The times., 1898-07-08
LA DOURGOGhE DISASTER
Latest Informa ion Places the
Death Total at 5SS.
SURVIVORS LEAVING HALIFAX
Mnny Passengers Have Had Money
Photographed To Them and Are
Going to Their HOmes-The
Crew Departs for New YOriS-Ad-
ditionnI Details.

Halifax, n. s.. July THE latest and
best information obtainable from all
sources at this time places the total num-
ber of lost of the steamship La 'Bour-
gogne at 5SS There were 53S passengers
on the doomed ship, of whom 205 were in
cabins and 32T in the steerage. The to-
tai number on board, including the crew,
was 757. Eleven of the cabin passengers
We're saved and 1876 lost. Forty-eight of
the steerage passengers We're saved and
219 lost. One hundred and ten of the Of
ficers and crew were saved and ia lost.
Many of the passengers left for their
homes this morning. money having been
telegraphed them. A few started last
night by train for Boston. Many are at
second-rate hotels and lodging-houses
temporarily. Those who have no friends
and no money will be cared for by the
consuls of the countries to which they
belong until they can be sent to their des-
tinations.
The crew of the Bourgogne left last
night by the steamer Halifax for Bos-
Ton. 1t is supposed they will be sent to
New York. where the offices of the COM
pany are.
Following is the account of the dlsas-
ter written by Capt. Henderson. in the
log Of the Cromartyshire:
ION July 4, at a. m. dense fog; posi-
tion OF ship. sixty miles south of Sable
Island; ship by wind on the port tack.
heading about NNW.. though under re-
duced canvas. going about four or five
knots per hour. our foghorn was being
kept going regularly every minute.
AT that time we heard d steamers
whistle our weather side or port
beam, which seemed, to be nearing very
fast. We blew born and were answered
by steamers whistle, wnen all OF sud-
den she doomed through the fog on our
port bow and crashed into Us, going at
terrific speed.
Our foretop mast and maintopgalIant
mast came down bringing with it yards
and everything attached. | Immediately
ordered the boaes out and went 10 exam
inc the damage. I found that our bows
were completely cut off and the plates
twisted into every conceivable shape.
The other ship disappeared through
the fog. However, our ship was floating
on her collision bulkhead, so there seem
ed no immediate danger of her sinking
We set to work Immediately TO clear the
wreckage and also TO ship our starboard
anchor which was hanging over the
starboard bow and iR-danger of punching
holes in the bow.
I'VE heard steamer blowing her
whistle on coming back, and we answer
ed with our foghorn. The steamer then
threw up a rocket and fired a shot We
also threw up some rockets and fired
several shots, but we neither saw nor
heard anything more of the steamer.
Shortly after or about $50 a. m. the
fog lifted somewhat, and we saw two
boats pulling toward us with the French
flag flying We signaled them to come
was La Bourgogne. from New York for
Havre, and that she had gone down.
We laid TO all day and received on board
the survivors from among the passengers
and crew, reported to be in all about 600
Several of the passengers We're on life
RATS without oars, and | called for vol
unteers from among my crew and the
surviving French seamen to bring those
RATS alongside of the ship Some of the
passengers and seamen from the sunken
steamer assisted us. and we jettisoned
some thirty tons of cargo from our fore
hold in order to tighten the ship.
''At about 5 p. m. another steamer hove
in sight bound westward. We put up
our signals, N. c. (want assistance)
Shortly after the steamer bore down
toward us She proved to be the Gre
clan. bound from Glasgow to New York.
The captain of the Grecian agreed to
take the passengers on board. and also
agreed to tow my ship TO Halifax. Ow-
ing TO the condition of my ship, I ac-
cepted the offer. and we proceeded at
once to thansship the passengers and get
ready our tow-line
"At D. m. we had made connec-
ton, and proceeded in tow of the Gre
clan toward Halifax. having put sail
over the broken bow, to take part OF the
strain off the collision bulkhead. There
was at that time fourteen foot of water
in the forepeak."