New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20
OCEAN PERILS.
THE CASE OF EAMERIQUE.


THE VESSEL TowED INTO PLYMOUTH-THE PAS
SESGERy BAGGAGE sAvED-ALL THE CARGO WILL.
POSSIBLY BE SAVED.
PLYMOUTH April TO- 1874
lho derehct French steamship Amerique was
to"ed into this harbor yesterday by the steamers
spray, from Newport for Gibraltar, aud +. 7. Barry,
from Panama. The captain of the Spray reports
that he encountered L'Amenque on the 18th inst,
IN lat 4740, drifting in the trough of the sea- On
being boarded she was found to be abandoned, with
SIX OF eight feet of water in her engine
room, stoke-hole, and bunkers. The other
compartments Of the steamer were dry. Her
spars and steering gear were intact. The Spray i'm
inediately took her in tow. and was afterward as
sisted by tho steamer +. T. Barry. The pumps on
the Amerique were set at work and when she ar
rived In Plymouth harbor yesterday the water in
the engine compartment had gained only two feet.
The pumping is still going The ships cronOme-
tiers and the baggage left by her passengers have
been saved, and it is expected that large portion,
not all her cargo, will also be preserved.
PLYMOUTH, Monday, April 20-6 a. m.
The French steamer Am6rique is now free Of water
When she was first boarded by the Spray her cargo
had shifted, and she careened badly, but she was
afterward righted
ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY THE PAssENGERs-THE ROUGH
WEATHER neutrality-suspicious. OF THE
TRANSFER OF PAsSENGERs-REPoRT OF CAPT.
ROUSSEAU.
PARIS. Saturday, April IS, 1874.
few of the passengers Of the ill-fated steamer
LAmerique have arrived hero. According to their
somewhat incoherent narrative the weather con-
tinued fine until the morning of April IL, when
strong westerly breeze sprung up. and veered at
o'clock TO the orth-west, finally blowing gale
from west northwest. A heavy roller struck the
roof OF the wheel-house when about 100 miles from
Brest The Captain ordered the ships head to be
turned to the wind. The gale increased. and ct
P. ID. il was blowing hurricane, filling the engine
room with water
During the night tho weather thickened and the
vessel rapidly filled with water. putting out the
fires three times. The engineers succeeded. never
theless, in keeping up steam. On the morning OF
the 14th the sea went down for short period, and
everybody worked at the pumps until 10 o'clock
The engines finally stopped working.
The heavy seas shipped at various times could not
have filed the holds with the large quantities OF
water in them, and it became evident that the
vessel had sprung leak. The carpenters vainly
endeayored to discover its whereabouts. The
donkey-engine was set to work, but the efforts to
lessen the water were In vain The vessel became
unmanageable at 4:90 p. M, and the captain was
compelled to inform the passengers of its hopeless
which had been standing by calamity. This in-
formation created surprise, because, until then, tho
officers of the steamer had succeeded in concealing
its condition. In a few words they treasured the
passengers, recommending them to remain calm and
take their life-preservers.
The transfer during the furious sea was accom-
plished with the greatest order. 1t began at 5
o'clock, and was completed at o'clock. 1t was o
miraculous escape, considering the weather The
sole accident was to First Officer Garay, who was
drowned in tho transfer.
The Norwegian vessel Aladdin. and the English
vessel Michigan, each took several boat-loads. The
Italian ship landed 80 of the passengers and l43 Of
the crew.
There arc various surmses as TO the origin OF the
disaster. The leaking is not attributed TO the heavy
seas shipped 1t is probable that the cargo of wheat
while wet, sweled and started the rivets; or posi-
bly, the ship touched during low tide. The roofing
of the engne-room started at the beginning of the
gale allowing the water to enter freely.
The Italian ship Eliza Quicrolo has arrived at
Brest with $50 souls saved.
LONDON Saturday. April 10, 1874.
The Company gave the passengers money for their
immediate necessities but what the latter received
was small compared with the loss of their baggage
and vauables. Many of the passengers are pros
trated with fatigue, and there is one case Of
paralysis.
The Company throws the blame upon the British
ship-bulders who heightened and transformed the
old ships bearing imperial names. which was tho
necessity for their alteration, but weakened the
ships and impaired their sea-worthlness.
All speak in the highest terms OF the conduct OF
the captain and officers.
Capt Rousseau, of L'Am6rique, in his official re-
port of the disaster states that the steamer sprung
aeak in the gale on the 18Th Despite all efforts. the
water continued to gain. and extingushed the fur
mace fires one after the other. The next day. when
the danger of sinking became evident, consulta-
ton of officers was held, and it was decided to
abandon the ship Immediately.