Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-09
FOREIGN.


FOkElGN.
The Loss OF the state Of Florida.
QUEBEC, May flames Bennett, of
London, Ont, the only first class pas
ssnger saved, says that when the order
was given rush was made for the
boats, and a number of persons, includ-
ing himself, got into boat No. 2. The
panic on board the doomed ship was
frightfu'. The lady passengers, of
whom there were only three or four
rescued, got in boat, and only one
woman, Jane McFarlans, the steward
ess, was to his knowledge saved, by the
gallantry of James Balm, the chief en-
gineer, who lost his life in saving her.
He had to use all his strength TO tear
her from the deck of the vessel and
force her into the boat. Just at this
moment the ship carrsened to the star
board and went down with a heavy
crash, carrying with her the brave en-
RIneer and all others remaining on
board. Bennett complains that the
boats were badly found they had
no water casks containing water /;
and he says that Allen alone of the Off
GERS showed all the way through self
possession and presence of mind, and
that the City of Rome ignored their sig
mails, and although they were seer.
quite well, she went on her way uncou-
csrnedly, offering no help.
The following details were received
from Bennett of his experience of fear
full privation and heroic endurance I:
He was standing so near the side when
the collision took place that had not a
friend pulled him away he would have
been killed on the spot. The ships doc-
tor alongside was injured by broken
spar. All the crew rushed for the boats.
The passengers seemed paralyZed, as
also did the Captain. who was washed
from the deck Just before the vessel
went down.
Though the surviving officers are very
reticent as to the responsibility for the
accident, the impression seems to he
that the steamship was to blame. The
stories of the various survivors agree in
the main features, the time occupied by
the disaster being of such short dura-
tion that there was no chance for OBJ
servation.
The survivors Arrive at Montreal.
MONTREAL, May S.-The Titania, with
twenty four passengers rescued from
b06 K1bAk0 vi totlAd+ EGhdtCo thiE OAhF 6t
8 O'Clock this evening.
MONTREAL, May y. - The steamer
Titania arrived at O'Clock this morn
ing. A large number of persons had
gathered at the wharf to witness the
landing of the shipwrecked crew and
passengers of the State OF Florida. AS
soon az the Titania was moored to the
wharf she was boarded by Custom
house officers, the American Consul and
representatives OF the press. shortly
afterward the crew and passengers OF
the wrecked steamer came ashore IN
charge of the agent OF the state Line,
who had secured accommodations tor
them at the Albion Hotel.
The first person seen was James ID
Bennett, of London, Ontario. he saio
he was in the surgeons cabin, and bad
a very narrow escape from being
crushed TO death when the Pomona
came crushing into the Florida with an
awful noise. One of the crew went
mad from exposure aud want OF water.
and died in the boat before the captain
and the two others were picked mp. Ine
captain awakened the passengers and
said they must take TO the boats IN
stantly; but il appears that he made no
effort to devise plans by which the
passengers could get into the boats.
Az the time of the collision the cap
tain was in his cabin. he immedi
ately rushed on deck In bis night
dress and assumed command. "aeh
the boats pushed away from the snip.
and the lunges preparatory 10 sinking,
took place. the most heart rending soeue
and appeals for help were heard. uniil
the final plunge. Bennett saw one oost
hanging by one davit. Re heard that
Il was not considered safe boat
and the ropes were Gus 10 hinder any
one from usingit Walter Ming, OF To-
ronto, occupied the same cabin AS ben-
nett, and when the ship was about goina
down, came to him and said, For 0oo
sake, Bennett. stay by me; 1 am not
able 10 swiua.- Bennett and King got
into one OF the boats. the iashinRs OF
which were out at one END, thfow-
ing the inmates into the ses;
Thirty might have have been saved
bat for this nishap. AL hient
long they could bear people Rroantne
aud struggling underneath sne o,a.,
and, as many of those on top had JOSH
friends, their feelings can be better I'M
aoined than described. Toward morn
ing the noise ceased the sfrueeiers nsu
succumbed. Those rescued broke
through the bottom OF she ooat w'tu
the oars. and horrible sight met tneif
ewes. Eight bodies were noating tnete,
while man named Donaldson was still
al live, although unconscious from .ne
effects Of his long Imprisonment. pcn
nett says the conduct OF tne CspsAn ~
shs CITY OF Rome was shameful, as ths
~ than hAlt a
mile from thesn, and might have easily
nava 4, for A short time and taken them
All of the bark. Being asked 10 ex
plain Why 30 few passengers wess
saxed he said that ID vas all their Owl
ssrIs When ID il remembered thai
w;thin fifteen minutes of the collisi .
| the steamer went down, IL will be seef
| raj the audiences of the catastrophe
| oreyented any being saved except thoss
rho kent their wits about them ane
leaned into the boats.
Andrew N. Steele. surgeon OF MOB
| ,rasI. has made q statement simiiar u
that If Bennett. He says that kins
80 haek 20 the steamer and went dowf
with her.
| px.,yx Nav SIN the Reichsfae 20
1 day a motion vas passed 20 pfooeeo =
the second reading OF the niii prolon;
ing thu special anti -sosislisl iss. !
vas the occasion OF vigorous oeua.e
/ Count Ssaafenber2 spoke 10 ogposis,nn
while Count Winnsgorde, Ut. 49,
ouardtxsn and Count behf favored 20
renewal Of the law. Dr. Wfnd'nofr'
leader Of the Ultramonsanes. aeciaie'
the Center 20 be unanimousls OF 70
opinion that the Lac cooid never oe
uermanent arrangement buf SUI
recognised that the soo.aiisss mus. ]
vigorously c0uahatted. nh smsae
msnts we're rejected. and = divi.so
should b taken on TIE eovssams ..s..s ~ !