The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-07
Responsible For the Loss Of
Many Lives
Among the Passengers on La
BOurgOgne.
THE INHUMAN CREW
Used Knives, Oars and Boat
Hooks
On Struggling, Helpless Men
and Women.

story of the fearful disaster to
the French steamer La Bourgogne on
the morning OF July 4th, from the few
officers and members OF the crew who
were saved is yet to be told, but 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 Bour-
gogne witnessed some of the most ter
rfbIe scenes of horror and cruelty that
have blotted the history of civilized
race.
Instead Of the heroic discipline which
50 often has been the one bright feature
Of such awful moments, the crew of
tina steamer fought like demons for
the few lifeboats and RATS, battering
the helpless passengers away from their
only means Of salvation, with the re-
suit that the strong overcame the weak
The disaster occurred at 5 o'clock in
the morning on Monday, July 4, about
sixty miles south of Sable island, which
lies nearly a hundred miles Off this
port.
The Bourgogns had left New York
bound for Havre on the previous Sat
urday, while the Cromartyshire was on
her way over from Glasgow, with
crew Of twenty-one men.
Although the transatlantic steam
ships all have a definite course, the
Bourgogns was, by all accounts, forty
miles or more to the north OF these
lines.
The fog was very dense and the
Cromartyshfre was sailing along with
reduced canvas and blowing the fog
horn.
Suddenly out Of the fog rushed a
great steamer, and in q moment there
-
the steamship plunging into the port
side Of the steamer just under the
bridge
mendous hole in the steamer while the
entire bow OF the ship was demolished.
The steamer plunged on into the fog
again, her whistle crying for help, and
her rockets signalling her distress.
The CrOmartyshire was rounded to
and her master, Captain Henderson,
was considerably relieved In finding
that she was in no danger of sinking.
Off to the eastward could be heard the
hoarse call of the steamer and as the
fog began to lift all the boats on the
ship were launched. Half an hour after
the collision the misty curtain went up,
giving a clear view for miles, and then
IL was that those on the CromartyShtre
realized the fearful struggle for life.
On Board La BourgOgne.
On board the Bourgogne the collision
had come SO sudden and at such
time In the morning that few besides
her crew were on deck. but the shock
reused nearly every one, and within
@ few minutes the decks were crowded
At first it seemed as If there was
some attempt at discipline. A few OF
the boats were swung of and some
passengers were allowed to get into
them, but as the steamer began to set
tie and list to port, the officers lost
control OF the crew and a panic ensued.
Passengers and Grew fought for the
boats and life RATS.
The strong battered down the weak,
the women and children being pushed
far away from any hope OF rescue.
E,iets oars and even knives were used
BIZ some of the demons to keep their
places. The officers seemed to have
been powerless over their own men,
and only four were saved. The fight
Ter Life on the decks Of the steamer did
net last long, for In little more than
half an hour she gave a long lurch to
AS the ship sank the vortex
Of the waters sucked down everything
on the surface within certain radius.
when the suction ceased, those still
alive saw about 200 bodies come out of
the water with a rush as If the sea
were giving up the dead after having
swallowed the ship. But the struggle
for lie still continued after the ship
went down. Hundreds still hoated
about, grasping for RATS, boats and
wreckage in frantic endeavor to keep
above water. Even then, many of those
In the boats, If the stories told are to be
keiieved. showed their brutality by
beating Off those who attempted to
Bv this time the small boats of the
Cromartyshire had come UP and the
work of rescue began. The crew OF the
ship worked heroically and saved eve
~ one who had managed to keep above
water, but even then scores fell away
from boats, RATS and wreckage, eX-
hausted. and were drowned. 1t was al
over in an hour, although for some time
after great pieces Of wreCkage came
shooting up from the bottom, marking
the spot where the great liner had gone
But little attempt was made to recov-
er the bodies OF any of the Inflated pas
sengers or crew, and the battered hulk
at the bottom Of the ocean viii proba-
bly, be their tomb.
In the afternoon the steamer Grecian
was sighted coming from the west
ward, and a few hours afterwards the
CrOmartyshire was In tow.
A Survivors, Story.
Professor La Case, one of the sur
vivors, is of the opinion that there was
a third vessel in the collision, as he
saw the Bourgogne sink within ten
minutes after the collision.
Strangely enough, Mr.. LaCasse Is the
only man of the saloon and cabin pas
Eengers who survived, while his wife as
the only woman of two hundred, not
only of the first saloon, but OF the
whole ship, who escaped Mrs. La
Case was reused from her berth by her
husband, who was on deck at the time
Of the collision. When she reached the
deck of the listing steamship she saw
the captain OF the steamer on the
bridge and some Of the officers at other
points, endeaVOring to direct the efforts
OF the crew to launch the boats. There
was little response to the orders of the
officers. The crew seemed paralyzed.
Matters were quiet and there was no
panic though the decks were becoming
more and more crowded with frighten-
ed people.
The steamer was listing and settling,
ar7d than a villa fear salad On tha