The Portland daily press., 1898-08-26
SIXTEEN SAILORS LOST.
Fishing Boat Run Down by Thing
YalIa Liner. ..
ANOTHER SAD DISASTER ON THE
GRAND BANKS.

Captain and Eight Sailors Saved But
vessel-Accident Occurred During a
Thick Fog.
New York, August a5.-The Thing
yaIla line steamer Norge sank the French
fishing schooner LaCoquette, off Bayonne,
France, on Saturday, August goth on the
Grand Banks.
The captain and eight seamen were
saved. Sixteen went down with the un-
fortunate vessel
The Norge sailed from Stettin, August
Sd, ana Christiansend August IL, with
seven first and 33 second cabin passen-
gers. The weather was generally fine to
the Banks of Newfoundland, when it be-
came foggy with patches of clear weather.
On Saturday, August Goth, between three
and four O'Clock in the afternoon the
weather was fosgy, but not so thick that
the vessels speed was reduced. Capt.
Knudesen said he could see about three
cable lengths ahead. The wind was fair
" brisk from the west southwest, when
a vessel suddenly loomed up with sails
full and stood directly across the bow
of the steamer. The bells were rung to
stop and back at full speed, but too late
to check the steamers headway. The
stranger, a fishing schooner. fell across
the bow and with a crash was forced
over and sunk. AS the impact occurred
three men sprung aboard the Norge.
The passengers, most of whom were about
the decks, rushed about in confusion with
= alarm at the shock, but were soon quiet
ed when they learned that the steamer
was uninJured. In the meantime O
boat was lowered and six men and dog
were picked up.H The schooner sank al.
most Immediately and carried with her
IS of the crew. Among those saved was
the captain.
Can't Knudsen of the steamer said
that as steam vessel the Norge was
Obliged to keep out of the way of all
sailing craft, but this was time when
the sailing vessels could do more to help
herself than the steamer. The latter was
going ahead at full speed for the fog
was not, in the Judgment of the captain,
sufficient to reduce headway. Ihe nsh
erman was an active vessel, had good
breeze and was under good steerage way,
but made no attempt to avoid the coils
lon, keeping her sails full until SO qrare "
under the bow. The large hulk Of the
Norge should have been visibls for long
distance This was the substance of Capt.
knudsen S statement.
The nine rescued sailors were brought
to port and will be landed this morning.
The vessel carried a crew of % men in
all.
At the office of the French consul the
following names of the lost were given
Lemanent, Ganneoau, Allan, Lepron
Mensinet. Graffet, Curngin. Halmgent,
Lescot Morguet, Geard, Guenara, De.
prefix, Minguri, Baurel and Henpere.
All were fishermen.
The report of Capt. Borre to the French
consul states that when the collision oc-
CURED although there was a heavy fog
prevailing, the men were all on deck
fishing. Suddenly the Norge appeared
coming towards them, head on for their
sides. 1t was impossible to do anything
to get out of the way. The Norge. which
was going at a speed cf from to 10 knots
an hour, hit La Couquette in the side.
Her aftermast fell towards the wheel.
There were l6 men in that part of the
vessel and the rigging, sails and mast
pinned the men down SO that it was IL
evitable death for them as the vessel be-
gan TO sink. The wheel was smashed by
the fallen mast and the vessel was wholly
lost control of. The Norge cut La
Coquette clean in half The steamer
backed as quickly as possible and her
crew lowered boats and went to the
rescue of the men in the water. 1t was
impossible to save the 16 men who per
ished. La Couquette sank at once.
La Couquette was of l05 tons burden.
She sailed from Bayonne in May for
Miquelon to fish off the Grand Banks.
She made several trips to Miquelon to put
off loads of fish and was to have re-
mained Off the banks to the end of the
season. which would have been in about
six weeks. Her crew was shipped at St.
Servan.
The French consul has notified the
French government and the authorities
of the town of Bayonne of the loss of the
vessel.