The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-01
BY Associated Press.

Halifax. N. S., April 30.-While the
city's church bells tolled and British
flags fiuttered at half mast, the cable
ship Mackay- Bennett steamed slowly
into Halifax harbor this morning bear
ing the dead picked. up from the place
where the White Star steamer Titanic
sank.
AS soon as the ship was sighted
down the harbor, the canvas curtains
shielding the collins and embalmers
tents on the pier were lowered and
twenty sailors from the cruiser Niobe,
in the yard for repairs, lined up as
guard.
A woman was the first mourner to
arrive on the pier. She was Miss
Eliza Lurette maid of Mrs. Will
liam Augustus Spencer of New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were passengers
on the Titanic. Mr.. Spencer went
down; Mrs. Spencer was saved. The
rnaid hopes to find her late employer s
body.
Her own flag at half mast, the death
slip docked slowly. Her crew manned
the rails with barred heads and on the
aft deck were stacked the coftins with
the dead.
Members Of the crew, talking over
the side, said that every body picked
UP had on a life belt and there were
mo- bullet holes in any. Many un-
coffined dead lay on the forward deck.
COY cred with tarpaulins. AS the un-
dertakers came aboard 1t was de-
cided to take of these bodies first.
John Jacob Astor's body, It was said,
was somes. here in the pile Of rough
cOfffns al tffe STERN. -.--s---
when the tarpaulin was thrown beck
more than fifty bodies were disclosed.
Men with stretchers quickly came on
-. - xrAr~ vel xzra q
begun swiftly. The total number OF
bodies on board was 100. It was neces-
sary to bury 116 at sea. Among those
brought to port are the bodies Of two
women.
Captain Richard Roberts, seeking
Col Astor's body, reported after q
conference with Commander Lardnel
OF the Mackay-Bennett that he was
sure the Identification was proper. he
added, however, that the body tdenti-
fed as that of George B. Widener, OF
| Philadelphia, was so mutilated thai
Captain Lardner could not say posi-
lively whether It was that of Mr.
! N-idener or of his. valet
/ After a second conference with tht
commander of the Mackay- Bennett
/ Captain Roberts announced that there
was no doubt of the Identification O
Col. Astor's body. In the pockets
$2,S00 cash had been IounQ ana M
wore a belt with gold buckle. Tht
body identified as that Mr.. Wtdenel
was buried at sea.
At IL o'clock the work of removing
the dead from the forward deck hat
not been completed. None Of the cot
fins had been touched.
It was predicted that the mere worl
OF unloading would take perhaps al
day. AS fast as the bodies were pu
oa the pier they were placed in wagons
and taken up the hill to curling rink
where they will be prepared for inspec
tion.
Col. Astors body was brought Ct
the ship at noon and taken with other
to the morgue.
CAPTAIN F. H. Lardner then receives
interviewers and described the worl
CT the Mackay-Bennett at sea.
The total number Of bodies found
he said, was 3o6 OF these 11s. mos
OF them members OF the Titanic's GREY
and unidentified. were consigned to tn
sen and the remaining 100 brought t
Halifax Only 1S bodies Of wome
were found afloat. The exact nurnbe
OF identified among the 100 brough
here, Captain Lardner preferred t
leave to an Official statement to b
issued tonight by the White Star au
thorities.
The cartain told OF the finding c
fcnntInued on PAGE Three.l