Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-14
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
NEW YORK..
The Loss of the steamship Europe
CONFLICTING StafementS-Death OF
R0wardus. ehe scientist.

made by persons on board the steam
ships Europe and Greece conflict very
much. None doubt that Capt. Lemaire
believed his ship in sinking condition,
or speak otherwise than in the highest
terms of the discipline exercised on
board the Europe when her condition
was made known to the passengers, but
Captain Lemaire makes statements IN
regard to the officers of the Greece
which are emphatically denied. On the
other hand, the statement is made by
the Chief Engineer of the Greece that at
the time he boarded the Europe, after
her abandonment, her fires were not put
out by the water, but that bad the crew
remained at their posts, no difficulty
would have been experienced in keeping
the water under and safely continuing
the voyage.
Captain Lemaire, of the steamship
Europe, has published letter in which
he says: The second officer of the
English vessel, on making his last trip,
came on board and begged me strongly
on the part of Captain Thomas of the
Greece, to 60 on board his vessel and
confer with him, stating that my vessel
would be watched until morning and
promising formally before my officers to
put me back on board my vessel If moth
ing happened during the night to pre-
vent my returning. On reaching the
Greece saw the Captain, and it was
decided, that to ascertain beyond a
doubt the extent of the leakage,
boat should be sent with my second
officer and the chief engineer of the
Greece, who would make thorough ex-
animation. They came back reporting
seven feet of water. Afterward | made
verbal arrangement with Captain
Thomas, which two of my officers under
stood perfectly, by which should go
back to my ship at daybreak to examine
the progress of the leakage, transfer
some provisions and baggage and after
ward adopt the formal determination by
the assembled council to abandon the
Europe if necessary, or attempt to bring
her under sail to the nearest port If 1t
were possible. In the morning when the
boat was got ready to be sent off, pro-
posed to embark, but was rebuffed
in a most brutal manner. The
chief engineer of the Greece came back
declaring the water had gained two feet.
Later on another boat, commanded by
the first officer Of the Greece, left to take
possession Of my steamer, and in so
doing violated all laws Of honor and
honest dealing. A second boat was sent
out and will like result, / appealed to
Captain Thomas, who was surrounded
by some officers, and told him protest.
ed against his act, and said it was a
piece of bad faith. He replied that the
first officer of the Greece was going to
take my steamer to England. | earn
estly protested. | was helpless and
without power, and was prisoner with
all my officers and men. | had there
fore but the last resource lett me to pre-
vent mutiny, to which evaporation had
driven my crew to the very verge. To
avoid this inevitable collision and GER
tain bloodshed | suffered the last humil-
iation; but l say boldly, in my defense,
that acted with humanitarian views to
save human beings intrusted to my care,
and that in this | acted without other
motive and with all consciousness of the
rights Of an honest man. add, in JUS
tice, with the exception of the before
mentioned outrages, that myself, crew
and officers were treated with urbanity |
on board the Greece"
The Chief Engineer, Leroux, makes in
substance the same statement as the
Captain, and he was witness to the
promise made Captain Lemaire that he
should be allowed to return to his vessel
next day, and to the violent manner in
which he was pushed back when at
tempting to visit his ship. BE also says
be himself was prevented from entering
another boat to get on board the Europe
% examine the condition Of affairs. He
-egards the whole proceeding as con-
Ipiracy to prevent the crew Of the
French vessel from getting back to her.
A son of the New York agent of the
inc, who was a passenger on the Eu-
.ope, says he heard the Chief Engineer
# the Greece say, when pushing back
captain Lemaire You have no bust
less here; l will take that ship, and
lon't interfere" Captain Thomas, Of
be Greece, proneunees these stories Of
Japt. Lemaire and his Chief Engineer
lbsurd, and without particle Of truth.
In the transfer Of passengers NJ.
~ !