Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-10
STATE OF FLORIDA.
Statement of One of the Sailors OF the
Wrecked Steamer.
MONTREAL, May 3,

MONTREAL, May 9.
One of the sailors of the State of Florida
tells the following: ''On the night of the
accident l got out of the bunk and went on
deck, when heard the outlook report port
light on the starboard bow; l looked ahead
and saw a vessel coming toward us, but q
long wav of; could see the red port light
and the green one to the otarboard, and also
saw she carried no clear light at the mast
head; was assured she was q sailing ves-
sell; thinking everything all right went be-
low and turned in and was soon asleep; was
awakened BY someone calling up the hands
presently there was q bustle among the men ;
l asked them what was the matter; received
no reply and seeing them rush on deck fol-
lowed; when l was on board the bark l
learned the particulars of the accident from
men on the lookout. He said he had re-
ported light on the starboard to the first Of
fcer who was on watch and finding he made
no change in the course the lookout reported
the matter twice again; the third time the
officer ordered the helm ported, hut after
ward he had il put starboard so to thrown
him out of the course as little as possible; il
was while this was being done the accident
occurred. The lookout also said he had seen
the bark half an hour before the
collision and had been watching 1t coming
dead on for the steamer"
DIR. Steele, surgeon Of the State of Florida,
SAYS the main cause of the loss Of life was the
continued progress of the steamer after the
collision. 1t was owing to this that more
boats were not safely launched and the pas.
sengers were afraid of those that we're fioated
The chief engineer appeared possessed of the
same GOODNESS or lethergy which disting'
uished the captain and as he was hurryine
friends through the passage, which was knee
deep, he met the chief engineer cody walk
ing up and down with a life preserver on and
his hands in his waist coat sleeves. The
steamer went down with the whistle blowing
which he suppoaed was intended by the cap
tain or whoever opened the value as the las,
farewell to the world and all in it. In the
boat in which he was in he got the men to
promise to hold together as il was only Q
question of lingering death or speedy rescu,
and not grumble was heard from them.
The following letter appeared in the even
ing papers:
To THE EpIToR--I see by YOURS of the Stl
inst, that according to the account given by
some of the survivors, that the conduct o
Capt. Sadler on the eventful night had beer
severely criticised. I heard Capt. Sadlel
give orders, after the damage had been full,
ascertained, to the officers to take charge OF
the boats and he helped to lower No. boat
after having seen No. l all right he went Il
another and as regards to his losing his heaC
| give that statement an unqualified denial
| say without fear of contradiction that !
ever the captain of ship tried to save thu
lives of passengers, he did. Again, the stor,
published as having emanated from me il
totally incorrect. l said that the passengers
not officers and crew. were paralyzed.
(Signed) ANDREW N. STEELE,
Surgaon of tho State of Florida