The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-07

like himself, was endeavoring to reach
the boats Immediately his action was
initiated in every direction. Knives
were fourished and used with effect.
Women and children were driven back
weapons, the owners Of which were ex-
perts in their use. According to stories
of survivors, women were stabbed Like
SO many sheep.
The Drowning Pushed Back.
The scene on the water was even worse.
Many of the Unfortunates who were
Struggling in the water attempted to drag
themselves in the boats or RATS. These
were pushed back into q watery grave.
Here; TOO, knives were used freely. Not
al OF the dead met death by drowning.
to La BOurgOgne strike a passenger over
the head with q bar and kill him. The
senger grabbed the boat in which the
sailor was and attempted to get on board.
The second officer was the only man of
the crew who did anything to help the
terrified and hapless. passengers. He cut
All the boats that were launched were
launched by the brave second officer. He
to certain death.
ms PllCA ID ulAlA4As q Pa5SSAABcE Wd5
thrown into the water and swan for two
hours before he found boat. He chung to
another man got hold of the boat, and to-
gether they managed to right it. Under
the seats they found dead bodies Of four
men and three women, who had evidently
been drowned by the capsizng of the boat.
conduct toward the passengers. He was
unable to get in the steamers boat when
the sailors. He saw many of his friends
being prevented from getting into the
but what he stood in
MehHni Second. an italian steerage pas
got on deck he found a raft with FIVE men
on it. The raft, however, was tied and
were near to loose it. None of the 1--WE
men had knives. The ship sank rapidly
He was in the water twenty minutes and
alone, the other five sinking before his
tried to get into. He eventually succeed
ed, but not before a desperate fight with
and showed with boat hook He man
aged to seize an oar however, and pulled
himself to the boat and climbed in
Saw His Mother Killed.
August Pourgi was eager to give your
correspondent an account of his expert
ence. He was in the water about half an
hour and attempted to get into a boat.
He was seized when he managed to get
half in and thrown back into the water.
Again he tried to enter the boat but the
savages who manned it were determined
to keep him out. He managed at last to
get in and stay in. Clinging to the life
line of a boat not far away he saw his
mother, and, as his trials were not
enough, he was force to watch a man
shove her into the ocean with an oar. She
and was almost sure he could recognize
Fred Nifher. a Swiss. was the most jo-
passengers. He lost all his money and
clothes with the exception of a pair of
again and cursed the French sailors with
passionate earnestness.
others and remained there until he reach
ed the water, when he thought it was
attempted to let loose a boat He swan
for a long time before he was picked up.
He saw an Engltshman attempt to get
into boat. but the men in the boat, who
were sailors of the Bourgogne. hit him
oar. He fell back and sank.
Charles Liobra, a F'renchman, expressed
countrymen's conduct This man is one
OF the most unfor5unate. He had his Two
He put them in a boat, but was prevent
ed from entering himself.
He could not get in any boat. and went
down with the ship. but he came to the
surface ana at once looked for the boat
seen, and he mourns them as lost He
along. He tried to get in. but was assail
ed with oars and boat hooks. Mr.. Lilo
and body. His arms are black and blue
and his body is terribly bruised from the
blows ne received. AFTER this boat went
off he was I'm the water eight hours.
Patrick McKeown is an intelligent young
Irishman from Wilmington. Del. He is
Indignant at the brutal crew. He was
more fortunate than the rest of his fell
low passengers. and got on a raft when
the BOurgogne was sinking.
An American Murdered.
One of the worst sights he said he ever
saw was the murder Of an American with
whom he had become acquainted on board
the steamer This man, whose name he
can not recall, was from Philadelphia.
where he has a wife and family. The
Phuadelphian was trying to get on a raft
not far distant from the one McKeown
was on. A French sailor grabbed half
an oar and beat him over the forehead.
Charles DutteWeyler. German. man
aged by an interpreter to tell his story.
Il 10 int Hoa "a