Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-12-04
DISASTER At SEA.
Loss Of the Vile du iiavrc,
With Two Hundred and Twenty.
six Passengers.

LONDON, Dec. 1.-The steamship Vile
du HaVre, from New York, has been
sunk at sea. Over 200 lives lost.
LONDON, Dee. 1.-The steamship Tri-
Mountain, from New York, arrived at
Cardiff early this morning with the in
telligence Of dreadful disaster to the
steamship Vile du Havre, which left
New York November 10th for Havre,
in command of Capt. Surmont. AT 2
o'clock on the morning of the 23d, the
Vile du Havre came in collision with
the British ship Lochrene from Lon
don for New York, and sunk shortly
after. Two hYadged and twenty-six
persons on the Vile du Havre were
lost. The Tri-MOuntain saved 81 pas
sengers and brought them to Cardiff.
LONDON, Dec. Later dispatches
from Cardiff bring the following addi-
tional particulars of the loss of the
steamship Vile du Havre: She was
struck amidship by the Locherne and
sunk in twelve minutes. After the
collision the Locherne Immediately
lowered three boats, which rendered
all the service possible by them. Fif-
ty-three of the crew were saved, inclu-
ding the Captain, and these go to make
up the 81 saved. -.-.,- -.-t.
Among the passengers in the Vile
du Havre were the folloaing membels s
of the late Evangelical Alliance, re-
turning to their homes: Rev. AntoneO
COrrasco, of Spain; Prof. E. PrOvier, OF
Geneva, and Rev. U. Weiss, Emile
Cook and Mr.. LOvriare, of Paris, and
Alfred BarbansOn, of Belgium. The
Legation of Washington was also a
passenger. +iI ---
The Vile du Havre was formerly the
Napoleon Third. She was altered and
enlarged last winter, and came here for
the first time as the Vile du Havre on
the 9th of April, making the passage
from Brest in nine days and twenty
the Great Eastern, she was the largest
steamer that ever entered this port.
Her disrnensions were 430 feet by 4S
feet. Her carrying capacity was $500
tons weight and measurement. Her
main saloon was fitted up with marble
wainscotting of three varieties; the up.
holstery was in velvet, and the wood.
work was carved in the most unique
designs. Her engines were compound
direct acting of 8, 200 horse power, ,made
in England. ..- n..- '
i....ul ANXIOUS FRIENDS.
New York, Dec. 1.-The office of the
Trans Atlantic Mail Steamship Com
pany, No. SO Broadway, was besieged at
an early hour this morning by persons
who sought Information concerning
the loss of the Vile du Havre. Many
of those who called were plainly suffer-
ing from terrible suspense in regard to
the fate of their friends or near rela-
tions on board. Several persons still
ignorant of the disaster entered the Of
flee, and at different times asked in
CHEEKY manner if the Vile du Havre
had yet reached port. In each Ofthese
cases mOmentary silence followed,
broken only ny the reply of the clerk
that the vessel had not yet arrived. If
no other questions were asked the in
quirer left without further intelligence,
for all seemed to shrink from cOmmu-
nicating the news which might be like
a death blow to the hearer. Among
those who visited the Office for the
particulars of the disaster was A. Bin
ninger, of 80 Broad street, whose wife
and daughter were passengers on
board the steamer; he had received a
dispatch from his daughter, saying:
"Alone saved, on my way to Paris:
IAf FANNY"
His wife was therefore lost. Mr..
Binninger, who is an elderly man, was
evidently half stunned by the sudden
shock, and his grief excited the SYM
pathy of strangers as well Ms friends.
No steerage passengers were carried
by vessels of this line to Havre. The
cabin passengers numbered 130 and the
crew, 1t was said at the office of the
company, about $50, although the num-
ber was not known exactly. Capt M.
Surmount, commander of the Vile du
Havre, is fleet commander, and has
been in the service of the line since its
organization, and has borne high
reputation as an efficient officer. The
Vile du Havre was in all respects one
of the best finished vessels ever built
on the Tyne. She was fitted with state
rooms for 200 cabin passengers. Judge
Rufus Peckham, Of Albany, who is
among the lost passengers, was one Of
the most prominent members of the
judiciary in New York State ana was