Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-12-26
The Vile Du Havre.
LETTER ERoM CHARLES b. WAITE.
On BOARD SHIP TRI- J
MOIrNTATN Noy, 90 1879 I

am safe and no worse in health than
when left New York, but in a sad
state OF mind, hard to describe, consid-
ering what | have passed through.
have only Providence to thank for being
alive and able to write.
Now to my voyage: Shortly after leav.
ing New York, gales commenced, break
ing one blade of our screw on Monday.
From that time till Friday morning
there were continuous fogs and gales
when it cleared and we had a lovely
day, also fine evening, with clear sky
and stars. Julia, poor darling, had
stayed below till that evening. About
8 o'clock We went for walk on the deck.
went down with her about 8 o'clock,
and remained in the ladies cabin until
half past ten. She then retired. | not
being sleepy, again went on the deck,
and remained until II o'clock, when /
also retired. AT little before 9 / was
startled by shock and noise, which to
me seemed to indicate the breaking OF
the screw. cried out to the ladies moi
to be alarmed, to keep quiet. 1 imme-
diately ran on deck to ascertain in re
gard to the damage, when 1 was told il
was collision and upon looking over
the starboard side / saw hole reaching
from the kitchen, extending about forty
feet aft and penetrating about 10 or u
feet into the deck and far below the wa
ter line. | was back again in my ca bin
in minute, and found Julia dressing.
| told her and the ladies to hurry, but
uot be alarmed, as all would be right.
She dressed quickly and seemed calm
and composed. As quickly as was
dressed we went together to the deck. |
l looked at the situation, and decided in
an instant what course to pursue. See
ing the large starboard quarter boat ly-
ing partially on the deck, one of the da-
Wits having been broken by the collision,
placed Julia, with Mrs. Buckley, Miss
Buckley Cher daughter) and Miss Wag
staff, and told them to stand still few
feet from the boat. then went to work
with two other gentlemen, cut the cover
oil and was in fair way to get it afoat
but while at work the steamer gave one
last plunge and the waves rushed over.
covering her at once.
Az saw the water come over the side
creeping up the deck, l thought it only a
wave, so | jumped from the boat to the
deck to pull Julia and the three other
ladies to a dry place. | had my arms
around them, when we were all carried
over the side of the steamer. For an
instant we were together; then | was
struck with a piece of timber on the
head, which for moment rendered me
lnsensible. When | returned to con-
sciousness | saw no one near. | then
struck out and swan for time, when a
timber, such as sustains the cover of the
boats, hoated near me. | got astride of
it and floated for a time. Then two
children came near me. | caught them
and held one under each arm, until, my
strength failing fast, | was obliged to let
Them go. Shortly after, was picked
up by the boat of the French steamer !
ana taken on board of the ship which
lad sunk US. 1t proved to be the Lock
Earn, from London to New York, an
ron clipper, Capt. Robinson command
er. She had broken her bowsprit short
III, and stove her stem down to the water
Inc. Otherwise she had received no
iamage. We were all taken care of by j
he captain and steward. L found was t
me of the first saved, coming in the frat i
'oat, together with Capt Surmont of the |
teamer, who was found swimming in the s
ca, having sunk with his ship and risen s
gain. The purser, brave man, was |
picked up by the same boat with scarce c
J any clothing but, instead of coming t
IN board the Euglish ship, remained in !
he boat, and rowed from an hour and a {
lalf to two hours, saving many people, +
Mss Bininger was with us. | helped 7
'ull her in. Her mother was lost. There 1
we're several Others saved in the same c
'oat. When | got on board tle English |
hip found it was ten minutes of three i
|clock, SO | must have been about three q
quarters of an hour in the water. ItEt
'ould not have been more than ten or |
welve minutes from the time the ship |
truck US before the steamer sunk. L
1t was half past four o'clock before all $
he people came on board, so you can G
imagine my feelings during that time,
boxing at each one as they came over
be side Of the ship, with the hope of ?
eeing Julia, but, alas she came not. y
hemust have gone down without strug-
lie, as Mrs Buckley, of whom 1 spoke be.
ore, says a piece of timber came be- q
ween her and the rest of the party and "