The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12
An Ocean Horror Almost
Without Parallel
SHIPS COLLIDE IN A FOG
rONARDICE AND MURDER On
THE SINKING VESSEL.
SECOND OFFICER A HERO AND A MARTYR

" One Woman Saved Out Of Two
Hundred--Over Five Hun
dred Persons
Drowned.
Halifax, y. s, July G.-Thc French
steamer L~aBourgogne, of the Compagne
Generate Trans-Atlantique Line. with ,
souls on board. was run down by the iron
sailing ship Cromartyshire, sixty miles
south of Sable Island during the early
morning of July +, and sunk within half
an hour, carrying With her over ~ OF
| her passengers and crew. The balance.
who were not drawn down by the fearful
suction struggled and fought for life
until 1863 at length were rescued from
death by the crew of the CrOmarty-
| shire. which ship survived the collision.
A thick fog prevailed at the time of the
disaster. The story of the fearful accl-
dent from the few officers and crew who
were saved is yet to be told, but if the
words of the passengers who were
dragged aboard the Cromartyshire and
later brought into this port by the
steamer Grccian are to be believed the
last few minutes on board the LaGOur-
| sogne witnessed some of the most ter
| IJDlC S(tlltS vi ti1t ~ 49,
have blotted the history of a civilized
race.
Instead of discipline which 50 often
has been the one bright feature Of such
awful moments. the crew of the steamer
fought like demons for the'fcW life boats
and RATS. OI+IcriIlS tie helpless pas
| sengcrs away from their only means of
salvation. with the result that the strong
overcame the weak. and the list of 163
| saved contained the name of only one
woman.
The LaBourgognc had left New York
| bound for Havre on Saturday, July Z.
while the Cromartyshire was on her way
over from Glasgow with 4 crew Of Il
men.
Although the Transatlantic steamers
all have Il definite course, the Bour-
gognc was to all accounts forty miles
or more to the north Of these lines. The
fog was very dense and the big iron ship
was sailing along with reduced canvas
and blowing the ~fog-horn. Suddenly out
of the fog rushed Il great steamer and
in a moment there was Il fearful crash.
the iron prov of the ship plunging into
the port side of the steamer just I'M
der the bridge. The shock was terrific,
and tore Il tremendous hole in the steam
cr, while the entire bow of the ship was
| ucli1bilSlltt- lit SttdIltl liuiSth oll
into the fog again. her whistle CRYING for
help and her rockets signalling her dire
| distress.
FEARFUL STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
The Cromartyshire was rounded to.
and her master. Captain Henderson,
was considerably relieved in finding that
she was i'll no danger of sinking. Off
to the eastward could be heard the
F! l,, .o coll Of thn Efn, ~ n nd n. tbn
fog began to lift all the boats on the
ship were launched. Half an hour after
| the collision occurred the misty curtain
went W, giving a clear view for miles.
and then it WAS that those on the
Cromartyshire realized the fearful strug-
gle for life. On board the Rourgogne.
the collision had come at such Il time
in the morning that few beside her crew
were on deck, but the shock reused near
~ every one and within Il few minutes
the decks were crowded..
At first it seemed as if there was some
attempt at discipline. A few of the
boats were swung off and some of he
passengers allowed to get into them.
But as the steamer began to settle and
list to port. the officers lost control OF
the crew and what was probably 4
panic ensued. Passengers and crew
fought for the boats and lift RATS. 1t
was a fight to the death in itself. while
! death in the waters stared every one
in the face.
Inc strong battered down the weak.
the women and children being pushed
far away.frOm any hope of rescue. Fists.
oars and even knives were used by some
| of the lemons to keep their places. The
officers seemed to have been DOwerIess
before their own men, and only four
were saved.
As the ship san the vortex of water
sucked down everything on the surface
within 4 certain radiuS. A couple of
minutes later. when the suction ceased.
those still alive saw about 200 bodies
como up out of water with a rush. as If
the sea were giving up the dead after
having swallowed the ship. But the
struggle for life still continued after the
ship went down. Hundreds foated about
graSplng for RATS. boats and wreckage
in frantic endcavor to keep above water.
Even then. many Of those in the boats.
if the stories told are to he believed.
showed their brutality by heating off
many of those who attempted to climb
aboard.
BY this time the small boats of the
| CromartyShire had come up and the
work of rescue began. The crew of the
snip worked heroically and saved every
one who had manged to keep above WI
ter but even then scores fell away from
boats. RATS and wreckage. exhausted
and were drowned. 1t was all over in
an hour although for some time after
great pieces Of wreckace came SHOOTING
MP from the bottom. But little attemnt
was made to recover the bodies of any Of
the ill-fated passengers or crew and tho
battered hnlk at the bottom of the ocean
will probably be forever their tomb.
Along in the afternoon the steamer
Gercian was sighted coming from tho
westward and a few hours afterward
the CromartyShire was taken in tow and
arrived here this morning.
MRS. LACASSI'S STORY
Strangely Mr.. Iacassi is tho onlv 90