The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-15
CAPTAIN LEMARIE EXPLAINS.

CAFIAlN LEMAKlE EXPLAINS.
representative Of the HERALD yesterday after
noon called at the Offices OF the General Transit
lantic Company Tor the purpose of obtaining Cap
tain Lemarie's opinion and views with regard to
the statement OF Captain Thomas of the steam
ship Greece. as published in yesterdays HERALD
Captain Lemare at the time had just returned
from the French Consdl's office, where he had
been to file his formal provost as given
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE HERALD
yesterday, and as he had fortunately transacted
all his formal business with Mr.. Mackenzie, the
agent OF the line at liberty to answer any ques
tons that might be put to him or give any in
formation needed.
After some desultory conversation upon general
topics the subject turned upon the various reports
appearing in the different newspapers in regard to
the loss OF the Europe and the conduct CT the
officers Of both tnat vessel and those belonging TO
the Greece at the time when the latter ship lay to
alongside the former and the transfer OF the pas
sengers was made.
Captain Lemarie, in referring to the statement
made BY Captain Thomas. declared 1t to be en-.
tirely
WITHOUT FOUNDATION
and utterly devoid OF truth. "You will see," said
Captain Lemarie, shat Captain Thomas says:-"I
told him my ship was unable to proceed any fur
Their when lie ranged alongside OF us, that she
would sink inside OF twenty-four hours and that
| asked him to take all our people from the
Europe. This he states TO be all that passed be-
tween US. In answer to this, have only to say
that the first person saw belonging to the Greece
was the first officer, with another gentleman,
wearing the ribbon OF the Legion OF Honor ana
speaking French They came alongside my ship
and said to me,
WHAT is THE MArrER9'
Iexplained that the ship was making d great deal
OF water, and thought 1t would be more prudent
for me to save my passengers by transferring them
to the Greece. They said III that is the the case you
had better make haste and get all your passengers
ready to be transferred replied that they were
all ready and had been so for over an
them eatns he nte
OUR OWN BOATS
IN order TO transport them to the Greece We had
all our boats. eight in number, alongside the Ship
and were filing them as fast possible with the
women and children. After had got all the pas
OF the English boats which came to our assistance
! went down IN the engine room to see how mat
ters stood there. found the water increasing,
and that 1t was then about three inches above the
IRE room. The men had been working since
opinion that we were in great danger Mr. Buck
and his companion, who had been laying alongside
al an on saa ana al
GSSf'S DSSAA
FOUR OFFICERS AND MYSELF.
Buck said 'sCome on board the Greece and have
an understanding with Captain Thomas" This
was interpreted to me by Bucks companion
although perfectly Snoara tns n% sad II
understood that can return here" He replied.
Eyes; certainly" Upon this assurance, !, with
r0wed to the Greece. My boat was also alongside
with the mails IN her. Both boats put of together
/ reached deck / went the bridge
where Captain Thomas was at the time. said TO
him. 81 thank you Tor your assistance. come
be reconducted on board my own ship tomorrow
morning." He replied
that is all right. After that we will see what can
be done.o 1 then held some conversation with
Captain Thomas and after a little while we agreed
to send boat with Mr.. Buck, his companion, my
own chief officer and the chief engineer OF the
Greece, to the Europe to inspect and ascertain the
condition OF the ship. Captain Lemarie then went
on to describe their return and the report they
made, which has already been published. Cap
tain Thomas, said Captain Lemarie, told me /
must wait aboard the Greece until daylight as it
was too rough to send of a boat that night,
besides, too dangerous. ! stayed on the bridge
and heavy hail falling. / had no
overcoat, but did not like to leave the bridge as
me to Watch my ns At daylight Mn
board the Greece, and on their return they went
on the bridge ami held conversation with Cap
there was eight feet OF water IN the hold. When
Captain Thomas says Mr.. Buck told him he could
navigate the ship into port 1t was without my con-
SENT as was not consulted on the matter. de-
manded to be allowed to go on board my ship.
Captain Thomas said to me, "It is no longer your
affair; my olcer will take charge OF your Ship and
will take her back 70 England" Mr.. Buck turned
round and said:-
Eyes, TO LIVERPOOL ~
During this time the men they had previously OBJ
tanned as volunteers were preparing to get away,
and few minutes afterwards the two boats were
lowered on the port side. asked Captain Thomas,
who WAS on the bridge, II l might go In one OF
them. He turned away and did not reply. dis
tncty reiterate my previous statement, that
then tried to get into the first boat but Mr.. Buck
pushed me on one side and said. .sYou go In
another boat" tried then to get into the second
boat, but the crew served me IN the same way.
They left the ship and embarked on the Europe.
Wnen saw these boats going away
l LOST ALL HOPE
and did not see the use OF speaking any more to
Captain Thomas. !, however, protested against
such an outrage. Captain Thomas took no notice
OF me. When he says made no attempt to get
into the boats, he tells untruth rs can show by
q number Of my officers and crew and several pas
sengers.
also distinctly aver that number OF my men
did work on the Greece, otherwise she could never
have been navigated, as can readily be seen when
II IL remembered that twenty-five OF her compile
ment went on board the Europe. know beyond
doubt that she was not in O condition to be kept
anoat for many hours after left her, notwith-
standing Captain Thomas statement to the con-
trary. Subsequent events proved the correctness.
OF my Judgment. The lower fires in the boiler were
out ana the water was gaining on us SO rapidly
that the other must very after have faced ehe
same. There was water in all the compartments,
seven in ALL The reason the sounding rod di not
show 1t when tried on the ioreward and after com.
partments was on account or the wells being
choked with coal. ! should never have left my
ship had II not been for the assurance given me by
MT; BUCK - great proportion OF the baggage and
saved had Captain Thomas desired. bat IL appea rs
TO me his idea from the beginning was to get us