The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-07

many of those in the boats, If the stories
told are to be believed. showed their bru-
tality by beating off many of those who
attempted to climb aboard.
by this time the small boats Of the Cro-
martyshire had come up and the work Of
rescue began. The crew of the ship work
ed herocaliy and saved every one who
had managed to keep above water, but even
then scores fell away from boats, RATS,
and wreckage, exhausted and were drown
ed
1t was all over in an hour. although for
some time after great pieces Of wreckage
came shooting M from the bottom. mark
ing the spot where the liner had gone
down
But little attempt was made to recover
the bodies of any of the nl-fated passen-
gers or crew, and the battered hulk at the
bottom of the ocean will probably be for
ever their tomb.
Along in the afternoon the steamer Gre
clan was sighted coming from the west
ward, and a few hours afterward the Gro
martyshre was taken in tow ana arrived
here this morning
Strange enough. Mr.. Lacasse is the
only man of the saloon and cabin passen-
gers who survives. while his wife is the
only woman of 20, not only of the first
saloon cabin, but OF the whole ship, who
escaped.
Mrs. Lacasse was reused from her berth
by her husband, who was on deck at the
time OF the collision. She threw about
her the first article of clothing she could
secure and reached the deck of the listing
steamship 20 find herself one of many
frantic and half-dressed people who con-
gregated about the boats.
The captain of the steamer and some Of
fcers were endeavoring to direct the ef-
forts of the crew to launch the boats,
There was little response to the orders
of the executive officers. Golden mo-
ments were slipping away and the decks
were becoming more and more crowded
with frightened people emerging from
cabins and companionways.
The steamer was listing and settling,
and then wild fear seized on the throng
and people lost their reason ana really
went mad.
Mrs. Lacasse was separated from her
husband In the scramble, aud the steamer
listed so badly she slid down the declivlty
of the deck and into the water. She had
taken the precauton, at her husbands dl-
rection, to put on life belt before leav-
ing her state room, and shortly after be-
ing thrown into the sea she was seized
by an arm and drawn upon the life raft
Her savior was her husband. A moment
after the il-fated steamer disappeared,
and a whirlpool encireled the spot where
the noble craft had been.
Every body around the vortex was drawn
into 1t. The water rushed around, faster
and faster, and the unfortunate dlsap-
peared in twos and threes, with despairing
cries
Mrs. Lacasse had been on the edge Of
the maelstrom. but something striking her
threw her outside the dangerous whirlpool
and the next she knew she Was on the life
raft.
A boat containing forty women was cap
sized and all went down in the whirlpool
There was not one man in this boat, and
il was left fast 10 the davlts Some of the
women were trying TO cut the ropes when
the steamer careened deeper and capsized
the boat
Mrs. Lacasse says that moment after
the steamer was engulfed, men, women
and children rose on every side of the
whirlpool and the sight Of the faces and
the arms and the sound of the shrleks
were so terrible that she VIII remember
them TO her dying day.
Some of the scenes enacted on board La
Bourgogne just after the collision were
terrible to witness.
Men fought for positions in the boats
like ravlng maniacs, women were forced
back from the boats and trampled by men
who made self preservation their first OBJ
ject.
On board were large number of The
lower class of Italian and other foreign
ers, who in their frenzy stopped at
nothing that promised safety for them
selves.
In a boat was party OF forty women,
but so great was the panic that not
hand was raised to assist in its launching.
The occupants, so near saved, were
drowned like rats when the ship with an
awful Kissing sound, went down.
SO desperate was the situation that an
italian passenger drew his knife and made
direct at one who like himself. was on
deavorlug to reach the boats. Immediately
his action was initiated in every direction.
Knives were hourlshed and used with ef-
feet
Women and children were driven back
TO inevitable death at the point of wea-
pons, the owners Of which were experts
in their use.
According to stories OF survivors. women
we're stabbed like so many sheep.
The scene on the water was even worse
Many Of the unfortunates who were strug-
Cling in the water attempted TO drag
themselves into the boats or on RATS.
They we're pushed back into a watery
grave. Here, too, knives were used freely.
Nfot ALI of the dead met death hv drawp.