The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-06-05
AN OCEAN DISASTER.
A French Fishing Vessel Sunk Ey
an Ocean Steamer.
Only Two Men Saved Out of a Grew
of Twenty-Four.

In the history of disasters at sea few in
stances are recorded where men are forced to
face death SO suddenly as was the case with
the il-fated crew of the French bark George
Jeanne, which was sunk by the Anchor line
steamship City of Rome, when twenty-five
lives were lost.
The story told by cabin passenger on the
City of Rome, when the steamship arrived at
New York, was graphic one. He said: ~
was seated in the smoking-room in company
with several other cabin passengers The
weather during the day had been
very thick and foggy, so much so
that it was at times impossible to distinguish
objects n short distance off. The steam
whistle and fog horn on the steamer were
being constantly blown, and men were sta
toned on the lookout We were on the edge
of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, the
engines going at the rate of forty revolutions
minute, we making fourteen knots an hour.
At ago PM was startled by sudden shock
On gaining the deck l saw, directly under
the steamers forefoot the spars and
rigging of a vessel As looked l could see
the steamships engines stop, soon followed
by perceptible trembling of the vessel 1t
could not have been two minutes before the
vessel with which we had collided began to
settle, and in less than four minutes she had
disappeared beneath the water. When
first struck we could see the crew of the bark
rushing frantically forward to the topgalant
forecaste. There they huddled together SEEM
ingly paIsled with fear. The bark sank, carrying
with her all but four men, who could be plainly
seen struggling i'll the water surrounded by
the wreckage which had floated from the
deck of their vessel. In the mean time Cap
tain Munro had ordered the starboard and
port quarter boats lowered, the steamer hay
ing backed away about three hundred yards
OF these four men in the water one was
drowned before the boats were lowered. two
others were picked up and the third was lost
while being hauled on board the steamer
The man by great exertion succeeded
in reaching the steamers side.
and the fourth officer, max
ing bovine in the end of rope, went over
the side, and, watching the roll of the ship,
passed it to him. When the drowning man,
with the remnant of strength left, had sue
ceeded in getting the bowline partly over
ms shoulders, piece of wreckage struck
him, causing him to release his mold While
sinking his face was turned toward the
sky and his expression was one of despair
and agony. As he went down an ex-
cited passenger cried: One hundred pounds
TO the man who will save him. 1t was too
late. The two men saved by the steamers
boat We're hoistel on board and instantly
surrounded by sympathetic passengers. Their
names are Fiant Alphonse, twenty six years
old, and Albert Hubert, aged twenty-four
They were suffering from nervous prostra-
ton and were at once put under the doctors
charge,
AS far as | could see, continued the pas
senger, Captain Munro and his officers be-
haved with the greatest GOODNESS, but we all
believed the ship was going at too high a rate
OF speed under The circumstances | heard
no sound of bells or fog horns other than
those made by our own, although there might
have been others made
As soon as the rescued men were safely on
board subscription was taken up and GAO
realized. This money will he given to the
men when they arrive at their homes in st.
Heller Channel Islands, where they belong
Mr. a. Miller, Storage passenger, who
talked French, gave to the reporter the fol-
lowing translation of the account given by
one of the rescued men: The bark George
Jeanne was of 400 tons burden. built and
owned in Granville, Normandy, France and
commanded by Captain Joseph Blondn. We
fitted out for fishing cruise and sailed
March j. On the 9th of April we arrived at
the Banks and anchored. Here we lay, hav-
ing, moderately good luck, until the fatal af-
preparing to get under way for home, having
nearly completed our catch and all were feel
ing happy. Each man was to receive a Dor
ton OF the cargo as his pay. few minutes
before the collision | was on deck standing
We're variously employed about the ship and
l think the captain was in his cabin All at
once there rose from the sea the PROV of a
large vessel. The blow was so sudden and
the effect so great that no time was given for
reflection. | remember getting on to the
topgallant forecastle and feeling the vessel
settle under me- Then came a rush of water
and sensation of going downward. When
at last | rose to the surface there were but
three men visible, the other twenty-one
having sunk forever. One man was close by
me, but he seemed so frightened he could
scarcely work his arms All at onca 7
missed him. He had also gone down. l
cannot say whether or not the fog-horn
or bell on board the bark was in use at the
time OF the occurrence The terrible expe-
rIence Of those few minutes has driven me
almost crazy