The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-12
NO TREATMENT FOR HEROES.

After the crew and passengers OF
the steamship Republic were landed
in New York, and within three days
after the terrible collision, the fol-
towing announcement was made to
the several hundred stokers, trim
mers and minor employees Of the Re-
public whose hard work and great
courage resulted ia the rescue Of
hundreds of lives;
"You men will receive your pay
slips on Thursday morning at II
O'Clock. Your wages will date mp
TO the time the Republic sank on
Sunday night. Any Of you who need
money will he given small advance
by the company. This will he
deducted from your pay when you
reach Liverpool. The White Star
officials are prepared to furnish you
with such articles of clothing as you
need. The company expects to pro-
vide accommodations for YOU on
this ship which sails on Saturday"
Referring to this statement the
New York World said: 1.-THE an
nouncement was received with
grOans of dissatisfaction. The
amazed expressions on the faces of
the men indicated that they had ex-
pected more from the company which
had been singing their praises"
A World reporter, who was present
at the meeting, said that most of the
stokers were afraid to talk for publ
cation, giving as a reason that the
steamship companies might black
list them If they found out who they
were. Some Of the more angry ones
spoke right out, making II condi-
tiOu that their names hc withheld.
Said one big fellow, who was pointed
out by his companions as the bravcst
of the bunch:
"All / got to say is that it doesn't
take the company long to forget
We were all great heroes while we
was saving the passengers and work
ing like hell to shut out the water.
We was cheered until we was dizzy.
Not that we deserved cheers, be-
cause most OF this crowd has been
In tight pinch before. There wasn't
gutter in that crowd. Why, we
was all singing as we hoisted the
boats over the side. We didn't eX-
poet any reward, hut there isn't "A
man on this job who dreamed he'd
be locked for his time on shore. We
did all we could and expected that
the company would see that we
didn't lose any money by the acct
dent. It's no credit to them to take
US home. They've got to do that"
II In true that the conduct OF the
officers and seamen as well AZ that
OF the passengers on all Of the YES
sells that took part In the work of
rescue, as on the c0lliding vessels
themselves, will long live in the best
and the brightest chapters of sea
history. If the New York World
story concerning the treatment ac-
corded these faithful men be true
then that story deserves to be
brought to the attention of every
American citizon. Every American
newspaper should tell the story to
its readers.
Every American heart must have
beat faster when the story of that
sea collision was told. The highest
bravery was shown on all sides.
Americans were not slow to compare
those incidents with the incidents
attending similar disasters partici-
pated in by the crews of some other
nations In which cases the officers
and seamen were not the last to
ileave the sinking vessel. The same
Americans would blush to believe
the story told by the New York
World, but II that story be true,
public sentiment in America should
be 80 thoroughly arousad and crys-