Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-31
Lost Wife and Child.

c. w. Poole, en- route from Grey
Va, with his wife and baby boy, to
visit in Massachusetts had his wife
and child washed from his arms over
the rail Of the sinking Monroe. Poole,
overwhelmed with grief. will return to
his Virginia home tomorrow.
Ed German of New York, walking
upon the side of the sinking ship, met
a girl whom he begged to jump with
him into the sea. The girl refused and
perished, German was picked up by
a passing boat.
J. Gately, an officer of the Monroe,
gave his life preserver up to a wo-
man who had none and after being
washed into the water saved himself
by selling a floating ladder.
Miss Sally McCombs, a member of
the Macaria Theatrical Co.. was in
lifeboat with West Indian Negro,
who became panic-stricken and grab
bed Miss McCombs' hair He had to
be beaten almost insensible before he
would free the woman.
C. II. Davids told now frenzfed
Negro, standing upon the sinking Mon
roe, asked another Negro for pocket
knife, cut his own throat and then fell
into the sea. Though some OF the Ne
groes lost their courage in the end,
there has been notable commendation
OF their conduct generally.
Crews Conduct Admirable.
f. p Lyons said THE Monroe's crew
behaved splendidly. There were not
very many women on the ship, but
they were allowed to get into the boats
first There was no effort on the part
Of the men to crowd.
Many people must have been caught
in their staterooms The collision oc-
CURED so suddenly and the boat sank
so quickly it's wonder that many
more were not drowned. The listing of
the steamer made 1t impossible to low
er the lifeboats on one side of the ship,
and that added TO the difficulty in saw
ing lives
Mrs T. J. Woods of Norfolk was hur-
ryine to New York to be with her hus-
band, whose death occurred there al
most simultaneously with the sinking
of the Monroe this morning. Mrs.
Woods with a wounded head was borne
from the steamer Nantucket today,
ignorant of her husbands death. She
was almost overcome from exhaustion.
She had been pulled by rope through
one of the Nantucket's port holes.
Miss McCombs. one of the nine OF
the Macaria Theatrical Co. SURVIVORS
owes her life to the bravery OF Charlie
sutton. a native of Hartford, NJ c.. and
a member of the Monroe's crew, who
haped overheard from the founderins
ship and kept her afioat until they
reached one of the Nantuckets life-
boats.
Miss Hilda Havland. leading lady OF
her company, appears to have been seri-
ously affected from her severe expert
ences in the disaster.
The Monroe went down easily and there
was but little suction.
Can't. T, E. Johnson, who commanded
the Monroe, came from the Nantucket
much depressed. He declined to make
any statement until he has time to make
an official report to the officials OF his
company.
The steamer Nantucket after remaining
for some time on the scene of the acct
dent was Joined by the Old Dominion
steamer Hamilton. bound from New York
to Norfolk. and was conveyed by her to
Norfolk. Thousands of people crowded
the river front to watch the Nantuckets
arrival at Norfolk. Doctors had been
sent In tugs to meet her az well as Unit
ed States local steamboat inspectors and
lawyers representing both steamship
companies
The coroner of Norfolk will institute an
inquiry bearing on the death of Mrs
Harrington and Lieut. Curtis. The local
United States steamboat inspectors will
proceed with an early inquiry as to the
disaster generally.