New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17
LOSS OF THE VILE DU HAvRE.


TIE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ENGLISH COURT OF
INQUIRY-THE OFFICERS OF The LoCH EARN
HELD BLAMEIEss-cArr. sURMoYTs CONDUCT
INDICATED.
In the official inquiry. instituted by the En-
glish Board OF Trade at Greenwich on Dec. 10 and 81
and Jan and 2, into the collision between the Loeb
Earn and the Vile du Havre. Nj. Maude, a police
magistrate conducted the inquiry and was assisted by
Capts. Harris aud Wilson AZ nautical assessors
Robert Laurie, second mate OF the Loeb Earn IN
charge the time of the collision said he TOOK the
watch az midnight the third mate being with him. Inc
CAPTAIN was below, reading. At that time there was
brisk breeze from s.SW.; weather clear AT 1880 the
CAPTAIN came looked about and told witness to call him
il there was any change of wind weather The ship
kept port tack and by the steering compass
lookout, and a Jew minutes before O'Clock witness
noticed bright light the port bow oil the snip me
ISeh Earn had red light on port and a green light
brightly. The masthead light only of the steamer was
at that time visible Witness remained a minute
or two Oh fOrecastle head 10 what ~ was ne
then saw the green and red lights OF steamer lm-
mediatey alterward the green ght was smut out ana
only The red aud masthead lights were visible. Inc
steamer was distant from them, ~ nearly ~ posi-
BILE two miles He watched the steamer FOR Two minutes
and saw the and white lights coming very close 10
tnem He told the man on the lookout 10 ring he Del
forward and the second mate to call the captain as
steamer coming upon them. The steamer was then
ships lengths of. possibly hall mile witness
then called to the at the wheel to put the helm hard
inc her red light aud mast hight lie could not say
tain was on deck by tins time, but witness
could not whether any orders were given by nm as
he stood aIndshlps and the steamer coming
right across their bows. Their captain then called OUT
Back after yards" The steamers green night then
first came in view Before the braces could be let 20,
the ship struck the steamer about amidships on the
starbOard side The shock knocked some OF the men on
deck down. At that tune the snip was goihg a niue
over 10 knots hour. The vessels did not remain IN
contact more than moment the steamer instantly III,
light the steamer kept its head toward their snip IL
was portlight TO porthght with each vessel and the
red light OF the steamer shut in when nearing the
ship thus showing the steamer had put her helm hard
astarboard. The steamer appeared 10 be coming very
fast and there nothing 10 prevent the steamer see
ing the red light ship before sarboardng her
helm. On that night the loom OF vessel couid nave
been seen about half IA mile on
William Wiseman, the third mate, corroborated this
evidence and added that when the steamer was about
a biscuits throw off, he saw her three lights and she
then shifted round and showed her red lights.
Carl Beggren, the lookout man, swore that the
lights were burning clear on board the Loeb Earn.
When the steamer sighted, the second mate came
TO him. on the top gallant forecase. and lifted the port
light up few inches for where 1t stood two iron bars
it to protect 1t from the ropes was not
"picked" ~ make IL burn more clearly.
AS TO Capt. Surmonts behavior. several OF the Loeb
Earns crew that who they we're told was
the captain came board quite dry but MI Chas b.
Waite distinctly stated thatlthe boat he was in picked
up the captain from piece of wreck He was at the
time wearing a long blue coat aud uniform trousers.
When the captain board the Loeb Earn he TOOK
on hs wet clothes and put on h the p1 coat had From
founded the two-both being big men and very much
alike.
tina, about o'clock while sitting on his sofa, read
ing he heard from the third officer that thoFe was
seaer getting too close to them He the poop
and a steamer approaching one point on the port
bow. He then the masthead and red hight, and
called out TO the man at the wheel Hard aport" Tho
repiad As
ance with previous order The two lights named were
angle lights which showed to him steamer had
staroarded After this he the green masthead
light During that time the bell ringing forward
Immediately after the green and masthead light camo
an view he that collision almost inevitable
that il would Ike very close touch at all events When
me- saw the green light the steamer was not
900 wards of and when he first deck not moro
across the ships bow he orders bsci the after
Some Of the braces let 20, but he did not
nnn,red the Loeb Earn striking the Vile du Hsvre on
,be starboard quarter about mdships. He believed the
Zach Earn had not answered her helm at the The
,o a. parated Immediately French officer came
an hoard and about five minutes afterward he noticed
that the steamer was settling down. He then sent out
ali his boas aud every one OF them saved lives As to
Cant surmont. he declared that he never made any
charges against that ocer He should feel ashamed TO
have made such accusations AGAINST man holding the
same position A. himself In answer To the
Cnnrt the witness said that had not the steamer star
hoard,d her helm, there would have been collision.
He attributed the collision To that He was watching
~ .,eamer IA IL came nearer ~ his ship and did not
hnn shn altered her bearings at ALL When she swung
rnnnd she OF course altered her There VA.
nothing 10 obscure his ships lights As far AZ he could
see no smoke came from the steamer
The depostons OF Elnaut, the look out man board
On. VILE du Havre, and Of Capt surmont. read,
and they declared that the Loeb Earn struck the
,.amer IN the starDoard quarter having been previ
nsIv observed on the starDoard side, showing, II was
nt. nded that the helm Of the Loeb Earn must have
been slArDoardeu
At,.r four DAYS hearing Mr.. Maude declared that
,he court WAS unanimously Of opinion that the officers
a, the Loeb Earn were free from all blame regarded
snvthiug that led to the collision. further report
vould he for varded 70 the Board Of Trade.