Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-30
CORPSE OF JOHN J. ASTOR
identified BEYOND DOUBT
Found in Erect Position in Water,
With $2,5OO in Clothes.
UNLOADING SHIP TEDIOUS JOB
Captain Says 116 Victims Were
Buried at Sea-Relics Of Dis
aster Floated Over Area
Thirty Miles Square.


HALIFAX, N. s., April 3O-while the
city's church bells tolled and British
flags fluttered alta half-mast, the cable
ship MackayBennett steamed slowly into
Halifax harbor this morning bearing the
dead picked up from the scene where the
White Star liner Titanic sank. She
reached her dock in the navy yard at $40
o'clock.
AS soon as the ship was sighted down
the harbor the canvas curtains shielding
the cofins and the embalmers tents on
the pier were lowered, and twenty SAIL
ors from the Canadian cruiser Niobe, in
the yard for repairs, lined up as a guard.
A patrol boat was stationed in front of
the pier to prevent any craft docking in
the vicinity.
A woman was the first mourner to reach
the pier. She was Miss Eliza .Lurette, a
maid for Mrs. William Augustus Spen-
Ger Of New York. Mr.. and Mrs. Spen-
Ger were passengers on the Titanic. Mr..
Spencer went down: Mrs. Spencer was
saved. The maid hopes to find her late
employers body.
]. A. Kenyon Of Southington, Conn.,, ar
rived shortly afterward, hoping to iden-
ufy the body Of his brother, F. r. Ken
yop Of Pittsburgh.
Cs61ns Stacked on Deck.
Her own nag at half-mast, the death
ship docked slowly. Her crew manned the
rails with barred heads, and on the aft
deck were stacked the coffins with the
dead.
Members of the crew talking over the
side. said that every body picked up had
been in life belt. and there were no bull
let holes In any. Many uncofhneo dead
lay on the forward deck, covered with
tarpauIina. AS the undertakers came
aboard 1t was decided to take of these
bodies first. Col. John Jacob Astor's body.
II was said. was somewhere In the pile
of rough coffns at the stern.
White Star line officials had boarded
the ship down the harbor, and they su-
perintended the arrangements for the
docking. All told. there were not more
than half dozen mourners or their
representatives at the pier, for they
dreaded the sight and preferred to await
the work Of Identification at the morgue
The first body removed was that of
seaman.
When the tarpaulin was thrown back
more than fifty bodies were disclosed
Men with stretchers quickly came on
board and the work of removal went on
swiftly.
Women Among the Dead.
1t was announced that the total num-
be- OF bodies on board was 19O and it
hal been found necessary to bury no less
than ll6 at sea. Among those brought
TO port are the bodies Of two women.
Capt Richard Roberts. seeking Col.
A0fr bod
with Capt Larnder of the Mackay-Ben-
nett that he was sure the Identification
was proper. He added, however, that
the body identified as that Of George d.
Widener Of Philadelphia was 50 mutilated
that Capt. Larnder could not say posi-
lively whether 1t was that Of Mr.. Widener
or Of his valet.
After a second conference with the
commander Of the Mackay- Bennett,
no doubt Of the identihcatio of Col. As
tors body. In the pockets s., 800 in cash
Aad been found and he wore a belt with
gold buckle: The body identified as
At IL o'clock the work of moving the
dead from the forward deck had not bean
completed. None Of the cofiins had been
touched. No one without a special per
last of the cofYins was not removed urt;I
after / o'clock. AS fast as bodies we're
put on the pier they were placed in wer.
ons and taken up the hill to a curling
RINK. wnere they will be prepared for in
spection.
Small Crowd on Hand.
Citizens Of Halifax In general. cautioned
b. the clergy. remained away from the
vicinity Of the navy yard and only a thin
fringe Of humanity lined the walks ar
yards from the pier
Col Astor's body was brought OF ths
ship shortly before noon and taken. with
others. to the morgue. Capt. Larnde,
then received intervfewers on board and
described the work Of the Mackay-Ben.
The total number Of bodies found. he
said. was 306 or these. 116, most o1
them members of the Titanic's crew and
unidentified, were consigned to the YES
and the remaining 190 brought to Hall.
fax. Only eighteen bodies Of women wer.
found afioat- The exact number of iden
titled among the 100 brought here Capt
I.arnder preferred to leave to an ofncia
statement to be issued by the White sta,
authorities. The captain told Of the And
ing Of the body thought to be that Of
Mr.. Widener. which was buried at sea
George Widener. Jr, talked with the cap
tsjn today and feels sure that II was III,
b6dy Of Edward Keating. Mr.. Widener',
valet. There were letters I'm the pocke
addressed to George d. Widener, but tn,
initials on an overcoat were "E X" ant
the quality Of the underclothing was no
simiiar to that Mr.. Widerer wore.
Bodies Found in Groups.
Relies OF the great Titanic dotted thu
sea over an area thirty miles square
Capt LArnder said Doors. windows
and chairs by the score were found
foating. but to none Of them were
bodies dashed. In several instances
there were groups OF floating bodie.
numbering nifty or more, but none were
l2shed together. Col Astor was found
standing almost erect in his life belt.
Small boats were lowered by thu
Nackay- Bennett whenever o group o
bodies was sighted. and into these tho
CONTINUED on Second PagS)