The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-03

TIE WTtChtu hitts
Capt. Richard Roberts, seeking Col.
Astor's body reported after a con-
ference with Commander Lardner. Of
the Mackay-Bennett, that he was sure
the Identification was proper He
added, however. that the body identi-
fled as that of George u. widener, Of
Philadelphia, was so mutilated that
Capt. Lardner could not say positively
whether II was that of Mr. Widener or
Of his valet.
The first body removed was that Of
a seaman.
When the tarpaulin was thrown back,
more than fifty bodies were disclosed.
Men with stretches quickly came on
board and the work of removal was
begun swiftly.
Canon Hind, the chaplain of the
Mackay- Bennett, who presided at the
ii6 deep-sea burials, stood at the rail-
when she locked. He stepped to the
pier among the first to give solace to
the stricken.
The work OF taking off the bodies
was begun at once. Seamen tied ropes
around the boxes. the mate in charge
shouted Clover away and the grew
some freight was swung by the davit
guys to the pier.
As the collins commenced to appear
those on the dock were awakened to
new sehse Of their grief. and the sounds
of weeping became loud. AS the boxes
were placed upon the pier other work.
men began transporting them to the
Mayflower morguc.
After a second conference with the
of the Mackay- Bennett
Capt. Roberts announced that there
was no doubt of the Identification of
Col. Astor's body. In the pockets $3.50
cash had been found, and he wore
belt with a gold buckle. The body
identified as that of Mr.. Widener was
buried at sea.
The coffin containing the body of
Col. John Jacob Aston. which had been
identified on the Mackay-Bennett. lay
In the stern of the ship. The bodies OF
the dead Of the Titanic's crew had not
been embalmed or placed in collins.
but lay stretched upon the deck, COW
cred with a big piece of tarred can
vas to keep off the rain and sun.
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
II was a horrible and heartsickening
sight. As the sailors drew back the
tarpaulin to remove the dead. the re--
mains were exposed to the view of
those on the deck.
The faces. of the dead were set in
expressions of horror and extreme fear,
and the legs and arms were bent and
contorted, showing how madly they
fought for life in the Icy water.
Some of them had disrobed them
selves. the better to swim. Others had
died in the water trying to pull of
their clothing Some of them wore one
arm through a coat sleeve; others We're
entirely naked save for a shoe or I'M
dergarment.
Strokers lay side by side with the re-
mains of men reared in luxury. When
the bodies were uncovered, they were
rolled In small pieces of canvas, placed
on stretches and borne away.
Scores Of newspaper men were pres
ent. while embalmers. wearing linen
dusters which looked like butchers
frocks, were among the crowd.
AsTOR's BODY REMOVED.
Col. Astor's body was brought off the
ship shortly before noon and taken,
with others. to the morgue.
Capt. +. II. Lardner then received
interviewers on board and described
the work of the Mackay-Bennett at
sea.
The captain tod Of the finding of the
BODY thOuSnt 10 DC tilat OF MT Wiue-
ner, which was buried at sea. George
Widener. Jr.. talked with the captain
Tuesday and feels sure that it was the
body Of Edward Heating, MIR. Wide
ners valet.
Relics of the great Titanic dotted the
sea over an area thirty miles square.
Capt. Lardner said. Doors. windows
and chairs by the score We're found
floating, but to none of them were
bodies dashed. In several instances
there were groups of floating bodies
numbering fifty or more. but none were
dashed together. Col. Aston was found
standing almost erect in his life belt
Small boats were lowered by the
Mackay- Bennett whenever group Of
bodies was sighted. and into these the
dead We're piled three or four ut
time. Hauled on board the cable ship,
each was numbered with a large can
vas tag and the valuables and papers
were placed in canvas sack similarly
numbered.