Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-09
TALES OF THE SHIPWRECK
TERRIBLE INCIDENTS OF THE
STEAMERS LAST PLUNGE.

ii HeartrendinG Shrieks of the Doomed
Passengers-rhirty People Swamped
With a Life Boat, and Only seven
Saved-A FataI Lack of Systematic
Efforts to Save Life.
MONTREAL, May S.-The steamer I'll
tania arrived here at O'Clock to-day. A
large number o. persons had met at the
wharf to witness the landing of the ship
wrecked crew and the passengers of the
State of Florida. As soon as the Titania
was moOred to the wharf she was boarded
by the custom house officers, the Ameri-
can Consul, and representatives of the
press. Shortly afterwards the crew and
passengers of the wrecked steamer came
ashore in charge of the agent of
the State Line, who had secured
accommodations for them at the Albion
Hotel. The first person seen was J. D.
Bennett, of London, Ont, the only first
class passenger saved. At the time of the
accident he was in the surgeons cabin
and had very narrow escape from being
killed when the Ponema came crushing
into the State of Florida amidshiDs. One
man of the P0nema went mad from eX-
pOsure and want OF water, and died in the
boat. Before the Captain and two other
sailors were rescued the Captain of the
It
them that they must take to the boats in
stantly, but it appears that he made no
effort to devise plan by which the pass
engers could get into the boats.
THE CAPTAINS ACTION.
At the time of the collision the Captain
was in his cabin. He rushed on the deck
in his night dress and assumed command.
When the boats pushed away from the
ship, and the plunge preparatory to sink
ing took place, the most heartrending
cries and appeals for help were heard
until the final plunge was made. Mr..
Bennett saw one boat hanging by one
davit. He heard that it was not con-
sidered safe boat, and that the ropes
were cut in order to hinder any one from
using it.
Walter King, of Toronto, occupied the
same cabin as Mr.. Bennett, and when the
ship was about going down came to him
and said, 'FOr Gods sake, Bennett, stay
by me; 1 am not able to SWIM" Bennett
and King then got into one of the boats,
the lashings of which were cut at one
end, throwing all of the occupants into
the sea. Thirty persons might have been
saved but for this mishap. Only seven
were picked up. All night they could
hear people grOaning and struggling
underneath the boat to which they were
clinging, and as many of those on top had
lost friends, and one a brother, their
feelings can be better imagined than
described. Toward morning the noise
ceased, and they came to the conclusion
that their companions had succumbed.
A HORRIBLE SIGHT.
When they were rescued they broke
through the bottom of the boat with oars,
and horrible sight met their eyes. Eight
bodies were floating there, while a man
named Donaldson was still alive although
unconscious from the effects of his long
Imprisonment. Mr.. Bennett says that the
conduct of the Captain of the City of
Rome was shameful, as that steamer
passed within half mile from them, and
might easily have hove to for
short time and taken them all off
the bark. On being asked to explain why
so few passengers were saved he said
that it was their own fault. When it is
remembered that within fifteen minutes
after the vessels cOllided the steamer
went down it will be seen that the sud
denness Of the catastrophe prevented any
being saved except those who kept their
wits about them and leaped into the
boats.
Andrew n. Steele, a surgeon of Mon
treal, has made a statement similar to the
above. He says that King got back to
the steamer and went down with her. He
says that the Captain blew three whistles
when the vessel was sinking, and upon
being asked the reason for this said that
he was bidding those in the boat farewell
and that he wanted to show them that he
was sticking to his vessel until the last.
The boat that capsiZed contained three
Canadians named Ellington, Bennett and
Bethune. Bennett was the only one saved.
The crew cannot give any information be-
VOnd that already rpuOrtn1