Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-28

Stephano, which was sunk by the German
submarine U-53 off Nantucket on Sunday
night, october 8. 1916.
She had been continued in the service
between st. Johns and New York but
since the United States entered the war.
her movements had not been given public
ity.
The Florizel sailed from here at eight
o'clock last night with a large nupmber
Of passengers and cargo which included
1O,5OO barrels of dry Goldfish and herring
for New York and 1900 barrels for Hall
fax her only port of call between st. Johns
and New York
BLIZZARD WAS BREWING.
A blizzard was brewing when she left
and II grew worse toward midnight put
abated in the early morning hours. the
Florlzel would have to proceed southwark
along the coast toward Cape Race ABOUT
CO miles distant. Mariners here think she
probably put her head seward TO rae out
the storm and that when tho wind mooer-
atcd somewhat toward morning. her COM
mander, thinking ne had passed south OF
Cape Race, turned westward.
The shin struck In Broad Cove abcut
ZOO a. m. She sent one wireless message
Of distress which was received at the
Cape Race radio station saying that she
was ashore and in imminent danger OF
obstruction. Her wireless apparatus
worked haltingly and soon was silent
Nothing further was heard from her and
n g the cove is in a remote and sparscly
settled district 1t was not until late IN
the forenoon that rescue party reached
the scene. They discovered the Florizel
lying well ,nsnorc, and subjected to
mcrciless pounding by the heavy seas.
UNABLE TO GIVE AID.
Small boats could not live in the surf
and efforts TO escape from the ship were
hopeless. while in thc absence Of life
saving equipment, no assistance could
be rendered from snore
Men could no seen on the bridgs sig
Mailing for help and some had dashed
themselves IN the rigging.
Gradually under .be buffeting Ct tho
waves the hull disappeared from view and
artes few hours ths vessel was almost
submerged while men in tn. rigging still
s.gnalled frant!cal.y. nut hclelessly. for
aid.
Meanwhile arrangements had been made
TO send tho Terra Nova. a eeal.ng vessel
to tie aid of the FloYiael. and special
train carrying physicians. r,irses and
supplies was made uI' and despatched
to the point nearest tho scene o. the
wreck.
The crew of the FloriEel included one
woman, Miss E. McHardy, the stewardesa.
Thu vessel was commanded by Captain
w. j. Martin. master o! long expert
ence and who was credited with the full
confidence Of the owners. The purser.
+. II. Jones. was chief purser of the
Red Cross line and was serving on the
Stephano when the latter was sunk by
the German submarine off the Massa-
chusetts coast.
The Florizel was owned by the New
York. New Foundlsnd & Halifax Steam
ship Co., known as the Red Cross line.
of which c. T. Bowring Co.. Ltd. of
/ Liverpool and New York are the agents.
In recent weeks she had departed from
her schedule and she was frequently used
by the British government as a despatch
boat between this port and New York.
Her passengers have included notable
personages. She was due at Halifax to-
morrow morning and in New York next
/ Thursday.
The ship was built in 1909 and registered
1880 tons net. The vessel was valued
at $1,OoO,OO0 and her cargo at $500, OOO
Both were fully insured.
| The Florize conveyed the first New
Foundland regiment across the Atlantic
In October, 1914, accompanying other ships
carrying the original Canadian contin-
gent
| New York. Feb. 24.-Late this Afternoon
the following telegram was received her,
by Sir Edgar Bowring, managing director
OF the Red Cross line, from Eric Bowrinf
at st. Johns
Commissioner of wreckng who is a
scene at 100 H. M advises Florizel a tota
loss; also probably all lives lost. Six bodie.
have been picked up. Some men seen OF
wreck but no indications Of life. Seas nov
breaking over her Sides"
Another telegram from the same sourc.
received later reads:
Telegraph operator reports that Florize
is under water from funnel aft. Forward
seas continually breaking over her cabir
decks" /.
/ New York, Feb. PA message filed a.
st. Johns at 7:30 o'clock tonight received
at the offices here Of Bowring & Co. CAV,
hope that some of those who were aboart
the Florizel might still be alive It wa,
signed by a representative Of the line WHIT
had just arrived at the scene of tn,
disaster and said a light had been seer
on the wrecked steamship.
New York. Feb. A.-The fleeing hop
that few of those aboard the wav,
battered steamship Florizel. wrecked nea
Cape Race, might still be alive virtual,
was abandoned tonight. Naval gunner
who went to the rescue on a relief trail
sent from st. Johns, put rockets and lin
on board shortly before nine o'clock blu
there was no response