The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-07-14
A HORROR At SEA
Steamer La Bourgogne
Went Down With
so Souls.

| 562 Souls.
COLLISION OFF NOVA SCOTIA
Ran Into the Ship Cromsrtyshire In q
Dense Fog-Less Than Two Hundred
Standardization Cruelty Of Sailors
Prevented More Being Rescued.
Halifax, N. S., July SIN one Of
| the thick fogs which at this time of
the year hang like a pail over the
grand banks and Sable island In the
North Atlantic, occurred early Monday
morning one of the most appalling
ocean disasters in the annals of trans
Atlantic commerce, and in fact in the
history of steam sailing of the world.
Almost without moments warming
the French liner La Bourgogne, with
725 souls on board, was run down by
the iron sailing ship Cromartyshire,
| and sunk within half an hour, carrying
with her to the oceans bottom over 500
of her passengers and crew, while the
rest who were not drowned by the fear
full suction struggled and fought for life
until 1853 were at length rescued by the
crew of the Cormartyshire, which ship
survived the collision.
If the words of the passengers who
were dragged aboard the Cromartyshire
and later brought into this port by the
steamer Grecian, are to be believed, the
last few minutes on board the La Bour-
gogne witnessed some of the most ter
rible scenes of horror and cruelty that
have blotted the history of civilized
race. Instead of the heroic discipline
| which so often has been the one bright
feature of such awful moments, the
crew Of the steamer fought like demons
for the few lifeboats and RATS, batter
ing the helpless passengers away from
their only means of salvation, with the
result that the strong overcame the
weak, for the list Of 1853 saved contains
the name of but one woman.
The disaster occurred at 5 O'Clock
in the morning. Monday, about go
miles south of Sable island, which lies
nearly 100 miles off this port. The
Bourgogne had left New York, bound
for Havre, on the previous Saturday,
while the Cromartyshire was on it's
way from Glasgow with crew of 81
men. Although the transatlantic
ships have definite course, the Bour-
gogne was, by all accounts, 40 miles or
more to the north of these lines. The
fog was very dense and the Cromarty-
shire was sailing along with reduced
canvas and blowing the fog horn.
Suddenly out Of the fog rushed great
steamer, and in moment there was q
fearful crash, the iron prov of the ship
plunging into the port side of the
steamer. just under the bridge. The
shock was terrific, and tore tremen-
| dous hole in the steamer, while the
entire bow of the ship was demolished.
Half an hour after the collision the
misty curtain went up, giving clear
view for miles, and then 1t was that
those on the Cromartyshire realized the
fearful struggle for life on board the
Bourgogne, the collision having come
go suddenly and at such time in the
| morning that few besides her crew we're
on deck, but the shock reused nearly
everyone. and within few minutes
| the decks were crowded.
At first it seemed as II there was
some attempt at discipline. A few Of
the boats were swung off and some OF
the passengers allowed to get into them,
but as the steamer began to tremble
and list to port, the officers lost control
| of the crew, and a panic ensued.
Passengers and crew fought for the
boats and life RATS. the strong battered
| down the weak, the women and chill
dren being pushed far away from any
hope of rescue. Fists, oars and even
4 knives we're used by some of the demons
to keep their places.
The officers seem to have been pow.
| erless over their men, and only four
were saved. The fight for life on the
1 decks of the steamer did not last long,
for in a little more than half hour she
gave a long lurch to port and went
down.
As the ship sank beneath the surface,
the vortex Of the water sucked down
everything on the surface within Ger.
tain radius. When the suction ceased.
those still alive saw about 200 bodies
come out Of the water with a rush. az
| if the sea were giving up the dead,
after having swallowed the ship.
But the struggle for life still contin-
ued after the ship went down. Hun.
dreds still floated about grasping fol
RATS. boats and wreckage, in frantic
| endeavors to keep above water. Even
then many Of those In the boats, il the
stories told are to be believed, showed
their brutality BY beating of those who
attempted to climb aboard.
By this time the small boats OF the
Cromartyshire had come up, and the
work Of rescue began. The crew Of the
ship saved everyone who kept a1oat.
i But one woman was rescued.
Austria sends coooanut oil to Eng
land.