The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-06

dallfax, July Sine Brltlsn iron snip
Cromartyshire was towed in here this
morning by the Allan liner Grecian.
| with the bow torn away by a collision.
| sixty miles south of Sable Island, with
the French steamer La Bourgogne.
which went down 10 minutes later. or
the 900 passengers and crew on board
only 200 were saved. One woman WAS
saved by her husband. The captain
and other deck officers went down with
the ship.
TWO HUNDRED SAVED.
The Cromartyshire laid to and picked
up the 200 passengers and seamcn who
were rescued. transferring them to the
Grecian, which came along at that
time.
The log of the Crdmartyshire, signed
by Capt. Henderson. is as follows: On
July 4. at s a. m. dense fog; position Of
ship go piles south of Sable Island;
ship by wind on the port tack heading
about w. N. W., though under reduced
canvas, going about four or five knots
per hour. Our foghorn was being kept
going regularly every minute. At that
time heard steamers whistle on our
weather side or port beam which
seemed to be nearing very fast.
CRASH IN A FOG.
We blew horn and were answered by
steamers whistle. when all OF a sud-
den she loomed through the fog on our
port bow and crashed into us going at
a terrific speed.
Our foretopmast and maintopgallant-
mast came down bringing with it yards
and everything attached. Immediate
ly ordered the boats out and went to
examine the damage. found that our
bows were completely cut of and the
plates twisted into every conceivable
shape The other ship disappeared
through the fog. However. our ship
was floating on her collision bulkhead,
so there seemed no immediate danger
of her sinking. We set to work imme-
diately to clear the wreckage and also
to ship our starboard anchor, which
was hanging over the starboard bow
and in danger of punching holes in the
bow.
ROCKETS AND GUNS FIRED.
We heard a steamer blowing her
whistle coming back, and we answered
with our foghorn. The steamer then
threw up rocket and fired a shot. We
several shots, but we neither saw nor
heard anything more Of the steamer.
Shortly after, or about $50 a. m, the
fog lifted somewhat. and we saw two
boats pulling towards us, with the
French flag flying. We signalled them
to come alongside and found that the
steamer was La Bourgogne from New
York for Havre, and that she had gone
down.
We laid to all day and received on
board about 200 survivors from among
the passengers and crew, reported to
be in all about 600.
ON RATS WITHOUT OARS.
Several Of the passengers were on
life RATS without oars. and called for
volunteers from among my crew and
the surviving French seamen to bring
those RATS alongside of the ship. Some
OF the passengers and seamen from the
sunken steamer assisted us and we Jet
tisoned some 30 tons of cargo from our
forehold in order to tighten the ship.
At about p. m. another steamer
hove In sight. bound westward. We
put up our signal IN. c." C"Want as
shortly after a steamer bore
down towards us. She proved to be the
Grecian. bound from Glasgow to New
York. The captain OF the Grecian
agreed to take the passengers on board
and also agreed to tow my ship to Hall
fax.
PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED.
Owing to the condition Of my ship,
accepted the offer. and we proceeded
at once to transfer the passengers and
get ready our tow line. At 9 y. IN. we
had made a connection and proceeded
In tow OF the Grecian towards Halifax.
having put sail over the broken bow
NATIONAL BANK.