Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-19
The loss ofthe Vile du Hayrc.


New YORK, Dec. l9-Captain Surmont, of
the steamship Vile du Havre, 10 his official re-
port o.. the disaster, after abiding to the fact
that the weather had been ioggy from the time
of leaving until Wednesday evening" when he
was enabled to take the latitude by the Polar
star, say Il flushed my calculations by II
down 90 MY sofa, after first writing orders for
the night, aud directing MIR. GaiIIard to call
NE at midnight. That officer also after leaving
the watch aud taking also Polar observations
told me the weather was splendid aud without
clouds, and | went to sleep again, having 10
my written order expressly directed the officer
Oh watch as usual to inform me OF the slightest
occurrence. AT midnight the S,cond Llente D.
ant would take watch, but as | never sleep four
hours together at sea, got up from the sofa
at two and left my cabin. At this moment a
ship under full sail showed herself all at once
on our path aud [ had hardly time to jump on
the bridge when the Vile duo Havrc Was al
ready struck right on the side opposite to
the manmast | LETT the bridge to ascer-
tain the extent OF the damage. 1t was enor-
NOUS being hole of at least sixteen feet
rendering it certain that The ship could
remain but very little time afoat The en-
CINE was stopped at once by one of the watch
and the valves were opened. The water rush
ed in so quickly that there was no time to
close the door of the buIkhead, which separat-
ed the engine from the boilers besides the
bu;khead Of the coal BUNKER having beeu forced
into the engine, the water poured into 10 that
way into the boiler" The Captain slys he
immediately ordered each officer to his respec-
tive post of duty, and describes his efforts to
lower the boats and the falling Of the ,masts
killing many of the people, of which full de-
tails have been received by cable. Continuing
he says, II must say iu the short Interval be-
tween the collision and the sinking of the yes
sci the Passengers were examples Of GOODNESS,
calmness aud resignation, and at the dreadful
time of this iameDtable occurrence when three
hundred and htiy-hye persons We're justly
alarmed at the thought OF certain death at any
moment, and their ony hope of safety was dis
appearing the women were the first to give the
example. The passengers rescued undoubted-
" owe their safety to that fortltude, which they
did not lose for singh momeut,and many others
would have been saved also it the cold water
had not paralyzed their limbs. / have the
satisfaction siuce the wreck Of learning by ques-
tiouing the survivors OF the crew that every
Que Was at 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 un-
moment of the collision renders me unable to
give and exact account ofthe occurrence before
taking command myself, but | can declare that
the Loeb Earn, to which showed my ships
side and which consequently had nothing to
fear from me struck directly against my vessel
at the risk Of smashing herself as well, whereby
slight stroke of the helm upward, for it was
almost So already, this terrible collision might
have been averted. LeviDg the question Of the
collision aside | readily render to Captain Ro
bertsou, his officers and crew the gratitude that
we all owe them for the good care taken of
each of U.s. 90 going aboard everything was
placed at our command. The ladies were
made objects ofspccial attention while the Eng
lish, seeing that most OF us were only halt-cad
Invested themselves OF great part OF their cloth
ing. When the Trimountain hovein sight the
passengers manifested wish to embark on the
Trimountaiu, which offered to aid us. g. / did
not feel bound to oppose them: although the
Captain of the Loeb Earn many times declared
that he felt no anxiety because of the damage,
relying with confidence, on the bulkheads which
his vessel had 10 front As to myself offered
to roman 90 board With all my crew, the pas
sengers having been transferred TO the Trimoun-
tain. The Captain replied that it vas needless
that he did not require u.s. Then, on being
assured, I embarked 90 the Trmountain leav-
ing on board the Loeb Earn two passengers
one of whom, too sick to be removed, vas left
10 the care of the other, and fireman who
had been Injured. -. - .l..'...
It appears from the statement Of Captain
Surmonnt before an investigating committee at
Cardiff, that the steamship was struck on the
starboard quarter at an empty space, and not
amidships As was at first stated.