The New York herald., 1873-12-05
4HB SIyKHy SHIP
The Loss of the Vile
du Havre.
Herald Special Reports from lIaVre,
Paris and Versailles.
CAPTAIN SURMONT In FRANCE.
His Arrival and Reception,
with His Crew, at Havre
and the Metropolis.
THE STORY OF THE WRECK.
Lieutenant Auduvand's Fatal Error
Of Judgment.
SUICIDE BEFORE REPROACH
Statements Of Captain, Off
GERS and Crew.
PkNYER AT THE PORTALS OF DEATH
Legislative Inquiry Suggested by the
French Assembly.
American Reception of the Sur
vivors in Paris.
Statements of Captain, Off
GERS and Crew.
Pk>YER AT THE PORTALS OF DEATH
Legislative Inquiry Suggested by the
French Assembly.
American Reception of the Sur
vivors in Paris.
1ElEGHAms TO THE NEW YORK rERAlD.


The following special despatch from the
HEaA1D correspondent at the French port of
Havre has been received, giving further intel
1igence and copious details of the circum-
stances attending the loss Of the steamship
Vile du Havre, of the French General Trans
atlantic Companys service:-
HAvRE, Dec. 4, 1873,
Via LONDON.
Captain Surmont commander of the lost
steamship Vile du Havre, arrived here at ten
o'clock this morning, on board the steamship
Alice, from Southampton, and was accom-
panied by 60 men, survivors Of the crew of
the ill-fated vessel.
RECEPTION OF THE SURVIVORS.
greeted upon their arrival by an immense
crowd of people who had assembled at the
wharf A great deal of emotion was dis
played by the spectators, and the Captain
was frequently embraced and caressed by
Of the French people.
THE CAPTAIN OFFICIALLY INTERRoaATED.
As soon as the party had landed they pro-
.ceeded to the Offices of the steamship COM
pany, where the Captain was closely interro-
gated in relation to the circumstances attend
ing the disaster which had befallen his vessel
Your correspondent was not accorded permis-
sion to be present to report the facts pending
an official inquiry which is to be instituted.
RET1cENcE ENJoNED ON OFFICERS AND CREW.
During the interrogation of the Captain
made inquiry concerning the collision Of some
twenty of the survivors, embracing officers and
seamen but this investigation proved some
what difficult one, as the mot d. ordre had evil
dently been given by the officials of the COM
pany, imposing upon oil the most rigid
restrictions concerning questions put to them
until the official investigation has been made.
Subsequently your correspondent addressed
stated that he was unable to reply at present,
being greatly exhausted, mentally as well as
physically.
AN OFFICERS OPINION.
One of the officers, however, informed me.
when questioned that in his Judgment this
collision was unexampled in the manner of its
occurrence. He said further that it would
never have happened if Captain Surmont had
been officer of the deck The only accusa-
tions made are against him and the second
lieutenant, Auduvand, who committed sui
eide.
AWAKENED TO PERIL.
This officer informed me tnat he was in bed
at the moment of collision, and was awakened
suddenly by tremendous crash, which
staggered the ship. He Immediately rushed
'on deck, and saw that four of the boats had
been disabled and the masts we're already fall
ing overheard.
THE SAILORS VERSION.
ooiAo "a ZIG Sailors state that the ''lookouJ
forward gave warning that lights were ap-
preaching through the fog, and that the
officer in command, Lieutenant Aud uvand,
gave orders based upon such warnings, but
that his command was too late
TRUSTING TO CHANCES.
Others of the crew assert that he gave no
orders. They affirm that he trusted to the
chances Of being able to pass clear across the
bow Of the Loch Earn, and that the first order
was given by Captain Surmont, who sprung
No the deck just too late, however, to be able
No avert the catastrophe.
onDERs, BUT TOO LATE
IL is the general belief of the crew that