New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-03
FOREIGN NEWS.
THE VILE DU HsvRE INQUIRY.

TESTIMONY OF NIX. WAITE AND CAPT. ROBERTsON-
CAPT. sURMoNT INDICATED FROM TIE CHARGE
or CowARDIcE-CAPr. ROBERTSON ExCUI.PATEp.
LONDON, Friday, Jan. 2, 1874
During the investigation OF the Vile du Havre
disaster yesterday, Mr.. Waite of New York, who was
passenger On the steamship, deposed that he was
rescued by French boat. The same boat afterwards
rescued Capt Surmont who was in the sea clinging
to some pieces of the wreck. Mr.. Waite further
stated that the crew of the Loeb Earn COMPOUNDED
the pilot of the Vile du Havre with Capt Surmont,
and it was this that gave rise to the statement that
the latters clothing dry when he came on board
the Loeb Earn. The Court accepted TINS explanation
of Mr. Waites and thanked him for having made 1t.
Capt Robertson of the Loeb Earn was examined
to-day. Nothing new was elected. The witness
denied that the charges against Capt Surmont
emanated from him; lac declared he was incapable
Of taking away such brave mans character.
Application was made for an adjournment OF the
proceedings until the French witnesses could attend.
but it was subsequently withdrawn.
Mr. Butt on behalf of the officers OF the Loeb
Earn argued that the Vile du Havre was to blame;
but the negligence in the steamer probably due
10 tile ovHt;....~"e watch kept the three previous
foggy days.
The Court unanimously decided that Capt. Rob-
ertson was blameless
LETTER FROM Mr. CIIAs. WAITE
Mr.. Charles Waite, whose testimony before the
London Court of Inquiry is above referred to- has
written to his father Mr. C.. G. Waite Of this city.
under date of Paris Dec 6. Referring to his sister
who was lost with the Vile du HavTe, he says:
You ask for some message from julia poor dear girl
she sent none Of looked for OF expected AN
end so sudden for that noble ship; while we were stand
ing on the deck thought she would sink, but not IN
the short space Of II minutes besides, we were all
hopeful of being rescued by our boats and the boats OF
the Loeb Earn until went down with one awful
plunge. At the last moment We all expected To 70
together bottom Of the great deep and for that
reason no one said "goOdby." even. All thought their
lot the same One daughter az You have SEEN SAID 10
her mother 1t is only for minute; then we Will meet
In Heaven That was the thou GIT Of all how could
any one expect else thrown we were INTO tine deep
ocean Had Julia on the surface OF the water
would not only have brought her but herself to
you for as you know from my letters, carried two
darling children with me. swimming for nearly three
quarters OF an hour how much more willingly would
have done the same for poor julia. My strength would
have rendered able to have carried her even 10 he
other ship husband did his WIFE, and seeing her
safe sank to rise more) But such was not Coos
will He who dOeth all things well ordered 1t Otherwise
so Il was not for me to do.
Although his ship lost such dear sister, and
caused Inc so much grief and PAIN don't hesitate to
saw that more careful and watchfu captain than Sur
mont does not sail God blese him, poor man.
he suffers more than any Of who were saved. pity
him. -. -
ANOTHER LETTER FROM r. A. WIrTHAus, JR.
Some interesting facts concerning the closing
scenes of the Vile dn Havre disaster are found IN
letter from Mr.. Rudolph A. Witthaus, jr, to his
father in this city. Mr.. Witthaus, writing from
Paris Dec. II, says:
The newspaper accounts which you have sent are as
he however,
MANY errors and contradictions The Loeb Earn was on
the port aud standing to the northward and east
ward or daaetrcay the opposite direction to that
stated In most Of the papers the WIND was nearer
south than west and the steamer was struck amdshps
On the sarboa instead Of the port side as reported
tn. pn-ae- Of the Havre. whose statement is
given in the NewYork newspapers which also appeared
in the papers here is only the second prser or de Idco
the purser's clerk; he was the hrst man whom saw
leave ship, by jumping overheard aft on the port
side, the same place where i afterwards went over
He states that the nanmast overheard after the
but the fact is that the stays OF the main
mast having by the bow Of the Loeb Earn the
support the mast the windward side was gone and
the pressure the wind the sails carried the
mainmast which, by its connection dragged over part
OF the top Of the mizzenmast; IT was the manmast
that crushed the boat full OF The second purser
saws passengers" think crew, for was within 10
feet OF where the wreck Of the mizzeBmast fell, and
very few persons were injured by IT, his second purr
also accuses the passengers of being demorahzed this
il a bsrefaced and deliberate falsehood for camer
and OF people DO not think were ever seen
under the and very few OF us have To
thank the officers and OF the French steamer for
any aid in saving lives, cannot and will not
brook any such statement this, coming as It does
from one who manifested bis bravery by being the fret
TO get out OF the way and himself but he being
civil officer and not naval one, may have been in
measure justified 10 looking out for himself but this can
in no way excuse the falsehoOds he has coined
THE REPUBLIC OF SPAIN.