New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-05
THE VILE DU HA VRE DISASTER.

INQUIRY BY THE FRENCH ADMIRALTY COURT-THE
MOVEMENTS OF THE VILE DU HAvRE DECLARED
BLAMEIEss-BAD MANAGEMENT On THE PART OF
THE LoCH EARN
The agent of the General Transatlantic Steamship
Company has received the following dispatch:
PARIS, Jan. 4.The French Admiralty Court has pro-
nounced judgment, declaring the maneuver Of the
steamer Vile du Havre TO have been blameless, and
holding bad management Of the Loeb Earn the cause
Of the disaster. The Cont euogIzed Capt. Surmont
STATEMENT OF THE AGENT OF THE TRANSATLANTIC
STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
The agent of the General Transatlantic
Steamship Company in this city received advices from
the agent in Havre on Saturday concerning the Vile du
Havre disaster. They substantially Of the same
nature dispatches previously published In THE TRIB-
The agent in Havre reterates the protest OF the
French Company against the charges preferred against
II by OF the Loeb EIrn, and maintains That II
was they brought about the catastrophe by their
false maneuvers." After reviewing portion OF the
evidence ELECTED by examination he concludes with
the following summary OF, the whole matter:
The Loeb Earn regularly slgnaled by the men on
the watch the Vile du Hayre, as sworn to in the
deposition of EDault but the lights OF the former not
having been 1t concluded by those on board
the Vile du Hayre that the ship senaed was on the
the steamer as dep0sed to by the EVIL
dence OF Enault and Thomas. However, the speed OF
the vessels 10 knots for the Loeb Earn and IA knots
for the Vile du Havre, brought them rapidly together
The red light Of the Loeb Earn, II 1t could have been
seen which not proved, could at least not be
until the distance too short 10 enable the Vile du
to starboard, according to the rule,
thl naneuvor would have rendered the steamer liable
strike the Loeb Earn. whose course must have been
crossed IN endeavorng 10 bring her TO port The nine
article of the decree OF Oct 49, 1862 lights and
might In OF encounters IN here quoted
in the Company's defense.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM MR. c. b. wAITE-WHY The
VESSEL SANK so QUICKLY.
Capt. McMeckan of the Cunard steamer
Calabra who arrived yesterday from Liverpool, has
letter from C. Burrtt Waite, written IN Paris, from
which the following If extract
You say IN your letter to that the same accident
might have occurred board other ship, which Is
very true. Capt. SurmoHt OF the Vile du Havre a
careful seaman, and did his duty well any man
could aud had he been the bridge las he would have
been had his orders which 10 call him in passing
vessel been obeyed), he would have had, as did the
officer on duty, plenty OF time to haul mile away.
We struck In the engine room-cut down
below the water Had the vessel been struck
elsewhere she would have foated much longer, she
had I've compartments full OF cargo But here the
empty space which took III 5000 OF water. Had we
able to keep atoat five minutes longer, think ell
the hfeoOats which were not broken, six In number.
would have been out hut what could crew OF sail
ore bothered by the remen) do in twelve rather ten
II took 1t least ten minutes to get on deck
No could behave better than the three officers
saved the Purser who worked well TO the
seDgers The caDess Of the ladies before the steamer
sank was grand no one can comprehend IL who was
there 20 witness it, was treequarters Of hour
support with children, aged and years clingng
my Cardigan jacket. Just before was picked up,
the little darngs exhausted and Dead fell away from
me- much TO my sorrow.