The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-04


sides OF the Atlantic would await the account OF
this third disaster which mas recently smtten the
Transatlantic Company in the columns OF the
NEW YORK HERALD.
sThe Amerique." gasped the Secretary, with
deprecatory bow and smile cut short In the mid
die by the contents OF telegram, cleared from
New YORK on the 4th OF April. She had good
weather and quick passage till the l3th.n Here
Mr.. lie Roy would have given me the other half OF
the divided smile, but the once porter came in
with telegram Just as he was going to do II.
Still he talked on, SO to say, by rote, and as II he
were repeating lesson, with absentminded, but
laborious accuracy
ION the morning OF the 18th the passengers were
awakened by stin breeze from the west. There
was very heavy sea. AT two O'Clock F. M. the wind
changed to north-northwest and rose into gale
The ship was struck BY an immense wave l15
miles from Bresf, and the water swept over her.
doing some damage. Captain Roussan, in whom
the company has great confidence. showed cour
age and judgment in this danger. He wisely lore
bore TO alarm the passengers, who were kept in
complete ignorance OF their peril as long as there
remained hope Of saving the snip. During the
afternoon the gale continued to increase In vio-
lence. The ship rolled fearfully, and does not
seem to have behaved well. The struggle with
the elements lasted all day, and at seven IN the
evening the water got into she engines and cabins.
terrible hurricane now ragged. Still the officers
and crew behaved admirably. Three times the
fires were extnguished by the sea ana three times
relignted, the engineers cropping up to their waists
in water for coal
ION the morning OF the 1lth the weather became
calmer for short time, and all hands were Or
dered to the pumps. Their efforts, though vigor-
GUS and well directed, were vain The water con-
tinued rising. The engines Of the Amerlque stopped
at ten O'Clock on the mo rnng OF the 14th, and 1t
was found impossible TO light the fires again. The
Captain now suspected that there was leak; but,
after careful examination, no leak could be dscov-
cred The Chief Engineer showed high sense OF
duty and repeatedly risKed his life without results.
The engines were swamped and drowned in salt
water. Nevertheless all hands renamed steadily
at the pumps. But the gale returned with re-
doubled fury, and towards nine in the evening the
ship could be scarcely Kept anoat by the most
heroic exertions
"At one O'CLOCK A. M. on the 18th the Eliza Quei-
roo, Captain Gaggiono, from Genoa, sighted the
Amerque and exchanged telegraphic signals with
her. Then, but not till then, Captain Roussan
assembled the passengers and told them the vessel
was sinking. The passengers were as much surprised
as terrified by this unexpected announcement;
but the Captain raised their spirits, distributed
swimming belts among them, and told them they
would be all saved. The women. children and sick
were nrst sent away; and though the boats In
which they embarked were small and there was O
mountainous sea, 80 strict was the order and dis
cipine which prevailed that not one OF the passen-
gers lives was lost. few only were bruised, and
all passed over without accident till O'Clock
Unfortunately as every one was rejoicing over this
deliverance from a watery death, M. Garay, our
Second Captain, who had courageously remained
till the last on board his ship, was swept OF and
drowned. We have no other fatality to deplore |;
and NJ Garay seems to have been predestlned to
meet his sad fate. He escaped only by a miracle
from the wreck OF the Vile du Havre. Unhappiy,
his destiny overlook him In the Amerique.
while the passengers were being rransshipped
to the Eliza Queirolo the Norwegian vessel Aladdin
hove In sight and received some OF them; British
vessel also took few. The precise time at which
the Amerique sunk is unknown, so deep was
the darkness and so fierce the tempest
round her. Ihe whole OF the cargo
and most Of the passengers baggage are
lost. The French law courts as shown in the
case OF Risk Allan. will not enforce any claim for
indemnity. Indemnities would only have been re.
coverable had the passengers been obliged to put
back to New York. Now that we have had them
conveyed to their destination they have no further
demands on us, the tribunal having decided that
cause they might each and all have effected
separate assurances had they thought it prudent
to do so.
Nevertheless the company has considered their
case literally, and has given to each passenger q
sum varying between 200 and 800 francs, not as q
right, but q gratuity. The total amount or their
gratuity Is about "a, 600 francs Nothing has been
definitely ascertained of the probable cause OF
this disaster. 1t Is painful mystery.
For twelve years the company's ships
never met with Q single accident, and we
have taken 100000 passengers to New York
and the Antilles without losing life. On the pres
ent melancholy occasion no blame whatever at
taches to the officers. the company can only ex.
press les plus 0gands eloges the highest pos
sible praise) OF their daring and prudence. More
over no blame whatever can ial upon the COM
pany which have the honor to represent, because
it took all possible precautions to avert what has
happened. will send for the certificates OF cIass
fcatlon both OF the Amerique and the Europe.
They shall be delivered to you In an hour. The
company Is only anxious that the truth should be
known as widely as possible"
The Secretary kept his word, and subjoin the
certificate OF the Amerique:-
vEmrAs IsTERSAToNAL REGrsrxR FOR CLASSIFICATION OF
vSssKLs-EsrABLrsHEDl ISIS
BnTssxLs, iss Rue Koyale
The undersigned, surveyor Of the yertas, certify
hereby that the French steamer AmeriQue, Lemarie
master. Compagnic Generae TransaIlanaue owner,
45s4si7 TONS gOlOoO nominal horse over built OF iron
by at St Nazare, in the year 1855 belonging to the
port OF Havre has surveyed the December and
found 70 be in good and efficient state and ut 70 carry
me said vesss snail Sc registered in tho veras ss
IL in the trst divsion.
certcaie granted under the conditions Of the
fifth and seventh articles OF the rules OF which the fo
lowing Tine continuance the character
assigned depends upon ona surveys least
every tour years. OF damage the vessel must
be submitted a survey; this Is not attended
the class Is liable TO be withdrawn"
Delivered by authority OF the committee at Brussels
the 18th of January, 1874.
The certificate OF the Europe was similar, except,
OF course as to date, horse power, &c.
STARTLING NEWS.
It now becomes my duty to relate what fol-
lowed.
On Sunday morning, April 10, received three
startling kilograms. The FIRST was from Lieu
tenant Bouteiler, French naval onicer, whom I
had employed IN consequence Of orders rom New
vnv 70 a ,t,It of -