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SS Ville du Havre
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SS Ville du Havre
Ville du Havre (French: [vil dy avʁ]) was a French iron steamship that operated round trips between the northern coast of France and New York City. Launched in November 1865 under her original name of Napoléon III, she was converted from a paddle steamer to single propeller propulsion in 1871 and, in recognition of the recent defeat and removal from power of her imperial namesake, the Emperor Napoleon III, was renamed Ville du Havre. It was named after Le Havre, a major port city in the Normandy region of northern France.
In the early hours of 22 November 1873, Ville du Havre collided with the British three-masted iron clipper, Loch Earn and sank in 12 minutes with the loss of 226 lives. Only 61 passengers and 26 crew members survived, rescued by Loch Earn and subsequently Tremountain, an American vessel.
Napoleon III was originally built as a paddle steamer by Thames Ironworks, London (engines by Ravenshill & Salked, London) for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (French Line). Launched on 11 February 1865, she was a 3,950 gross ton ship, length 111.5 m (365.9 ft) with 14.0 m (45.9 ft) beam, straight stem, two funnels, two masts, iron construction, paddle wheel propulsion and a cruising speed of 21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph (11.5 kn).
There was accommodation for 170 first class, 100 second class and 50 third class passengers. Launched in November 1865, she sailed on her maiden voyage from Le Havre for Brest and New York City on 26 April 1866. She made five round voyages on this service, the last commencing in August 1869.
In September 1871, she sailed from Le Havre to Tyneside in Northern England where she was lengthened to 128.5 m (421.7 ft) by A. Leslie and Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne and her tonnage increased to 5,065 tons. She was also fitted with a compound steam engine and rebuilt with single screw propulsion, and the paddle wheels were removed. A third mast was also fitted and after completion of the work, she was renamed Ville du Havre. Following sea trials, she recommenced her Le Havre – Brest – New York service in early 1873.
On 15 November 1873, Ville du Havre sailed from New York with 313 passengers and crew on board, under the command of captain Marino Surmonte.[citation needed] She was bound for Le Havre, Seine-Inférieure. About halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, she collided with the iron clipper, Loch Earn at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, 22 November, at the position 47°21′N 35°31′W / 47.350°N 35.517°W. At the time of the collision, Ville du Havre was proceeding under both steam and sail at about 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph).
The captain of Loch Earn, after first sighting Ville du Havre and realizing she was dangerously close, rang the ship's bell and "ported his helm", thus turning the boat to starboard. The helm of Loch Earn was put to starboard, but Ville du Havre came right across Loch Earn's bow. Ville du Havre was violently shaken by the collision and noise; all the passengers were awakened. Confused, most passengers went on deck, only to discover the ship was rapidly sinking. The captain assured them that all was fine, but in reality the ship had been nearly broken in two, and it did not take long for passengers to realize the situation was desperate. Commotion and chaos overtook panicked passengers. They started grabbing life preservers and trying to push lifeboats into the water. Unfortunately, these had recently been painted, and they were now stuck fast to the deck. Finally, a few of them were yanked loose, and passengers fought desperately to be one of the few travelers to board those boats.
Shortly after the collision, Ville du Havre's main and mizzen masts collapsed, smashing two of the liner's life boats and killing several people. The time for saving life was very short as the ship sank in less than 12 minutes, and finally broke into two pieces as she went. Captain Robertson of Loch Earn did all he possibly could to rescue the drowning and eventually 26 passengers and 61 of the crew were rescued and taken on board that ship. However, 226 passengers and crew perished.
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SS Ville du Havre
Ville du Havre (French: [vil dy avʁ]) was a French iron steamship that operated round trips between the northern coast of France and New York City. Launched in November 1865 under her original name of Napoléon III, she was converted from a paddle steamer to single propeller propulsion in 1871 and, in recognition of the recent defeat and removal from power of her imperial namesake, the Emperor Napoleon III, was renamed Ville du Havre. It was named after Le Havre, a major port city in the Normandy region of northern France.
In the early hours of 22 November 1873, Ville du Havre collided with the British three-masted iron clipper, Loch Earn and sank in 12 minutes with the loss of 226 lives. Only 61 passengers and 26 crew members survived, rescued by Loch Earn and subsequently Tremountain, an American vessel.
Napoleon III was originally built as a paddle steamer by Thames Ironworks, London (engines by Ravenshill & Salked, London) for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (French Line). Launched on 11 February 1865, she was a 3,950 gross ton ship, length 111.5 m (365.9 ft) with 14.0 m (45.9 ft) beam, straight stem, two funnels, two masts, iron construction, paddle wheel propulsion and a cruising speed of 21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph (11.5 kn).
There was accommodation for 170 first class, 100 second class and 50 third class passengers. Launched in November 1865, she sailed on her maiden voyage from Le Havre for Brest and New York City on 26 April 1866. She made five round voyages on this service, the last commencing in August 1869.
In September 1871, she sailed from Le Havre to Tyneside in Northern England where she was lengthened to 128.5 m (421.7 ft) by A. Leslie and Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne and her tonnage increased to 5,065 tons. She was also fitted with a compound steam engine and rebuilt with single screw propulsion, and the paddle wheels were removed. A third mast was also fitted and after completion of the work, she was renamed Ville du Havre. Following sea trials, she recommenced her Le Havre – Brest – New York service in early 1873.
On 15 November 1873, Ville du Havre sailed from New York with 313 passengers and crew on board, under the command of captain Marino Surmonte.[citation needed] She was bound for Le Havre, Seine-Inférieure. About halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, she collided with the iron clipper, Loch Earn at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, 22 November, at the position 47°21′N 35°31′W / 47.350°N 35.517°W. At the time of the collision, Ville du Havre was proceeding under both steam and sail at about 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph).
The captain of Loch Earn, after first sighting Ville du Havre and realizing she was dangerously close, rang the ship's bell and "ported his helm", thus turning the boat to starboard. The helm of Loch Earn was put to starboard, but Ville du Havre came right across Loch Earn's bow. Ville du Havre was violently shaken by the collision and noise; all the passengers were awakened. Confused, most passengers went on deck, only to discover the ship was rapidly sinking. The captain assured them that all was fine, but in reality the ship had been nearly broken in two, and it did not take long for passengers to realize the situation was desperate. Commotion and chaos overtook panicked passengers. They started grabbing life preservers and trying to push lifeboats into the water. Unfortunately, these had recently been painted, and they were now stuck fast to the deck. Finally, a few of them were yanked loose, and passengers fought desperately to be one of the few travelers to board those boats.
Shortly after the collision, Ville du Havre's main and mizzen masts collapsed, smashing two of the liner's life boats and killing several people. The time for saving life was very short as the ship sank in less than 12 minutes, and finally broke into two pieces as she went. Captain Robertson of Loch Earn did all he possibly could to rescue the drowning and eventually 26 passengers and 61 of the crew were rescued and taken on board that ship. However, 226 passengers and crew perished.
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