR.. WAITE TO HIS FAMILY.
STATEMENTS OF OTHER SURVIVORS.
Letter from C. Burritt Waite, One OF the
Rescued Passengers.

Letter from c. Burritt Waite, One OF the
Rescued Passengers.
Mr.. G. G. Waite, OF the Brevoort House, has re-
ceiyed the following letters from his son. who was
one OF the saved from the Vile du Havre, giving
highly interesting details OF the sad event -
on BOARD SHIP TRIMoUNTAIN Nov. 90, 1873.
MY DEAR FATHER AND MoTHER:-
Here am safe and no worse in health than when
left New York, but in q sad state OF mind, hard
to describe, considering what l have passed
through. have only Providence to thank for
NOW to my voyage :-Snortly after leaving New
York gales commenced breaking one blade OF our
morning there were continuous fogs and gales,
when 1t cleared and we had lovely day, also a
nne evening. with clear SKY and stars: Julia, poor
went down with her ABOUT nine O'Clock, and re-
She then retired. ], not being sleepy, again went
on the deck, and remained until twelve O'Clock,
when also retired cstr,,da A. little before
noise which to me seemed to indicate the breaking
OF the screw. cried out to the ladies not to be
deck to ascertain In regard to the damage, when
was told II was collision; and upon looking over
Kitchen, extending about 40 feet AFT and penetras
ing about 10 or II feet into the deck and Tar below
the water line was back again In my cabin IN 2
moment and found Julia dressing. told her and
would be right She dressed quickly and
was dressed we went together TO the deck Then
looked at the situation and decided In an instant
what course 70 pursue; Seeing TN the large starooasd
davits having been broken BY the collision, placed
Julia, with Mrs. Buckley, Miss Buckley (her daugh-
stnl few feet nom the boat then went to work
with two other gentlemen, cut the cover on and
che steamer M gave one last plunge "a and the waves
rushed over, covering her at once. AS l saw the
water come over the side,
CREEPING UP THE DECK.
thought IL only wave, so jumped from the boat
TO the deck to pull Julia and the three other ladies
we were all carried oves the side OF the steamer.
For an instant we were together; then was struck
with piece o. timber on the 1ead & which lor
to consciousness saw no one near. then struck
out and swan for time, when q timber, such as
got zstrde OF it and noated for time.
I'm two children came near me. l
arm until, my my strength failing FAST was obliged
to let them CO. Shortly after / was picked up by
the boat OF the French steamer and taken on board
OF the ship which had sunk US. 1t proved to be
the Loeb Earn, from London to New York, an IRON
clipper. Captain Robinson COMMANDER She had
broken her bowsprit short OF and stove her stem
down to the water line. Otherwise she had re-
ceived no damage. We were all taken care OF by
sayed conS IN the Boat oSether the % w 1ts
Captain Surmont, OF the steamer, who was found
swimming in the sea, having sunk with his ship
oAu AAoSA okoan,
brave man, was picked up by the same boat with
board the English ship remained in the boat, and
rowed from an hour and hall to TWO hours, saw
Ing Ia many people: Miss Bplnger ,s was with us !
There were several others saved in the same
boat boa s,,n When 9onI go. on board the Eng,
O'Clock. so must have been about three quarters
OF an hour IN the water. It could
minutes rom the time the ship % Struck us before
the steamer sunk. IL was halfpast tour O'Clock be-
fore all the people came on hoard. so you can
each one as they came over the side OF the snip,
with the hope OF seeing julia but, alas she came
as Mrs. Buckley, Of whom l spoke before. says
piece OF timber came between her and the rest
Of the party and she saw them all go
Only one saved OF the little party OF rs
who were together lew minutes before,
Finally, when the last boat came. l gave up all
hope or ever seeing Julia again. 1t is so sad that
she should have been lost ior me. as she would not
have come had 1t not been for my comfort; So In
certain degree, 1t Is my fault that she Is lost
suppose ought not to ieel thus. as God IN His all.
SO has taken Julia to her home to Him. About
eight O'Clock Saturday morning ship was sighted, 4
and, being slgnaled, came near. She proved to be
THE AMERICAN SHIP TRIMoUHrAIS,
Captain Urquhart, from New YORK for Bristol, Eng
thought The English ship too much damaged to be
seaworthy, we were transferred to the Irimoun-
tain, were taken on board and cared for as well as
human beings could be under che circumstances,
Captain Urquhart is a noble man ana mas done
nobly by US all. He gave mp everything to us, ana,
having carried his vile often with him. was able to
provide the ladies' OF whom there are IL, with
dresses and other comforts. or course the pro-
visions were very plain and not very plenteous;
put ne has been able TO give the ladies
three meals ana the men two every day. They
nave been mostly OF salt meat and pork, but, as
plenty OF good bread. Iwenty-four or Us slept on
tne moor o. the cabin on improvised beds. or the
conaGcs q the oilcers OF the steamer think those
passengers. but the steamer sunk so quickly that
shere was hardly time to launch the boats or do
the disaster, but there is spare paper on board
the ship, but WIN write you at length when get on
shore. shall go directly from Bristol to Paris via
LONDON. saved my drafts and some money, and
lost all else.
THE FAULT OF THE COLLISION
was with the second lieutenant OF the Vile du
Havre, 50 lar as we are now able to form an
opinion. Goodby. Remember me to all at the
house. KISS dear little Minnie and Lille for me. 1t
seems am 80 far away from every one, and
must walt some time before can see see any OF
you again dare not go nome just now; first, be-
cause fear reaction when l get on shore, which
the excitement here has overcome, and. again,
because cannot go TO you yet without the poor
both ana nelp you to bear this great trial, and be-
heve me ever your own loving son, CHARLIE.
'THR LADIES BRAVE AS LIoss.n
SUNDAY, Nov. 3Q-4 p. M.
MY DEAR FATHER AND MoTHER-I have found
another small piece OF paper and win give yon o
lew more Items. we are on Cardin with pilot
on board. Shall be at anchor within an hour. IL
seems 50 good to see land again. would not pass
through the anxiety have suffered the past nine
days for all there s IN this world. 1t has been
fearful waiting so long. Yesterday we had severe
gale. but the ship being well handled came out all
right. l am better, and hope shall continue to
improve, although lear the reaction when get
ashore will Law me up for few days
The ladies' are becoming quite contented and more
reconciled to their grief. One poor woman, Mrs.
Spanord, OF Chicago, who lost four children, has
Deen very low, and we feared for her life or the
Mixter family, Of Boston, only the Two daughters
remain. Mr Barbanson and Mr.. McCreery send
their kind regards. shall leave Cardifr Tomorrow
pass Tuesday In London and reach Paris on We'd
nesQay ! must take Miss Brceden to her mother
brave as ions-Julia particularly SO. q.
STATEMENT OF AR. CRAMRR, OF TROY.
TROY, N. T., Dec. Is, 1873.
letter from re Grand Q. Cramer, OF this city. a
passenger on the ill.fated steamer VILE du Havre
published In the Times this morning gives q
thrilling description OF the collision by which that
VesaeI lost. He there waa "