New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-02

THE SUPERINrENDENTS STATEMENT.
A NUMBER OF PASSENGERS SUPPOSED To HAVE BEEN
RESCUED By THE LOCu EARN--THE CAPTAINS
FXPERIENCE-uIE NAMES OF THE CREW MOI
KNOWN.
Mr.. Mckenzie agent of the line here, stated that
he had been away lately, and referred The TRIBUNE
reporter for statement Of views regarding the DIS
aster TO the superintendent. That gentleman re-
piled very readily.
The Vile du Havre. said he, was the largest ship
that into this port except the Great East
ern She was iron, had tonnage of 6,0O0 and was
made up in water-tight compartments. She was Of
course, in thoroughly good order, and was admirably
differed. My theory of the disaster is this The
Loeb Earn struck her directly amidships, without
warning on either side. during the heavy fog that
prevailed. The fog was 80 dense that they
could not see their hands before their face. My
experience in lifetime passed in practical
connection with steamers, is that she would nstu.
rally bear around after Tia first shock and along
side the Vile du Hayre. That would be the effect
Of the steamers impetus. The jibboom of the Loeb
Earn certainly caugh. in the hole il made and by
this means the ship was drawn along with the
steamer. Besides. her rigging doubtless caught in
some Of the steamers outworks, and she may have
been towed along by that. take 1t for granted, In
the absence of positive information on the subject.
however, lutI luo sup tuc stcdici
side Of one another for considerable time after the
disaster occurred. The water-tight compartments
must have been open, bat it takes long time for
enough water to flow into them to- sink such a
steamer as the Havre. Now in that time do
not see why great many passengers did
not escape from the Vile du Hayre to ths
Loeb Fam, OF which we may far have
heard nothing. The rigging of the Loeb Earn would
DO about on a level with the deck of the Vile du
Hayre and the passengers could have rapidly trans
ferred themselves by the ranes to the deck of the
ship Ii is likely that the shock OF the collision
would arouse those who sleeping, and it would
be the lrst impulse of people under such startling
circumstances to transfer themselves at once from
the vessel which the main of such disor.
der TO an apparently friendly lying alongside,
where in the nature of things there nos
likely 20 have been much disorder and confusion.
If the Loeb Earn did not cut away. she would have
been sunk by the suction the Havre went down.
and find no dispatches showing that she was lost
MytheOry is, therefore, that the Loeb Earu has o
number of passengers on board, saved, in addition
to those we have already heard from. II is. there
fore, of great interest TO know what became Of the
Loeb Earn
As for the officers, the captain, Maurice Surmont,
has been soa-captan for - years, and had been in
the service of this Company for II years. lie COM
manded in this line the steamships Lafayette.
Europe, France and Vile de Paris, and has never
before met with IN accident. He is reported to
have been saved. lie was about IS years Of age,
and lived with his family near liavre He had risen
10 be Commodore of the line from fourth officer IL IS
requirement Of the service that all its officers shall
have been thorough sailors before We take them
az all aud no matter how high is the recommends
ton of a new man, we enter him as fourth officer.
Capt. Dachesne. late Comm dore Of the lire. had
been post captain in the Fruaoh navy bat he had
To enter our service as fourth officer.
De Garay. che next highest oilc"r, or second
captain as they term them tho French lines. had
bcou in the service Of tho COMPANY eight or tea