The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-07-13
A Fearful Disaster--6oo Lives
Lost

In a Collision off Sable Island
A French Liner with 831 Passen-
gers on Board, Foundered on July
4th-Only One of 800 Women
Saved Many Stabbed Like Sheep.
Halifax, N. S July G.-The British
iron ship Cromartyshire was towed
in here this morning by the Allan
liner Grecian, with her bow torn
away by q collision, sixty miles south
of Sable island, with the French
steamer La Bourgogne, which latter
vessel went down ten minutes later.
OF the S3l passengers and crew on
board the La Bourgogne, only 200
were saved. Mrs Lacasse, wife of
A. D. Lacasse, language teacher OF
Plainville, N. j., was the only woman
saved. The captain and other deck
officers went down with the ship.
On July 1, at S a. m, dense fog,
position of the ship sixty miles south
of Stable island, ship by wind on
port tack heading about W. N. W.,
though under reduced canvas, going
about four or five knots per hour.
Our fog horn was being kept going
regularly every minute. At that
time heard steamer whistle on our
weather side or port beam, which
seemed to be nearing very fast. We
blew horns and were answered by
steamers whistle when all of sud,
den she loomed through the fog on
our port bow and crashed into US,
going at a terrific speed. Our fore
top mast and main top gallant mast
came down, bringing with it yards
and everything attached. immedi-
ately ordered the boats out and went
to examine the damage. I found
that our bows were completely cut
off and that the plates were twisted
into every conceivable shape. The
other ship disappeared through the
fog. However, our ship was floating
on her collision bulkhead and there
seemed no immediate danger OF her
sinking. We set to work clearing
the wreckage and also ship out star
board anchor, which was hanging
over the starboard bow and in danger
Of punching holes in the bow. We
heard a steamer blowing her whistles
on coming back, and was answered
with our fog horn. The steamer
then threw up rocket and fired a
shot. We also threw up some rock
cts and fired several shots, but we
neither saw nor heard anything more
of the steamer. Shortly after, the
foo cleared and we saw two boats
pulling toward US with the French
flag flying. We signalled them to
come along side and found that the
! steamer was the La Bonrgogpe from
New York for Eavre, and that she
had gone down. We laid to all day
and received on board about 200 sur
vivors from amongst passengers and
crew, reported to be in all about SUI.
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 the ship.
Some of the passengers and seamen
from the sunkeu steamer assisted US
and we jettizoped some &c tons OF
cargo from our forehead in order to
tighten the ship, that we might take
on board the illfated passengers.
Some Of the scenes enacted on
board La Bourgogne just after the
collision were terrible to witness.
Men fought for positions in tbs boats
like raying maniscs, women were
forced back from the boats and tram
bled by men who made self-preserva-
ton their first object.
On board were large number OF
the lower class of Italians and other
foreigners, who in their frenzy stop,
ped at nothing that promised safety
for themselves.
In boat was a party of forty
women, but 80 great was the panic