The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07

HALIFAX, N s., July GA marine trag-
edy, probably without parallel in some
spects was enacted on the Fourth of July
off Sable island. One of the great Atlantic
liners went to the bottom of the ocean with
between five and six hundred souls. Most
of those who perished were passengers. and
they did not all die by drowning. Many
women, and some men, were cruelty mur-
dered while trying to escape a watery
grave. They were stabbed and beaten to
death by Frenchmen, Italians and others
who composed the crew and steerage pas
senger list of the laundering ship. This
feature of the tragedy has probably never
been exceeded in the annals Of horrors.
News of the disaster and horrible tragedy
reached here this morning. when the British
iron ship Cromartyshire was towed into
port by the Allan liner Grecian, with her
bow torn away by collision sixty miles
south of Sable island with the steamer La
Bourgogne, of the French Transatlantic
Company, from New York for Havre. The
Bourgogne went down in ten or fifteen min
utes after the collision, and of the passen~
gers and crew, numbering about 725, only
and there were many on board. All the off,
GERS of La Bourgogne were drowned with
the exception of the purser and three engi-
neers. The Cromartyshire lay to and picked
tho nac ~
rescued transporting them to the Grecian,
which came along shortly afterwards. La
Bourgogne left New York on Saturday last
for Havre. The collision occurred during a.
dense fog at o'clock on morning of
July T.
FOUGHT LIKE NJ fACS.
Some of the scenes enacted on board La
Bcurgogne just after the collision were ter
ribe to witness. Men fought for positions
in the boats like raving maniacs, women
were forced back from the boats and
tramped by men who made self-preserva-
ton their first object. On board were a
large number of the lower class of Italians
and other foreigners, who in their frenzy
stopped at nothing that promised safety for
themselves. In boat was party of forty
women. but so great was the panic that not
ing. The occupants so near saved were
drowned like rats when the ship with an
awful kissing sound went down. So desper-
ate was the situation that an Italian pas
one who, like himself, was endeavoring to
reach the boats. Immediately his action
was initiated in every direction. Knives
were fiourished and used with effect. Wom-
en- and children were driven back to inevita-
BILE death at the point of weapons the own
ers of which were experts in their use Ac-
stabbed like so many sheep.
The scene on the water was even worse.
Many of the unfortunates who were strug-
Cling in the water attempted to drag them
selves into the boats or on RATS. These
were pushed back into a watery grave.
Here. too, knives were used freely. Not all
of the dead met death by drowning Chris
topher Brunon saw sailor belonging to the
Bourgogne strike a passenger over the head
with bar and kill him. The body dropped
into the water The passenger grabbed the
boat in which the sailor was and attempted
to get on board.
1t is said here there were only ia persons
on board the Bourgogne. With the excep-
tion of two passengers, Prof. La Casse and
his wife, all the passengers of the ill-fated
steamer are aboard the steamer Grecian at
the Cunard wharf. The crew are also on
board that steamer. The Grecian is expect
ed to sail for New York this evening. All
the crew are collected by themselves in the
forward deck and are anything but pleasant
looking. The officer of the gangway looked
at them with scowl. and said If he had his
way they would all have been hanged to the
yardarm long ago.
ONE COOL-HEADED OFFICER.
The correspondent interviewed nearly all
the passengers who could speak English.
One passenger said the officers and crew of
La Bourgogne neglected the passengers en-
tirely. The second officer was the only man
of the crew who did anything to help the
terrified and helpless passengers. He crt
loose all the boats he could and. In fact. all
the boats that reached the water we're