3-065-876 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The French Transatlantic Company's steam-ship Amerique towed into Plymouth, 1874. '...the Amerique, was abandoned by her crew, within a hundred miles of Brest, in apparent danger of sinking. She had encountered a violent storm, after a good run from New York...Her passengers numbered 83, and her crew 152. Three vessels - an English, a Norwegian, and an Italian - were near enough for her signals of distress. They took off all the persons who were on board, except the second officer, M. Garay, who alone was drowned. The removal of the crew and passengers was effected in good order, in spite of a tremendously high sea...A steamer was sent out to look for the derelict, which was found still afloat and adrift, and was towed to the above-named port...The Admiralty steam-tugs, Carron and Scotia, were sent alongside the Amerique, lying in the harbour...The water having been pumped out, an examination was made by Mr. Leslie, shipbuilder, of Newcastle, with Messrs. Converse and Colombe, marine engineers, of Paris. They found no leak whatever in the hull. The water had got into the vessel by several valves accidentally or carelessly left open, one of which had been tied open with a bit of rope. The cargo was not much damaged'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.