The New York Herald Newspaper, December 2, 1873, Page 3

GONTINUED FROM SEVENTH PAGE. Mr. and Mrs. Mixter and Mrs. Nathaniel Curtis ‘Mins Helen &ixter and Miss Madeline Mixter were saved. ‘Mrs, Mixter was & daughter of Mr. Curtis. Mr. Mixter resided in New York, and was a ‘erother of Hon. William Mixter. UsT OF THE PASSENGERS ON ' THE VILLE DU HAVRE. Areporter of the HERALD obtained the following Ustef the passengers who sailed on the Ville du bs Havre from the books of the steamship company, i, and before publication it has been carefully com- pared with all information received from other sources :— Breedon, B. F. Breedon, Miss, of New New York. Bininger, Mrs. Abraham, of New York. Bininger, Miss Fanny, of New York, Barbanson, Alired, Secretary Belgium Legation, Washington. . Bishop, James, of New York, Butkley, Mrs,, of New York. Bulkley, Misa Maria, of New York. Belknap, Henry, of Mount Vernon, Boston. Butt, Robert McCoskey, of Westchester county, { Sew York (aged 14). | Bem, Miss Marie. Burnoquez, Charles. Bonaventure, Rev. Robert. \ Begero, Baptiste M. Py Bolleo, Pierre. Cramer, Mr., of Troy, N. Y. Gortis, Mrs. E. and maid, of Boston. Culm, Willte. Cook, Rev. Emile, of Paris, France. Carrasco, Rev. Antonio, of France. Choaquet, Désiré, of France. Oeliodion, Mr., of Paris, France. Collodion, Mre., of Paris, France. Church, Mary H., of New York. Cheater, Oharies. Chester, Mrs, Charles. Pasuis, Eugene, Claverine, Alexander. Olaverine, Mrs, Alexander. Olaverine, Miss Annie, | Curtis, Nathaniel, of Boston. i Dennys, Emile. Dazin, Mrs. Joseph. Edgar, Mrs, H., of New York. Edgar, Mies Cornelia, of New York. f Eagar, Miss E., of New York. Ferdinand, Mrs. Eliza, Ferdinand, Master Victor. Goodwin, Mrs, D., and two children. Hunter, Captain Charles, United States Navy. Gunter, Mrs, C., and maid. Hunter, Miss Caroline. Hunter, Miss Mary. Hunter, Miss Annie, Hammond, Thomas, of Crown Point, N. Y. Hammond, Mrs. Thomas, of Crown Point, N. Y. Hammond, Master Frank, of Urown Pout, N. Y. Hammond, Master Clarence, of Crown Point, N. Y. ‘Hammond, Mias Alice, of Crown Point, N. Y. Hesse, E. if Joanique, Theodore, of New York. Joanique, Mra. Theodore, of New York. Jonkaire, Marcel. " Kidd, Mrs. L. and child, of New York. Kidd, Henry W., of New York. ; hs Kennett, Mrs. A. G., two children and nurse, of * New York. | Ltado, Francisco, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Lopez, Mrs. (née Florence), or New York. Terianx, Rev. Mr., of Paris. Lamothe, Mrs. Lack, Mrs. Adele, Lejeune, Louise. Lasargue, Antoine. Laures, Mra. Antoinette. Larrazabel, Philip. Mixter, Charles, of Boston. Mixter, Mrs. Charles, of Boston. Mixter; Miss Helene, of Boston. Mixter, Miss Madeleine, of Boston. Montagut, Mr., of New York. Mentagut, Mrs., of New York. Montagut, Miss, of New York. . MoCreery, A. B., of San Francisco, Cal. Murray, Hamilton. Murray, Miss, : Mosca, Sebastian. Marconet, Mr. F., of New York. Marconet, Mrs. F., of New York. | Marconet, Master F., Jr., of New York. | Marconet, Miie., of New York. | Mleollet, Miss, of Chicago. Nolan, Miss Annte. i Pronier, Protessor, of France. | Portman, A. L. C, | Platt, Mrs. C. A. Peckham, Judge Rufus W., of, Albany, N. Y. \ Peckham, Mrs. Judge, of Albany, N. Y, { Putnam, Miss L. W. Pequignot, Xavier. Sigourney, Henry, of Boston. Sigourney, Mrs. H. and maid, of Boston. Sigourney, Master Alfred T., of Boston, Sigourney, Master William R. ©., of Boston. Sigourney, Miss Amelia Louise, of Boston. ‘Spafford, Mrs. H. G., and infant, of Chicago. Spafford, Miss Annie, of Chicago. Spafford, Miss Bessie, of Chicago. Spafford, Miss Maggie, of Chicago. Simons, Mrs, M. A., of Boston. Simon, Rev. 0. | Taylor, George H., of New York. | ‘Trefousse, Léon, ‘Turcas, Miss 0. Vaite, Hypolite. | Valiat, Henry. | Vallat, Sebastien. | ‘Weiss, Rev. Nathan, of Orleans, France, ‘Waire, 0. Burritt, of New York. | Waite, Mise Julia B., of New York, Wagstaff, Miss, of Babylon, L. I. ‘Withaus, R. A., Jr., of New York. | ‘Total number of passengers on the company’s | | ‘dooks, 181. OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE SHIP. d Of the emcere and crew and .general ship's company, including stokers, coal passers and waiters, of the Ville du Havre, there were 183 on board. Mr. George Mackenzie, the agent here of the General Transatlantic line, fn speaking of the ability and experience of the weveral officers, said they were tne best of seamen * and had been in the service of the company many { years. Captain M. Surmont, who commanded ‘the il-fated steamship, 1s Commodore of the line, Quid for ten years has held tmportant positions in ‘the several vessels comprising the fleet. 1t was the same with the majority of his subordinates, and the greatest reliance was placed in their extended experience. The Second om- cer, Garay, has commanded many vessels + fm the service, from time to time, as r ‘be was generally called upon to relieve any of the ry older captains who may be ill or called away from \cherr command for a season. The First Officer, a’ (Gaillard, had tong occupied this responsible posl- ‘ ‘ton, and the Purser, Vi¢, was one of the most rell- fable wm the wervice, All of these officers, it will be observed, are amone the saved; but the Chief En- ‘gmecr, reran, and Surgeon, Oaudint, sre to be lost, and, should sucn be the ceeaiine place of the former cannot bo easily filed, as he was an accomplished officer and of great me- chanical skill. Durbée was the Third Officer ana Millour the Fourth Officer. ‘Mr. Mackenzie advised that the above were all the officers whose names he could give, and that there was no list of the crew in his possession. Sailors were constantly changing vessels, and it is dificult vo keep track of such shifting individuals, To recapitulate, the following is the list of officers ‘80 far a8 given :— ‘ Captain—Marius Sarmont, First jaiard. Fourth pier ios Purser—Vié, ¥ Chief Engineer—Peran, Surgeon—Oaudint. DESCRIPTION OF THE VILLE DU HAVRE. The steamship Ville du Havre was not anew vessel, as currently reported on the streets yester- day, but the old Napoleon Il. lengthened and altered. She) was originally built in London in 1866, and was of the following dimensions :—Length on deck, 360 feet 6 inches; breadth of beam, 43 feet; depth of hold, 33 1eet 7 inches; number of decks, three; draught of water at load line, 24 feet @ inches; tonnage, 3,875 tons. Her hull was of. Wrought tron plates, and on tne books of the underwriters of New York was classed ‘One Al,” and security and provisions against fire “good.” Her builders were—of hall, Thames Iron Works, and of machinery, Messrs, Ravenhill, Hodgson & Co, Such were the general dimensions of the Napoleon If]., and from the time of her first trip until last winter she ran regularly on the route of her service—New York to Havre, Early im the autumn of 1872 she was with drawn from the line for the purpose of being lengthened and improved. This was done with all convenient speeed and every possible ad- dition made which ingenuity could devise or ex- perience dictate. Her length was increased 63 feet, making in all on deck 423 feet 6 inches. The old side lever engines were taken out and replaced with compound engines, made by Messrs. Leslie & Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, The eight old tubular boilers were also removed and six of larger capac- ity substituted. She was also fitted with an addi- tional deck, and stx coal ports near her water line were introduced. Her rig was that of a brig. Upon her arrival here after being lengthened, May 16 this year, she was surveyed by the Underwrtt- ers’ engineer and reported “Class three, A134,” and security and provision against fire “good.” It will be remembered that as the Napoleon Ill. she was aside wheel vessel, but as the Ville du Havre a propeller. Her tofnage after alteration was 5,086 tons gross and 3,216 tons regigtered. ‘The accommodations of the lost steamship were of the most elegant description. The staterooms ‘were of unusual size and furnished in an elaborate manner. They were below the main saloon, leav- ing the latter apartment the entire width of the | vessel, This saloon, nearly 60 feet in length, was furnished and decorated in @ manner altogether unequalled by that of any steamer afloat, All that costly woods, rare marbles, elaborate, carvings, tasteful gilding, immense mirrors, brilliant chan- deliers, rich carpeting and luxurious upholstery could afford in the way of regal splendor was here combined in one. gorgeous concentration of mag- Rificence. A noticeable feature in this saloon was asplendid hbrary, containing an assortment of well selected works, Further forward were the ladies! boudoir, reading and smoking rooms, bathrooms, bar, &c. The officers’ quarters were spacious, and the crew had mord than usually comfortable ac- commodations. The value of the Ville du Havre was $1,600,000. THE VILLE DU HAVRE’S CARGO. The following is a copy of the manifest, giving the character of the Ville du Havre’s cargo and the vaine of the several lots shipped for delivery at Havre. It is complete.gnd accural 2 cases silver ware 17 pags shin bones. 500 bales cotton. 8 casks copper ), 750 $ cases outt aking»... 3,824 1 case velvet ribbons.. v 25 13 oe do 2 cases succotash. lo 3 cases cranberrie 20 cases clams... prt 2% kits mackerel 60 1 barrel maple su; zm 1 barrel nuts 18 4 barrels bre 4 1 case 12,000 2 barrels 16 6 barrels potatoe: 18 2 barrels corn. 8 1box toys... 650 grain bags EA 4, 2621 bags waretl . 30,784 Bags to be returned to United States.) 23,306 bushels wheat. 34,107 38 barrels jewellers’ ash: 6,373 2 cases rubbers.. 404 3 cages brandy peac 36 5 cases ofl pepperm: 550 1 case silk satin. 500 80 barreis potash 1,471 2 cases tobacco ma 358 1 case 972 1 case 2,150 15 146 25 2,637 3,328 68,321 Half barrel apnea 5 jaif barre! . 1 box canned goods. 10 1 box corn meal. 1 1,903 salted hides. . + 6,512 60 tierces lard 1183 472 438 546 ior wastage semtects ke. ‘ a packages y &C.... T 190 bales cotton... 12,499 200 boxes bacon. 9,000 250 boxes bacon. 10,117 1 case silver ware. 400 200 80 570 515 600 5,000 3,000 465,683 1,400 4,500 860 100 10 175 100 200 275 30 MOR 05 ovarted once ony sd Ve Seite ib OUUN OOO THE SAILING VESSEL LOCH EARN. The iron ship Loch Earn, that collided with the Ville du Havre, bas been trading between New York and London for some time back, ana was con- signed to Messrs. Henderson Bros., agents of the Anchor line of steamers. The latter gentlemen know bat little concerning her construction more than that she was built in Glasgow in 1869, and is 226 feet in length on deck, 36 feet beam, 21 feet depth of hold and of 1,200 tons burden. she is owned in Giasgow by Messrs. Aitken, Lilburn & Co., and at the time of the fatal collision was on her way from London to New York, having satled from the former port on the 14th instant, and con. sequently was nine days out, Mosers, Henderson Bros, speak of her as & very stanch craft. She ia commanded by Captain William Rovertson. THE SHIP TRIMOUNTAIN. The ship Trimountain, to which the passengers Tescued were transferred, is owned by Messrs. J, Hi. Winchester & Co., of No. 52 South street, New York. ishe i a wooden vessel, 176 feet 6 inches Jong, 35 feet 3 inches beam, 20 feet depth of hold and of 1,301 tons burden. When the Trimountain fell in with the Loch Karn she was on her waytrom this port to Bristol, England, with a general cargo, having sailed on the 10th inst, in command of aya ‘sre W. W. Urqahart, the crow comprising 21 PUBLIC FEELING ABOUT THE DISASTER. ‘The thrilling details of another ocean horror, the story of a mighty ship engulfed, with over 200 lives, in the ocean, sent apang through the heart of the community yesterday, and recalled again the reminiscences of two other fatalities which, within a year, have carried desolation to @ thou- sand firesides, “The Ville du Havre, of the French General Trans- atlantic Company, was lost by being run down by the ship Loch Earn, on the 224 of November. Nearly 250 lives have been lost.” This was the summary of the terrible news, and at once the mind was directed to that awful crash when the steamer Marilio cut the emigrant ship Northfect to the water's edge off the English coast, and the Atlantic ran with deadly impetus on to the crag of Mars’ Rock, on our own shores, In the first of these more than 300 lives were lost, in the next over 500,and now came the climax, as the year draws to a close, making over 1,000 lives lost in three disasters, ‘There was very little doubt expressed when the first tidings were received of the sinking of the Ville du Havre, for the public mind had begun toac- cept these gigantic disasters as necessities of the Period, Great steamers carry more passengers than the smaller ones, and if they unfortunately go down the chances are that the loss of life will be at least proportionate, and one startling sensa- tion of murder, massacre or calamity follows another so fast nowadays that the pubtio ear is prepared to hear almost anything terrible with- out much shuddering. There was a good deal of excitement visible when it was learned that the noble though ill-fated vessel was on her eastward passage, for then every man felt as though he might, at least have some friend or acquaintance among her company. The news was soon dissemi- nated by swarms of newsboys, who sped like Mer- curies through the leading thoroughfares with the. “extras” of the afternoon papers, but as usual the intelligence was meagre and ungatistactory. There were only partial lists of passengers published, with no information as to how many were saved or how many lost. Then when TRE NUMBER OF SAVED was telegraphed from London each cne who hada friend or relative on board feared that those con- cerning whom they felt such anxiety were nos among the fortunate rescued few. Then a list of survivors was received, later in the day, and, be- tween names misspelled and names included which did not appear on the passenger list furnished from the office of the company in New York, there were still more vagueness and uncertainty. Then hopes arose in the minds of those who had no other hope left that perhaps some one whom they yearned for as lost might have been saved by boats as yet unheard of, and in this way every hope and every fear possible or even concelva- ble under the circumstances was indulged in. Notwithstanding the cold and stormy state of the Weather, men paused at all the bulletin boards and eagerly gleaned all available details and sur- mises in reference tothe sad tragedy. The bul- letins being too meagre to sate the whetted appe- tite for such . GHASTLY DETAILS The eager public purchased by thousands the “extras” and regular editions of the evening papers, and as the damp sheets, fresh from the pressea, fluttered in the wind the purchasers, pausing on the sidewalks, were soon surrounded by groups of passers-by equally anxious to hear the news read or to catch a glimpse of the head- lines if nothing more could be heard or seen, When it was made known what a very select list of passengers the steamer had on board the anxiety became speedily heightened, however, for thousands of people who were not personally ac- quainted with any of the victims had yet a certain acquaintance with them by reputation. One of the first names that attracted attention and elicited comment was that of Judge Rufus W. Peckham, of Albany, a distinguished member of the Bench, as wellknown almost to New Yorkersas tothe people of his own town, and still more intimately known as the father of Wheeler H. Peckham, the resolute young prosecutor of the “Ring” criminals. Includ- ing members of the Bar there are probably 20,v00 persons in New York who had a more or less 1n- timate acquaintance or recognition of the Judge, who, by the way, also has been hundreds of times mistaken for Fernando Wood, on account of strong points of personal resemblance. Then there was Moses Collodion, the caricaturist, who came to this city as a rival of Regamey, and whose rapid draw- ings and sketches, made in the presence of theatrical audiences, gave him at least a certain form of acquaintanceship with thousands who had seen him before the lootlights. Besides these there were merchants, lawyers and PEOPLE OF HIGH POSITION IN SOCIETY, with their wives, sons and daughters, and all of whom commanded large circles of friends, and it ‘was no wonder that the disaster created 80 marked a sensation, Of course people—so accus- tomed has the public taste become to great, stag- gering sensations—began to contrast this witn the Atlantic disaster of last March, and concluded that, terrible as was this visitation of death, the other more than doubled it in loss of life and the horror of its attendant circumstances. There was this difference, however, in one feature of the pres- ent calamity—that there did not seem to be sogreat and responsible a degree of culpability on the part of the navigating officers of the lost steamship as was the case with the Atlantic; yet men queried anxiously within themselves whether a system might not be easily devised to prevent the possi- bility of collisions at sea, even in a fog. The pub- lic will form their conclusions, too, and the result of their hasty consideration of the case led them to the expressiop of the belief that all steam vessels enveloped in a fog should slacken speed, display the most power- fui lights known to science, and sound steam fog- horns. The whole subject was of course canvassed in the most complete manner, despite the fact that the particulars were few, and the affair so shocked and interested the community at large that for the time the prospect of war, the opening of Con- gress, and other important affairs of the day were matters of later and inferior consideration and discussion. SCENES AT THE STEAMSHIP COM- PANY’S OFFICE. The first intimation of the dread disaster came from the offices of the “Companie Générale Trans- atiantique”’ in Paris to Mr. George Mackenzie, agent of the line, at No. 68 Broadway, in this city. The first despatch that was received was directed to the office in Broadway, but, that place being closed, it was taken to the residence of Mr. Mac- Kenzie as late as twelve o'clock on Sunday night, ‘The next despatch in point of time received in New York came from Mr. Waite, who lost his sister, and was directed to the senior Mr. Waite, proprietor of the Brevoort House, in Fifth avenue. This de- spatch was delivered at the hotel at two o'clock yésterday morning, and was not opened until Mr. Waite came down to his breakfast. Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, there were confirmatory despatches received by Mr. Mackenzie, and these were made public immediately, in order that the friends and relatives of the sufferers should have an opportunity to learn sad or glad news, as the case might prove. The office of the company is at the corner of Broadway and Ex- change place, and as Mr. Mackenzie had sent what despatches he received to the office of the Associated Press, the news, in addition to the usual cable despatches, was sent to the HERALD office, and from thence to all parts of the country, Where the tidings spread DISMAY AND TERROR wo hearth and homestead. Shortly after nine o'clock the office of the French line was besieged by the anxious and tearil relatives of the passen- gers, It was noticeable that the people who called ‘were of a class who were socially better of than those who thronged the office of the White Star Ime when the news was announced that the At lantic had met her terrible fate off Sambro Light, The French line does not carry any steerage pas- sengers, and it is patronized solely by that class of People who are weil off in the world’s goods and have large bank accounts, comfot able homes and luxurious surroundings. ‘There were three classes of passengers on board the ill-fated Ville da Havre—namely, first, second and third cabin passengers. The third class passengers paid $48 in gold, the second class $75 gold, and the Mrst class $125 gold. Wine is fur- nished at all three tables, and 1s included in the fares. Consequently poor people cannot take pas- sage on this line, and the result is that this disaster will chiefly reach the homes of the rich and the familles of the crew and ship’s company, who are nearly all residents of France. The majority of the passengers were people of leisure, who were going abroad to spend tne winter at Rome, Florence, Nice or Paris, or to place their children and younger relatives at foreign boarding schools, bel EAGER INQUIRIES - tin were made of all the clerks at the office, and the two young Messrs. Mackenzie had to answer all sorts of questions, many of which it was impossible for them to give any favorable reply to. About half- past nine o’clock a Mr, Abraham Bininger, one of our most prominent merchants, called at the office of the company andexhibited a telegram which he had received from his daughter Fannie, in which it was stated that she had been saved, but that her mother had gone down on the ill-fated ship and that the writer of the telegram was going to Paris. Mr. Bininger was almost heartbroken at the loss of his wife, a lady well known and highly esteemed in New York society, but still he was very thankful that his daughter bad escaped @ watery grave. Mr. Bininger le{t the office in a half-distracted man- ner. AS soon as the ccmpeny’s agent received a /partial list of the saved the list was written out and posted up in the office. All persons making Inquiries were referred to this list by the clerks, and it was a pitiable sight to see the number of anxious faces studying the list of names, some of the seekers alter information reading it over five or six times before they would be convinced that their friends had perished. Strong hopes were entertained until a late hour in the afternoon that @ number of the passengers had jamped on board of the Loch Earn, and that they were saved and would be heard of hereafter, This hope, however, was dissipated when it was found that it was not the ship Trimountain which had rescued THE EIGHTY-SEVEN SURVIVORS, It was discovered that the Loch Earn had launched three boats immediately after the col- lision, and it was these boats which had trans- Jerred the rescued people, 10 hours subsequently, to the ship Trimountain, which the Loch Earn met bonne to Bristol, England, from New York, while the Loch Earn was on her way to New York city. The Loch Earn could not provide accommodation or food for this sudden addition to her passengers and crew, and accordingly the transfer was made to the Trimountain, which landed some of the unfortunates at Cardif. When this news was made public all hope was lost that any of the passengers or crew had been saved witn the exception of tne 87, among whom were 10 ladies, who had been picked up by the Loch Earn at the time of the disaster. Among the people who called was a distinguished looking young gentleman, who was covered up to his chin with a gray Ulster coat and capote. He walked toward the list of the saved, and, reading it slowly, said:—‘‘My God! is it possible that only two of the Hunters out of six have been saved?” The names of Miss Annie and Miss Mary Hunter @ppeared on the list aa the only persons out of a party of seven—father, mother, four daughters and @ mald—who have been rescued from thé yawning deep. A small, dark look- ing man, a Spaniard, by the name of Liado, who does business as 8 cork merchant in Maiden lane, New York, and whois a resident of Brooklyn, called at about two o’clock and seemed to be very much excited. He exhibited a cable telegram from his brother, Francisco Liado, who was saved, and sent the joyful tidings to his brother, who is an employé of the Spanish Consulate in this city. Mr. 8. B, Ruggles, a venerable citizen of this city and a wellknown member of the Chamber of Commerce, called to ascertain the fate of the Curtis family, of Boston, with whom he was ac- quainted, Nothing was known of their fate, but it was ascertained that the Cramer family and the Curtis family oceayied staterooms directly oppo- site each other. A middle aged gentleman called to inquire for his nephew, Robert McCoskey Butt, of Westchester county, New York, who was 4 GRANDSON OF FRANCIS MORRIS, This young lad was only fourteen years of age and was en route to Paris, to be entered alter due preparation at the Ecole Polytechnique, the most famous school of its kind in Europe. He occupied stateroom No. 90 on the Ville du Havre, in com- pany with a gentleman, a stranger to young Butt, named Leon Trefousse, who is among the list of lost passengers. Young Butt must have got very quickly to the deck and reached a boat, while it is doubtful whether his roommate left his stateroom or not, or whether he reached one of the boats and was killed by the failing of the mizzenmast on the boat. A man, evidently of foreign extraction and looking as if he belonged to the theatrical profes- sion, called at the office and made some inquiries as to the probable fate of Mons. Collodion and nis wife, who were on board of the ill-fated steamer. Nothing satisfactory could be obtained about this couple, and little doubt is entertained but that man and wife found a grave together. Mons. Col- lodion will be remembered as having appeared at the Olympic Theatre in this city, under the man- agement of Samuel Colville, as a caricaturist, and he was by profession a scene painter, He ap- peared at the Olympic for a tew nights and then went West. Mrs, Vollodion was a very beautiful and amiable lady, and they were returning to Paris after @ brief stay of three months in this city. A private despatch was received, it is said, by Mr. Coyius de Ruyter, of this city, from Mr. Montagret, by cable, in which it was stated that the writer had been saved, but that his wife had perished, Mrs. Montagret was a sister of Mr. De Ruyter. The offices of the steamship company were kept open until seven o’clock last evening in order that all visitors might be afforded whatever informa- tion came to the offices of the company in this city. There was but very little excitement or demon- stration at the offices during the day, as but very few relatives of the passengers called, The majority of the visitors were iriends or acquaintances, and they simply made a brief inquiry as to the facts and then departed, INTERVIEW WITH THE AMERICAN AGENT, A reporter of the HERALD had 4 conversation with Mr, George Mackenzie, the General Agent of the “Compagnie Générale Transatiantique” in this city, at their office, No, 58 Broadway, yesterday afternoon in relation to the disaster which has be- fallen the Ville du Havre. Mr. Mackenzie is a well known citizen and has the acquaintance of thousands of our people who found it necessary every year to cross the ocean to and from Eu- rope. Mr, Mackenzie said that he couid not explain the disaster or account for it in any way, excepting that it must have happened during a dense fog at an hour of the morning when it was impossivle to know of the vicinity of another ship, Captain Surmont was one of the most careful and vigilant of officers. He was always on the watch at night, and never left his deck to the charge of any other officer at dark. He slept during the day, after dinner, in order that he might be on deck at night, and this, was done as a measure of precaution. After 86 years’ experience with captains of all marine services, English, French and American, Mr. Mac- kenzie stated that he had never found the superior of the officer who had been educated in the French marine service, Their observations, lunar or otherwise, Were most carefully taken, and all that could be done by human skill to insure safety was cone by the officers of the Compagnie Transatiantiqae. Captain Surmont was one of the best of OMcors, and has always been noted as a first class oMcer. He was the commodore of the eet, and Garay, the first officer, was a most dili- gent and faithful seaman, The Ville du Havre was @ superb vessel, one Oo! the finest, if not the finest, that had ever le/t this port, and was worth $1,500,000, without speaking of her very valu- abie (reight It was customary with the company, who owned 26 steamships, to insure two-thirds of each vessel and the remaining third was insured ~ im and by the company, which took the profits and risks itself. This was done from the surplus capital. Three sister ships to the Ville du Havre are being built in Glasgow, viz.:—the Europe, Atlantique and France. The Compagnie Générale Trangatiantique, which owns this vessel, has 25 other vessels, plying from France to Vera Cruz and West India isiands; from 8st. Nazaire to Aspinwall; from St. Thomas, via ports in Porto Rico, Haytil, Cuba’ and Ja maica; from St. Thomas to Martinique; from Mar- tinique to Cayenne via Demerara and Surinam. Captain Surmont bad served fora short time in the French Navy and left that service tor the marine, In regard to the use of electric lights on steamers, Mr, Mackenzie said that he thought it would be @ most important improvement and would add to the safety and security of ocean steamers, The St, Laurent of their line had an electrié light attached when she left in one of her trips fog France, but it was de- tached and taken to Paris, where it was placed on the ramparts during the Franco-Prussian war, to show the defenders of the capital where their Prussian foes were operating around the walls. This electric light was a most powerful one and was exhibited on the Sound. It penetrated a dense fog at 40 miles.distance, and was continuous in its light, The company discontinued the use of the light, for what reason he did not know; it might have been because of its great expense, but he would not be positive, He had the patent right for the electric light for the United States. The imperial government had granted, during the re sn of Napoleon IIL, a subsidy of $25,000 to each Vessel of the company for every round trip made by them, and although there have been several changes of government since, each administration had continued the subsidy because of the carriage of the mails, The electric signal was now being tested at the entrance to the hurbor of Havre, and it shows brilliantly at a distance of 40 miles, THE ELEOTRIO LIGHT AS A FOG SAPEGUARD, In conversation with the younger Mr Mackenzie, son of the general agent of the Compagnie Générale Transatiantique, and who is also connected oM- cially with the corporation, a HeRaLp reporter alluded to the feasibility of employing electric or calcium lights as safeguards against collision in fogs. “Well,” replied Mr. Xtackenzie, ‘‘we have experi- mented with them—that is, with the electric light, but a variety of circumstances prevented its adop- tion and permanent application. The company vested it both here and in Europe.” “Were the results at all satisfactory ?” “They were, I understood, entirely so,” was the reply. “Then, why were they not adopted ?” asked the reporter, “Well, one consideration was the great expense it would involve, I believe a single complete outfit of necessary apparatus would cost something like $3,000 or $4,000, gold; and another difficulty orig- inated in some squabble about the patent right of the system or apparatus. There were conflicting claims in the fleld, and the contestants could not harmonize their difficulties, and at last the com- pany stepped aside to wait until the dispute of the patentees was settled.” . “What would be the expense per day of using the electric light, after the apparatus had been obtained and adjusted?” inquired the reporter. “Tam not quite certain about that,” replied Mr. Mackenzie; “but I believe it would be about $100 a day.” “Well, that would not be a very matertal increase of expense, considering that steamers may make several trips without experiencing any fog,” re- joined the reporter. “But tne company made those experiments with a view to employing the hght in all weather, not merely for fogs,” was Mr. Mackenzie's reply. “That seems scarcely necessary, as the improved oil lights, with fine lenses, answer all fair clear Weather purposes; but, Mr. Mackenzie, do you re- member anything in regard to those experiments as to the penetrative power of the hght in an ordinary marine fog?” “Yes. It was found that they would penetrate a fog with a sort of Iuminous glare for a mile and a half. That is speaking fairly within bounds, for I think the results have in some instances shown a penetration of two miles and a half.” Mr. Mackenzie then stated the results of some experiments he had seen made in ordinary dark nights, “neither fair nor foul,” and stated that the company’s experiments took place at their docks and at the barge office some three or four years ago. The reporter happened alsn to have been present atsome of the experiments at the latter place, when a comparatively small cata-dioptric lens was used. The lens was placed im the cupola of the barge office, and the light was the product of a coil battery directed against carbon points, The lens was faced toward Staten Island at about eight o’clock at night, and the pilot and a number of passengers on one of the Staten Island lerryboats, which arrived at Whitehail slip soon afterward, informed the reporter that they were enabled to read ordinary newspaper print with ease at Quarantine lan: » by the aid of the light in the barge office cupola. That was a distance of at least six miles, and the night was very dark and the atmosphere rather heavy. AN EDITOR ARRESTED FOR LIBEL Soranton, Pa., Dec. 1, 1873. J.C. Coon, editor of the Scranton Sunday morn- ing Free Press, was arrested this morning on 3 charge of libel and held to bail in the sum of $6,000. The charge was preferred by Rinebart Gersbacher, ot Wiikesbarre, a County Commissioner, whose official conduct was severely criticised in the Free Press of yesterday and the Sunday previous in con- nection with what is known as tne ‘Index swin- die,” by which, it is alleged in the Free Press, that certain officiais have robbed Luzesne county of halt a militon dollars, This is the third time within the past year that oe Thswiecs? Free Press has been arraigned tor je MURDER NEAB PITTSBURG. An Old Man Killefi for His Money. PrrtsBuRG, Pa., December 1, 1873. A cold-blooded murder was perpetrated last night in the vicinity of the unpretentious village of New Texas, some seven miles distant from this city, the victim being Joseph Kerr, an old and tn- offensive man, who followed the occupation of shoe making. The old man’s place of business 1s quite handy to his dwelling, and last night, as was fre- quently the case, he slept in his shop. Nothing more was seen or heard of him until this morning, when a neighbor, op going to his door and rapping, no response received. He finally forced open the door, On the bed lay Kerr ee with his throat dreadfully cut and skull broken in, as though done with a heavy piece of iron. The in- terior of the shop was in great disorder, as if the paren Yee Mv aeigeg rd deed had accomplished it for the purpose of plunder. Samuel Beene , Who, @ short time since, had been in the employ of Kerr, was arrested on the charge of being the murderer of the old man. He ‘was found in bed at the house of one David Stout, about a mile from the scene of the tragedy. An officer aroused him, but he pretended sieep and would not get out of bed unti dr: d out. His noots were found under the bed splashed with blood, while various portions of his coat and pantaloons were stained red. On being searchéd anout $100 in money was found in his possession, which seems in excess of anything he would be likely to earn honestly. Much excitement is caused in the village of New Texas, as the crfme of murder was previously unknown there, UTAH. Two Persons Burned in a House— United States Troops in the City of Saints. SALT LAKE Crry, Dec, 1, 1873. At Alta City, last night, the house of Mme. Anne Miller was destroyed by fire. In the smouldering ruins the remains of two human bodies were dis- covered, believed to be Mme. Miller and Captain Mott Hart, a weil known Union soldier, It 1s sup- posed that Hart, who lived with the woman, had a quarrel with her and kilied himself. There wi grand parade to-day of 500 troops from Vamp Douglass through the streets of the city. Their appearance and discipline excited universal admiration, VESSELS LAID UP ON LAKE ERIE. Port Conporne, Ont., Dee, 1, 1873. A number of vessels bound through the canal Jaid up here to-day, there being no prospect of getting through thls sail 8T. ANDREW'S DAY. Celebration of the Feast of Seotiand’¢ Patron Saint by the St. Andrew’g Society—A Banquet at Delmonico’s, ‘ St. Andrew's Day, which, even despite the wisheal of the most devout devotees of the Sait, that thea fates should arrange matters otherwise, fell thig year on the Sabbath, was celebrated ‘last bi wre] by the St. Andrew’s Society by a grand banquet af Delmonico’s, corner Fourteenth street and avenue. The society, it should be borne in mint was founded as far back as 1756, the first Pret being Philip Livingston, so it is almost unn to state that no one of the original members wi Present to do honor to the testivities, There wel about 400 persons present, among whom were Judge Brady, President of the Friendly Sons of Stw Patrick; Eliott C. Cowdin, President of the New England Society; Jonn G. Dale, President of St. ’ George's Society; R. E. Mount, of the St. Nicholas Society; Mayor Havemeyer, Mr. Archibald, the British Consul; Dr, McCosn. of Princeton Col-' lege; Dr. William Taylor, of the Brooklyn Taber=, nacle; Dr, McLeod, General Arthur and Richard Schell, The banquet hall was gayly festooned with flags and bunting, the American and British flags; and the standard emblazoned with the Cross of Ste. Andrew. Alter the inner man had been satisfied with they good things with which the tables were loaded Mr. Gordon, the President, who presided, openedi the proceedings. On rising he was warmly ap~ plauded, and in a few brief remarks thanked tha members for the reception tney had accorded him. He alluded to what the society had done during tha, past year. He said $2,000 had been expended an@ 2,000 “reliefs” had been issued. Of the $850 of the: centennial fund $250 had been used for the benefit of suflering Scotchmen im Memphis, He next feelingly referred to the members who had been calied away to another world, making mention,; among others, of Hugh Maxwell, mea had been @ member of the society for sixty-three years, and o! Dr. Campbell, the late chaplain, He concluded hit remarks by proposing tue first regular toast, “The day and a’ who honor it.” The toast was drank, all the members standing and cheering enthusi~ astically, walle the orchestra fave tort vhet familiar strain, “Auid Lang Syne.’ THE TOASTS. The next toasts were as_lollows:—"The Queen,’™ “The President,” ‘The Land o’ Cakes,” ‘The Land We Live In,” “Our Sister Societies,” “The Litera~ ture and Art of Scotland,” “Our New Members,’™ “Our ex-Presidents,’’ “Honest Men and Bonnie: f Lassies.” ‘May care and trouble never fash, bua mirth and joy be wi’ ye a’. The fourth toast, ‘fhe Land o’ Cakes,” was ree sponded to by the Chaplain, Dr. Thompson, “THE LAND WE LIVE IN’? Y Was responded to by the Rev. Dr. Taylor. ‘ Mayor Havemeyer was next called upon to Tey * F spond also to the toast, President Gordon humor ously declaring that, though ne ielt gratified at the, way the Rev. Dr. Taylor nad responded to the toast,| yet he felt that the members were anxious to heal the Chief Magistrate on the same subject. Tho Mayor was heartily cheered. r. Dale, the President of the St. George’s Sos) ciety, in being the first one to respond to the tot ; ot “Our Sister Societies,” contented himself wi pereiy | the St. Andrew’s Society for the feeling 1t had always mantiested toward his society. Judge Brady responded to the toast as the Presi~ dent of the St. Patrick’s Society, He remarked that, although the members of St. Andrew’s Society; 3 might think that they were doing St. Patrick honor by the warmtn of the reception of himself, they were makinga huge mistake. St. Patrick wai under no obligations to them or anybody else, ani they themselves ougnt to be thankful that St. Patrick permitted them to be present at the banquet, COLORED PEOPLE'S SERENADE TO SUMNER. Address by the Senator Announcing His Introduetion in the Senate of the Sup- plementary Civil Rights Bill. WasHINGTON, Dec. 1, 1878. Senator Sumner was serenaded to-night by the colored people of Washington, and in response to. the compliment spoke as follows :— MR. SUMNER’S ADDRESS. Tam touched by this manifestation of regard and sympathy; but allow me to say most sincerely that; Tcannot claim any special merit, I have acted) always at the promptings of conscience, and) could not have done otherwise. Besides, I) could not forget the honored Commonuwealtly which sent me here with the commission and com- mand to labor always for human rights. Had I at any time hesitated I should have been rebuked,) not only by my Own conscience but by the liverty- loving people of Massachusetts, one of whose standard bearers I am, With the expression off my thanks! might properly ciose, but seeing you face to face on this amiable errand I am embol- dened to dwell once more on what I have so o:ten resented to my colored fellow citizens of Wash- ington. Your position is peculiar and most impor- tant, for you are PLACED ON A HILL, so asto be an example throughout the country. Our colored fellow citizens elsewhere, counted by millions, will be encouraged or depressed by what 1s done here. ‘They will do as you do, keeping in line with you and, according to a military phrase, “dressing on you.” If you are earnest and unit i they will be earnest and united. if you msist upon crowning reconstruction by @ national statute declaring complete equality before the law; in other words, that everywhere, in everything regulated by law, there can be no discrimmation on account of color—{{ you insist upon this beneficent and most compréhensive measure, which 18 the essen- tial supplement and compiement of ail other measures, then will our colored citizens throughout the country do likewise; and so, being: united, you will be heard, and, alow me to say, will prevail. THE PAST HAS ITS LESSONS, I wish you to remember that the opening of the street cars here was followed by opening them in other places; so that the pattie! here was for the whole country. The ad- mission to testify here was the prelude to. admission everywhere. The equal iranchise here, was the precursor of that universal measure byy which the right to vote was declared independent, YJ of color. It now remains that you should be as-| sured by law in the enjoyment of equal rights im; , education, in travel and generally in the pursuit o} happiness, and here also the keynote must proceed| from Washington. One word more. It is not; enough to have these assured by State laws. They must be placed under the safeguard of ‘A NATIONAL STATUTE, reaching with equal and unt'orm power into every~ State, so that all shall be alike in rights, whether in Massachusetts or South Carolina. in New York, in New Orleans, such a statute will be the cap- stone of reconstruction, Let this be done and the; heavy burdens you have so long borne will drop, from your shoulders, and our legislation will be! relieved of all questions of color. Our laws here-. after will speak of persons, of citizens, men, but notuing more will be said of “black” or. “white.” In this respect they will be like the na- tional constitution, which furnishes no exeuse for any such question. I have done what | could to-; day to secure this triumph by introducing into the Senate what is extensively known as the Supple- mentary Civil Rights bill. it was the first pill tm troduced, and therefore stands No, 1 on the calen- dar of tne Senate, If my wishes or efforts can prevail it will pe the first to become a law. WAS SHE MURDERED? i Mysterious Case at Highbridge, N. Junk Man Arrested on the Charge of Mure dering His Wife. There was great excitemsnt yesterday among the folks of the quiet little town of Highbridge, N. J., on the Central Railroad. Last Friday week a woman named Catharine Brennan died and in due - time was buried. Two days after the interment i there were ugly rumors regarding the cause of death, and the case was brought to the notice of two justices of the peace, Strange to say they Manifested great apathy in the case, The public mind not at rest, however, and the Cor oner was then notified. In the meantime the husband of the woman fled from the town and returned twodays ago. He was arrested yester~ day, and was committed to awart the result of the al gs now in progress. Marks of violence were but too visible on several parts of the woman's . When it became known that Brennan was arrested @ large crowd collected at the Coroner's office, and it required the efforts of @ posse of con- stablés to keep order. The inquest will be con- \ tinued to-day. The evidence, though circumstan- * tial thus far, is rather damaging to Brennan, a ie HERALD reporter visited the towa last evening, an 4 found that the excitement was unabated, CALIFORNIA, \ The Senatorial Contest=A Double Mure ia der—-A Guest Burned To Death in @ Hotel. SAN FRaNCtsco, Dec. 1, 1873, Every effort will probably be made by the rail- road monopolists at Sacramento to stave off am i organization of the Legislature, 7 a Mr. Booth is steadily gaining ground. The per= sonal friends of Mr, Casserly say he will now sup-, rt Mr. Booth, Yesterday, near Elko, Nev., John Davis instantly killed 8, S. Hedge, Thomas Davis’ brother-in-law, who was by, thereupon arevolver and shot Davis through tue head, ing him a a He then made nis mesic Las in the Bw family Pty 4 agedy. Hedge tried induce Davis to leave her husband and hive with him. A fire to-di on Pacific stree' janie Hotel aha several otter banidln