The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-21

~ thew found leak had occurred, and that they
could nave made but little attempt to avert dis
aster or TO prevent the ship from laundering. pre-
ferring to transfer themselves and the passengers
to other ships in sight rather than to risk lives
by remaining on board and making q desperate
effort save the property OF their employ The
question as TO whether Captain Roussan did right
talked Of, the principal discussion being turned to
the point OF whether he would not have shown
more AK qualities III s sna p H
considering his small distance nom several ports.
Another feature talked over yesterday was the
similarity between the cases OF the Amerique and
the Europe, in SO lar as the leak occurring In the
engine room, which was the new section added in
fact OF the leak occurring IN the same place was
attributed TO either imperfect construction OF the
ierior Quality Of IRON may have been used BY the
contractor-in other words, that the work may
have been scamped, IN order that q little extra
THE QUESTION OF SALVAGE.
Another fruitful source OF conversation. espe-
ciaily among shlpbroKers, was upon Inc amount OF
salvage money that would be awarded to the
salvors and further as to whether the steamer +.
T. Barry would be entitled to share in the award
v0lving nice points OF law, 1t but natural that
the widest theories and opinions should be adj
vanced especially In view OF the TACT that the law
OF salvage IS at best most intricate and but I'M
perfectly understood. 1t was, however, the opin-
several prominent lawyers consulted by the
HERALD representative, that IN the present in
stance as the Amerique had oeen totally aban,
salvage would be one-third Of the value OF The
snip, cargo and freight, There were how.
the sum 70 be recovered would amount to one hall.
Court, when oil the facts WIN be brought out and
ruling consistent therewitn made. AS to whether
the passengers could claim their baggage or
whether they could obtain from the French conf
pany any compensation for It's loss was another
point upon which there appeared to be a diversity
from the salvOrs, but could not come upon the
company for It's value, while others on the con-
were not obliged to give up anything contained in
the ship at the time they took possession OF her;
but that the company could be made TO pay for any
loss sustained by the passengers In view or
the fact that the ship had been unnecessarily
abandoned by the captain, officers and crew.
There were, again, others who believed that the
passengers had no remedy whatever, and must
quietly submit to their loss.
NO DISPATCHES TO THE AGENT.
On inquiry at the offices Of the company in this
city Mr.. Mackenzie stated to a HERALD representa-
tive that he had received no dispatches rom either
the agents in Brest or Havre, or from the Drinci-
pal bureau In Paris since Friday last, and he knew
nothing OF the Amerique having been taken into
kilograms published In the HERALD. Mr.. Macken-
Zle said ne did not ieel competent to advance any
ment OF the Amerique, or the causes Leading
thereto, for he had not received sufficient details
to put him in position to be able to form any
thing like correct Judgment. He would there
fore, for the present, prefer say nothing on the
subject. He felt sure, however, that the directors
in PARIS would institute most rigid inquiry to
the disaster to both the Amerlque and the Europe.
Mr.. Mackenzie emphatically denied having made
any such statement as was alleged to have come
from him on Sunday last, and published in a
morning paper yesterday, to the effect that the
saving OF the Ameriquo would be likely to. prove
more disastrous to the company than the loss OF
the vessel, it was first described. He could
only judge by Indications arising daily, which
proved that the public, Notwithstanding the re-
cent misfortunes were still patronizing the line,
and every day fresh applications for passages
were being made. The company he knew TO be
extremely strong financially and well able to
bear their losses and provide, II anything. In
creased facilities for the future.