The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-03
FLOATING MORGUE
REACHES halifax
With Bodies of 1870 Victims
of Titanic Disaster.
Crowds Of Mourners Meet Vessel
Seeking Sight Of Cover.
ed Ones.

~
Halifax, N. s.. April 30.-while
church bells tolled their solemn re-
QUEEN the cab'eship Mackay-Bennett.
floating morgue of the seas. steamed
into the harbor with her flag at half
mast Tuesday. bearing bodies of 1870
victims Of the Titanic disaster. with
the coming Of the death ship the sus-
pense which has grippcd the Borrowing
relatives and friends Of the dead for a
week was lifted The Mackay-Dennett
entered the harbor at o'clock and
dropped anchor twenty minutes later
at quarantine. where a representative
of the White star line went on board
With an impatlence which had been
growing for days. the mourners IN
shore saw the ship come TO a halt
under their eyes and with their dead
almost under touch of their hands.
While the floating hearse rolled at
anchor, the church bells continued TO
sky Tapping half-masted flags accent
uated the solemnity of the scene. 1t
was one of the most mournful occa-
sion in the life OF this historic old city.
AT TOP SPEED.
The last fifty miles of the vessels
Journey was made at top speed. Capt.
Iardner had received wireless instruc-
lions to send his ship forward with the
utmost swiftness conductive to safety
and held her under full head of steam
from the time that he passed Champer-
down.
The grewsome burden of the
Mackay Bennett was pulled on her deck
and in her hold. During the last half
hour of the ships voyage the deck
hands moved the collins into rows so
that the work of carrying them off the
ship could be expedited
Accompanying the Americans upon
the dock were J.. NJ. I,agsdale. Ameri-
They suddenly broke through the
crowds. falling aslant the ship as sh
bobed at anchor. In the meantime
crowds gathered on roofs and along
the citadel to watch the spectacle.
Tugs bearing photographers and NOV
ing-picture machines steamed around
.ra
shutters clicked necessarily.
DOCKS CROWDED.
The government docks are more than
mile from the heart of the city. and
the roads were crowded with car
riages and automobiles. Meanwhile
the White Star officials on board the
death ship were in close consultation
with Capt. Lardner. making list OF
the number of bodies recovered. those
buried In the icy sea, those identified
and collecting Personal effects. As
time passed and the ship stood sta
tionary, some of those among the
s5-minute wait at quarantine, the ves-
sci finally locked at the navy-yard
pier. A sight Of relief went up as the
ship got under way and warped into
the pier. When the lines were dashed.
Capt. Lardner gave sharp command
and the davits creaked outward for the
work Of lowering the collins. From
the wharf, piles of wet clothing, taken
from bodies as they were removed
from the water. could be seen. Rows
of collins. covered with a tarpaul'r
were moved to the rail-
There was delay on the part of some
of the mourners in getting into the
dock, as their White Star passes had
not been countersigned by Commander
Martin, of the Canadian navy. Finally
this trougle was Strengthened out and
all were admitted.
The Mackay-Bennett brought i9o
bodies into port. Capt. Lardner said
4 that In all 306 bodies had been picked
up. but l1G had to be reconsigned to
the deep because they We're beyond
recognition. They We're wrapped In
canvas shrouds. weighted and cast
over the ships rail.
ALL WORE LIFE PRESERVERs.
Cant. Lardner told white Star off,
Gals that everybody picked up wore
d. l,fa presaryer. Many of them were