Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-07

ropes when the steamer careened
deeper and capsized the boat.
Mrs. Lacasse says moment after
the steamer was engulfed men, women
and children rose on every hand, in the
whirlpool, and the SIGHT OF the faces
and arms and the shrieks were so terri
BILE she will remember the scenes to her
dying day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lacasse were going to
Paris. but they have abandoned the
idea and left. tonight, for Boston per
steamer Halifax, to return to New
York
Patrick McKeown, young Irishman,
was on the life raft with Mrs. Lacasse
He had provided himself with a life
belt on leaving his berth. He slept on
the starboard side and the collision
with the Cromartyshire shattered the
glass in the small window. He dressed
with haste and went on deck. People
were encountered leaving their rooms.
He tried to set into one of the boats
which was being launched, but was
dragged out by two sailors. He escap-
ed by jumping overheard and catching
a life raft. on which he climbed.
A man with whom McKeown had be-
come acquainted on board ship swan
UP and grasped the raft. when one CT
the sailors on the raft seized a broken
oar and beat the man on the fingers
and over the head with the pole, caus-
ing him to relinquish his hold and dis
appear. He belonged TO Philadelphia
where he left wife and three or four
children. He was a tailor by trade.
and had been IL years in America
He hailed from County Tyrone. Nc
Keown forgot the poor fellows name
The Philadelphia tried to get on this
raft, because he saw and recognized
McKeown.
After the Philadelphia was beaten
off, two other men succeeded in climb
ing on board. t.l
Mate Zurich, a Norwegian, said il
did not appear to foe anybody's duty 70
look after the launching of the boats
Those on the port side We're not touch.
ed by the crew. People climbed into
them and filled them, waiting for the
l. ats to be launched, and in a short
time the steamer listed so rapidly it
was Impossible to do so. Zurich de-
clares that two of the life RATS, upon
which people Were saved were cut
adrift by him. He was unable to move
them, but they tumbled overboar l
when the steamer careencd and proved
useful
The steamer slowly settled down by
the stern and starboard side and the
water advancing gradually drove the
people forward. Finally men, women
and children were walking about on
the port bow. The stern was deep in
the water and the bow in the air. The
ship gave great plunge. and hum
dreds of people were in the water
grabbing the broken oars. bits of can
vas, etc, and struggling like mad.
Zurich went over the starboard side
and caught a raft on which he climbed.
He thinks that had the boats been
launched as soon as the steamer was
struck several hundred who persisted
would have been saved. Only one of
| the port boats. Il small one, was
| launched. That was the boat the sec
| Ond purser escaped in. 1t was small
boat. and was got afloat with difficulty.
| The lashings of the boats looked like
| if they had not been disturbed for a
| long time. The fastenings on the life
RATS were stout ropes. which the air
| drafts would not break when the ship
went under. Zurich saw one boat
| leave the Bourgogne with only a few
| people in it.