Collision in the Atlantic.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2127, 9 July 1898, Page 2

Collision in the Atlantic.

A FRENCH STEAMER SUNK. LOSS OF 525 LIVES. TERRIBLE SCENES. COWARDLY CONDUCT OF TffM&lfeW ; New York, July 7. News has reached here from Halifax; : Nova Scotia, of a disaster aLg, sea, involving appalling loss of and marked by extraordinary scenes of brutality and cowardice. ’V I, .During a dense fog the French steamship La Burgogne, bound from New York to Havre, with over 700 passengers on board, collided with the British sailing vessel Cromartyshire, from Dunkirk to Philadelphia. In spite of the state of the weather, the steamer was going at the rate of 18 knots an. hour, and struck the Cromartyshire with terrific force, opening a large hole in her own side near the engine-room. The steamer immediately filled, and sank in a few minutes, almost ’ before those on board, had time to realise their position. aJ-x The Cromartyshire, forttqptely, did not sink, although greatly damaged, and her officers and crew succeeded in rescuing 200 by means of boats and rafts, .the ship being" subsequently .toy/ed into Halifax by the Alantic finer Etruria. After the collision some terrible scenes occurred, and the crew of the steamer behaved in a brutally selfish and dastardly manner. They seized the boats, defying the orders of the captain and officers, and pushed passengers struggling in the water away from them with boat-hooks and oars; and cut the ropos to. which women were clinging. It ih also stated that they threw; several women who had succeeded in getting into thejboats into the water. >• ' Only one woman was among the saved.