Evening journal., 1898-07-07
LA BOURCOCNE SUNK
French Liner Sent to the Bot
; tom by British Ship.
OVER SIX HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
Frightfui Scenes on the Sinking Steamer.
Men stabbing Women 60 Save Them
seIves-But One Woman Saved.
Story OF the Disaster.

perseded the war in the columns Of the
morning papers. The first news OF the
disaster was thought TO have been
grossly exaggerated, but the details
given by Captain Henderson and the
surviving passengers make a most APP
palling story. OF the 500 passengers on
board. but 200 were saved. only one
of these was a woman.
The ferocity with which men fought
for places In the boats. striking and
even stabbing the helpless women In
their way. adds horror 70 an already
horrible story.
Captain Henderson's description OF
the accident as given in the Cromar-
tyshire's log is as follows:
''On July 4. at a. m, dense fog. Po-
sltlon OF ship GO miles south Of Sable
island; ship by wind on the port tack
heading about w. N. w. though under
reduced canvas, going about four or
five knots per hour. our fog horn was
being kept going regularly every min
ute. At that time heard a steamers
whistle on our weather side or port
beam, which seemed TO be nearing very
fast. We blew a horn and were an
swered by steamers whistle, when all
az q sudden she loomed through the fog
on our port bow and crashed into us
going az a terrific speed. Our foretop
snast ana main topgallant mast came
down. bringing with It yards and every
thing attached. / Immediately ordered
the boats ont and went to examine the
damage. ! found that our bows were
completely cut off and the plates twist
ed into every conceivable shape. The
other ship disappeared through the fog.
However our ship was floating on her
collision bullkhead, so there seemed no
Immediate danger OF her sinking.
I'VE set 20 work Immediately to clear
the wreckage and also 20 ship our star
board anchor, which was hanging over
the starboard bow and in danger Of
punching holes In the bow. We heard
a steamer blowing her whistle on COM
fng back, and we answered with our fog
horn. The steamer then threw up n
rocket and fred 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 $3.50 a. m, the fog lifted some
what, and we saw two boats pulling to-
ward us with the French flag flying.
We signaied them 20 come alongside
and found that the steamer was La
I3ourgogne, from New York for Havre,
and that she had gone down.
1--WE lay 20 all day and received on
board about 200 survivors from among
the passengers and crew. reported 10 be
In all about 600 Several Of the passen-
gers were on life RATS without oars, and
I called for volunteers from among my
crew and the surviving French seamen
70 bring these RATS alongside OF the
ship. Some OF the passengers and sea-
men from the sunlSen steamer assisted
us. and we jettisoned some 30 tons oi
cargo from our forehold in order tC
tighten the ship
"At about 3 p. m. another steamer
hoya IN sight, bound westward. We pu
up our signals II. C'-want assist
ance. Shortly after a steamer Dor,
down toward us. She proved 20 be th'
Grecian, bound from Glasgow 10 New
York. The captain OF the Greciar
agreed 20 take the passengers on boarC
and also agreed TO tow my ship TO Hall
fox. Owing 60 the condition OF my shil
1 accepted the offer. and we proceeded
At once 20 transship the passengers an'
get ready our towllne. AZ 8 p. m. w
had made o connection and proceede'
IN tow OF the Gfeeian toward HalifaS
having put sail over the broken boy
10 take part OF the strain off the COLI
sion bulkhead. There was at that tim
IL feet OF water In the forepeak."
Some OF the scenes on board the Bour
eogne Just after the collision were terri
hie 60 witness. Men fought for posi-
tions in the boats like raving maniaci
Women were forced back from the boat
and trampied by men, who made Sc
preservation their first object.
In a boat was a party Of 40 womei
hut so great was the panic that not
hand was raised 70 assist In It's launch
ing.
The occupants, so nearly saved, WEI
drowned like rats when the ship wit
an awful kissing sound went down.
SO desperate was the situation ths
one passenger drew his knife and mao
direct at one who, like himself was ei
deavoring 70 reach the boats.
Immediately his action was imitat,
In every direction. Knives were flou
ished ana used with effect
Women and children were driven ba'
20 inevitable death at the point
weapons. the owners OF which were g
pert In their use.
According 20 stories OF survivors w
men were stabbed like so many sheep
The scene In the water was ev
worse. Many OF the unfortunates WI
were struggling In the water attempt
20 drag themselves into the boats or
RATS. These were pushed back into
watery grave. Here, too, knives we
used freely.
Not all Of the dead met death
drowning. Christopher Brunen saw
man strike passenger over the he
with a bar and kill him. The DO
dropped into the water. The passeni
grabbed the boat in which his assaila
was and attempted 10 get on board.
There were ia persons on board, a
i6S were saved. With the exception
two passengers, Professor Lacasse a
his wife, all the survivors OF the Boz
gogne are aboard the steamer Gree
at the Cunard wharf, Halifax.
The crew are also on board q
steamer. All the crew are collected
themselves in the forward part OF
deck.
Patrick McKeown of wilmingt
Del, was on his way 20 Paris TO Il
out leather for a firm there. He got
a raft. One OF the worst sights, he 81
he ever saw was the murder Of
American whom he had become
quainted with on board the stean
This man. whose name he cannot rec
was from Philadelphia. He was try
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