The Portland daily press., 1896-03-02
RECORD KEPT UP.
The Ocean Liners Certain Fatalities.

The Ocean Liners Certain Fatalities.
New York Has Gone Ashore-The Ailsa
Sunk by the French Liner Burgogne-
A Jonah After Ocean Travellers.
New York, February 29.-The steam
ship Ailsa of the Atlas line was sunk at
about $50 this afternoon by the steam
ship La Bourgogne of the General Trans
Atlantic line bound for Havre. The
Ailsa had sailed from New York en- route
to Kingston, Jamaica. Owing to the
dense fog, the Ailsa came to anchor at
the south mouth of the Narrows. The
strong tide running swung the vessels
head 80 at the time of the collision she
was pointing toward New York. Accord
ing to the statements of several Of the
crew, the vessel had been at anchor but
few minutes when huge steamer
move IN sight and, although oontinu-
GUS ringing of the Ailsa's bell had been
kept up since she came to anchor, the
Vessei came on and struck her full in the
port DOW, tearing out large portion of
her SIDE. Immediately after striking the
Allsa' La Bourgogne backed out and,
after disengaging herself, proceeded on
her way without making the slightest
otIer to render assistance to the Ailsa.
Capt. j. W. Morris Of the Ailsa was
on the bridge at the time the collision
OCCURRED and Immediately gave orders to
weigh anchor. This was instantly done
and the vessel was headed for the Fort
far, however, she filed and sank. The
captain, passengers and part Of the crew
TOOK TO THE RIGGING
from which they were rescued by the tug
Harold.
The Harold picked up later part of
the crew from a small boat belonging TO
the Ailsa Only few minutes elapsed
from the time the vessel struck until she
went down. AS far as could be learned,
La Bourgonge suffered little or no injury
from the compact.
Inc crew ana passengers Ut the sunken
steamer were brought to the city by the
tug and landed at the ship news Office
OF the United Press. The officers OF the
A.lsa at once repaired to the oompany's
Office, "a State street. In interview
with the passengers, it was learned that
the crew of the Ailsa behaved in a most
brutal and cowardly manner. Mrs. Mil
Ter, one OF the passengers, foil overheard
In the excitement, but was calamity
rescued bJ her husband. 1t 10 asserted
| that when La Bourgogne struck the
Ailsa, the Grew, instead OF trying to as
sist, seemed to be inspired only with a
| desire to save themselves. They seized
the only available boat which they quick
~ lowered and, Jumping into it, pushed
OF, leaving the passengers to their fate.
Fourteen cabin passenger were on board
the Ailsa, among them being several
women. The latter were
VERGING ON MYSTERIES
when seen at the pier. Some looked as
though they had been subjected to some
hard usage. The officers all deny that
the Grew abused the passengers or were
guilty of any oowardice.
Capt. Morris of the Ailsa refused
| to make any statement In regard to
how the accident occurred. J. Wealth
| erspoon, ths chief engineer, spoke
freely about the accident. He de-
| clared that La Bourgogne was to blame
and said that the Ailsa s bell was rung
! continuously while she lay at anchor.
He was rather indignant at the manner
He denied in toto the passengers state
| ments that the crew had seized the only
available boat and abandoned the passen-
| gers to their fate. He asserted that the
passengers refused TO go into the small
boat aud sought refuge in the rigging.
He says that upon the refusal Of the pass
sengers to enter the boat, the captain or
dered the crew to pull for the shore. He
| says the vessel filled and went down so
rapidly that neither the passengers nor
crew were able to save any of their
| effects.
The Ailsa now lies sunk to her lower
yards on "a hard bottom off Fort Hamil
ton. The Grew numbered 81, including
Captain Morris. 1t was composed Of
Spaninrds, tCubans and Italians. The
Ailsa is British screw steamer, 900 feet
| in length, 34.2 feet beam and 1873 feet
depth. Her tonnage is 1881. She was
built at Glasgow anu is owned by the
Atlas Steamship company. She hfd n
general cargo. Il has been learned that
tance after the collision and came to an
Choir. Il is not positively known wheth-
! OF or not she sustained any injury. She
| has IS cabin passengers on board
| The Old Dominion line steamship
Guyandotte, inbound for Norfolk, Va,
ran into the Clyde line steamship
GEORGE W. CLYDE,
off Fort Wadsworth, at five O'clock this
afternoon. The Guyandotts passed in by
the Hook at 400 p. m. and was proceeding
through the Narrows when, in the dense
fog, she crashed into the Clyde, on the
port side, amidships, tearing large hole
in her side about 20 feet long and three
feet deep. The Guyandot5e pulled out
and stood by, while the Clyde began to
ill. Three tugs then got lines to the
Clyde and pulled hsr stern on to the Bay
Ridge shore, where she now is in about
8 feet of water. No one was hurt.
NEW YORK AGROUND.