The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-15

HALIFAX. n =. July News was
received here yesterday of the sinking
of the French liner la Bourgogne,
from New York for Ilavre. with passen-
gers and crew numbering 500, by col
lision with the British iron ship
Cromartyshire, 60 miles south of Sable
island. and the loss Of 6)g souls.
The story OF the Fearful Disaster
from the few officers and members o.
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 La
~Bourgogne witnessed some of the most
terrible scenes OF horror and cruelty
that have ever blotted the history of a
civilized race.
Instead ofthe heroic discipline which
SO often has been the ont bright fea-
ture OF such aw full moments, the crew
OF the steamer fought like demons
for the few lifeboats and RATS. batter
ing the helpless passengers away from
ltlNlT OI4N Lutduo Vi sat NdiloDs win LAlt
result shat the strong overcame the
weak. and the list Of 1863 saved con
tains the name of but one woman.
Another Account Says
there were ia persons on board, and
Jos were saved. With the exception
of two passengers, Prof. LaCasse and
his wife. all the passengers Of the
Bourgognc are aboard the steamer
Grecian at the Cunard wharf. The
crew are also ON board that boat. The
Grecian is expected to sail for New
York this evening.
All the crew are collected by them
selves in the forward part of the deck,
aud are anything but pleasant look
Ing. The officer of the gangway looked
ut them with a scowl. and said IL he
had his way they would all have been
hanged to the yardarm long ago.
Onicers aud Crew Sought Their Own
safety.
Observation-Disclosures nearly
all the passengers who speak English.
One passenger said the officers and
crew of La Bourgogne neglected the
passengers entirely.
Dt stGOuu OllCtF US tue Only man
of the crew who did anything to help
the terrified and helpless passengers.
He cut loose all the boats he could,
and, in fact. all the boats that were
launched were launched By the brave
second officer. He was last seen stand
ing on the deck. with his hand ON the
rigging, going resignedly to certain
death.
The Crew Were Cruel I'm Their Conduct.
Christopher Brunini, a passenger was
thrown into the water and swan for
two hours before he found a boat. He
chung to this as his last hope. After
some time another man got hold OF the
same boat and together they managed
10 right it. Under the seats they
found the dead bodies of four men and
three women who had evidently been
drown by the capsizing Of the boat
Brunini said the crew were cruel in
their conduct toward the passengers.
He was unable To get in the steamers
boats when he came ON deck. being
showed away by the sailors. He sa
many of his friends being prevented
from getting into the boats by the
sailors. He lost everything but what
he stood in.
Desperate Figb: for Life.
Mehelini Sccondo. am Italian steer
age passenger, Is among the saved.
When he got on deck he found a raft
with five men on il. The raft, how
ever, was tied and chained fast to the
deck and no sailors we're near to let il
loose. None of the FIVE men had
knives. The ship sank rapidly and
they we're all prccipitated into the
water. He was in the water 20 min
utes and alone. the other five sinking
before his eyes. IIecame across a boat
which he tried To get into. lie event
ually succeeded. but not before a des-
perate fight with her crew. He was
battered with oars and showed with
boat-hoolxs. He managed to seize an
oar, however, and pulled himself to the
boat and climbed in.
ssvages Manned the Boat.
August Pourgi was eager to give
your correspondent an account OF his
experience. lie was in the water about
half an hour and attempted to get into
- boat. He was seized when he man
ntt' w Ett uaii III u buIONfu JACK
into the water. Again he tried to en-
ter the boat. but the avages who
manned il were determined to keep
him out. He managed at last to get in
and 10 stay in. Clinging to the life
line ola ID not far away he saw his
mother, and, as il his trials were not
enough, he was forced to watch a man
shove her into the ocean with an oar.
She never rose. He said the man was
saved, and was almost sure he could |
recognize him.
cur-ed the French sailors with Passionate
Earnestness.
Fred Ninhcr. a Swiss. was the most
lcviai and c~ontcnted of all the un-
Fortunate passengers He lost all his
moneyand clothes, with the exception
of "a pair of pants and a shirt. but he |
laughed, o and again cursing the
French sailors with passionate earnest
ness. Nefier got into N life-boat with
some others, aud remained there until