New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-14
Mr.. FAGUETS STATEMENT.
HE MAKES A COMPLETE DENIAL OF TIL
cHARGEs AGAINsT Ia BOURGOGNEs GREW.


CHARGES AGAINST LA BoURGoGNEs CREW.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. From the time OF the announcement or the
dreadful catastrophe that has bealen the steamer
Of the Compagnie Generate Transatantlque La
Bourgogne the newspapers have reproduced the
most odious accusations regarding the conduct OF
the crew in this sad circumstance. When was
told OF the pretended facts which had happened
and asked II | had been officially Informed OF them
! protested with Indignation and have refused even
for an instant TO discuss them have lived Tor
long time among maritime population on the
coasts OF Normandy. Bretagne and Provence
have had often opportunities TO observe sailors or
all nations I know their sentiments OF aonesa-
ton and am positive that It would be Impossible
10 nrd q single sailor OF any nation able 10 COM
NIT such an infamy as that charged to our unfort-
innate crew.
II would be useless for me TO defend the captain
and his officers they died at their posts. thus CIV
ing until the last minute an example or the aohega
ton OF which | speaking and were engulleu
with those they could not save. There were eighteen
officers OF the deck and engine departments ana
only the second purser and three engineers saved
themselves by jumping into the sea. after having
accomplished their whole duty.
Immediately after the collision each officer and
man of the crew reached the posts assigned to
him In such case. Several starboard Nleooats
had been SMASHED by the bowsprit OF the Cromarty-
shire: three others were lowered and were able 10
rescue a number OF people floating. one OF the He
boats loaded with women and children had peeh
smashed by the falling OF one OF the smokestacks.
The lifcboats on the port side had been rendered
useless by the heavy list OF the steamer 10 star
board. The crew. aided by some OF the passengers.
succeeded, however In lowering two Of them. in
which women and children took places. Cnfortu-
naely these boats had 10 he slipped along the hui
OF the steamer to be lowered and they capszed
II was only Al the last minute. when all efforts
OF avail and the steamer was aDout 10
disappear hat upon ne order OF ,h sr bnt .;
sixty seamoa tgeny,h five only We're not enguIted IN
launched after having unloaded their passengers
I'm safety on board tho Cromarty shire made three
more trips. and brought all tho survivors. captain
henderson Of the Cromartyshre has made 10 the
Consul Of Halifax statement declaring that the
tho newspapers are absolutely false. and that he ia
pleased t. estify to The courage shown by me
times from his ship TO the place Of the accident to
The nrcmen and coal-passers were down In the
engine room until tho md. striving asainst tho
WORKING OF tho pumps IL was only five or six
minutes before the steamer sank that the chief
AT Two different times two blows OF his whistle.
signalling to '"as" the work and hasten away
Part Of these men only were rescued at sea by the
lfeboats and RATS. The three engineers saved
the RATS on the grating ~ tho engine room. and
owing to those RATS floating after the steamer
passengers which may have. being misunderstood.
started those accusations or FnidlltN ana nar-
harism. one Of them. Young man, showed mo
a scar on his neck. saving that II had been in
ficted with an oar In IeEulsing HIM ~ one Of
who was on Of tho RATS He added that he
did NOT blame him. as tho people We're so numer-
platform was one foot under water. aud certainly
II ~ had tried 70 climb or il tho raft would have
ca pszed and caused the death OF Ill on IT,
The The @ 2a m 9 n2 a" the Sw q tns
oar from sailor but he also said thai a.. there were
score on his raft. and that had his friend at.
ten Cd q
here tell Of tho fact What was the duty IN |
these cases OF those In charge ~ the RATS Re
pulse one man who might have been able find |
succor elsewhere or let twenty perish
Mention was made Of another lfehoat I'm which |
very few people took refuge can make no crlt |
duced those on board act but in that boat |
there was not one sailor OF the crew.
All these facts were reported TO me by pas |
Tins questioned themselves on Friday night the |
cal bin and dining room waters saved. They have |
been able to obtain few details about the place |
words they spoke 10 those walters which were |
warning the passengers to GO up on deck They
lions ~ stabbng with knives and other harbarisms
were false II insist on this point Il is because
dear ones not to have another grief In thinking
that their wives and children might have heen sub
tected TO acts Of savagery i Is false The pas
safety by remaining on the steamer instead II
Jumping In the sea where the litebelts wonid have
supported them. had grouped themselves around
his officers. Even the anguish Of their near end
had been spared by the calm and the encourage
We all parake deeply In their grief as ,bev |
know. and i Is inhuman to Increase II by misrep-
resented and false statements - '''
The entire crew OF La Bourgogne did It's duty I'M
Acting General Agent for United States and Canada
o