Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-03
Ocean Disaster.

The ship Trmouutiin, says Lon1on
dispatch dated Monday, arrived at Cardiff
that morning and brought news of the loss
of the steamship Vile du Havre, which left
New York the 10th of last month under COM
mand of Capt. Surmont.
At two O'Clock on the morning Of the 22i
of November, the Vile du Havre collided
with the British ship Lochearn from London
for New York, and sank shortly after. Two
hundred and twenty-six of the passengers on
the steamship lost their lives. The Tri-
mountain rescued 81 OF her passengers and
crew and brought them to Cardiff. Many
Boston passengers were on board the lll-fated
vessel and were lost. The Vile du Havre
was formerly known as the Napoleon ILL
She was an iron steamer. built on the Clyde
in 1866, and was originally 2, 375 tons regis
ter, but about two years ago she underwent
extensive repairs and was heightened one
hundred feet, increasing her tonnage to about
four thousand tons. She was a propeller
and had seven water-tight compartments.
The Vile du Havre experienced a thick
| fog until the Goth. At the time OF the col
Iision the weather was clear; little wind was
| blowing, but there was a heavy sea. The
captain had just retired and the second Off
Ger was in charge. The lights on the steam
err were all right. The collision was wholly
unexpected The LOchearn struck the steam
er amidships and made 4 chasm twelve feet
deep and from 20 to 80 feet wide. The ex-
act position OF the Vile du Havre at the
time was latitu lie IL. 81, longitude 80. 81.
Panic took possession of the passengers
| Five minutes after the collision the man
and mizzen masts fell across two large boat
which were filed with people and ready FOL
launching. The boats were crushed t
pieces and many Of their occupants killed
and injured In the brief interval between
the collision and the sinking of the steamer
the crew were able to launch only the wha
boat and captains gig. The Lochearn wen
a mile before stopping; she then got GU
four boats to pick up the people struggling
10 the water. Meanwhile the whale boa
under the command OF the second lleutenan
IF the Vile du H4vre picked up one load o
those who were c.Inging TO plank, spars
etc, and took them to the Lochearn. Sh
returned to the scene and rescued anothe
,ad. Capt. Surmont, who remained O
deck to the last, was rescued by this boa
three-quarters of an hour after the collision
- 10 n IL
chearn and was hauled on board with rope
The boats continued to search the waters II
the vicinity of the disaster until there wa
no hope Of saving more lives. The cold Wa
intense. Many of the survivors were IN
mersed two hours and were almost lltele'
when rescued. The ship Trimountain sigh
ed the Lochearn at am, six hours att(
the sinking of the steamer.
, The Lochearn was so badly damaged
: the collision with the steamship Vile
e Hayre that the persons rescued by her lro
i the wreck requested to be put on board Il
Y Trimountain. All were safely transfers.
: with exception of three persons, who we
II TOO badly injured to be removed. Tho
b saved speak in the highest terms OF the kin
II ness of Captain Urquhart, commander OF
IT rrimountain. There were six stowawa
Is on hoard the Vile du Havre. After Il
= collision the Lochearn put about for Queer
& town, at which port she was due about
ID 29vh ult., notwithstanding her disabled co
dition. Nothing has been heard of her.