New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-13
BOURGOGNE INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY OF THE cRoMARTYsHlREs
CAPTAIN AT HALIFAX.

u.a,fax n S. July u (SpeciaD.-The inquiry or
dered into the Bourgogne disaster by the DOMINION
Government began to-day In the supreme court
chamber. Associated with Captain W. II. Smith.
the Wreck Commissioner, are Captain Lewis Ander-
son underwriters agent Of this city. and Captain
bloomfield Douglas OF the Marine Department
while A G. Morrison, barrlster. Is acting as exam
lining counsel for the Government h l" Bordeh'
O. c. was present counsel for Captain Hen
derson OF the ship Cromartyshre. and r. b.
Harris. @. c.. represented French Consul fTanKiyh-
who is agent for the French Line.
Mr. Borden objected TO counsel for the French
Consul appearing at the hearing The Court stated
that the inquiry held 10 try the competency
OF the captain OF the Cromartyshire at the time
OF the collision Mr.. Harris stated that he was
nresent merely TO protest against the jurisdiction
OF the Court to fix any responsibility upon the
steamer La Bourgogne or any Of her officers and
crew.
Captain Oscar Henderson OF the Cromartyshre
then gave his sworn statement. occupying the wit
ness-stand all day. He stated that at the time on
the collision the rough from the strong
wind which had blown during the night. He OBJ
tanned observations that morning. and he placed
the position OF his ship at the time OF the collision
as latitude ~ degrees 30 minutes north. longitude 81
degrees " minutes west He further testified that he
had done everything possible to avert the collision
He did not know that the steamer mad gone down
until the first boat came alongside. at about b+b
o'clock. The first boat contained mostly seamen.
They could not have been In the water. The
second boat had number Of passengers and the
Two OF these had been taken
In TO Mr.. Morrison, Captain Henderson
said the collision occurred about one hundred and
eighty miles from Halifax and seven hundred miles
from New-York Not more than ten minutes
elapsed, he said between the time he heard the
steamers first whistle and the time OF the col
Nsion. 1t then daylight. The last sound he
heard from her after the collision was q long
drawn-out wall which sounded TO him like last
despairing sigh. Mr.. Morrison asked: How far
north of the regular track Of eastbound steamers
you the time OF the collisionY'
'One hundred and sixty miles, the answer.
Captain Henderson said he did not expect TO meet
q fast ocean steamer III that position as II was
% far away from the track which the Atlantic
pilot chart says has been generally adopted by
steamship lines
The first relief boat which left the Cromartyshire
manned by La Bourgogne seamen who saved
themselves They were absent several hours. In
referring again to La Bourgogne's whistle. Captain
Henderson said he heard II seven or eight times
IN the ten minutes preceding the collision heavy
head was then running Mr.. Borden asked
Did you have any conversation with any OF the
rescued?'
Yes. When the first boat came alongside
asked IL there was an officer on board They said
No: only a quartermaster' The quartermaster
told he was the man on the lookout He said
he heard the Cromartyshres foghorn four five
times before the collision. ! asked him at what
was going eighteen knots at the time of the COL
Msion. This man spoke English. One Of the engi-
also told me, through interpreter that La
Bourgogne was going full speed at the time OF the
collision"
The inquiry will be resumed tomorrow