, 1898-07-07
B0URGOGNE WRECK.
DETAILS OF THE SINKING OF
THE ILL-FATED FRENCH
LINE STEAMER,
Over Five Hundred Persons Lose Their
Lives-Brutal Italians Use Knives
to Prevent Sinking Men, Women
and Children From Saving Them
selves-Terrible Scenes OF Horror,

selves-Terrible Scenes of Horror.
Halifax, N. S., July 6.-in one OF the
thick fogs which, at this time of the
year, hang like a pail over the grand
banks and Sable island in the north
Atlantic, occurred, on the morning CT
July 4th, one of the most appalling
ocean disasters in the annals Of trans
history Of steam sailing of the world.
Without a moments warning, almost,
the great French liner La
Bourgogne. with 725 souls on
board, was run down by the
iron sailing ship C~romartyshire
and sank within half an hour, carry
ing with her to the bottom over 500 OF
her passengers and crew, while the bal
ance, who We're not drawn down by the
fearful suction. struggled and fought
for life until 1853 at length were rescu-
ed by the crew OF the Cromartyshire,
which ship survived the collision.
The story of the fearful disaster from
a few officers and members of the crew
who were saved is yet to he told, but
II the words OF the passengers. who
were dragged aboard the Cromarty-
shire and later brought into this port
by the steamer Grecian. are to be be-
lieved, the last few minutes on board
the Bourgogne witnessed some Of the
nos terrible scenes of horror and cru
city that ever 'blotted the history of a
civilized race.
Instead of the heroic discipline.
which so often has been one OF the
bright features of such awful moments,
the crew OF the steamer fought like
demons for the few life boats and
RATS. battering the helpless passengers
away from their only means OF saliva
ton, with the result that the strong
overcame the weak. for the list Of 163
saved contains the name of but n
woman.
The. disaster occurred at Ap'clock In
the .mornig Of July 4th, about sixty
miles south OF Sable island, which lies
about 100 miles of this port.
The Bourgogne had left New York,
bound for Havre, on the previous Sat
urday. while the Cromortyshire was on
her way over from GLASGOW, with a
crew OF twenty-one men. The Bour-
gogne was by all %accounts forty miles
or more to the north of the. course. The
fog was very dense and the Cromarty-
shire was sailing along with reduced
canvas and blowing the fog horn.
Suddenly, out Of the fog rushed the
great steamer and there was a fearful
crash, the iron prov Of the steamship
plunging into the port side of the steam
err Just under the bridge. The shock
was terrific and tore a tremendous hole
in the steamer while the entire how OF
the ship was demolished.
On board the B%ourgogne the collision
had come so suddenly and at such a
time in the morning that few eside
her crew were on deck, but the shock
reused nearly everybody and within a
few minutes the decks were crowded.
Al first it seemed as II there was some
attempt at discipline. A few Of the
beats were swung off and some CT the
passengers allowed to get into them.
But the steamer began to settle and
list to port and the officers lost control
Of the crew and a panic ensued.
The fight for life on the decks OF the
steamer did not last long for In little
more thar half an hour she gave a long
lurch to port and went down. When
the suction ceased, those still alive saw
about 200 bodies ONE out Of the water
with a rush as II the sea were giving
up its dead after having. swallowed
the ship.
But the struggle for life still continu-
ed after the ship went down. Hun
dreds still f1oated about, grasping for
the boats, RATS and wreckage in a
frantic endeavor TO keep above the
water. Even then, many Of these in the
boats, II the stories told are to be be-
lieved, showed their brutality by beat
ing of those who attempted to climb
aboard. BY this time the small boats
Of Cromartyshire had come up and the
work Of rescu began. The crew OF the
ship worked ~hercically and saved
everyone who managed to keep above
water, but even then scores fell away
from the boats. RATS and wrechage ex-
hausted and were drowned. 1t was all
over in an hour, although for some
time after great pieces Of wreckage
anne shooting up from the bottom
mara1ing the spot where the great liner
had gone down.. But little attempt wa
made to recover the bodies Of any Of
the ill-tated passengers or crew and
the battered hulk at the bottom OF the
ocen viii probably be their tomb.
Halifax. July ls.-some Of the .
Hs LHNNas