Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-05
PUT WOMEN AND
CHILDREN FIRST
Goodness of Crew and Passen-
gers of the Monroe Ac-
counts for Rescues.

New York, Jan. 30-rhe presence of mind
OF crew and passengers alike was respon-
sible for the saving of SO many lives from
the Old Dominion liner Monroe, which
sank off Hog island early to-day, accord
ing to a statement issued here tonight by
II. b. Walker president and general man
ager of the Old Dominion Steamship line.
through James Leyland, superintendent of
the main line division.
In his statement Mr.. Walker says shat
Capt. +. e. johnson. master of the Mon
roe, launched lifoboat No with the aid
Of eight volunteers and then picked up
81 persons who had jumped into the water
just before the liner went under, making
the total saved by this boat 81. Equally
good work was done by First officer Guy
Horsley, who after launching boat No. 3
with ten passengers, rescued a persons
who had jumped from the deck of the
steamer. Tifeboat No 1 was smashed as
she landed in the water, and No. 2 cap
sized.
Fourteen persons were saved by two
boats from the Nantucket One of the
llfc crafts of the Monroe proved the
means Of saving the lives of six, while
another saved four persons.
Second Officer j. f.. Ciately went below
Immediately after the collision TO ascer-
tain the extent of the damage done. He
found most Of the passengers on the prom
enade deck. He tried to get them on the
boat deck, but did not succeed. When
the Monroe went down he hoated off on
ladder and was later picked up.
LAW OF SEA COST LIFE.
The law of the sea, that women and
children must he saved first, cost the
chief wireless operator of the Monroe his
life. He was standing by boat No. 3
when he saw a woman without a life
belt and promptly gave his. Mr.. Walkers
statement counts him among the dead.
The woman was saved
One of the passengers. mining en-
gineer followed the example of the chief
wireless operator. What became Of him
has not yet been learned
Nineteen passengers of the Monroe have
so far not been accounted for. the state
ment says. To the list of those saved
names Of Mrs. ]. NJ. Ray, z. p. Lyons and
b. r. ernon. Due to the fact that
they were dazed from shock when picked
not be learned earlier.
The members Of the crew known to have
been drowned are:
Third assistant engineer. chief wireless
operator, a quartermaster, two deck
watchmen and two bow ookouts
When the presence of another vessel
was suspected by the officers of the Mon
roe the statement adds, the vessel was
immediately stopped and the whistle was
blown once This signal was answered by
the Nantucket with two whistles. In re-
ply to this the Monroe whistled twice, be-
ing answered in the same manner by the
Nantucket. The Monroe then kept her
whistle going, but received no further
signals. 1t is declared. A few seconds
later the vessel was rammed by the
Nantucket shaft No. / port on the star
board side.
WIFE DUMB WITH GRIEF
A dramatic incident occurred late to-
day at the office here Of Capt James
Leyland, superintendent OF the Old
Dominion steamship line Mrs. j. f. Gate
~, wife of the second officer of the Mon
roe, % years old and mother of three chill
dren. accompanied by the sister of Gate
with blanched face, unable TO utter a
word. She turned appealing eyes to her
companion. who was on the verge of
breaking down, but found no comfort
Don't tell me he's gone" she finally
managed to gasp. at is more than we
can stand. We have been near your
Office for several hours, but have been
AFRAID to inquire what became of him"
Captain Leyland could do no more than
say that he hoped that her husband had
been saved by some passing steamer
sadly the two women turned away They
had hardly boarded n trolley car. how.
ever, when word was received in the Of
flee that the name of Gately should be
placed among the saved. A clerk was
Immediately sent after the women with
the good news.