Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-24
THE WILLIE DE HAVRE.
Letter from Rudolph a. WiIthOuSe, jr.,
of New YOrk-The Omcers on Watch
TO Blame for the Disaster.
bravery and Goodness Of the Women
ana ChiIdren-yhe French Crew
Mob Of Beats ana
COWards.

New YORK, December 28.-The Tribune to-
morrow Will publish second letter from
Rudolph A. Wilthauss Jr., who was a passenger
on the ill-fated steamer Vile de daVre, 10 mis-
father in this city. He writes as follows: IN
my last gave Won q sketch rf NY experience
in connection y y.t.. -4. - l.-I = fthe Vile de
cerning the cause Oh Tie accident. and from
all thai / can gather tuOm the officers aud
men 1 conclude that the blame rests
entirely with the officer on watch on
the steamer, whose duty IL was to get out
OF the LOch-Earn's way, and Il appears that
instead Of doing this he did the very Opposite
by altering the coune OF the steamer so as 10
run right across the bows Of the LOch-E Earn,
at least 50 says the officer who was on watch
on the latter vessel al the time OF the COLI
sion. IN any case IL Is an acknowledged lule
Of sea, that a steamer Is bound 10 get out OF
the way OF sailing craft, and as
the night was magnificently clear and calm,
the accident can only have occurred through
some ineNcusable blunder OF those in charge
OF the steamer. After the accident, If it can be
80 called, had occurred, and while the ship
was sinking, the officers and crew behaved
in the most cCwardly manner the latter,
know, and the former, ] believe, looking out
Tor themselves, and leaving the women and
children - look cut for themselves, the only
except on being Dr. Oudiot, whom saw thrt Q
OF four minui es before The ship went down
not have time 20 get up again, to
which he answered that he NUT look
after those who were crushed in their state
rooms. He never came up again. A signifi-
that not single passenger was taken from
the sinking ship by the boats all being
picked up in the water-while at least twenty
Of the officers and crew reached the LOeh-
Earn without wcttiDg as much a. the soles Of
their shoes. OF Captain Surmont's conduct l
know nothing. Those who saw him spoke
well of him, and ! do not think tnat
he is directly 20 blame for the colt
sion, although he is 10 blame for not
having his crew under better discipline, and
for moi having his boats N condition TO be
p Umptly lowered. In great contrast with
The damOrali1ed condition OF the crew was
the cOoluess Of the passengers, even the wo-
men and children. There was no screaming
or running about without an object. The wo-
men were ln knots praying quietly, while the
men were looking around for hfe-buoys
or pieces Of wood, We're making
efforts to get one Of the boats, which
the crew had abandoned, clear Of the ship, so
that it might dOat when the vessel sank,
Language fails me in expressing my admira-
tiOn and gratitude 10 the gallantry and gener-
Osity Of the officers and crew OF the Loch- Earn
and the Tri Mountain. The former saved the
greater part Of US from the water, and bOtu
gave rs clothing and did al in their power TO
make us a. com iOrtabie - possible under the
circumstances. The Trench crew, on the
contrary were mob of beats and cowards.