Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01
THE AlLSA
THE RESULT OF A COLLISION WITH
LA DOURGOGyE.


NEW YORK, February 29.-The steam
ship Ailsa, OF the Atlas Line, was SUM
about 2:3O o'clock this afternoon by the
steamer La Bourgogne. OF the Generai
Transatlantic Line. bound for Havre.
The Ailsa had sailed from New YORK
en- route to Kingston, Jamaica owing 70
the dense fog the Ailsa came to anchor
lust at the south mouth of the Narrows'
The strong tide that was running at
the time swung the vessels head so 'ha'
when the collision occurred she was
pointing toward New York. According
to the statements Of several or the crew.
the vessel had been at anchor but a Few
minutes when a huge steamer move III
sight, and although, according 10 the
Ailsa's crew. a continuous ringing or
her bells had been kept up since she
came TO anchor. the vessel came on anu
struck the Ailsa full on the port bow, tear
ing out O large portion of her side. I'M
mediately after striking the Aiisa, the
colliding vessel, which was learned to be
the steamer La Bourgogne. backed out
and after disengaging herself, proceeded
on her way without making the slightest
offer to render assistance TO the Ailsa.
Captain j. w. Morris. Of the Ailsa,
was on the bridge ut the time the col
lson occurred, and he at once gave or
ders to weigh anchor. This was instantly
done. and the vessel was headed for the
Fort Hamilton shore. Before che had
gone far, however, she filed and sank.
The captain, passengers. and part OF the
crew took to the rigging, from winch
they were rescued by the tug Harc.d.
which happened TO be in the vicinity at
the time. The Harold. to make the res
cue, steamed between the ma5ts and d.
rectly over the deck OF the sunken
steamer The Harold also picked up
later q part OF the crew from small
boat belonging 10 the Ailsa. Only a few
minutes elapsed between the time the
vessel was struck till she sunk. IA far
as can be learned. the La Bourgogne
suffered little. or no injury from the
impact. The crew was brought up 10 the
city by the tug and landed at the ship
news Office Of the United Press.
In interviews with the passengers Of the
Inflated vessel. II was learned that the
crew of the AiIsa behaved In a most
brutal and covardly manner. 1t Is as
serted that when the La Bourgogne struck
the Ailsa, The crew. instead OF trying to
assist. seemed 10 be inspired with only
the desire TO save themselves They
seized the only available boat. which they
quickly lowered and Jumped into IL and
pushed off. leaving the passengers to
their fate. There were fourteen cabin
passengers on board the Ailsa. among
them several women. The latter were
yerging on Mysteries when seen at tho
pier Of the United Press ship-news office
Some OF them looked as though they had
been subjected 10 some hard usage. The
officers Of the Inflated vessel deny that
the crew abused the passengers or were
guilty OF any cowardice. Captain Nor
Iis OF the Ailsa refused 10 make any
statement with regard TO bow the acci-
dent occurred.
j. Weatherspoon, the chief engineer,
spoke freely about the accident. He de-
ciared that the La Bourgogne was TO
blame, and said that the Alsa's bell was
rung continuously while she lay at anchor.
He was rather indignant at the manner
in which the French steamer behaved. He
denied in toto the passengers statements
that the crew had seized the only avail
able boat. and abandoned tho passengers
to their fate. He asserts that the passen-
gers refused 10 go into the small boat,
and sought refuge in the rigging. lie
says upon the refusal of the passengers
to enter the boat, the Captain ordered the
crew to pun for the shore. He says tho
vessel filed and went down so rapidly
that neither tho passengers nor crew
were able to save any of their effects.
The Ailsa now lies sunk II her lower
yards, and lie. on "a hard bottom OF Fort
Hamilton.
The crew numbered thirty-seven, in
Guiding Captain Morris. 1t was composed
of Spaniards, Cubans, and Italians
The AiSa is a British ecrow-steamer
290 feet in length; beam, go feet; depth,
23.9; tonnage. 1881. She was built at Glas-
gov. and was owned by the Atlas Steam
ship Company. She had a general cargo.
1t has been learned that the Ia Bour-
gogne proceeded but short distance after
the collision, and came to anchor. 1t is
not positively known whether she sustain