New-York tribune., 1873-12-19
INQUIRY AZ CARDIFF.
STATEMENT, BEFORE THE RECEIVER Or WRECKS
CAPT. sURMONrS Story.


CAPT. sURMONrS Story.
On the 9TH Of December, under the pro-
visions of the Merchant shipping act an inquiry INTO
the circumstances Of he loss of che Vile du Havre was
instituted by the Receiver Of Wrecks az Cardiff Capt
surmont of lost vessel after answering the usual
ouestons as TO the tonnage. register aud equipment of
the steamer said
The vile du Havre left NcR-YOrk the 18Th Of No
yeber Mt p m the tide at tho fiine being nigh waer
and weather hne the wind blowing from the south At
the time Of sailing the snip wat VOL ouo ~ , an mn sh
rias both hull and equipments and IN GOOD Trim she
was not too deeply laden, aud answered hcr heim "el
bnt not as quickly some of the modern lines OF
steamers which under steam power 10 work the
boats six boats would be capable % carrying about
2IO persons. and the other two % Ihey Were an IN
with moderate passage log had contrary winds and
on the 22d of November va arrived IN lat A. anu ons'
80 Paris, with nothing particular 70 nOte Az a. I'D
on the 2?d the weather at the time being very ne clear
and the wind in the :. W.. blowing the snip M was noau @
more than u. 1t the second heutenants watch.
-Four seamen we're at tho whee, one % cIei tens n
flushed my observations at II p m on the 2lst ,hen
retired to my CABIN on ascS 5Oott Wba Kind Of
weather 1T would be. wish here 10 state thdt loI
tSrouSb & heavy Fog, giving me no night
day and glad TO find myself In lne, clear weather
NV watchnan reported to at midnl ght, Same kind
of weather-very nne." After receiving this message
composed myself, and no one called me after uls'
although NV strict and written orders were to be nd
yised OF the least incident occurred just before
,be accident got up any notice. aud as pro
1t the collision occurred NV ships helm was
nut hard a a-starboard. bat We could not clear
and the coming vessel struck me on nv
starboard quarter at empty space ana cut me aoWn
below the waters edge. The water rushed In ana my
vessel went do gn 10 about ~ minutes OF COURSE there
was great confusion on board. The frst thing did
after damage done was to order the boats out
Two were got out easily, and stove u The confu
sion great There was no time 70 ,nnx ol
sengers and then the uizzenmast foil forward ana
crushed many more. Tho Loch Earn capt. Robertsonl
slowed round and got astern OF US 200 OF @ SO
wards and remained there. sent TO them
boat and said we we're shE.ns ana re. ..ey .e
vice Their boats. with two from my vessel Kept up
@ s %s could be- We ana
outted the at 10 m having saved ~ ves out oi
x we're the crew OF the vessel The master OF the Loch
Earn rendered every assistance hst was poss0o under
| the circumstances
| Adren Enaut. Of the seamen OF the Vile du
Havre made the ing statement before the Receiver
OF Wrecks;
At the time Of sailing the Vile du Hsyre was in good
condition The boats we're also IN good condition anu
were hosted up by cables tn dayt-wo Doats on each
! ouarter the launch amdships. with the other boats
inboard there beng altogether eight. Inc snip pro
ceeded on her voyage IN indifferent weather anu log
and last three days OF our voyage We were sg
through a dense FOG: We had attained 70 seven uays
| or longitude we're in. II was my watch rom mih
night to m There are RE '%p N.p bn s ass ON the
ssrboard stationed ON the port side Between ana
| IN on
hsinr brglt and clear and wind aft Of us blowing
tna Iree2e the ship proceeding her course At
the ususI speed-sbost III knots. was at my watch
forward the port side Observed no'n,ns 70 noo.
THE watch forward had signai trumpet NY pIItuet
an tbe side had IT, AT about 1870 heard me
v,,nnet u'owu distinct times very iou1, whlch
,rnitss tbat A sail IL the starOoard side looked
sSead and saw ship coming towards US little on our
iarhoard bow. about times our ships length on or
=, ,aay he more; I cannot denno the distance IA
| ~ L. nan 20 minutes the coming snip ran INTO
rs ,.Ling u on our starb0ard quarter, ana cuttng us
~, a hsIov, tho waters edge. After our trumpet
ornded ssw our ships head changing her position to
! nnrt so hal her nem must have been sarDoardsai
pi,a,~ ~ en-, f the Otnor vessel had starDOarded we
should have passed free. mt DO noa Ih,nk tne o'ner
comns hin IL was by her hgure ia tho water saw
no light whatever until after sns had go' as''f a,sf
throa hr,IIianr Igbt, no aud brightly burning lhey
put up immodately after sunset aa" me sS
tain was ca, ana composed. gave his orders thor
oughly, and aided 70 hns utmost ln slying ,ro ihs
| ThDio 0t go Er,s II sJs OtD;g '"'O '1''''~ F." ~