The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-01
Cool and Brave, Man and
Wife Tell Roosevelt
in Letters.
WRITER AIDED
IN RESCUE WORK
President Glad to Give Out Testi-
mony of Wrecked Republics
Passengers.

President Roosevelt has come TO the
defense of James B. Connolly, the noted
writer of sea tales, whose conduct on
board the u-fated Republic has been
brought into serious question hy the
steamship company.
Although the President has thus far
declined Counollys frantic appeals for
a Roosevelt deuunciati0u OF the shock
lns charges, which Connolly declares in
"a recent communication, is breaking
him down the President today showed
his warm sympathy with Connolly, and
emphasized his disbelief in the charges
by authorizing the publication of two
letters from william. j. Prendergast
and wife. of Jefferson, Mass. fellow
passengers with Connolly on the wreck
ed liner
Connolly's Conduct.
Prendergast apologies for addressing
the President on such a subject, and
explains his action because of the Ex-
ecutive's weII-ku0wu friendship vista
the writer and his own deep interest In
the matter. He declares that Connolly
was one of the coolest men on board.
that he rushed 20 their stateroom and
got them q lIfe-praseTver when they
We're afraid 10 go themselves. thai he
got llfe-preserVers for Others, that he
did uoc leave either sulp unuI nearly
every one had gotten on that ne was
especially kind 10 all, ana great Ia
EOTi.e with the excited passengers be-
cause OF his cGOlueSs; and Lhat the
charges made by the steamship Oyacials
We're due 90 C0uuollys criticism or shem
for improper care Of the passengers.
Mrs PrendergasJ corroDOrates ner
husband i'm every detail ana DECLARES
her belief that every woman on board
the ship would DO the same. ~ ~ hen
Mr. CoHuOuE's name was proposed as
member OF the committee or sur
VivOrs. the whole crowd Cheered-
Gle was q brave man. ana TOO luCh
credit cannot be given sa man, she
writes
Prendergast's Letter
Il wish 90 give you "a saort statement
relative to James Coun0lIy's actions on
board The Republic Iu the late wreck.
as / learn by the papers that YOU have
heard the report circulated of his cow
ardice and j can give you some facts.
My wife aud < were with sir. Con-
molly shortly after the steamer was
struck. He was perfectly cool We, in
our rush and excitement, forgot to get
life Tresergers and We're afraid to go
for them. lie went down 20 the state
rooms and got them for MS i'm the dark.
we saw him get prcseryers for others
while us lDf remember that he had
one gu himself He aid not leave either
ship uI-II nearly every one had gotten
Off lie was especially kind to- every
body and o. great llgoIiie with an IN
account of lls Cu0lness- This / thought
] mus tell you as I have read OF your
interest iu IIG and his writings
Some of the steamer people would
not let him get Off any word TO the pa
per5, and ha had piles of cables for
news. He did give them severe cai.
down as i stood there and heard him,
and bad feeling prevailed, so J feel this
was done to get back at him. IT was
surely not true, as he was the braVcst
man on board. ! was near him on the
Florida, when a COWardIy man was say
ing things that would fTighteu the
women, and Mr. Connolly gave him an
awful call down
"I trust ] have not been too pre-
eumEugus iu taking mp EuuT valuable
time, but thought 10 too bad such a re-
port should start"
His WIfe's Letter
''T wish TO verify my husbands state
meut. and 4 believe every lady on board
would do the same. When James y.
EuGa.i.yS name Eas proposed as
..euuer 5f the committee of survivors,
t.. crowd aaeeraH ITe was "a breve
man. and too much credit cannot be
given biw. Respectfully
Mrs. W. j. PNENDERGASr.