Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-07
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
The Transatlantic Steamer BourSosne
Sinks at Sea.
OYER FIVE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
One Hundred and SlXty-Three Of the
725 on Board Rescued.
HORRIBLE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
Strong Beat Down. the Weak
Women and Children Forced Away
from safcty-Crew Most Brutal
Cruelty that Disgrnces Mankind.

HALIFAX, y. s., July 6-The French
steamer La Bourgogne of the Compagnie
Generate Transatlantique Line. with Y;
souls on board, was run down by the
sailing ship Cromartyshire, sixty miles
south of Sable Island, during the early
morning Of July 4th. and sank within
half an hour carrying with her over SOC
Of her passengers and crew. The balance,
| who were not drawn down by the fearful
suction, struggled and fought for life.
until 163 were at length rescued from
death by the crew Of the Cromartyshire.
which ship survived the collision. A thick
| fog prevailed at the time of the disaster.
The story of the fearful accident from
the few officers and 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 10
be believed, the last few minutes on
board the Bourgogne witnessed some of
the most terrible scenes Of horror and
cruelty that have blotted the history OF
a civilized race.
| IhE CREW BRUIES.
| Instead of the discipline which so often
has been the one bright feature of such
| awful moments, the crew of the steamer
| fought like demons for the boats and
RATS. battering the helpless passengers
away from their only means of salvation,
with the result that the strong overcame
the weak, and the list of 163 saved con-
tains the name Of but one woman.
The Bourgogne had left New York
bound for Havre. on Saturday, July ID
while the Cromartyshire was on her way
over from Glasgow, with a crew OF
| twenty-one men.
Although the transatlantic steamers all
| have a definite course, the Bourgogne
was, according to all accounts, forty miles
or more TO the north of these lanes.
FOG DENSE.
| The fog was very dense, and the big
from ship was sailing along with reduced
| canvas, and blowing the fog-horn Sud
denly out OF the fog rushed great
steamer, and I'm a moment there was a
| fearful crash, the iron prov Of the ship
plunging into the port side OF the steamer
| just under the bridge.
| The shock was terrific. and tore a tre-
mendous hole in the steamer, while the
| entire bow of the ship was demolished.
The steamer plunged on into the fog
again her whistle crying for help and her
rockets signalling her dire distress.
The Cromartyshire was rounded TO. and
her master, Captain Henderson. was con-
sderably relieved in finding that ne was
in no danger Of sinking. OF to the east
ward could be heard the hoarse call Of the
steamer. and as the fog began to lift all
the boats on the ship were launched.
FEARFUL STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
Half an hour after the collision occurred
the misty curtain went up. giving a clear
view for miles, then 1t was that those
on the Cromartyshire realized the fearful
struggle for life. On board the Bour-
gogne the collision had come at such a
time in the morning that few besides her
crew were on deck, but the shock aroused
nearly every one, and within few min
utes the decks were crowded.
At first 1t seemed as If there was some
attempt at discipline. A few of the
boats were swung off, and some of the
passengers allowed to get in them. But
as the steamer began to settle and list
to port the officers lost control OF the
crew. Passengers and crew fought for
the boats and life-rafts. 1t was a fight
TO the death in itself. while death in the
water stared every one in the face
STRONG BATTERED DOWN WEAK.
The strong battered down the weak the
women and children being pushed far
away from any hope of rescue.
Fists, oars. and even knives were
used by some OF the demons to keep their
places. The officers seemed to have been
powerless before their men. and only four
were saved.
TWO HUNDRED BODIES.
AS the ship sank the vortex OF water
sucked down everything on the surface
within a certain radius. A couple of min
utes later. when the suction ceased. those
still alive saw about 200 bodies come UP
out of the water with a rush. as If the sea
swallowed the ship. But the struggle for
life still continued after the ship went
down, Hundreds foated about grasping
for RATS. boats. and wreckage in frantic
endeavor to keep above water. Even then.
many of those in the boats. If the stories
told are to be believed. showed their bru-
tality by beating off those who attempt
10 oltpoh hoa rd
WORK OF RESCUE.
BY this time the small boats OF the
Cromartyshire had come up. and the
work OF rescue began. The crew of the
ship worked heroically and saved every
one who had managed to keep above
water. but even then scores fell away
from boats, RATS, and wreckage. ex-
hausted, and were drowned IL was all
over in an hour, altough for some time
afterward great pieces of wreckage came
shooting up from the bottom. marking
the spot where the ship had gone down.
But little attempt was made to recover
any of the bodies OF the Inflated passen-
gers on crew. and the battered hulk at
the bottom of the sea will be their tomb.
PASSENGERS SAVED.
NEW YORK, July 6.-The officials OF
the compagnie Generate Transatlantique
tonight give out the following list OF