( www.MaritimeCyprus.com ) The La Bourgogne was built in 1885 at the Société Nouvelles de Forges et Chantiers de Médditerranée in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France for the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique better known as the French Line. She was a sleek looking ocean liner with four auxiliary sail rigged masts and twin funnels. La Bourgogne like many other passenger ships of the era, was constructed of an iron hull and wood superstructure, propelled by a single screw propeller. Her maiden voyage from Le Havre, France to New York City was in 1886. On July 3, 1898, at the height of the Spanish-American War, La Bourgogne left New York City for what would be the last time. She would never make it to Le Havre. About 5:00 AM in the early morning of July 4, 1898, La Bourgogne, shrouded in dense fog and pitch black darkness was passing south of Sable Island in Nova Scotia at full speed, when she was rammed by the British sailing vessel Cromartyshire . The damage from the resulting collision destroyed several starboard lifeboats and punctured a number of the compartments on La Bourgogne’s side. The bow of the Cromartyshire was destroyed. The La Bourgogne passed the Cromartyshire but soon began sinking. Before the dawn would arrive, La Bourgogne would become a terrible tragedy of horror and cowardice causing huge outrage and disgust across the United States. The Cromartyshire originally percieved itself to be in danger. Her 21 man crew observed flares and audible whistle blasts coming from La Bourgogne . Captain Henderson aboard the Cromartyshire believed La Bourgogne was offering assistance. A half hour later, the fog rescinded enough to show a horrifying scene. The La Bourgogne was sinking fast and hundreds were still aboard the ship. The crew of the La Bourgogne was escaping in the lifeboats leaving the passengers behind to succumb to a terrible fate. Crewmembers were beating passengers with fists knives and oars brutally to keep them away from the lifeboats. A half hour later, t