Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-11

Inat when we bid our friends adieu for
trip to Europe, that we have taken
them by the hand for the last time, and
that the chances of their return to us, is
growing less certain, as we read of these
terrible accidents to ocean steamers that
so rapidly follow each other.
The facts that reach US by cable are
too meager, yet to judge of where the
fault lies, that sent between one and two
hundred human beings to the bottom of
the Atlantic. We are told that this yes
sci, the Vile du Havre, passed safely
through five days of fog that she was
superior to all storms The testimony
we have tends to show that the night
was clear but windy, and that the sea
was about an average as to heaviness,
and that both the Vile du Havre and
the Loeb Earn, had their lights display
ed as is customary. With these facts
all conceded there can be no escape
from the conclusion that there was Grim
inal carelessness somewhere. 1t scarcely
seems possible that with plenty of sea
room, ON clear night that two large
steamers could be brought in collision,
the fact that such thing did occur,
throws upon some one terrible response
bility for the results We hope that when
the rescued passengers return that they
can give such additional testimony as
will leave no doubt of where the blame
is, and until that time, we can only
mingle our tears of sympathy with those
who have lost loved friends by this ca
tastrophy, and express our earnest hope
that any living man who is responsible
in any degree shall receive just punish
ment.
In the midst of the mourning on both
sides of the ocean, every one gives the
most hearty praise to the self-sacrificing
devotion and heroism of the officers,
crew and passengers of both ships after
the collision. The commander of the
fatcd ship, Captain Surmont, went down
in her, standing at his post of duty on
the bridge, issuing his orders and CON
| trolling the action of his crew with a
master hand. During the twelve min
utes that intervened after the blow be-
fore the waters closed over the Vile du
! Havre, there was no confusion nor dis
play of selfshness upon her deck. Ev-
cry seaman sprang to his post upon the
first alarm, and with alacrity obeyed
each order issued from the Captain, and
by reason of this subordination and cool
ness, the survivors, who are left to tell
the terrible tale, are much more numer-
Gus than they would otherwise be.
The LOch Earn, too, was not remiss in
her duty, for although she steamed
away for mile after the fated blow,
she lowered her boats as soon as she
knew they were needed, and her officers
and men entered earnestly into the work
of rescue. Her example and that of the
men on the sinking vessel was one that
must receive only praise from the mo,
ment the vessels struck together,
But before the moment of contact
there must have been great remissness
and although we admire self sacrifice
and heroism in the interest of humanity
we find poor compensation in that fol
the precious lives lost by the negligence
and carelessness that preceded that he
roism and self sacrifice. For the sur
vivors there must be great sympathy
The scene of that night will never bt
wiped from their memory, and often IL
their sleep as in their waking hours, thu
cry of agony and despair that went VI
from the sinking ship, as it plunged be
meath the waves, will ring through thei
ears, and they will feel the horror ant
terror of that cold night as long as the.
live. Hundreds of homes are darkenet
by the shadow of death from this disas
ter, and let whoever be to blame for
that must, the all pervading question o
the hour, is, cannot the managers o
these vessels adopt some rules by whicl
, it will not be possible to have collision
, on the high seas +? 1t is said that tn
Cunard line already have strict rules TO
the sailing of its steamers, by whic
they never are allowed to collide, and
; is imperitivelY demanded of all shi
owners that they run their vessels unde
some such system of rules. Until the
do this, some share of responsibility
must rest upon them for every collision