Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-02
Loss ofthe Vile du Hayre.


NEW YORK, Dec. Especial dispatches
give the following of interest about the loss OF
the Vile du Havre Most Of the passengers
Manyspxayed:a and many laid down with the
calmness of utter dis pair: tiSome hearing the
water pouring into the ship never quilted their
staterooms Whole families thus went down
together. The four boats lowered by the Lock
Earu found passengers aud crew tloating ON the
waves holding to planks buoys, spars and what
ever could be seized as the wreck went down.
Many had thus prepared themselves from the
first. Many OF the women saved were fl atlng
in the water. The Captain Of the Vile du
Havre is reported to have been quite exhaust
ed by his three days and nights OF uniulerrupt-
ed duty. The officer who was in command when
the collision took place was lost. The sutterlngs
of those who were rescued were intense, the
cold being very severe. Many persons were
nearly insensible, and would have utterly per.
ishcd in few minutes more. The rescues
we're all matter Of haphazard, as time per.
mitted DO organized effort or attempt at choice.
The purser Of the steamer says I'm few
minutes the ship began to slnk amidst great
disorder and frantic terror Tie scene was
awful beyond all description. The air was rent
with shrieks, but some were heard saying
calmly, as we must die, let US die uobly." The
water rushed iuto the hole with incredible We
locity | addressed myself and with Il COM
panion Jumped overheard, and swan towards
the Lock Earn, then half a mile distant As
[ left heard the ship cracking, and looking
back, saw her go down with one plunge forward.
For moment the shricks were terrible, then
all was silent Alas it was the silence of death. .
Among the passengers CD the Vile du Havre
was French gentleman ofremarkable calmness
and presence of mind. H. conferred many by
his words. A priest asked: "Are you Roman
Catholic?" Yes, was the answer. 'Repeut
then, said the priest, land | forgive your
sins" With these last words the priest sank
in the waves. The penltent was saved.
The persons who remained on the Lock Earn
were French clergyman who had become de-
ranged, and another of the party left to take
care of him. The survivors were crowded in
to the small cabin in plriable state. They
we're heart broken, i'll clad aud destitute, but
amidst their grief they expressed their grail
tude to the captain and crew ct the Lock Earn
for saving them from watery death. Captain
Uruuhait, of the Trimouutan, supplied the
survivors with all the clothing which could pos
sibly be spared and in other qu>ltes. Never
theless some We're almost baked and others
WCIC UdOiS W VI ny "t~S'N
coming 10 violent contact with them. The sur
vivors all attribute 40 blame to the officers OF
the Loeb Earn for the catastrophe but say that
they did everything possible to prevent the
enormous sacrifice Of life.
A later report says that the bow of the Loeb
Earn was stove in com pletely, and the ship was
only kept aAoat by the water-light fore COM
partment.
A London dispatch sent last night says the
ship NJ. A. Marshall, just arrived at Bristol,
spoke the Loeb Earn after the accident The
captain of the Loeb Earn was apparently in
bed at the time of the collision. There was
sou,e confusion at first but it was stopped as
soon as possible.
New York, Dec. 2.-The captain Hunter
lost on the Vile du Havre, was a son Of Hon:
John Hunter, formerly Minister to Brazil, and
brother Of VIM. Hunter, Assistant Secretary
of State 1t was he who 10 1862 while in COM
mand of the Montgomery chased Il British
blockade. runner into Cuban waters and fired on