New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-01
SeaWOrthineSS of Vessel on
Which al PeriShed Is
Questioned.
SAVED TOTAL So;
SEVERAL VERY ILL
First Survivors of Wreck Arrive
Here-Tell How Others
Died in Collision.

maj tally OF the drowned and rescued
and details OF the tragedy of the sea
IN which the Merchants and Miners
liner Nantucket rammed and sank the
old Dominion pride, the Monroe. are
all that remain TO continue alive the
story Of Thursday nights terrible fog
All told, forty-one died in the cold
waters of the Atlantic. thirty miles Off
Cape Charles. when the Nantucket
sank the Monroe. OF these nineteen
were passengers and twenty-five were
members Of the crew. Ninety-eight
were saved. Thirty-eight of these were
passengers and sixty were members OF
the crew
The federal investigation at Norfolk
has disclosed nothing but praise for the
crew. In the ten minutes during which
the Monroe SANK in fifteen fathoms OF
water the crew behaved splendidly
has been that OF the judgment OF the
master Of the Nantucket in backing off
after his ship struck the Monroe. IL is
contended by some mariners that he
should have continued ahead and re-
NAMED locked with the Monroe until
he had sscertained the extent of the
damage done that ship. Others say his
navigation was perfect. and that his
first duty was TO his own ship and her
safety until he had found what oh
stace had been struck.
The Nantucket Saved Them.
This the captain did, and 1t is to the
Nantucket that the survivors OF the 1879
souls aboard the Monroe owe their
lives. The Nantucket stopped, picked
them up and took them into Norfolk.
She lay yesterday in her dock at Nor
folk, battered by the collision and the
object OF the curiosity of thousands
who visited her. The cash in the
steamships bow was covered by can
OF the crew told the story OF the thick
fog and the collision.
From all accounts the Monroe went
TO the bottom like hunk Of lead. 1t
was not more than ten inmates from
the time of the collision until she had
disappeared in the cold waters OF the
Atlantic. Her siren whistle, sound d
continuously by an automatic device
for fogs, was still working when she
went down. Her last breath was an
angry screech Of warning. ara when
were fOundering in the waves.
The quick sinking Of the Nom oe
brought from Newport News, where
the Monroe was BUILT, the information
that as originally designed the Old Do
minion liner was unseaworthy. 1t was
recounted that after her launching she
was put ack for repairs and much of
her superstructure altered to make her
more seaworthy. The smokestack was
shortened one mast removed, a hurri %
cane deck observation cabin taken off
top weight. Even after these altera
tons it was found that the Monroe
abnormal freebOard was a menace TO
safety and a discomfort TO travellers
because of her labored roll in bad
weather
Harrinston's Story.
The survivors Of the disaster re-
manned in Norfolk hospitals or depart
ed for trains. The statement of one
man, Thomas F. Harrington, Of Bridge
port, Conn. who swan for two hours
towing his wife, whose hair he held in
his teeth, epitomized them all. Har-
ringtons wife died on the deck of the
Nantucket after his heroic battle 20
save her.
I'm too weak" said Harrington yes
terday at the Pennsylvania Railroad
station, through which he passed es-
corting his wife's body home. I'm too
sick to talk about the disaster. II was
horrible. | can hardly remember the
terrible details. All know is that my
wife is dead"
The investigation at Norfolk is under
the direction Of Assistant Secretary of
the Department of Commerce Sweet,
at Washington. Robert Tapley, steam
boat inspector at Norfolk, and Edward
w. Brey, inspector Of boilers, are as
sisting him. The two shipmasters were
witnesses yesterday, but little was
learned from them except as TO the de-
tails Of the collision.
First Survivors Arrive.
The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad train, when
arrived here at :32 o'clock yesterday
morning from Norfolk. Va, brought the
first survivors OF the steamship Mon
roe. on the train were Thomas r.
Harrington. of Bridgeport. Conn. George
NJ. NARROW. OF the Macaria Dramatic Com
pany. and the three Williamson brothers.
George. John ard Howard. members OF
the crew OF the Monroe.
NARROW. who was met by Edward p
Finley and Miss Dorothy Daily, went -
the home Of Mr. Finley. No. 242 West 3sth
street, where he told his story OF the dis
aster
81 was in my stateroom. on the star
board side 81 The boat. we'll forward"
ne said. About / :53 my cahnmate
aroused me. He was very much excited
and said that there had been an acct
dent.
preservers and went out on deck. | had