The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-14
RESCUED BY
CLYDE Liner.
Cuban Passengers Saved From
a Sinking Steamer.
EXHIBITION OF cowAROIcE.
Captain Of The CROSSE, With Engineer and
Coal PasseTs, Took Only Boat
LEFT WOMENANO CHILDREN TO PERISH
These Helpless Ones We're finally Taken or by
NV York's Boats. After Frsnllst Crew Of
Sinking Steamer Had Been Esaien OH.

New York. April 1.-THE Clyde Liner
New York. Capt j. w. Proctor, which
arrived here yesterday from San
Domingo, brought into port as thrill
ing and varied a tale OF shipwreck as
has come out of the sea in many
French steamer George CROSSE, which
used to ply in West Indian waters, but
is now resting beneath several fathoms
of water off the city OF San Domingo.
When the New York steamed up TO
the mouth OF the Ozama river. which
flows by the city of San Domingo, early
on the morning of March 29 Capt.
Proctor sighted the Gro sse coming out
of the river. The CROSSE was bound
for Santiago de Cuba, and she had "a
passengers aboard, crew of 10 and
126 head of cattle. The passengers were
almost all Cuban refugees who. had fled
from their unhappy native island to
San Domingo and were returning to
their homes.
The CROSSE rolled heavily as she
passed over the bar and seemed to be
making poor headway. AS she neared
the New York she rolled still more
and listed heavily 10 starboard. What
ever the cause was, the little steamer
heeled far over, her passengers, half
clothed and in frenzy of excitement.
came swarming upon deck and then the
CROSSES whistle blew az short, sharp
blast for help. Capt Proctor had seen
the little steamers trouble already and
his whistle was blowing a screechng
call for help, which could be heard far
beyond the city OF San Domingo.
BOATS LOWERED.
"out boats" roared Capt. Proctor.
The New York's men came tumblng
up the hatchways in jiffy.
Pull away" yelled Capt Proctor To
the five boats.
Meanwhile there was ta1&tng place on
the CROSSE such an exhibition of cow
ardice as is seldom recorded. The cap
tain OF the little steamer was a span
lard In less than minute he had
left the bridge and was getting into a
boat from the ste4mers side. Inc
Croisse carried only one bcat. This.
the only, boat, was e-empted by the
sinking steamers captain. With him
was the chief engineer and two coal
passers also Spaniards.
Another coal passer tired to go along
with the captain Il can't SWIM" cried
the coal passer
Then jump i'm and look out for your
in ard was drowned
But the captain chief engineer and
their crew OF two got ashore in safety.
The captain disappeared and was not
heard OF agan.
PANIC ON THE CROSSE.
on the CROSSE there was panic.
Five boats from the New York Were
approaching but the steamer was set
Ting fasu and those aboard of her
were imploring and screaming for help.
First officer j. c. Marmion of the New
\ ork came alongside with the first
boat. and in twinkting half of the
Gro 'sse's crew had jumped i'm. Every
one Of them was thrown out in the
water and then Brian Wins. a huge
negro OF bull-like strength. who WAS In
the boat ciambered up the steamers
side. One by one he handed down the
Is or more children On the Croisse and
then I'm the same fashion he handed
down the women. The Cuban men who
were passengers did not attempt to pre-
cede the women and children. Mar
mion's boat was loaded - the gun
wales and was dangerously low i'm the
water So he transferred part Of his
human cargo to Second officer Hitch
burns beat, and both boats made for
the New York. This was not until after
several or the CROSSES sailors had
been beaten off by oars in trying to gel
full.
WENT DOWN-BY THE HEAD.
The second boat alongside the CROSSE
was commanded by William Gibbons,
the bo' of the New York, who died
at Macoris. on the voyage TO This port.
Gibbons boat reached the CROSSE just
as Marmion's boat was pulling away,
and al the same moment the steamer
gave a great lurch and went down by
the head. The boats backed out OF the
way in the nick OF time, and the New
York herself. which had come up close,
had To fail hurriedly back. In the
swirl'rg waters above the spot where
the steamer had foundered were
score and "A half of struggling human
beings one OF them was woman.the
only woman not taken off already and
Gibbons lifted her into the boat him
self. The men passengers and the crew
were, then hoisted in, and the three
boats took them all over 10 the New
York. Out OF all on board the Croisse,
Only three were lost, the fireman men
toned above. the second cook who was
caught I'm Nhe suction. and Jose Vale
the ownsr OF the cattle. When Vale
saw that the steamer was sinking he
hurried to his stateroom and buckled
about himself a belt which contained
$4,000 in gold. his fortune.
President Jmirez OF san Domingo
was at rhe wharf in n multitude which
had seen the laundering and rescue
with his gayly un formed body guard
and he directed things on shore. He
went aboard the New York and
thanked capt. Proctor personally. The
rescued were cared for by the people
Of the town.
The CROSSE was chartered under a
cuban license. and few the stars snd
stripes when she went down.
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