Evening star., 1898-07-06
THE TRANSATLANTIC ROUTE.

md we jettisoned some thirty-siX tons
Of cargo from our forehold in order
to Tighten the ship. At about 3 pm
another steamer hove in sight bound
westward We put.up Our signals
N. c. (want assistance).
Shortly after a steamer bore down
toward US. She proved to be the
Grecian, bound from Glasgow to
New York. The captain of the
Grecian agreed to take the passen-
gers on board and also agreed to
tow my ship to Halifax. Owing to
the condition OF my ship accepted
the offer, and we proceeded at once
to tran5hip the passengers and get
ready our tow line At 6 pm. we
had made connection and proceed
ed in tow of the Grecian toward
Halifax, having put sail over the
broken bow to take part OF the strain
on the bulkhead. There was at that
time ii feet OF water in the peak"
A Thrilling Story.
Mrs. Henderson, wife OF the cap
tain, was on board the Cromartyshire
with her two children. She tells a
thrilling story OF the terrible expert
ence. The weather was foggy, and
she had risen from her bunk at All
early hour, as was her custom when
the weather was thick. Shortly be-
fore the vessels came together she
detected a steamers whistle blowing
on the port side of the vessel.
The Cromartyshire was sounding
her fog horn at intervals of one min
ute. Mrs. Henderson called the at
tention of her husband to the sound
ing of the whistle, and a minute later
the mate. who was on the watch, also
detected the sound. 1t came nearer
and nearer, and Mrs. Henderson
stood near the cabin in order to res
cue her children should disaster
occur. Suddenly the huge hull of
an ocean steamer loomed up in the
mist, going about seventeen knots
an hour.
Almost Immediately there was a
fearful crash, and Mrs. Henderson
rushed below and found her children
awakened by the shock. She dressed
the little ones as quickly as possible
and removed them to the deck, ex-
pecting to see her own ship go down
any minute. Captain Henderson, as
soon as the collision occurred, Or
dered the boats to be lowered, and
the damage to be ascertained.
Then All Was Quiet.
She said that as it was found that
the Cromartyshire was in no imme-
diate danger of sinking the Britisher
put about. The vessel with which
they had collided was at that time
unknown. A few minutes later a
whistle was heard and several rock
cts were sent up. Captain Hender-
sor replied in like manner, thinking
the steamer was offering assistance,
but in few minutes all was quiet,
and those on board began to realize
the awful results OF the collision.
Mrs. Henderson said that at 5:3o
the fog lifted and two boats were
seen approaching with only men on
board. Later the weather cleared
still more and men were to be seen
in every direction clinging to wreck
age and floating on life RATS.
1t was terrible sight. No pen can
picture the appalling sight revealed tc
the OnlOokers when the curtain Oh
the mist arose. The work of rescue
was commenced without a moments
delay, and over 200 passengers were
picked up and taken on board the
ship.
Mrs. Henderson, who had ample
opportunity of inter 5iewing those
who were rescued, expressed her be-
lief from what she heard that there
had been no effort to save the wo-
men. There were many foreigners
on board who fought for places in
the boats.
1t was fully ten minutes to a quar-
ter OF an hour before La Bourgogne
went down, and during that time