Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-29
Steamer City of Rome Collides
With and Sinks Fishing
Bark Geo. Jeanne.
The Scene Which Follows is That
Of Untold Misery. twenty-five
Persons Finding a
Watery Grave.

NEW YORK, MAY 20
Steamer City of Rome, which arrived here
today. reports that on May 25th. 43O P. NJ.
during dense fog, she collided with and
sunk the French fishing bark George Jeanne.
which was lying at anchor. She rescued
two of the crew and the remaining % were
lost.
The steamer left Liverpool May 10Th. The
weather was fine until Monday, when there
was dense fog. II was SO thick that from
the bow of the boat it was difficult to see 100
feet ahead. The sea seemed full of bergs
Between 10 A. NJ. and 4 P. nj SO were
counted.
The captain asserts that their pace was
slackened to half speed and fully realizing
the danger, every precaution was taken. The
bells were rung and the whistles were sound
ed continuously. At 4.3O, when the fog W as
thickest, the men for ard saw the masts of q
bark appear in the mist barely 20 feet away.
The bark lay at anchor and according to the
captains story, was not ringing her bell or
keeping a lookout.
Signals to reverse the engine were given,
but she struck the little bark and her iron
bow cut through the George Jeanne with lit
tie resistance. as if she had been a piece of
cheese. The bark was struck about ten feet
forward of the stern en- the starboard side.
She swung around and went down by the
side of the steamer within one minute. The
people on the City of Rome saw a few bare
footed Frenchmen rushing frantically forw ard
on the bark. The muiky air was filled with
their afrighted cries. Shrill excamatiOns of
horror from the deck of tbs. steamer and the
hoarse sounding of the STEAMERS fog horn,
and then the bark went out of sight. A few
spars floated on the sea and few men could
be seen struggling in the water. Life buoys
were thrown them and AS soon as pos. .ible
the steamer was stopped ana backed to where
the bark had been and two boats were lower
ed. By this time one of the four fishermen
had sunk, two were clinging to buoys and the
third hoated alongside the steamer, support
ing himself on spar. saloon passenger
cried ont, 81 will give 500 to any one who
will save that life." Two boats were pulling
for the men with the buoys. The man on
the spar was doubled up Us though chilled by
the icy water. He had to BE- rescued quickly
or not at all.
Several sailors prepared to jump over the
side, but were prevented by Fourth Officer
Turner, who rigged a rope around his body,
and taking another rope, had himself lower
to the man. Turner succeeded in getting
the loop about the Frenehman's arms and
neck. 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 saik out of sight. This man who came
near being saved was the captain of the
Geo. Jeanne, Jos. Boiden. Meanwhile
Albert ard Marc were picked up by the boats.
The steerage passengers who landed from
the City of Rome at Castle Garden, declared
with one accord that the steamer was making
at least IA knots when one of the rescued
men, Marc, said that when the collision oc-
Cured the bark was at anchor. Every one
except him was below. He sat near the
stern, keeping lookout. He heard the
whistle of the Rome for minutes before she
appeared. He promptly rung the bell of the
Go. Jeanne. and kept it up, and was ring
ing it when the Rome crashed into her. The
lost fishermen were all married.
Chas. Margan, an intelligent steersge pas
senger, declared the officers on the bridge
were watching the passengers leaping and
jumping and were not keeping proper look
out. The official log of the steamer states
that Monday the steamer made 408 miles.
memorial was presented Capt. Munro.
signed by the cabin passenger, praising his
efforts to save the survivors. The bow of the
City of Rome is without scratch.