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

The fearful disaster of which we print the
particulars this morning has stirred the COM
munity more deeply than any similar catas-
trophe since the loss of the Arctic. The wreck
of the White Star steamer Atlantic eight months
ago on the coast OF Nova Scotia resulted in a
greater sacrifice OF life; but most of the lost.
precious within the circle of their own families
and friends, were unknown to the great general
public The Vile du Havre, on the other hand,
carried a large proportion of passengers who
filed conspicuous station in society. There
were preachers whose fame embraced two
hemspheres There were men whose names
were mighty or the exchanges and respected
III the courts. There were fair ladies whose
charms were celebrated in all the parlOrs of
tho metropolis. Who shall say that this
brilliant company was worth any more or any
less than the poor immigrants who persisted
on the rocks of Cape Prospecti But the
world, in spite Of religion and philosophy
does practically take q pagan view OF such
accidents, and values life in proportion to
the wealth or tue dignities OF its possessor.
The fatal message which carries mourning
into q score OF stately mansions is remem-
bered long after we have forgotten the terri
bic catalogue of death that fills with lamenta-
ton five hundred humble cottages.
The first impulse in all such visitations is to
search for some fault in the building of tho
ship, or some defect in the regulations of the
company, or some carelessness of the officers.
Theoretically it is almost always easy to dis
cover where the responsibility lies. Safety at
sea is moro or less q matter of mathematics.
But in practice no system of precautions, no
fidelity Of tho crew, no seamanslIip, watchful-
ness self-pOssesslOn will always avail.
Through the dark night and the thick fog the
vessel rushes on, and we little think of the
awful perls which every instant surround her.
1t is only a chance after all that the lookout
is alert and the helmsman steady; that the
signals are bright; that the rudder chains
hold that no disaster happens to the
engine; that fire is not smoldcring
in the hold that another ship is. not recl
lessly bearing down to an inevitable collision.
So many circumstances must combine TO
insure tho safety of the vessel so much
depends upon the inccssant vigilance and the
unerring Judgment of dozen different men,
who have all the facility for laundering, aud
the fatal aptncss for neglecting their duty
which the best Of us are conscious of in our
own lives, that the wonder is not that steam
ers are sometimes lost but rather that so
many como safely into port. Most people, if
they fully realized the dangers of the great
deep, and knew how TO make n correct
estimate of the chances of destruction in the
best appointed ships that ever tloated, would
never trust themselves to go to sea at all.
Yet because it is impossible in practice TO
make certain that every rule OF safety shall
be obcycd, we are not to be lenient in judg-
ing delinquent. There is no doubt some one
in fault on one Of these two ships that
crashed together on the morning of the 22d Of
November, and it cannot DO difficult after due
inquiry to appOrtiOn the blame. We trust
there may be no hesitation in the proper quar-
tiers in imposing the very heaviest penalty for
the offepse. 1t is one of the effects of the
primal curse that men shall trihe with serious
responsibilities, and the world shall be full of
crimes-crimes Of carelessness as well az
crimes Of Imalice. But if We cannot abolish
evil, we can check it; and if ships must be
lost we can at least take pains that reckless
ness shall not be encouraged by an over leni-
ent public or an Indifferent Government.
The full particulars of the disaster. contained
in cable dispatches to The TRIBUNE, throw
but little light on the question which every
body is asking-Who is responsible The
night was clear, and on board the Vile du
Havre the lights were burning. Capt Sur
mont, exhausted by constant vigil of five
days in the midst Of fog, had been below just
two hours when the collision took place. On
board the Loeb Earn there does not appear
to have been great vigilance; the captain of
that ship was also below at tho time of the
disaster. 1t is not now possible to fix the
relative degrees of responsibility for this
calamity which has spread a wave of mourn
ing over Europe and America. The official
inquiry which is proposed by the French Gov
eminent must be expected to unrayel the
details of the melancholy story.