The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-21
GROUNDED WHEN PARTIALLY RELIEVED.
The Finding and Saving Of the
Steamer.
Salvage Work of the Rescuing
Vessels.
Importance of a Herald
Marine Report.

OF THE FRENCH,
Early to-day Lloyd's agents reported that
there were still eight and half feet of water
in the engine room of the Amerique and nine
feet in her after compartment, and that despite
active pumping there was no apparent de-
crease; but later despatch reports that she
had been partly relieved of water by the gov
eminent pumps and was on her way to berth
in the docks when she grounded. As this
accident was due to her depth from the great
weight Of water in her, added to the weight of
her cargo, it was evident that to float her and
get her into berth she must be lightened,
and it was decided to move part of her cargo,
as this could be more easily got out than the
protested against this proceeding.
HOW THE AMERIQUE WAS FOUND AND SAVED.
toll the whole story of the finding and saving
of the derelict steamer
Spray boarded the Amerique they found six
feet of water in the stoke hole and water
entering by two headlights, which were burst
and Intellectually stuffed with piled-up bed
ding. The pumps were choked and useless.
donkey engine was broken. All the boats,
except the gig, were gone The ship was
under two close-reefed topsails and the mizzen
sail was hauled out on the starboard tack.
Her cargo had shifted. 1t seemed to the
mate and engineer as if a panic had been
caused on the ship by the failure of the
pumps and the sudden and alarming rush of
winter through the burst headlights.
It was then blowing half a gale, and the
weather was moderating. and the mate con-
, cluded from his inspection of the Amerique
that it was possible to save her. Thereupona
salvage crew from the Spray was sent on
board, and large warps were attached to the
Amerique's chain cable. Towing commenced
ON the 18th, and the ship towed easily all that
day, so easily as to lead to the supposition
that her propeller had probably been carried
away. On Thursday, however, the gearing
gave way and the chain cable ran out by its
own weight, and was lost.
At this juncture the Barry was sighted and
IL was arranged that she should give assist
ance. All this time the Spray had been steer
ing for Brest, and continued to do so until
four clock Thursday afternoon, when the
wind shifted, and it was resolved to make for
British port. They sighted Plymouth at
/, two o'clock Saturday afternoon, and made
that port the same night.
Although the cargo had shifted, as reported
above, the ship righted when her port side
was brought to the wind, and there is no list
at present.
A HERALD SPECIAL MARINE REPORT ESPECIALLY
The French company was first made ac-
quainted with the arrival OF the Amerique at
Plymouth by the publication of the news in
the New YORK HERALD
Opinions to the Conduct of the Cap
tain-The Question of Salvage-The
Agents Statement.
The news published yesterday contained in the
cable dispatches received from Plymouth, Eng
land, OF the towing into that port of the derelict
French steamship Amerique, formed one OF the.
principal topics Of CONVEX sation among merchants
at the hotels, and, in fact among the public gen.
orally. There, however, appeared to be but one
opinion expressed, which was that the captain had
acted hastily under the circumstances OF The case
and without that proper judgment and irmness
which might ordinarily he looked for in the COM
mander OF a vessel like the Amerque. 1t was also
thought that instead OF acting with calmness and
making thorough Investigation OF the condition
OF his ship, and considering the possibilities Of
safely taking her into port. he must have become
demorazed and terror-strcken as soon as
At was announced to him by the chief
engineer that the ship vas taking in
water. The conduct Of this 0fiicer was
also severely criticised. for it arg ued that had
he, when he discovered the leak, at once set in
eperation all the pumps and bige injectors. there
couid pe out little doubt that the Am6rique might
have been safely taken into Brest. That this
course II carried out would have prevented the
necessity OF tne abandonment Of the ship has since
been proved; and it was spoken OF on all sides
yesterday as singular fact, which must have been
overlooked by the officers or the ship that several
| Of the compartments were entirely free from
water. Those competent to form an opinion ex.
pressed themselves most strongly upon the fact OF
I che fires having been allowed to 20 out thus
throwing away the principal means of safety.
L FOR from the reports already to hand there was.
/ 1t the time the vessel was left, but six or eight
/ feet OF water in her engine room, stokehole and
bunkers. Had the pumps and bilge injectors con-
nected with the main engines been. kept hard NJ
work, together with the donkey and HAND pumps.
Il A. q this