Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-04

French fishermen, only survivors of
the crew of the French fishing bark,
George jeanne, which Was sunk by
the City OF Rome IN collision on the
banks of New Foundland on May 25.
The names of the rescued men, are
Hubert Albert and Frank Alphonse
Marie.
The Ill fated vessel, after she was
struck, sank in less than minute.
carrying down with her twenty -four
men, only two of whom were saved.
Capt. Munro, of the City of Rome.
was too much broken up by the re-
membrance of the scene to give more
| than brief statement. The steamer
left Liverpool on the morning Of May
goth. The weather was fine until
Monday, when after bright morn
ing dense fog came on. 1t was so
thick that from the bow of the boat it
Svas difficult to see a hundred feet
ahead.
A great many icebergs passed be-
tween 10 a. M. and 4 p. M; IS were
counted. The captain asserts that the
vessels pace was slackened to half
speed, and fully realizing the danger,
every precaution was taken; bells
were rung and whistles sounded con-
tinually. At 4:30 when the fog was
the thickest, the men forward saw the
spars and naasts of the bark appear in
the mist barely twenty feet away.
The bark lay at anchor, and according
to the captains story, was not ringing
its bell or keeping lookout. Signals
to reverse the engines were given, but
THE STEAMER STRUCK THE LITTLE
with her iron bow and cut her
through with as little resistance as if
she had been a piece of cheese. PEG
pie on the City OF Rome saw few
barefooted Frenchmen in blue fisher
mems blouses rushing frantically
forward on the bark. The murky
air was filed with their affrighted
cries, and shrill EXPLANATIONS of hor-
rur from the deck of the steamer and
the hoarse sounding of the steamers
fog horn quickly followed, and then
the bark sank out of sight,
A few spars foated on the sea, and
four men could be observed struggling
in the water Life buoys were thrown
them, and soon as possible the steamer
was stopped and backed TO where the
bark had been. Two boats were lows
cred Immediately. By this time one
of the four fishermen had sunk, two
were clinging to buoys, and third
foatea alongside the steamer, support
ing himself by a spar. The. fourth
officer rugged rope around his body,
and taking another rope had himself
lowered to the man.
Turner succeeded In getting loop
about the Frenchman's arm and neck,
and strong arms pulled HIM half way
up the side of the boat, when the loop
slipped over his head and he fell back
into the water and
SANK OUT OF SIGHT.
This man was Capt. Joseph r. Lon
din, OF the i'll fated bark. Meantime
Albert and Marie were picked up by
the boats.
The steerage passengers who landed
from the City of Rome at Castle Gar
den, declare with one accord that the
steamer was making fourteen knots
dn IOuE WHICH bIIC COl1lSLOu CCCufIcU
Every one on the George Jeanne ex-
cept Marie, was below. Marie sat
near the stern keeping a look cut. He
heard the whistle of the City of Rome
for eight minutes before she appeared.
He rang the barks bell and kept it up
and was ringing it when the City of
Rome crushed into her.
The lost fishermen were ali married.
Charles Morgan Storage passenger,
declares that the officers on the bridge
were watching the passengers leaping
and jumping, and were not keeping a
proper look out. The offcial log of
the steamer states that ON Monday the
steamer made 400 miles.
A memorial was presented to Capt.
Munro, signed by the cabin passen-
gers, praising his efforts to save the
survivors.
Beautiful Savannah.