An Ocean Disaster

One of the most appalling disasteis on the Atlantic ouean oocnrrd abont 5 o'clook on the mom ing of July 4, about 60 miles off Sable Island, wben the great French liner LaBourgogne went down and 562 persons are believed to have lost their lives. The horror of the terrible disaster is bronght home to tbe people of this oity with more ernsbing foroe by the faofc tbat Prof. Edward L. Walter, for the past 30 years on the university facuity, was a passenger on board this ship aud nis name does not appear atnoug the meager list of those saved. Tbere was a dense fog on that morning, neverthelesü the stearner La Bourgogne was ruBhing along at a speed of abont 18 knots an hour, when without a rnoment's warning she oollided with the iron sailing sbip Cromartyshire, and sank within half an hour, carrying down with her to the ocean's bottorn over 500 of her passengers and crew, while the balance who were not drawn down by the fearful suction, strnggled and fought for life until 163 were at length resoued by the crew of the Cromartyshire, which ship snrvived the oollision. The soene on board the stamer was a disgraoe to civilization, the crew and the steerage passengars fought like demons for tbe few life boats and rafts, with the result that inauy of tham were not lannched when tbe sbip went dosvn. The strong battered down tbe weak, the women and children beiua pusbed far away from any hope of resoné. Fists, oars and even knives were used by some nf the demons to keep their plaoes. The otScers seemed to have been powerless before their own men, and only four were saved. Only one woinan out of nearly 300 was saved. But two flrst cabin passengers and none of the higher offloers of the steamer were saved. Prof. Walter was a first cabin passenger and was not among those picked np by tbe British vessel. There is not more than one chance in a thoasand tbat be was picked np by any other vessel, as the saction of the great vesse) as it went down is said to have oarried every living thing near with it. He is said to have been a very sound sleeper and was not muoh of a swimmer. Prof. Walter was one of the ablest men of tbe university facnlty. He was bom in Litchfield, Hillsdale county, Mich., in 1840. He preparad for college at Albion Serninary. Dnring the war he served as a private in the Fonrth Michigan Infantry and was discharged on acoonnt of illness. In 1864 he entered Michigan University and gradnated in 1863, being immediately appoiuted Assistant Professor of tbe Ancient Languages. In 1874 be was made Assistant Professor of Latin, being advanoed in 1879 to the Professorship of Modern Langnages and Literature, bis title being changed iu 1887 to Professor of Romance Langnage and Literature. Daring this time he spent three years at Leipsic University, receiving tbe degree of Ph. D. there in 1877. He has made a praotice of spending hissummerB in Europe and during the past ten years he has not missed crossing the ocoan twice every surnnier. fle was a proficient linguist keeping np in the modern languages by his studies in Europe each snmmer. He was a fine teacher and a haid task toaster requiring good work froin his stndents. In faot be was one of the very best of the many illustrions men that Michigan University has had on lts faoulty. Prof. Walter was a brother of Mts. Caroline Waldrou, with whoru he resided on S. State st.