Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-12-05
IN. wreck of the vine du Havrs.

STATEMENT OF THE PURsER.
NEW YORK, Dec. I've were seven days
out it was Saturday night Twas sleeping
when the collision occurred ; rushing on
deck deserted a sailing ship. and three
minutes later gained the fearful conviction
that the ship was going down by the bow.
Thirty or forty passengers managed to get
into the long boat, and life grew strong
within them when freed from the sinking
ship, but suddenly the mizzen mast fell over
I the left side of the vessel. killing or wound
/ ing nearly all of them. Immediately after
wards the main mast fell on the deck.
| killing and wounding more. The vessel
was sinking. | jumped overheard with
another person and swan towards the
| Lochearn. hall mile OF. Looking
around saw the steamer disappear without
reeling, going down bow foremost. For
| moment a mighty shrek rent the air, the
| last outbreak OF agony. \ deathlike calm
succeeded the noise and tumult- The captain
remained on the bridge during the whole
seer lie was rescued an hour later. SIX
ofhc IS out of fifteen were saved by sw i'm
min except the first Lieutenant, who went
in boat to the Lochearn. The purser gives
touching narrative of the presence OF 4
French priest amidst the deathlike calmness
on deck, dispensing blessings. Boats cruised
about until about 10 O'Clock next morning
in hopeless efforts to pick up others. The
survivors remained on board the British
shin until 2 O'Clock p. m. and were then
transferred to the American ship Iri-M0un-
tain, commanded by Capt. urquhart
CAPTAIN rRQuHART's STATEMENT.
On Sunday III orning he saw vessel with
weather bow hOw-sprit gone and sails flying,
which proved to be the Loehesrn OF elias
COW bound for New York. The captain ask
ed to transfer the surviving passengers
and crew of the steamer VILE du Hayre
which sank at O'Clock that morning. All
except two. one a French priest and the
other a person who remained 10 act As
nurse, were transferred. Ii was pltilul
sight to see these human beings huddled to-
gether in 4 small cabin. heartbroken and
destitute of clothing, but still thankful for
their lives and grateful for hospitality re-
ceived on the Lochearn. Many were hurt
by fragments Of thelwreck We cruised till
nearly dark and then proceeded on our
VOYAGE 20 Bristol. Not a Vestige OF the
Vile dn Havre, man woman or child, could
be discovered in the neighborhood Of where
the collision occurred. There was rather
heavy sea hat little wind when the disaster
occurred. In twelve minutes after being
struck the ship went down. Terror among
the passengers paralyzed all efforts 10 save
Many of the passengers never quilted their
staterooms, families meeting their death
together. Among the saved are Miss
Nolan. Mary and Annie Hunter. fan
ny Bininger, Helen and Madeline Mix
/ ter. Mrs. SpOford. of Chicago, lost
( four children. James Bishop. of New
/ York. hoated three hours on a plank.
/ Henry Belknap Of Mount Vernon, near
| Boston, swan from the wreck and was
| rescued BY an English boat MIR Barhaui-
can swan an hour and Williams did the
same and they were picked up by the French
/ boats. Mr. Slade. Of l3i Maiden Lane,
/ New ork. fi1ated on plank Mr.. and
/ Mrs. swift and Mr. Allen Of New Bedford
/ Jumped overheard. Their lives were pre-
served, hut the Swifts lost their daughter.
/ Fanny Binninger sank with the ship, hut
/ hoated on the plots steps and was picked
/ up BY French boat. She lost her mother.
Mise Hunter and MiKter sank with the
ship, bat Heated again and were picked up
/ hy French and English boats. Miss Mix
/ ter iarher. mother and two sters were
{ lost Mr. Spofford sank with the ship bat
/ noated agtin Nearly all On she deck per
/ i-lat