The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-02-03

suribes Latest Atlantic Sea Dis
asterr
NORFOLK, Virginia, January
S1.-tAssociated Press by Federal
Wireless) Forty-thrce persons
persisted when the steamer Mon
roe of the Old Dominion line
foundered in the Atlantic a hun
bred miles off this port at two
o'clock yesterday morning. Many
Of the passengers went to their
death asleep for SO sudden were
they oycrtaken by disaster that
the alarm could not be sounded
and the vessel went down without
alifeboat being lowered from the
davits.
The disaster Is the result Of a
collision between the Monroe and
the steamer Nantucket, owned by
the Merchants and Miners Steam
ship Company. Both vessels were
making their way cautiously I'M
der slow bell in a dense fog off
the Virginia coast when the Nam
tucket sighted the outline Of the
Monroe dead ahead and within
fifty feet.
Signals for reversing the en-
gines were given and the helm
was swung hard about, but it was
too late to avoid a collision and
the following moment the bow of
tho Nantucket crashed into the
side Of the Monroe, hitting that
vessel amidships, tearing through
the steel and wood like finder and
opening up a hole for its entire
depth.
The, screams Of the startled pas
SINGERS could be heard above the
shrill commands Of the officers of
the doomed vessel. Then the Mon
roe was seen to settle. The Nan
tilcket backed .away, lifeboats
were at once manned and lowered,
and as the doomed steamer sank
from sight the work of rescue was
started by the officers and crew
of the Nantucket. The searchlight
Of the Nantucket was brought into
play and in this way survi-
yors were located clinging to
wreckage and rescued. However,
the icy sea numbed many who
were swimming and they went to
their death before any of the half
dozen boats could go to their res
cue.
Wireless reportswerc sent from
the Nantucket and early yesterday
morning the Nantucket, headed for
this port, was met by half dozen
vessels which had started for the
aid. The Nantucket stood by the
scene Of the disaster until daylight
to search for any who may have
survived, -.' ~ .
A count of the survivors
brought here by the Nantucket
shows that nineteen passengers
were lost and twenty-four mem
bers of the crew persisted. Thir-
ty-six passengers and fifty-fve
members Of the crew were saved.
Charles Jelleff, a well known
playwright, is among those who
persisted. lIilda Haviland, lead
ing lady Of the Macarin,T Theatrical
Company, was first reported
among those who had persisted,
but she was one of the first to be
brought ashore here upon the ar
rival of the Nantucket last night.
2 she wig inhafmed except for the
shock suffered in the collision and
her subsequent fight for life, cling
ing to piece of wreckage from
the doomed ship.
Lieut.. LeGrand III, Curtis, of the
Coast Artillery, graduate of the
class Of 1910 Of West Point, re-
Gently transferred to the ordnance
department and raised to the rank
of first lieutenant, also went to his
death in the Monroe.
eve had no warning Of the APP
preaching danger, ~ said Miss
Haviland,as she reeounted her ter
rible experience, and remarkable
escape hero last night Every one
must have been asleep, except members
of the crew, The last knew we We're
proceeding along the coast at q slow
speed. The captain told us the fog
made this necessary.
Bells Being Rung.
BELLS were being rung and the
whistle was sounded at frequent inter
walls. The captain told us there was
no need for alarm, for the ,sea was
smooth and other vessels then out were
H4..l. A.