Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-11
The Willie Du Havre Disaster.
The following dispatches from LoR-
don aud Paris have many interesting
facts not before known here: ~
LONDON, Dec. 2, 1878.


night. The railway company kindly
provided a special saloon car for their
passage.
During their short stay in London
everybody We'd in comforting the Sur
vivors Marks of effectionate sympathy
were evinced even by the storekeepers,
who refused to accept payment for
goods ordered. These offers were with
difficulty resisted. The agents of the
company provided funds, while Morgan
Brown and others offered home and
comforts to the unfortunates. All this
was unnecessary, several of the surviv-
ing gentlemen having saved sufficiency
from the sinking ship. Mr.. James
Bishop had G300 in Bank of England
notes, and also some gold, in his pocket
book, which was uniniured. 1t is re-
markable fact that this gentleman and
others had seemingly ample time to dress
completely. Mr.. Bishops watch stopped
at twenty-eight minutes past two. Mr..
Cramer's watch stopped at half-past two
exactly. This leads to the supposition
of the loss of much valuable time in
lowering of boats, owing to the utter
absence cf discipline. After the coils
ion no orders were given. The officers
were distracted. Each person helped
himself. This fact is undisputed: The
longboat contained no first-class passen-
gers. The sailors and coal boys rushed
and took possession of the boats, all res
| cues being effected subsequently.
The Scotch ship Loeb Earn was pre-
vented from making immediate prepara-
ton for rescue, owing TO the ignorance
on board whether the Vile du Havre
had sustained serious or slight damage.
This may probably be accounted for
| by the inability to communicate intelli-
| gence between the French-speaking and
English-speaking officers of either ship.
| AS a consequence the boats were not
| lowered until the Inflated steamer had
| gone down. On board the Vile du
Havre no life-preseryers could be found
in their proper places. One gentleman
among the rescue searched four cabins
| for these articles in vain. 1t has been
ascertained that the occupants OF three
or four cabins amidships were probably
killed when the PROV of the Loeb Earn
crushed in the plates of the steamer.
! The greater number of those rescued
had been floating from half an hour to
an hour The captain of the Loch Earn
had little comfort to offer the perishing
survivors beyond an open heart
and right good will The ladies
changed their drenched night dresses for
clothes and wrappings from the sailors
stores.
Soon, however it became a question
whether the Loeb Earn offered safety
to the large company she now had on
board. Captain SurmOnt declared his
determination to transfer the crew to
another ship when an opportunity offer
ed, leaving the passengers behind. Inls
was resisted by Messrs. Waite and Bel
knap, and after consultation with the
carpenter Captain Surmont's opposition
was overcome. When the Trimountain
was sighted the transfer was effected.
The American captain was married
man. and offered the ladies increased
comfort in a neat cabin Still, when the
landing was effected at Cardiff, on Mon
day at twilight, the ladies were in a state
of semi-nudity, some having only blan-
kets, none having bonnets, and all hav-
ING their feet covered with sailors stock,
ings.
When they arrived at the hotel the
agents Immediately provided clothing.
All the ladies were assembled in the par
lor for the purpose of dressing, having
short notice to do so, prior to their de
parture for London, When the signal
was given that the time for starting had
arrived the gentlemen asked whether all
were ready. An affirmative answer was
: given, and when the door opened all who
witnessed the scene vividly realized the
fearful tragedy which had occurred, all
the ladies being clad in deep mourning.
The heroism of the rescued ladies was
: beyond all praise. TO Miss Hunter es.
pecially all gratefully tender the ac'
{ acknowledgement of touching motherly
care. At the time of the collision the
Second Officer, who perished, was ir
charge. The sailor who was on the
8 look out was rescued. The latter main
: tains that ten minutes prior to the catas
r trophe he reported vessel in sight tC
, the officer. The Second Officer, ht
states, gave confused directions to the
men at the wheel. The few saved owe
their lives to the sagacity of the engi
r neer, who stopped the engines instantly
y thus preventing the loss of all on boarC
p by lessening the distance between the
Scotchman and the steamer. Only ont
l.. among the crew can speak English, tht
remainder being Frencbmen.
, The steamer was steering east-south
east on the starboard tack, taking of
two points prior to striking. The Scotcl
: ship was running three points free OF
p the port tack. The weather was clea
> / and the stars shining. The ship wa
: CARRYING all her canvas except studdinl
sails. Two hours later the sea becam
! somewhat rough. A court of inquir!
e ! has opened at Cardiff A correspondent
4 | endeaVored to obtain an interview witt
. Captain Surmont, who blames the off
Ger in charge, beyond which he is una
BILE satisfactorily to explain the catas
trophe. ~, ls5sE
= The American Consul at Cardiff wa
absent from his post of duty. He ha
: sent letters of coincidence from London
regretting not having heard of the catas
: ! trophe in time. =
i stl|.i<t t.. PARIS, Dee. 2, 1878.
The detailed accounts given by tn
!, survivors are narrowing and distressin
: / in the extreme. Mr.. Waite, who wa
: accompanied by his sister on the voyage
!, became separated from her in the horn
!. vortex caused by the sudden sinking Q
q the steamer. When the latter wen
Il down huge waves came surging out frot
the closing of the momentary chasIr
and, amid the boiling waters, brothe
: and sister were torn asunder. The brc
tber alone was saved. Miss Breedon lei
! the wreck hand-in- hand with her father
i The latter was drowned. Mr.. Jane
Bishop had secured two planks and gay
one to his friend. Mr.. Ct. H. Taylor, wh
was drowned. Mr.. Bishop narrowly, e
capped. A sailor. attaching himself
the plank, Mr.. Bishop left it and swal
:. for another. Is ,st 1s-szs
$ Robert MeCoskey Butt, lad of Il
al saws he was reused from sleep by tt
*. 5enly hFharp