The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-07

Of the crew TO launch the boats. There
Was little response TO the orders of the
Officers The crew seemed parasyzea
Matters were ausst ard there was no
panic at arrt. although the decks were
becoming more ard more crowded with
frightened people. The steamer was nst-
.ng and settling. and Then q wild fear
ssezed on the ttrong and the people lost
their reason
Mrs LaCasse Was separated from her
husband In the scramble. and the steamer
listed so badly that she sid down the
declivity and into the water She had
taken the precaution. a. her husbands 81
rection. 10 put OF life belt before leav-
ing her stateroorn. and shortly after be-
ing thrown into the sea she was seized by
the arm and drawn on the lie raft, Her
savior was her husband A moment later
the Inflated steamer disappeared. and q
whirlpool sDcircsed the spot where the
noble craft had been. Everybody AROUND
the vortex was drawn into IL The water
rushed around. faster and faster. and the
unfortunases disappeared with tespalring
cries
Mrs. L.acasse had been on the edge OF
the maelstrorn. but something striking her
threw ner outside the whirlpool. and the
mex; she knew she was under the raft
A boat containing forty women was cap
sized. and all went down in the Whirlpool
There was not one man in this boat. and
II was left fast TO the daviss. Some OF
the women were trying to cut the ropes
when the steamer careened and cspsized
the boat.
Mrs IAcasse says that q moment after
the steamer WAS engulfed. men. women
and children rose on every side OF the
whirlpool. and the sight Of the faces AMI
the arms and the sound OF shrieks was SO
terrific that she vii! remember them 10
her dying day.
M one Launchea the BOats.
Matte o. Surich. Norwegian, said IL
did not appear 10 be- anybody's duty 10
look after the launching OF the ooats-
Those on the port side were not touched
by the crew. People climbed into theFn'
waiting for the boats TO be launched, Out
In a short time the steamer listed so rap
Idly 1t VAS impossible to do 30.
surich declares thai two of the life RATS
upon which people were saved were cut
adrift by him. He was unable to move
them, but they tumbled overheard when
the steamer csareened and proved useful.
The steamer slowly settled down by the
stern and star5oard side. and the water
advancing gradually drove the people for
ward Finally men, women and children
were walking about on the port deck The
stern was deep In the water and the bow
In the air. The ship gave a great plunge
and hundreds Of people were in the water.
grabbing at broken oars. bits of canvas,
etc, and struggling. Surich went over the
etarhoard side and caught a raft. on which
he climbed. He thinks that had the boats
been launched al soon as the steamer
struck. several hundred who persisted
would have been saved. Only one OF the
port boats a small one was launched.
That was the boat the second purser es-
capped in. Surich saw one boat leave La
Bourgogne with only a few people in IL.
second entcer saved Many Lives.
The correspondent interviewed nearly all
the passengers who could speak English.
One passenger said the officers and crew
of the la Bourgogne neglected the passen-
gers entirely. The second officer was the
only man OF the crew who did anything 10
help the terrified and helpless passengers.
He cut loose all the boats he could. and -
fact all the boats that were launched were
launched by the brave second officer. He
vas las: seen standing on the deck with
his hand on the rigging. going restgnediy
to certain death.
Christopher Brunini. a passenger. was
thrown into the water and SWAN for two