Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-19
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR,
THE Loss OF THE VILE DU HayRE.
Capt. surmont's Omcfal Report.
Terrible Details OF the Disaster.

NEW YORK. December Ia.-Captain Surmont,
OF the steamship \ Tile du Hayre, IN his Official
report Of the disaster, after slluding 60 the fact
that the weather hal been foggy from the time
OF leaving until "Wednesday evening, when he
was unable Go take the latitude by the Polar
star, says: Il finished my calculations by m
O'Clock, when being very fstigued laid down
on my sofa after first writing orders for the
night, and directing MIR. GsiIlsid 20 call me at
midnight. That offieer also after leaving the
watch and taking also a Polar obserya tions told
me the weather was splendid and without
clouds, and went 20 sleep again, having In nv
written orders expressly directed the oficer on
currence. At midnight the second lieutenant
would take watch, but a. I never sleep four
hours together At sea- got up from The sof. st
under full sail showed herself all at once on our
path, and had
HARDLY TIME TO JUMP ON THE BRIDGE,
when the Vile du Hayre WAS already struck
right in the side opposite 20 the mainmast 4
left the bridge TO ascertain the extent of the
damage II was enormous, being hole Of 1t
least sixteen feet, rendering IL certain that the
ship could remain but a little time anost. The
engine WAS stopped at once by one OF the watch
and the valves were opened. The water rushed
IN so quickly that there was no time 20 close the
bulk-head, which separated the engine from the
boilers, besides the bulk-head OF the coal
bunker having been forced into the engine the
water poured In that way into the boiler" The
captain says be Immediately ordered each
officer 20 his respective post OF duty, aud
describes his efforts 10 lower the boats and the
OF which full details have been rece ived by
cable. Continuing, be saws: 81 must say in the
short interval between the collision and the
THE PASSENGERS WE'RE EXAMPLES OF COOL
MISS.
cslmness and resignation, and al the dreadful
time OF this lamentable occurrence, when three
hundred and hfry-hve persons were Justly
alarmed at the thought Of certain death az any
moment, and their only hope Of safety was dis
appearing, the women were the first 70 give the
A. NM rartk. fasIIx
owe their safety 20 that fortitude, which they
did not lose for a single moment, and many
others would have been saved Il the cold water
had not paray zed their limbs have the sat-
isiaction since the wreck OF learning, by Ques-
uoDing the survivors OF the crew, that every
one was al his post; that each did his duty,
and
ALL WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL
and were picked up from the sea. The loss OF
the unhappy officer who commanded the watch
at the moment of the collision renders me IN
able TO give an exact account Of the occurrence
before taking command myself, but I can de-
clare that the Loeb Earn, TO which showed my
ships side, and which, consequently, had
nothing 20 fear from me, struck directly against
my vessel, at the risk of smashing herself as
well, when by slight stroke Of the hahn up
ward (ior il vas almost 50 already thisterrible
collision might have been ayerted. Leaving
the question Of the collision aside, I readily
render 10 Captain Robertson, his officers and
crew the gratitude that We all owe them for
the good care taken of us. On going aboard
everything was placed at cur command. The
ladies we're made objects of special attention
While the English, seeing that most of us were
only half clad, diyested themselves OF a grea-
part of their clothing, When the Trimountain
hove in sight, the passengers manifested a wish
70 embark on the Trimountain, which offered
10 aid US. did not feel bound tOoppOse them
although the captain of the Loeb Earn many
times declared that he felt no anxiety because
OF the damsRe, relying, with confidence, on the
bulkhead which his vessel had in front. As 20
myself, offered TO remain on board with al
my crew,the passengers having been transferred
TO the Trimountsin. The Captain replied that
it was needless; that he did not require us. 4
embarked on the TrimOuntain, le aying en- board
the Loeb Earn two passengers ,one of whom vtoo
sick TO be removed, was left in the care of the
other, and a fireman who had been injured.
IL appears from the statement of Captain Sur
mont before the investigating committee at
Cardiff, that the steamship was struck on the
starboard quarter At a empty space, and not
amidships was first stated.