The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-10
BouRGoGNE's CREW HAVE A STORY
IL Was the PassenGers' Fault That
the Boats Were Not Lowered.


NEW YORK, July s.-Consus General
Bruwaert, representing the French govern
ment In this city, today told the story of
the wreck of La Bourgogne as he got it
from the crew of the ship In the deposit
tons. Mr.. Bruwaert tells the story as fol-
lows:
When the collision occurred Capt Del
oncle, who was on the bridge, Immediately
ordered the twelve life boats to be manned
by the crews assigned to them. The crews
responded quickly to the order and re-
manned a, their posts After this the cap
tain signaled from the bridge to the officers
below decks to ascertain the exact injuries
below. He received no response TO the
salute. After eight minutes the captain
signa!ed down below and received no an
swer. Fourth Engineer Laser rushed UP
10 the captain anc told him the side OF
the sh'o was cut open and water was po,.r-
ing into the machinery compartment Capt
Deicnclc ordered the boats to be lowered
The ship was stopped about this time.
Passengers from all parts of the boat came
rushing upon deck and ran about in a
panic They got in the way of the sailors
and pushed them away from the boats as
they were loosening them. Before the
boats could be gotten from the davits and
ready to launch the ship suddenly listed TO
starooard. throwing some of the passen-
gers overheard. The slant of the deck was
SO steep that passengers could not stand on
H. Inc passengers Of the first class had
rushed out OF their rooms to the port side
OF the ship. and against the protests of the
sailors clamhered into the six boats there.
n list to s.ar'toard made the big boat
swing on the inward and turned the davis
back against the sides OF the cabin The
sailors impiored the passengers to leave
the boats and in cases, tried 20 shove thom
out 50 ina: the boats could be lifted over
thD a.tNfy
ready 10 take their places The sailors
heaved away at them, but could not bulge
them. they gave up at last and were en-
gagged in cutting the boats free when the
big vessel pitched stern downward ar,,
sank. carrying the pore boats with il
On the starboard side. three boats were
smashed by the Cromartyshire in the col
llsion.
Boat No. was filed with women and
other passengers and had been launched
successfully. when the big funnel fell
crushing the boat and killing most of
those in IL.
Twelgty Austrian sailors from the steer
age seized boat No II. There was room,
for nifty in the boat. but passengers ana
crew were fought of by the men in :,
Passengers in the water tried 10 get aboard
but were pushed hack
Boat No. q filled with passengers so,
of successfully. Il had some iifty-thrae
aboard including its crew. The only boat
on the i'or; side where the ayxt-class pas
sengeTs Rad rushed. after trying the s,ar-
board side was No. < The sailors around
IL succeeded In getting II launched le..nea
INTO u as the ship Went down ANA picked
up passengers enough from the water 20
MI IL.
Passengers were also rescued from the
water hy the RATS
The boats from the CroInartyshire came
0p as II" snip sank Two boats and part
ot th~ Su1 shed boat. 70 which some waf.
tllnA.nE. were taken 30 the sailing shin
/ Tie boats manned by the crew % -.
RonrSo&ne and ;ae English ship clrpied
roundabout where tie ais ship HAD SUNK
picking Up survivors.
TIE consul SAWS that ne made the inves-
ltgatto1 carefully ard that tae stories ~
the men agree and were told frankly. The
sailors say that the itfe GreServers were
I9rat>hed ~ the crew t. the passengers
hH} they were in a complete state of panic
and threv them away IN many instances
'"nSui Hraw1e7t ,nQaiTri particularly a
so the fighting among the crew o. pas-
! Sengers. II all stories % the wreck the
zen agTec that neither ,he men ernrl Ia
SoslTZcEGe rf@w roy passengers lid 4av
/ fighting eNeepiing the Aus1rians an8 Irai-
Sans Most 4 this was aore bv IN. Ans
trianS IN f5s@ Sinzlv beat
Among BE callers az the Stcarnshs9 Gem
f'7t--t tf%ttfr NN-sfF ~A~ Brother k64n2a1TS.
A ssirvivor He said t2ss his own expert
enc~ woald not bar out The criticisms Of
tas BoargcsnrS crew
tie SAD thar The officers - ne SIN were
( "a the5r piares saciuK everything they
coa's "a restrain the p@nsc among ne pas
sf1evrs. \ sailor egTna - him ard asked
p m Z Be- could Swim H. tcl3 n1u1 thet
he .eul& TAe man Pointed 10 sog,.a;h grr-
a0>stl1E n ne water. and ;osi him the
best thing De ccud a. wou.9 Ne - swim
! far e. The shtp vas about - sink. ard
ne sailor ;oaS Brother Ronsia~ IN lis
arms rad threw him az far away from ne
| sap ss he could lie managed To swim,
| away fast enough 80 avoid being cauga.
| n The whirlpool caused 10y ne shf0 and
Ms Tps1ae4 BY "a gaft
Wounded Reaea hey West