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REFUSED AID TO "LA FLANDRE"
The New York Times, March 14, 1901, Thursday

Capt. Ortgiese Tells of Inhumanity of Commanders of Ships Which Passed His Vessel.

QUEENSTOWN, March 13. - Capt. Ortgiese or the Dutch steamer "La Flandre", from Antwerp for Philadel-phia, which was towed into Queenstown on Monday by the British steamer "West Point", has made a state-ment relating his experiences.
The "La Flandre", with her rudder and sternpost carried away and three of her propeller blades gone, beca-me unmanageable  on March 9, and her commander bitterly comments on the callousness of the Captain of a large French steamer, which passed the disabled vessel, and on the failure of other ships to assist "La Flandre".
The first ship sighted was the French vessel referred to, which failed to respond, in any way to "La Flandre's" urgent signals of  distress. On the following day the Red Star Line steamer "Friesland", Capt. Nickels, which arrived at Antwerp on March 10, from  New York, offered to take off the crew of La Flandre, if they were prepared to abandon their ship, but when this was declined the  "Friesland" proceeded.
Then a Wllson Line steamer, bound for Hull, passed "La Flandre", and. Capt. Ortgiese says, refused to lay by and await better  weather. The next steamship communicated with was the Norwegian steamer "Liv", Capt. Rasmussen, from Barry, March 2, for Hampton Roads. She attached a hawser to "La Flandre", and began to tow her in the direction of St. Michael, Azore Islands, but the hawser immediately parted, and the "Liv" proceeded on her voyage.
The worn-out crew of "La Flandre" were almost in despair when the "West Point" was sighted and towed the disabled steamer to Queenstown.