The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-07
.COWARDLY SAILORS
Shocking Stories Of Conduct Of La
Bourgogne's Crew.
Women Thrown From Boat and Man
Deliberately Murdered.

Halifax, July 1.-THE stories told by
the survivors OF La Bourgogne OF the
brutality and inhumanity OF the sailors
who sacrificed every one, else TO save
themselves.
Charles Llebra expressed himself as
thoroughly ashamed Of his country
mems conduct. This man is one of the
most unfortunate. He had his mother
less boys, and years old, with him
He put mem In a boat. but was prevent
ed from entering II himself. He could
not get in any boat and went down with
the ship. He went down so deep that
he thought he was gone. but he came
to the surface and at once looked for the
boat with his boys They were nowhere
to be seen. and he mourns them as lost
He iioated long time before boat
came along. He tried 10 get in, but was
assailed with oars. Mr.. Liebra's arms
are black and blue and bis body is ter
ribly bruised from the blows he re-
ceived. After this boat went of he was
in the water eight hours.
Patrick McKeown of Wilmington,
Del, was on his way to Paris to turn
out leather for a firm there. He was
more fortunate than most of his fellow
passengers, and got on raft when the
Bourgogne was sinking He was the
only passenger who could have walked
through the streets Of Halifax without
attracting attention. One OF the worst
sights. he said. he ever saw was the
murder OF an American with whom he
had tvtn
steamer This man. whose name he
cannot recall was from Philadelphia
where he has wife and family The
Philadelphian was trying to get on
raft not far distant from the one Nc
keown was on. A French sailor grabbed
half an oar and beat him three times
over the forehead The murdered man
was on his way TO Paris to see a sister.
FROM Paris he intended to go to Ireland
TO see his father ard mother.
Matthew Zurich said: ct was on
deck at the time. Everything was going
about smoothly, although 1t was very
foggy. when saw ship loom UP right
In front Of us She was actually scrap
ing the starboard side Of la Bourgogne
and when she was few yards astern
saw her masts falling overheard
heard people on board shout In English
and knew II was British vessel. ran
forward TO see what had happened
The steamers starboard side was broken
I'm tn the waters edge. the plates were
cracked and warped. and the rivets
broken and drawn The hole was eight
or 10 feet in width. and the water was
pouring In fast. Then i went aft again.
but could not see anyone In charge. only
horror stricken crowd of passengers
No commands were being given and no
system prevailed. went to the hurri-
cane deck and started 10 cut away the
awning from boat there. While was
doing so along came some sailors or
firemen and cut away two life rafts and
two boats. I had my boat nearly clear,
but just then I was driven from the
boat. I went farther on and saw n raft
on skids. by this time the steamer
was 80 badly listed that one could not
walk straight; in fact. could hardly
keep on foot Twas chased away from
the raft and ran aft again. and \ saw
seme men passengers. 10 or L. get boat
around
TOTAL LOSS, 5e5 LIVES.
Acting General Manager Paul Faguet
gave out to-day the following list of the
lost:
First cabin. SIS: second cabin. 1i3;
steeragc. 2i6; officers and crew. MS.
Total. 565.
A telegram was received from Halt
fax last night by NJ Faguet from =.
Cunard a Co. which stated that the
wreckage on board La Bourgogne
proved Co be such an obstruction that
the passengers and crew were unable
20 reach the starboard lifeboats. There
was therefore n great rush TO the port
boats
The crew endeavored to launch these
but owing TO the vessels heavy list 10
port II was impossible 90 do 30.
The telegram stated that so far as
could be- ascertained in Halifax the Of
ficers and crew did their duty nobly
Most of the sailors who were saved
were picked up IN ihc water and not
taken from the llfcboats. This dispatch
contradicted those which tame from
unofficial sources.
A Faeuet reCeiN ed another telegram
stating that lifeb0ai No. = was taken
possession OF by some foreigners. pre-
sunably Austrian saiiois Who were in
the steerage. II is presumed that "
any violence Was shown toward strug.
CLING passcngers ny any one. n was by
these sailors and not BY members oi
the crew ~ la Dourgognc.