The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-09
Horrible Fate Befell Alonzo
Martin. Boatrnan, at
Work in Harbor.
DRIVEN THROUGH
HIS WRECKED BOAT
Was Running Lines When
Anchor Was Let Go. Com
panion Had a Close Call.

Carried TO MS death wnen struck cN
ships anchor weighing more than
ten tons. 1t is said, Lonne Martin,
young man well-known in tho city,
was instantly killed yesterday after
noon at o'clock. while assisting i'm
docking an italian steamer, which was
taking a berth under the coal chute
for a bunker supply. The young man
was in a boat with Tom Crutchfield.
and the latter had close shave the
ponderous anchor missing him by
fraction OF a few inches. He felt
the swish OF the great piece of iron
and steel as IL crashed through tho
boat he and young Martin occupied at
the time. and was almost drowned be-
fore he could get cut OF the water into
which he was plunged when the an
chor went through the boat, and, as
stated, CARRIED young Martin to his
death. The boat was wrecked.
A report OF the Dreadful affair wa
made to Coroner Will L. Johnson, who
Immediately repaired to the scene and
made careful inquiry into details. An
inquest was considered unnecessary,
he said, and the remains were at once
turned over to relatives. and Under
taker Pou was asked to come for the
remains.
The Italian steamer Attenti Allie
Eliche was the vessel which loosed
the anchor. and sent the young man 10
his death. This steamer was bel ng
warped into her berth, as stated, and
1t was claimed that the stiff wind
from the northwest at the time made
the vessel very difficult to handle.
Deputy Harbor1naster Frank Gobhich
was in charge Of the bridge at the
time. and the launch Mary. of tho
Hyer Launch Company. containing
Crutchfield and young Martin. was at
tend ng to the lines. docking large
vessels at Pensacola, 1t is customary
to make use of small launches to carry
hawsers from ship to dock. and once
fastened the steam donkeys take in
the slack and pull the ship to the side
of tho pier and eventually land her in
her assigned berth. Capt. Hyer. and
Messrs. Crutchfield and Martin as
stated. went In the launch Mary and
Capt Hyer was the man. with another
assistant who was on the dock receive
ing and making fast the lines. In
charge Of the launch Mr.. Crutchfeld
received an order from the steamer TO
take out the bow i.ne and lead it 10
the pier at Muscogee coal chutes This
order was being obeyed when the oc.
currence took place The Mary wa.
showed under the bow OF tho italian
steamer named, and was squarei- un-
der the bow anchor In some unac-
countable rnanror and from some un-
explained source, an order cane TO
'let go the anchor and this order
was followed, the great weight going
over with rattle Of chains, q crash
ing of boat timbcrs andc arryiaE
young Martin to his death. "sThos>
who were looking ct the time stated
that he made no outcry-.hat the i'm
pact was fatal blow, an: that his
Death was painless. The anchor. how
ever. did not hit him squareIy. IL is
said but one OF the prongs struck and
caused instant death
STEAMER LIsELsp.
Within two hours after Aicnzo HAr.
TN had been killed yesterday after
noon, q libel for $4,000 was filed
against ths Italian steama,fp Attenti
Allie Elictse by Frank Martin. admin
tstrator OF the estats OF the deceased.
The libel alleges that Martin wSs.
killed through the care1essaess an.
Negligence OF the ofroers and agents
Of the steamship while hse was cc1.
ployed In fastening o linz on MuscS-
geo wharf to which the steamship ~ss
moving for the purpose OF taking
bunker coal.
The libel states that Martin was tn
small bost. carrying an end Of tbs
hawseP Eoua the steamship 20 ths
wharf. and that while alongside OF
the steamer tho anchor was lowered
or fell. striking him on tbs head.
crushing his body and wrec5emg the
boat.
Aside from tho unusual nature Of thu
accident the case has the added In
terest oS being the first Of its kinc
In Florida where the administrator ce
q 4eceaoed person nbels a steamship
in rem Tor the death Of . person.
In the Corsair cASs the Unftsd