New-York tribune., 1873-12-27
HE VILE DU HAVRE.

CAPT sURMoNT's DEFENSE AGAINST TIE CHARGE
OF COwARDICE.
The following letter from Capt. Surmont
OF the Vile du Havre published In The London
Daily Telegraph on the 18th Of December:
SIR: I have before the number OF your paper Of
the Sth ns and it Is with equal asOnishment and dis
gust that read in It, in the form OF the report which
you attribute to Capt Robertson OF the Loeb Earn tie
serious accusations against honor as sailor.
and against the brave whom 1t Is pride TO have
commanded on board the Vile du Havre and adjoined
these shameful calumnies flaming eulOgium, ridicu
lous from It's appropriateness, OF the English steam
prise at finding that in the face OF such nfamestals
note of the word Sr-I in my turn. raise my voice to
such words into his mouth. q most categorical and
public denial Of his statements can scarcely believe,
even after your affirmation that this officer can really
be the guilty author of so repugnant imposture.
What remedy En9lish law allows In matter OF this
right OF claiming from the publication of my reply
In the place where the falsehood has been printed
and Of that right it is my purpose to avail myself Cap
du Havre is alone responsible for the disaster which
befe her. When speaking In report OF the respective
movements Of the two vessels, had guarded reserve
which every man Of honorable feeling will appreciate
peremptoriy in his own favor this question 50 grave.
and among all 80 obscure death having snached away
the greatest part Of the witnesses aud especially tho
principal one. the officer of the watch at the
OF the IN ,o shall nv repest hss
in such matters that the captain OF the Loeb Earn.
have to and
trophe; that he could have done 90 up to the very
even
and that he did not do should say, above ALL that.
according to the testimony of th9 SURVIVORS OF the Vie
au Ma &c s a s 81 s TS p !Ps
they not in their place, or becsuse as frequently
happens after long night the wlcEs OF the lamps may
your paper, Capt Robertson. the ofHcers OF
vessel and Of having saved myself on board Loeb
Earn have been in command Of Havre ships for more
Mr Editor, you were 70 NEE. Of them and try "a
make him believe that deserted my post the hour Of
fear and with head erect ike honest as am,
to the testimony OF al who Know me- appesi 70 tae
without slightest interference on my part have pub
shed the newspapers the details of the catastrophe
without doubt only did my duty but did IL tnor-
oushly. was my bridge, and 1t was standing on u
that went down With my ship p, d..,.. the ou,,,,.
that has indicted on me, but cannot allow the
noble conduct Of my officers two OF whom are dead ana
OF my crew to remain odously illuminated as IL 10
In the article NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. erroneously-to
Capt Robertson incontestlbe that the fai OF tns
masts caused great confusion board on account Of
the large number OF persons killed and wounded bu;
was obeyed by all up to the last moment ana wasn We
from my bridge were at their posts Capt Robertson os
the Loeb Earn saved the unfortunate passengers Of
my ship, while the two boats still left to mo renamed
public homage to the efcacious aid afforded BY the En-
gsh There three OF them, and two French
whaleboa Consequently II is not surprising that the
English ones picked up more persons; bot LIS false
that the Graf. Of the vile Hayre remained inactive
Lastly, Mr Editor Capt Robertson II you report his
language correctly further and my men Of
having done nothing assist HIM his ship. Mr
Ilado, passenger the Vile du Hayre who kindly
acted as between Capt Robertson aud my
SELF will testify that several times, through nim o.
fered that officer 10 remain board the Loon EAru'
assist him with all sailors after having only trans
ferred to the Trmountain valid passengers ana tns
civil part OF II only 10 the presence OF tns
refusal OF Capt Robertson that removed ny
whole crew " the rrilnountaib.
10 the secondary details OF the account atr1DuVoe
TO Capt Robertson the same may be said OF nem
the principal facts which have just notced-they Ao
false, absolutely false, And M Eiitor pefhit NC
TO tell you that you have been wrong In using ~ ~
Affair OF advertisement thus frighuu catastrophe nn
reprehensble action, believe me- 10 enueaVor ~ uorsc
profit for your steamboat companies 10 the detrons
my honor aud that OF my crew. ! nave nos act9u -
that manner with regard 10 your fellow cnizens nS
over again my report; you will mud IN osrciu .os
ter Of everything thar can do honor 70 the captxn
the Loeb Earn aud his Beware. slr, you wny
audsciously boast OF the superiority OF tue sns'.J
packet ooais lest search too deeply INTO the hho
your shpwr rocks and that oppose TO that 1sn
falllbty OF seamen che recollection ot u' ~
bia City Glasgow City OF Phiiadepn .w
Boston, Clty ofNew-York Tempest fhs Two ~ Tarr:
New-York, Jura, Indian, Hungarian, ConnSaxn Rrton
states Britannia, AngoSaxon. Colorado ss IinsI
Bohemian, Nova sIiss
Kingdom, HlOeraia Cambria. AigiSA sov'an $500 fnnali
gov. Cleopatra Chicago. City OF WasuiDS''A' S~'S id
and the Atlantic. ai ir.tN 49,. T hasa man., a
have. doubtless. forgotten some pus 20 az mosS
toned enough render yon more Aou s,s ,,r M q
humble under tLo hand of God is"' or, yyWnaSp y
dent servant, N' ss~-"
xQrkS, Doo IL