The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-03
TIE AGENTS OPINIONS.

MIR. Sparks Defends tho Captain OF tho
Lost Steamer and Expresses His Deep
Regrct-The Question or Coal Supply
What the Passenger Agent Says.
reporter OF the HERALD called upon Mr.. J.
Hyde Sparks, the New York agent OF the company.
This gentleman evidently felt the appalling
weight OF the terrible disaster upon the
future OF his heretofore prosperous COM
pany He seemed to fully realize that the
prospects of the White Star line were very much
imperilled by the loss OF the Atlantic. It Is cur
rently understood that he is q large stakeholder
in the line and that the ruin of the company would
involve heavy financial loss to him.
"What are your latest advices from Halifax ~
asked the reporter.
Mr. SpARKs-The information which we have re-
ceived to-day has been SO very meagre that we
know but little more about the disaster than we
did this time last night 1t is very certain that it
is a calamity Of the most dreadful nature. That
OF our vessels should be Inflated to cause
the loss of so many human beings / can hardly
realize as yet. Certain 1t Is that deplore the
terrible sacrifice OF human life more than our
selves.
REPoRrER-Do you ascribe the disaster to negli-
gences
Mr.. SPARKs-No, we do not. Captain Williams is
an of1cer Of long experience and man who in
every way deserves and has received our conf
dence. He has good record as an oficer, and
never. 80 far as can hear, has he been charged
with incapacity or neglect OF duty. Various theo-
ries-such as temporary arrangement OF the
compass or dense fog-have already been ad
vanced; but for my part am utterly at q loss to
account for the calamity. We shal subject Captain
Williams, II he is alive, to
MOST THOROUGH INQUIRY
as soon as he arrives either in Liverpool or this
city. 1t is not yet positively known that he is
among the saved. Certain 1t Is that he was
possessed OF great amount Of personal courage
His conduct when an 0flcer on the steamship Re-
public convinced US OF what he could 40 when it
was necessary. He also received very nattering
testimonial from the Guion Company when he left
RRPoRTER--You are. them in considerable sus-
pense as to the ultimate extent of the disasterS
Mr.. SPARKs-The return OF the steamers Delta
and Lady Head will bring us fuller details OF the
disaster, together with full lists OF the saved. I
telegraphed our agent in Halifax, Mr. s. Cunard, to
send all information obtainable.
REPoRrER-Is 1t true that q duplicate copy of
your passenger list has been sent by mail upon one
Of the other steamersS
Mr.. SPARKs-I believe 1t to be the custom OF all
lines. We win certainly have copy Of the pas
senger lists on the steamships Algeria or City of
Montreal. We do net know certainly which vessel
carries 1t but until this document arrives it will
be Impossible, l fear. to furnish full list OF the
steerage passengers The cabin passenger list
came over from London this afternoon, and will be
gwen to the newspapers. We have learned that
all the ships papers we're lost.
REPoRTER-Have you
SENT AN AGENT
from this city to the scene of the disaster'
Mr.. SPARKs-Yes; we despatched Mr.. ]. J. Pen
NELL the wharf superintendent last night, upon
the first receipt OF the dreadful intelligence He
has carte blanche order TO provide for
the wants OF the saved, to procure
clothing and comfortable quarters and
to forward all to any part OF the United States or
the Canadas free oil expense. The agents OF the
company are determined to show by every possible
means yet within their power their full realization
OF the sorrow and grief which the loss Of the At
lantic has entailed. IL is nothing short Of great
calamity
REPoRTER-when may your agent be expected to
arrive in Halifax
so that we do not look for any Information from
him before that time. II is probable that some OF
those saved nom the wreck will be in the city by
tomorrow evening. do not know what can say
further. Certain n Is that wish we had iniorma-
ton In detail to appease the clamorings OF all
the relatives OF the Inflated passengers on the
Atlantic.
REpoRrER-was 1t the custom OF your company
TO take coal enough on this side make the voyage
to Europe and return
Mr.. sPARKs-This report circulated yesterday IL
not true Idesire TO authoritatvelY contradict it.