The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-15
A Terrible story.

Terrible Story.
The following slckening story of
the loss of the French steamer comes
from Halifax and fully confirms first
reports of the inhumanity of the
sailors and some of the passengers of
the Inflated steamer:
Some of the scenes enacted on
board La Bourgogne just after the
collision were terrible to witness.
Men fought for positions in the boats
like ravlng maniacs, women were
forced back and trampled by men
who made self-preservation their FIRST
object. On board were large mum,
Der of Italians and other foreigners.
These fiends stopped at nothing. In
boat was party of 40 women.
But so great was the panic that not
hand was raised to assist in its
launching. The occupants so near
saved were drowned like rats when
the ship with an awful Kissing sound
went down.
So desperate was the situation that
an Italian passenger drew his knife
and made direct at one who, like him
self, was endeavoring to reach the
boats. Immediately his action. was
initiated in every direction. Knives
were flourished and used with effect.
Women and children were driven
back to inevitable death at the point
of weapons, the owners of which
were experts in their use. Accord.
ing to stories of survivors women
were stabbed like SO many sheep.
The scene on the water was even
worse. Many of the unfortunates
who were struggling in the water at,
tempted to drag themselves into the
boats or on RATS. They were pushed
back into a watery grave. Here, too,
knives were used freely. Not all of
the dead met death by drowning.
Christophe Brunon saw sailor be-
longing to La Bourgogne strike a
passenger over the head with bar
and kill him. The body dropped in
to the water. The passenger grab
bed the boat in which the sailor was
and attempted to get aboard. There
were ia persons on board and LOO
were saved.
The second officer was the only
man of the crew who did anything tc
help the terrified and helpless pas
sengers. He cut loose all the boats
he could, and in fact all the boats
that were launched were launched by
the brave second officer. He wa.
last seen standing on the deck will
his hand on the rigging going resign
eddy TO certain death.
Chiistophe Brunini, a passenger
WAS thrown into the water and swan
for two hours before he found a boat
He clung to this as his last hope
|
After awhile another man got hold o
the same boat and together the,
managed to right it. Under the seat
they found the bodies of four mel
and three Women who had evidentl,
been drowned by the capsizing Of th,
craft. Bruniii said the crew wer
cruel in their conduct toward tb
passengers. He was unable to ge
in the steamers boats when he cam
on deck, being showed away by tn
sailors. He saw many of his friend
being prevented from getting int
the boats by the sailors. He los
everything but what he stood in.
Meheliui Secondo, an Italian steer
age passenger, is among the saved
When he got on deck be found raj
with five men on it. The raft, how
ever, was tied and chained fast t
the deck and no sailors were near t
let it loose. None of the five mel
had knives. When the ship wen
down they were thrown into tn
water, the five men sinking before hi
eyes. He came across a boat, whic
he tried to get 10. He eventuall
succeeded, but not before desper
ate fight with her crew. He was bat
tered with oars and showed away wit
boat hooks. He managed to seize al
oar, however, and pulled himself t
the boat and climbed in.
August Pourgi was eagar to Civ
your correspondent an account of hi
experience. He was in the waite
about half an hour and attempted t
get into boat. He was seized whe
he managed to get half in and pushe
back into the water. Again be trie
to enter the boat, but the inhuma
savages who manned it were deter
mined to keep him out. He manage