The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-04


80 min. north latitude and deg. "a min. ongi-
tude. Tne sky was then menacing the wind. before
furious. mad increased to q hurricane while the
sea was horrible to witness. The steamer, how
ever, behaved admirably; bur about ak O'Clock In
the evening 1t was observed that the immense
waves had two different directions which strained
the vessel seriously, while the masses OF water
which Tell on the deck demolished every thing and
penetrated to the furnaces. The gratings were
then covered with thick sailcloths. He con-
uDues:-
was shortly afterwards informed by M.
Keesen, chief engineer that the water was In
cYeaslng In the engine and furnace rooms.
Assisted by his men ne labored without relaxa-
ton and with remarkable energy to master the
position, and every hour gave me an account OF
EFFORTS the state Of Things did not grow worse
height Of water In the stokehOle had seemed TO
remain the same, but the fact now became evident
gerOus proportions The engineer. notwithstand-
ing the means employed, could no longer suffice
with oil ms stan, whom be animated with his
THE FIRES BECAME ExTINGUIsHKD
IS the water reached the furnaces one after the
other. All the seamen and ali the servants were
utilized, and each one rivaed with the others in
gain on us rapidly. Ny second Lieutenant, NJ
Gailard informed me that vessel was near and
coming In our direction. had hOsred the signal,
"Please remain in sight,. 1t was understood by
employed the most able manpuvres to keep at
short distance under close reeied topsails.
At about i've O'Clock all hope OF saving the
Amerique was gone; she was visiby going down
forward her stern was so high ont OF water that
we could see the nave Of her screw, and rhe In
cllnatlon 20 iarDoard was enormous. then as.
semDled my oficers, ana all
DECIDED on ABANDONING IMMEDIATELY
our splendld but unfortunate steamer; conse-
quently, IN despair. ordered the boats to be
launcned; the operation was difficult for the sea
was enormously high and the wind still violent;
nevertheless, 1t was effected with order and inuelli
gence, and will add, with perfect obedience;
curing that time all the passengers provided them
selves with swimming belts; the boats ranged
themselves alongside at proper distance, and
every one apl reached in order to embark in turn;
the longboat was kept apart from the rest so as to
help those who might have fallen into the sea. In
the meantime two other ships were sent to US by
Providence, an English and Norwegian. The
rescue commenced on at naipast ave with the
last to quit the vessel with NJ. Keesen, CHEF
engineer, my second, Mr.. Garray, and NJ. Vie, COM
mlssary.
Before we embarked NJ Keesen and took final
and rapid survey OF the sinking ship; we estimated
1t five metres In depth the water In the engine.
room.
THE CATASTROPHE WAS FAST APPROACHING,
and on leaving the deck we observed, In spite OF
the darkness OF night, that the water was ap-
preaching the port holes OF the great saloon. The
result OF the inquiry with show with what success
and GOODNESS the rescue was effected, and in what
weather. hope that justice viii be rendered to
my brave and devoted officers.
MY UNFORTUNATE SECOND, N. GARRAY,
the sea, and all the efforts made to save hum were
fruitless. | propose to make special report
Italian snip who landed u.s. 1855 In number at Brest
on the 10Th INST. at the same date the Norwegian.
Two hours alter, dlsembarked forty passe myers az
that port; the English vessel only, which had but
four, mad not yet appeared. ROUSSEAU.
BREsT, April II, 1874.
HAvRE April 10. 1874.
wi Oh an Cffio nf tho inn
perial navy to ascertain the causes OF the loss OF
the steamer Amersue went Immediately to
Havre, in order that l might be in position to
gather the information was instructed to pro-
cure. Havre IS, in fact, the head OF the Trans
atlantic COmpany's line 1t is there the company
has its principal agency and the largest stores ii
is there 1t recruits the crews and officers OF its
steamers For these reasons l thought myself
justified in considering this port as good centre
OF information.
The city. when arrived yesterday evening, was
in state Of great excitement. Around the tables
in the oats and restaurants, on the promenades
in all the places OF public resort groups OF people
were discussing with animation. The population
OF large seaport constitutes large family, ant
the misfortune which befalls one or other OF 1t
members is keenly felt BY the whole community.
| In the midst OF an emotion SO general and aggra
truth Ia hard to be got at Is 1t an unheard-o
fatality for which no one Is responsible or shoult
the Transatlantic Steamship Company be helt
| guilty OF insufficient watchfulness These are
the two questions to be solved, and If 1t is hard TO
believe that chance has been the only actor in the
three maritime dramas which have succeeded one
another In the space Of four months, on the other
hand II Is equally hard to think that company
50 powerful and respected az the Transatlantic
Steamship Company could sin by negligence in
the very sight of those who entrust 1t with their
merchandise, their fortunes and their lives.
Also there is evidently reason to refuse to take
for true all that Is said against the company.
Public opinion may reproacn 1t with having
given the alteration OF the steamers to ship.
yards, where this kind of work Is not so well
done as in other parts Of England. 1t Is said
the company was informed by many of the captains
OF the bad state OF the hulls OF the steamers and
ought to have paid attention to their warnings.
At all events, an inquiry will alone establish how
far It is just to attribute the responsibility OF
events that have affected the town In its local
vanity to the want OF care in some and the In
capacity or others, more than on the state OF the
sea and the force Of the wind.
In the meantime the news Of the recovery OF the
Amerlque by two English steamers. and the tn
formation brought by the Officers and sailors OF
the abandoned ship, who have just arrived at the
railway station, have revived the angry passions.
TO certain extent the information at hand appar-
emily ustifes the opinions expressed to the In
suficency Of the work or engthening done In
England. The general opinion is that the leak was
caused by the opening Of the rlvets. From the
same information 1t results equally, according to
my view, that at the moment Of the rescue OF the
passengers the sea had considerably diminished in
-.
not been under the very natural impression caused
by the remembrance OF the tate OF the Vile du
Havre they would perhaps have remained on their
ship after transferring her passengers
At the moment when Lieutenant Garray was
about to mount the side OF the Italian ship he
was struck by an oar. Holding on to a boat after
his fall into the water, he was on the point OF
being saved. when wave obliged him to let 90
the rope which had been thrown to him. He then
sunk, and did not come again to the surface. He
leaves behind him young wife and three young
daughters. the eldest six wears OF age and the