Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-13
SURVIVORS ARRIVE.
Those Who Escaped Death on the
French Liner Reach
New York.

New York, July "a heavy train ar
rived at the Grand Central station last
night. In the coaches of this train were
161 survivors of the wreck of the French
line steamship La Bourgogne Out OF
ia persons who sailed so happily down
the bay last Saturday only these were
left, with the exception of three who
parted company with them on the way
from Halifax. The rema nder were
drowned at sea or killed in the mad rush
following the collision of La Bourgogne
with the Cromartyshire.
For a full hour before the train bear
ing the survivors arrived, persons inter-
ested in those saved from the wreck, be-
gan to appear at the station. The ar
rival of the train had been foretold so
that the hour was known. With no word
OF any kind one way or the other, they
came hoping that by some fortunate
oversight the ones they were looking for
might have been saved. AS the reports
had made known the fact that none of
| the first cabin passengers had escaped,
the friends of those who travelled in that
cabin knew it would be useless to go to
the train, but despite this, there were
friends who were anxious to get addi-
tlonal details of the sad affair, and they
peated, and hungrily grasped at every
word spoken.
Among the waiting ones, the agent of
the French line moved with notebook III
one hand and a pencil in the other. From
one to another he fitted, making a note
here or giving a word there. He told
freely, SO far as he was able all about
those who were coming on the train, and
some of those who had gone to the sta
ton with one little CLEAN of hope left,
had been quenched by a word from him.
Outside the station the agent had grouped
eight stages and these he held to carry the
survivors from the station to the pier of
the French line, so that they could be TAX
en- aboard the steamer La Touraine, which
sails tomorrow for France. He was quiet,
courteous and alert and would talk to no
one except those directly interested.
There were pathetic incidents in connec-
ton with the arrival of the train. One
tall, muscular, well-dressed man stood in
one of the lines wistfully watching the
survivors march past. The expression on
his face as they went through hardened
until it became bitter. When asked if
he was looking for someone he said he
was not. Then he added that he had
lost a sister on the boat. He said that he
knew she had not been saved and he said
he did not know whatever attracted him
TO the spot and then he turned toward
the group of survivors and said fercely:
My God, | could stand my loss, but
when you look at these and think these
are the survivors. These-these -
And then words failed him and he turned
away.
However just, however honest, however
fair, however determined not to be preju-
diced anyone who saw the band of sur
vivOrs that came to the city today, could
hardly escape a sickening sensation about
the heart and a feeling that stories of
brutality of the crew were true. The
members of the crew with few exceptions,
and some of the steerage passengers as
we'll We're low-bred, stockily-built shifty-
eyed swarthy men, and looking at them
one could not help feeling that they were
not men of whom heroic deeds could be
! expected on a steamer.
On the voyage, Liebra, one of the sur
vivors, became acquainted with Nousouf,
! the wrestler, who was a passenger. After
the collision Liebra says he saw YOusouf
| struggling in a crowd of drowning pas
sengers, beating them off with stiletto
and showing them aside, trying to reach
q boat. He failed, however, and went
! down.
l.. Tarlaud of New York and Mr.. Lu-
cas-, from Northern France, the latter be-
ing a waiter on board the Bourgogne,
each tells of being driven away from a
boat containing Austrians armed with
| knives