The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-20
THE Loss OF 1'AMERIoUE,

THE LOSS OF LAMERIQUE.
Herald Cabcl Special
PARIS, April 1s.-A !ewof the passen.
gers oi the i'll tated steamer L'AmeriQue
have arrived here. Their narrative of the
disaster are incoherent. The following Is
a substantial summary: The weather con.
tinued fine until the morning Of April 10
when strong westerly breeze sprung up,
and veered Of 2 o'clock to the northwest,
finally blowing gale from the west.
northwest. A heavy sea struck the roof
OF the wheel house when about 100 miles
from Brcst. The Capt. ordered the ships
head turned TO the wind. Tho gale in
creased, and at p. NJ. it was blowing
hurricane, filling tho cngine-room with
water. During tho night tho weather
thickened, the vessel rapidly filled with
water, putting out the fires three times.
On the morning OF the 14lh the sea went
down for short time and everybody
worked at the pumps until 10 O'Clock,
when the engine finally stopped working.
The heavy seas shipped at various times
could not have so filled the hold with the
large quantities Of water in 1t, and 1t be-
came evident the vessel had sprung leak.
The carpenters vainly endeavored to dis.
cover its whereabouts. Tho donkey en-.
gine was set to work but It's efforts to lea.
sen tho water were futile.
The vessel became unmanageable al
43OP. NJ, and the captain was compelled
to inform the passengers Of its hopeless
condition. He proposed to signal an Ital.
ian ship, which had been standing by gal
lantly. This information created surprise,
because until then the officers OF the
steamer had succeeded in concealing its
condition. In few words they reas-
surcd the passengers, recommending
them to remain calm, and take their life
preservcrs.
The transfer during furious sea was
accomplished with the greatest order. It
commenced at s o'clock, and was com.
pleted att. 1t was q miraculous escape,
considering the weather. The sole acci.
dent was 10 the first officer (Gar8y), who
was drowned in the transfer.
There arc various surmises as TO the
origin OF the disaster. 1t is not attributed
10 the heavy seas shipped. 1t probable
that the cargo Of wheat, while wet, swell.
ed and started the rivets, or possibly the
ship touched during low tide. The roofing
Of the engine.room started at tho com.
mencement ol the gale, allowing water to
enter freely.
LONDON, April 1s.-Capt. Rousesou,
OF the steamer Amerique, says in his ol.
fetal report Of the disaster, that on the
14th inst, danger Of sinking became ev-
ident. A consultation Of officers was
held and It was decided to abandon the
ship.
LONDON, April 19..-The British steamer
Spray, from Newport, bound for Gibral.
ter, and the steamer F. L. Barry, from
New Castle, arrived at Plymouth. The
Spray picked up in latitude 4 degrees
north, longitude G degrees west, the
steamer LAmerique, before reported
lost. She took her In tow du-
ring thirty-slx hours and then fell
in with the F. L. Barry, which gave as
sistance. Tho L'Amerique had sustained
no apparent damage and was making no
water except in the engine room. The
cVbn was In the greatest confusion, owing
10 the hurried manner of abandoning the
steamer. The greater portion of the bag.
gage OF the passengers was aboard.