Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-02-05
CAPTAIN OF MONROE BLAMES
NANTUCKET FOR SEA DISASTER

Many OF those picked up were ut
terly exhausted and unable to help
themselves. Several had to be hauled
Y the side of the Nantucket, unable
20 climb the rope ladder. Thomas R.
Harrington kept his wife afioat by al
most superhuman efforts, swimming
with her hair in his teeth, only to have
her die a few minutes after she was
hauled aboard the Nantucket. First
Lieutenant l.. B. Curtis, United States
army, kept himself ahoat until res
cued, but died after reaching the Nan
tucket.
Wireless Operator E. L. Etheridge
of the Monroe said that one boat
launched from the Monroe saved 2S
lives, and went back for a second load,
after transferring her passengers to
the Nantucket. Capt. johnson was in
this boat.
Two Life Boats Swamped.
1--WE picked up Hr. and Mrs. Har-
%rington," said Etheridge, "but the lat
ter died before we reached the Nan
ticket. We also picked up the body Of
a man. / believe it was that of Lieut..
Curtis. We had two women in our
boat. We tried to launch two boats,
but n of them was swamped. We
could not launch the starboard boats,
as the ship careened to that side.
Il sent out an S. o. S. call just be-
fore the ship went down. l remained
in the radio room until our current
was cut off. Then | followed Capt.
Johnson into the lifeboat. Neither of
us was in the water at any time.
capt. Johnson remained in the life.
boat until everybody we could find
had been placed on board the Nan
tucket."
Big Hole Torn in Monroe.
Capt. Johnson tells the following
story of the collision in his complaint:
AT about 1929 o'clock, approximate
ly, ships time, a fog signal of one
blast of a whistle from a steamer was
heard. 1t seemed to be about three
points on the %starboard bow. The en-.
gines of the Monroe were Immediately
stopped, and remained stopped for
about a minute, when a bright light
was observed about four points on the
starboard bow.
"As soon as this light was observed
two whistles were blown by the Mon
o and her wheel was put hard at
starboard. The engines were put full
speed ahead. 1t was impossible, how
ever, to avoid a collision, and the
Nantucket, coming on with apparent
ly undiminished speed, struck the
Monroe on her s~tarboard side, Just
forward of the pilot house, the col
lision taking place in less than a min
ute after the Nantucket's light was
first observed. A large hole was torn
in the side Of the Monroe below the
water line"
Sues Nantucket for 100000.
Declaring the loss of his vessel was
due to the carelessness of the conf
mander of the steamer Nantucket,
Capt. Johnson of the steamer Monroe
filed a libel against the Nantucket,
claiming a million dollars damages.
Action was filed in the United
States district court and papers were
served Oh officials Of the Merchants
& Miners Transportation company,
owners of the Nantucket, at Norfolk
and Baltimore.
In his complaint, Capt. Johnson al
leges that the Monroe was proceed
ing at half speed or less before the
accident and had laid to after hear
ing fog whistles.
He says the Nantucket came upon
him at such speed that a collision was
unavoidable, although he had ordered
his ship ahead at full speed to avoid
the blow.
The claimant says the financial
damage cannot be stated with accur-
acy at this time, but fixes the amount
at ~$1,000,000 upon information and
belief"
The complaint specifically charges
that the accident was due ''solely to
the carelessness, negligence and faulty
navigation of those on board of and
in charge of the steamer Nantucket"
Passengers and Crew Lost.
Revised list of the lost:
Passengers: Mrs. w. l.. Bolton, New
ark, N. j.; First Lieutenant LIE Grand
B. Curtis, Second coast artillery, Wat
erville arsenal, New York (died after
rescued; Mrs. D. Gobson, New York;
]. Haskell, Cortlandt, N. Y; Mrs.
Thomas R. Harrington, Bridgeport,
Conn. (died on steamer Nantucket);
W. H. Ingram, Sumter, S. c.; Mr..
Jolleff, Marcaria Theatrical company;
Mr.. Lewis, Marcaria Theatrical com
pany; j. Okakamata, Japanese; Mrs.
G. w, Boole and child of Gray, Sus-
ses county, Virginia; ]. F. Ray, New
York; J. Gilbert; M. Bolen, New
York; G. Rouier, New York; /. viii
son, New York; j. Edward, United
States navy; o. Wagner, United States
marine.
Crew: Boatswain N. Nelson; quar-
termaster, Guiles; bow lookout, "A.
Soydin; deck Waterman, L. Ward;
first wireless operator, Ferdinand J.
Kuehn; third assistant engineer, Brax-
ton Haskins, white ~stewardess, Mrs.
Courtney; colored stewardess, Patsy
Wallace; second cook, 7. White; third
cook, Joe Bradrolf: head waiter, p.
Davis. xaiters, ], Delk, j. Martin, A.
PraddrIa ID Prnvnrhs and W A Gard.