The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-31
VESSEL GOES
DOWN EASILY

A. G.~Brown of Brooklyn was among
those who were forced to walk along on
the side of the Monroe as she careened
just before sinking. Finally all were
washed into the sea. The Monroe went
down easily, however and there was lit
tie suction.
Capt. e. Il. Johnson, who commanded
the Monroe, came from the Nantucket
much depressed. He said he felt in no
condition to talk about the disaster and
would defer any statement until he has
made an official report.
The steamer Nantucket, after re-
naming for sometime on the scene of
the accident, was Joined by the Old
Dominion steamer Hamilton, New York
to Norfolk, and conveyed by her to
Norfolk
Thousands crowded the river front
to watch the Nantuckets arrival at
Norfolk. The ships decks were filled
with survivors wrapped in blankets
Physicians had been sent on tugs to
meet her. and there also was aboard
United States local steamboat inspec-
tors as well as lawyers representing
both steamship companies.
The coroner of Norfolk will go into
an investigation bearing on the death
of Mrs. Harrington and Lieutenant Cur
tis. Local United States steamboat in
spectors will proceed with an early in
quiry as to the disaster generally. The
date for this more important inquiry
has not yet been fixed and may not be
determined upon until John w. CAST
United States supervising inspector OF
steam vessels, returns from Washing
ton, where he is attending an annual
meeting of the supervising inspectors.
The Monroe, a passenger liner, which
also carried freight, put out of here al
| 7 o'clock last night on regular trip
to New York.
The lane of the coastal steamers be-
tween the two ports is comparatively
close to shore and on a clear nigh,
they never are out of sight of land
The Nantucket from Boston to Nor
folk, with freight, ordinarily gees to
seaward of certain points of the Mon
roe's course
The entire coast was enveloped by a
/ very heavy fog. Marines here did not
doubt that the two liners met in q
head-on collision.
The position of the ships which was
reported about 45 miles southwest OF
the Winter Quarter lightship would
place them near Hog Island.
| One wireless report which said Cap
tain Johnson of the Monroe was among
the rescued, led to the belief that the
Monroe sank very fast and that heI
passengers, aroused in the dead OF
little time to prepare for leaving q
ship fast sinking in icy waters.
Nantucket Lighter
The Nantucket, much lighter shir
than the Monroe, and about half her
tons. was believed to have probably
rammed a hole in the passenger liners
iron hull that flooded her lower CON-
partments and sent her down by the
head in much less than an hour.
The Old Dominion liner Hamilton
bound down from New York to Nor
folk, could not have been far from the
scene when the operations of the Nan
tucket and the Monroe began sending
S. o. s. calls.
Some of these reached as far north
as Boston. They were relayed up and
down the coast by the stations.
Almost Immediately every available
means of rescue was set in motion.
Within half an hour the revenue cut
ter Onondega was pointed toward the
capes, but as the collision occurred full
|ly five hours run away for her she
could hope to do little more than aid
the Natucket and stand by for the fog
to lift with daylight in good stead
There was hope the Monroes passen-
gers or crews might have gotten away
in Hfeboats and missed in the night.
Officials of both lines here early to-
day pressed Captain Berry of the Nam
tucket for a list of the survisors.
Officials of the Old Dominion line
prepared to check their passenger list
and make it known on the Nantucket's
arrival.
struggle in the cold sea, and the ex-