The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-19

NEW YORK. March is.-of the eighty
two persons comprising passengers ana
crew OF the steamer Vile de st. Naizarre
only the four brought in by the schooner
Hilda yesterday are known 70 have sur
vived the disaster which be<ell the French
steamer March 7. These four are capt.
Berri, manager OF the West Indian line or
the Trans-Alantique Company; Lautz.
third engineer OF the St. Nalzarre; pr-
Marie the ships surgeon, and Senior
Tagado. a passenger.
The St. Naizarre was one OF the west
Indian fleet of the French Trans-Atlan-
tique Company and piled between this and
West Indian ports. She cleared from New
York for Port De France on March 6. COM
manded by Capt Jacenau. On the follow
ing day, according 20 the story told by one
of the survivors, the leak was discovered,
but it was not Thought 10 be sufficiently
serious 10 warrant a return 10 port
BY the middle of the second day, how
ever, the leak had increased TO danger
Gus extent and a portion OF the cargo on
the port side OF the vessel was damaged
by the water Which had commenced TO
pour in In great quantities. A terrible
storm arose on the night OF the. second
day. and the heavy seas together with the
big Leak rendered the escape OF the yes
sci from shipwreck an impossibllity.
Realizing that the ship was doomed, Capt.
Jacenau ordered the four lfeboats to be
lowered, and into them crowded the pas
sengers and crew. fhe boats were soon
swept apart by the wind and waves.
The boat which was found by the Hiida,
six days after the sinking OF the steam
ship, is the only one or the four that has
been heard of. Thirty-five persons, IL is
said. were crowded into the boat from
which the survivors were taken One by
one all but the four rescued men died
from exposure or hunger or were swept
srta hA nv w
over the small boat. Senior Tagado was
compelled TO witness the death of his wife
and four children without being able TO
alleviate their sufferings.
The bodies of the dozen who died in the
boat during the first days of its terrible
voyage were thrown overheard by the
survivors. But those who withstood the
elements and managed 10 live without food
or drink at last became too weak to rid
the boat of its CHASTITY freight and were
compelled for days to gaze upon the stiff
fened eorpses of their unfortunate COM
panions.
capt. Berri. who is So years of age and
a trusted employee of the French line, Is
under the care OF doctor. who found
his patients throat fearfully parched and
his lungs in the same condition. After a
careful examination the doctor said that
with careful treatment he might recover.
IL would be over a week. however before
he could take any solid food. The cap
tain's body is covered with bruises. from
being thrown about the boat while on the
tempest-lashed sea
Agent Forget, of the French line, would
say but little of the wreck today. He
seemed distressed over the catastrophe.
He was very emphatic IN his declaration
that the steamer st. Nazairre. while an
old boat, was perfectly seaworthy.
IT have the greatest sympathy man
can feel" said Mr.. Forget, "for the rela
tives OF those who went down in the
wreck. From what hear. the crew OF
the st. Nazairre acted nobly during the
trying time. Capt. Jacenau was an old
and faithful employee of this company.
On many occasions he has shown his
bravery. The storm must have been OF
extraordinary intensity 10 have wrecked
the lifeboats in the manner IL did"
Mr.. Forget could not tell when he would
be able to make a formal statement as
to the loss OF the steamship. Statements
would first have 10 be taken from the four
survivors. These would have to be at
tached 10 the statement Of the agent and
forwarded to the French consul He I'm
turn would return his findings to the home
government.
The Hilda passed In at Sandy Hook at
$50 yesterday. and proceeded on her way
to Perth Auboy in tow of the tug Idle
wild, reaching that place about 80. No
word OF the wreck was given out at Perth
Amboy. The tug Idlewild having left the
Hilda at ner dock. brought the survivors
10 the pier OF the Campagnie Transact
laniQue Generate, at the foot OF Morton
street. in this city, In a run OF twenty
miles, reaching there about s in the even
ing. The news was at once telegraphed
to Mr.. Forget. and he made such dispo-
sition as he could for the comfort of the
sufferers. The facts OF the disaster were
kept from the public for some time. and
only became known on toward midnight