Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-26
CONNOLLY CALLED COWARD.
Writer Of Sea Tales Says He Wanted
to Send DISPATCHES.

NEW YORK, January %. b. Con-
molly, writer on seafaring topics. in
dignantly' denies a statement made by
F. S. Spencer. steward Of the steamer
Republic. that he tried to get ahead of
the women and children who were being:
transferred from the Florida to the Bal
tic.
Connolly said he was 1.-The victim Of
a job" put up against him because he
dared to assert his rights concerning the
dispatch of wireless press messages. He
said the charge was absolutely false and
justt he reverse was true.
Il was the last passenger of the Re-
public" he siad. Ito leave that ship after
the order to desert her was given. All
this trouble began because ] had enough
red blood in my veins to want 10 lnvesti-
gate a good story that was In my power
to give the newspapers:
Its small business. The whole thing Is
q tissue of falsehoods.'
Connolly Criticised Officers.
In the midst Of the happiness and good
humor which characterized the words
and conduct Of almost every one on the
Baltic as the ship drew near to her pier,
there was just one incident that threat
ened for a moment to develop into
serious situation.
The principal actor in it was Connolly.
friend Of President Roosevelt and writer
on seafaring topics.
Connolly had been a passenger on the
Republic on his way to join the United
States battleship Meet in Mediterran: an
waters, by permission OF the President,
who authorised Connolly to rejoin The
fleet after he had once departed from 1t.
The Baltic had left quarantine on the
way to her pier when Connolly appeared
IN the upper promenade deck and began
to voice opinions concerning the conduct
Of the Republics crew and the handling
of the situation.
He spoke in loud tones. Round about
him was gathered throng of reporters
and passengers.
The writer was bitter in his criticism
any baggage. He also declared to in
quirers that he had been prevented from
sending wireless messages ashore by Or
der of Capt. Ransom and the purser, who
not only declined his messages. but, ac-
cording to Connolly, refused to allow
him to wire an explanation of his failure
to get off a story OF the accident.
Accused by Ships Barber.
He was thus talking when G.. F.
Fletcher, barber of the Republic. who
had taken a courageous part in the trans
fer of the Republics passengers both to
the Florida and afterward to the Baltic,
pushed his way through the crowd sur
rounding Connolly, and. in voice hot
with anger, exclaimed:
you have little to do to talk Of cow
ards. You were the coward. You tried
to force your way into the boats ahead
of the women and children
Connolly flushed with anger. 1t seemed
that a personal collision was imminent.
and the authors friends hustled him off
to his cabin. A few moments later.
however, Connolly appeared again on the
upper promenade deck. where Fletcher,
with F. S. Spencer. a second steward On
were standing with group OF Republic
seamen All these men had shared in
the work Of transferring passengers. and
Connollys words threw them into a state
of utter disregard Of the attitude usual
between seamen and passengers.
They crowded around Connolly, and
Spencer pushed forward to fling again
into the writer's face the words of
Fletcher. This steward had had charge
Of the starhoard boats Of the Republic
while the transfer of the passengers was
being made. Later he had done the same
work on the Florida.
You tried to get into boat. sir, be-
fore the women and children!" shouted
~ did not replied Connolly. hotly.
did get into one Of those boats?"
NO" returned the steward. You did
not. sir, because l threw you back and
you couldn't
Stewards Make Charges.
The seamen behind the steward were
becoming more angry each moment.
There was a sudden shout. Put him out
| OF here" and a surge toward the writer.
Friends gathered around him and hustled
| him back to his stateroom where he re-
manned until the Baltic locked. when he
walked down the gangplank and disap-
peared up the pier.
While Connolly stuck to his cabin, how
ever, Spencer, Fletcher and the others
| held an indignation meeting on deck.
They declared. among other things, that
| he had tried to get into the boats In
tended for women and children, saying
that he had a wife and child. either In the