Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-07

gone down. We laid to all day and re-
ceived on board about 200 survivors
from amongst the passengers ana crew,
rsported to be 10 all about GOO. Several
OF the passengers wsre On life RATS
without oars, and We called for yolun-
teers from among my crew and the sur
viying French seamon to bring those
RATS alongside the ship.
Some of the passengers and seamen
from the aunksn steamer assisted us
and We iettiHoned sons Sc toms OF cargo
from our forehold In order to tighten
the ship At about p. M, another
steamer hove 10 sight bound westward.
We put up our signals N. c. want
assistauce). Shortly after a steamer
bore down toward US. She proved to
be the Grecian, bound from Glasgow
to New York. The captain of tho
Grecian agreed to take the passengers
on board and also agreed to tow my
ship to Halifax. Owing TO the condi.
ton Of my ship, ! accepted the offer ana
We proceeded at once to tranship the
passengers and get ready our towline.
At G p. M, we had made connection
and proceeded in tow OF the Greciun
toward lIalifax, having put sail over
the broken bow to take part Of the
strain OIL the collision hulkhead. There
was at that time IA feet of water 10 the
fore peak''
As TOLD ny THE CAPTAINS WIFE.
Mrs, Henderson, wife of the captain,
wna on board the Cromartyshire, with
har two children. She tells q thrilling
story OF the terrible experience. The
weather was foggy and she had risen
from her bunk at an carly hour, as was
her custom when the weather was thick.
Shortly before the vessels came together
Hhe detected a steamers whistle blow
ing on the port side of the vessel. The
Cromartyshire was sounding her fug
horn at intervals of ono minute. Mrs.
Henderson called the attention of her
husband to the sounding OF the whistle,
and minute later the mate, who was
on the watch also netected the sound.
It came nearer and nearer, and Mrs.
Henderson stood near the cabin, 10 order
to rescue her children should disaster
occur. Suddenly tho huge hull Of an
ocean steamer lnomed up in the mist,
going about II knots an hour. Almost
Immediately there was a fearful crash,
and Mrs. Henderson rushed below and
found her children awakened by the
shock. She dressed the little'ones as
quickly "a possible md touk them to
the deck, expecting her own ship to go
down any minute. Cart. Henderson,
Ms aoon as the collision occurred, ordered
the boats to be lowered and the damage
to be ascsrtained. As it was found
that the Cromartyshire wns In no i'm
mediate danger, the Britishsr put
about. The vessel with which they
\ had oollided was at that time unknown.
A few minutes later her whistls was
heard and sky rockets were sent up.
Capt. Henderson replied in liks man
ner, thinking the steamer was Offering
assistance, but in few minutes Hll
was quiet and those on board began to
realize the awful results of the uolli-
sion.
| l4 AN APPALLING SIGHT.
At $50 the fog lifted and two boats
ware seen approaching, with only men
on board. Later the weather cleared
still more and men were to be sean in
every direction clineing to wreckags
| anI daafi 10 A., lifa "a gtss7s To ura, =, d.
Srible scene. No pen can picture the ap.
| palling sight revealed to the. onlookers
when the curtain OF mist arose. The
work Of rescue was commenced without
a moments delay, and over 200 persons
were picked up and taken on board the
chip. Mrs. Henderson, who had ample
opportunity of interviewing those who
we're rencued, expressed her belief from
what she heard that there had been no
effort to save thu women. There we're
many Foreigners on board who fought
for places in tho boats. 1t was fully 10
minutes 10 quarter of an hour before
La Bourgogne went down, and during
that time there was ample opportunity
offered to rescue at least Home OF the
women and children. As it was only
one woman. Mrs. Lacaasa, was saved.
She has heen on board ever since. Shs
lie the wife Of A. d. Lacasse, u teacher
Of Languages at pluinvills, N. J.
The crew Of the Cromartyshire com
mont iresly upon the fact that only one
woman was shved out of 800. Nearly
all the flrst.class passengers we're lost,
thnse saved being steerags AMI sailors.
LacaHas aud his wife we're In the water
eight hours, ciDging to raft. before
they we're picked up by boat from the
CromartyHhire. They lost everything
but what they stand 10, including
money and valuablss. One passenger
was going home to France with his two
children, his wife having died mouth
previously. He was saved. but his two
babies went down with the ship.
| THE ONLY WOMAN SAVED.
Mrs. Laoasae, wife of a. ID. Lacasae
language teacher of PlaInvil.e. N. j.,
was the only woman aavsd from La
Burgogns.
THE OFFICERS WE'RE BRAVE.
Mrs. Laoasss says the officers bravely
stayed by their posts, going down with
the ship. The only officer saved was
the purser. lie went down. but being
a good swimmer managed to save him