The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-12-21
From New York.

NEW YORK, December 20.--l.ondon
papers of the 9Th inst, received to-day,
contains official reports of Captain Robert
son of tho Loeb Earn, which sunk the
steamer Vile Dc Hsvre. Its MS follows, in
so far as it relates 10 the collision:
November 22d, 2 q. m, latitude &C. 81
north, longitude 80, 6 deg west winds
south southwest; true snip brsced up on
port tack, heading by standard compass
northwest by n, or west half true. a
steamers mast head was seen from enc to
two points on port bow. Our side lights
were out and burning brightly. Shortly
after We saw that tho steamer had three
lights she was coming straight for us al
most immediately che showed only her por.
and mast head lights and was steering an
parentIy to pass under our stern. After n
short time we rung our bell and ported
our helm Is we thought she WAS coming
too close. When cl 60 10 The bow the
steamers helm was s,srboarded, she was
across our bcw and o collision was newt
able. The order was given to back our
after yards, but before the brace.
could be let 60 the two vessels came in
collision with the Loeb Earn, striking
the steamer amid ships. The ships i'm
medistely separated, and we withdrew our
after yards aback. and tho crew then
shortened sail, and commenced to clear
away the port life-boat. The carpenter
being at the pumps, replied that the ship
was making no water, and then went for
ward and found the bowsprit gone and
the bow mashed completely 10, but
the collision bulk head was
appearantly uninjured. A boat from tho
Vile du Havre, then came along the aide
containing an officer and four men. | ask
cd II tho steamer was much blurred, no
said she was injured, but did not say she
wanted assistance, MS no signals Of dis
tre,s were made by tho steamer, thought
At one time the boat was sent to render US
assistance, bu. while talking to an officer
saw the steamer apparently settle down
and lowered the port life boat at once In
charge of tho second officer and four men
who made towards the sinking ship. Our
cutter and starboard life-boat were then
cleared away and in q few miputes de-
parted TO the scene of the catastrophe,
their only guide being the cries of the
drowning people. Although the steamer
had disappeared VIC kept our boats out till
day light-un,il every one floating around
tho wreck WAS picked up. We succeeded in
saving eighty-four persons out Of three
hundred and six, large portion having
gone down with the steamer. The Vile
do Havre only aoated about fifteen min
u,cs after being struck. Capt. Robertson
then proceeds to give an account Of his
falling in with the Tri-Mountain, and tho
transferring of his passengers and crew TO
her with the exception Of the nurses, the
cook and the wife of one of the steamers
fremcn, who was injured. He then gives
an account Of his struggle to save his
vessel.
The following incident of the disaster is
told by the captain Of the Loeb Earn
A lady swan along side with O child in
her arms, rope was thrown to her which
she seized, but in attempting TO be pulled
up, holding on with one arm and with tho
other around her child, her strength failed
her and the child was lost, but tho poor
mother WAS hauled on board.
An imposing requim mass wa, solomizod
ut Havre on the sth inst,
in honor tho victims. The
cathedral was drsped in black from roof
10 door, and was thronged by congrega-
ten Of five thousand persons. The cata-
islque WAS surrounded by tho sailors Of
tho republican navy, and all the Give,
naval and military dignitsries Of the place
were present. The Cures sermon was in
terrupted by bursts Of grief from worship
pen All the ships in the hsrbor dressed
their flags half mast high. and
business wss NJ stand still.
The public subscriptions amount
to forty thousand frances excluding con-
tribution of the company, the singers of
the Paris opera ara to give Performance
of Lafavorits at Havre, for the benefit Of
the families OF the victim.