The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-30
RECOVERY OF BODIES GRUESOME TASK IN.
 FOG AND ICY SEAS

His Majesty's Naval Dock, Halifax, N. S., April 3O-The steamer Mackay- Bennett, with the Titanic victims on board, berthed at the pier here at $40 (Atlantic time) The work of un- loading the bodies was at once be- gun.
 As the Mackay-Bennett drew into dock boat already manned hung from the starboard davits. It was cropped and line brought ashore. Within five minutes the vessel was safely docked with heavy hawsers holding her stern and bow. AS she swung in she looked her part of mor- que ship. She was sea worn and weather beaten after her stay at sea. Along her starboard deck amidships were scores of loosely piled bundles of every imaginable color, evidently the clothing taken from the bodies picked up Each bundle was marked with al large square of burlap on which was printed number. On board were the representatives of the White Star Line who had boarded the vessel at the entrance to the harfnr. They warned everyone on the dncK against attemptt # tf board ths vessel and proceeded with the arrangements for taking off the bodies. Only two mourners were on the dock
 They were the maid of Mrs. William Augustus Spencer. Eliza Loretta, and J. A. Kenyon, of southfnston, Con- necticut. searching for his brother. Mrs. Spencer's husband was lost on the Titanic.
 As the undertakers boarded the death ship, the dead for whom no cof- fins had been provided could be seen lying on the deck amidships.
 Some of the bodies were wrapped close as mummies in burlap and can-l vas bound with heavy line. Others were uncovered in long rows, a mass of arms legs and heads. These bodies the undertakers began to re- move at once, carrying them on stretchers to the waiting wagons Al huge tarpaulin was lifted from amid ships and another great group of dead were uncovered.
 Evidently no care had been possible for them. They lay stretched beneath the big canvas with arms and legs in cramped positions, caked with sea salt and with huge brown stains on every face. Distorted features. twisted out of all shape and giving each face a horrible grimace. marked every face and staring, unseefng eyes 1eered from the death group as the undertakers prepared to move the bodies.
 Outside the gate Nof the dockyard group of mourners had been held up because they had not been given passes. They had passes to the mor- que but the dockyard authorities re- fused to honor them. Besides these there were few about the place. Hali- fax went on quietly about it's busf- ness, passing with averted faces the death wagons that hurried through the streets.
 long. double row of bareheaded sailors clad in blue overalls was stretched from the group of dead amidships to the covered gangplank. The undertakers lifted a body, plac- Al ;% ;r eli nd the sailors lifted it.
 It was passed down the row from hand to hand until 1t came to the gangplank There undertakers grasp ed it, placed the body in rough pine box, lefted the box to a wagon and after the Mackay-Bennett docked bodies were leaving the ship at the rate of one a minute. The uni | identified bodies were taken off first. | They were ins big group that lay amidships uncovered and unembalm-j 1 ed.
 The body on board the Mackay. Bennett supposed to be that of George D. W1dener may not be the Phfladel- phia millionaire. It was possible that the body identified as Widener may be that of his valet.
 "Valets often wear their masters clothing without removing the name tags,'' said Captain Roberts. "and the body on board was identified as MT. Widener by the name on the clothing. The head is badly crushed and 1t will be impossible to identify the fea- tures."
 A coffin pulled from the pile on he after deck of the Mackay-Bennett was opened and Captain Richard Rob- .rts of the Astor yacht looked at the ,ody it contained. After gazing at t for a moment he turned away, say ng:
 Tt is he''
 Captain Roberts had made certain hat Colonel John Jacob Astor's body vas in the coffin.
 Captain Lardner outlined the meth- ,d of caring for the bodies after they lad been picked up.
 We had five men in each small 'oat.'' he said. When they went out o look for bodies they kept within light of the bridge of the Mackay md we signalled them by wig wag. When they picked up over five bodies, f the weather was heavy we would ,ring them in. If the weather was alm they could handle seven or eight n a boat. The bodies were foisted m board and when they were search d the contents of the pockets and heir valuables were placed in canvas ,ags having on them the same num- ,er as the body. In this way we made some identifications. long after he bodies were taken aboard
 we brought in the bags of all those vho were buried at sea and some of hose who were committed to the deep