Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-09

his head and was walking up ana GOWN
the bridge. screaming ana swearing.
Nyffeler saw one boat leave the snip con-
tanning only sailors. The. ship had ter
ribe list to port. being almost perpendic-
ular. As she sank the stern went up IN
the air with the boat Nyffeler was In.
The fog had cleared away but there were
no signs of the Cromartyshire The stern
kept going up in the air until all or a
sudden came a crack and the ship went
down. Nyffeler rose to the surface IN a
minute and all around him were women,
children and men Struggling in the water.
shouting for help. He looked for Eiiza
Niffenegger, but could not see her He
tnen got hold of a crowded raft, which
soon upset, throwing all upon II into the
water. He managed TO get on IL AGAIN.
however, with several others, ana re-
manned on 1t until picked up by the Bour-
gogne's boat and taken to the Cromarty-
shire.
Nyffeler states that while on the raft
he saw five women who were clingnS TO
the very rope he had hold Of, thrust to
their death with boathooks in the hands
of Frenchmen on the raft. Nyffeler is
certain he can point out the men.
Nyffeer saw an American beaten over
the head while trying to get on a raft not
far from the one he was on.
Nyffeler speaks in the highest terms of
the treatment the Survivors received from
the captain and crew OF the Cromarty-
shire.
Mr.. II. AfcH1fu, frencnmuT, WHO mas
been some years In Baltimore was on
his way to France with his wife and two
children. On the morning of the collision
he put them in "A boat amidships, ana
went to get another boat for himself
Only one end of the boat he got into was
cut loose and the boat tipped when Ii de-
scended. throwing the occupants into the
water. Just at this time, the Bourgogne's
tunnels gave way and one of them fell
directly across the boat in which Ar
pbar.IfG xNifp and children had lprn
placed, crushing it and knocking all the
passengers overheard. One of the funnel
chains struck Mrs. Archard across the
chest and literally tore her body asunder
Charles Liebre and others who were eye
witnesses, say IL was the most blOot-
curdling sight they ever saw. Archard
fell into the water when the Bourgogne
sank. but managed to get hold of a raft
TO which he chung for eight hours. sub
merged to his armpits. After he got out
he was unable to straigflten out his body
of arms for a long time. Mr.. Archard
had $4,000 on his person a the time Of
the wreck and il WAS saved with him.
He Is. however hearthroken ana wretch
cd on account OF the loss Of his wife and
children.
From the testimony Of three persons.
Otto Zeser Of New York. Mr. Arehard
Of Baltimore. and Charles Iiebrc. chief
cook of the Stafford hotel. Philadelphia.
it appears that the fourth engineer Of La
Rourgogne, who was saved. acted in the
most uEdiaf manner tthITl the flIE-fii-
gers. The three men agree in the state
ment that after the collision, when every
one was surrounding the boats the fourth
engineer said: Damn the passengers.
Let them save themselves We save our
selves first" He also said that If he had
a revolver he would shoot the passengers.
Mr. Liebrc spoke in great praise Of the
captain OF the BourgOgue. The first mate.
T.iebre says. entirely lost his head in the
most critical moment. ON the voyage
I.ihre became acquainted with YouEouf
the notorious wrestler, who was j pas
senger.
After the collision. I.iehre says he sa W
Yousouf struggling in a crowd at drown
ing passengers. beating them on with 4
stiictto and showing them aside trying -
reach a boat: he failed. however and
went down
In conversation with Liebrc before the
wreck. the wrestler expressed himself as
in-pleased with the treatment he received
in America.
l.. Terlauf of New York. and Mons
Lucas from Morthran. France. the latter
being a waiter on the BoIrSogne tell the
following story of their hardships: Ter
laud saw a boat containing only three
Austrians ana no attempted to get into
It, out one Of the AuStrians. whom Ter
ldud is perfectly certain he can recog-
nizc. warned him off with large kitchen
knife. He did not wish 10 be killed 50
he stopped efforts in that direction. Lucas
was picked up by raft after being in
the water many hours.