New Britain herald., 1928-12-10
s. 5. CELTIC HITS
 ROCKS OFF IRELAND
(Continued from First Page)

the harbor to the Cobh docks
 (A press association dispatch from Liverpool said it was under stood 27 survivors of the Eestris disaster were aboard the Celtic when 1t ran ashore.)
 White Star officials this afternoon said the Celtic was in no immediate danger. There was a heavy ground swell and a light southeasterly wind blowing.
 Rounding Southeastern Island in gale, the Celtic made for Cork Harbor and Cobh. her first port since she touched at Boston after leaving New York on the first of the month. The pilot could not be taken aboard because of weather condi- tions and the liner made for the harbor entrance which requires the l utmost skill to navigate even under ! normal conditions particularly for a ,21, ,000-ton ship like the Celtic. Instead of clearing the entrance, the liner moved at deadly slow speed, thus probably ayerting disas- ter, and rammed a ledge known as Cow and Calf Rocks almost directly under the famous Roches Point lighthouse.
 Nearly High Tide The Celtic grounded when it was still nearly high tide. Her wireless immediately told of her plight and | tugs were rushing to her aid. Ten ders which were awaiting inside the harbor to take off mails and pas sengers proceeded to rescue all of the passengers who were lined up on the decks and went over the side with their hand luggage to the little craft rising and falling in the rough water.
 l Only a few miles farther and the Celtic in her usual way would have cast anchor in the calm harbor and met the tenders which come out | from the docks to meet the big 1 ships from America. Left High As the tide receded, the Celtic was left high. helpless and almost dry in only IS feet of water 300 yards from Roches Point and from the lighthouse which shoots a fixed beam from an elevation 60 feet above water with a visibility of 13 miles in ordinary weather.
 Roches Point is life saving sta- ton and apparatus with party of lifesavers in charge was ready for any emergency.
 Only about 50 passengers were to have landed at Cobh and majority 1 of the remainder were still in bed | when awakened by the crash of the Celtic's grounding.
 Everything Orderly Most of the passengers were Brit ish subjects returning home from the United States but there were a number of Americans aboard. C. w. | Wilson of Toronto. was almost thrown out of his berth by the force of the impact. There was no panic. he said, despite the pitch darkness of the early morning and after the alarm everything was quiet and or derly.
 All the passenger were ordered to the decks and lifebelts were dis tributed. Twenty -eigi boats were prepared, but not lowered.
 Like many more, Wilson was only partly dressed when he came ashore. ' Arthur Packson of Trenton. N. J., en
 route to Liverpool, was on deck to
 get his first glimpse of pilot board
 ing big liner at sea. Instead he was
 almost thrown off his feet in the
 blinding rain and wind as the Gel
 tic crashed.
 No Disorder
 No disorder took place, although there was great alarm among the
 women passengers, some of whom
 tainted.
 F. Hamilton of New York said there was little or no excitement
 aboard the Celtic and that the work
 of disembarking progressed quietly and efficiently.
 The passengers heavy luggage and
 also some of the cargo will be sal vaged, it was stated. although the
 operations present great difficulty.
 The passengers either will be
 taken by train to Belfast, embarking
 on tonight's cross channel boat ar
 irving at Liverpool early tomorrow
 or the White Star line will charter
 special steamer to carry them from Cobh to Liverpool directly. Great Sensation
 Tine Celtic's plight created d great
 sensation in Cobh and hundreds oi
 sightseers went out to the nearest point to see the giant liner at the entrance to the harbor. Among the passengers were Cap
 tain William A. Moore. son of tn, Ulster lord chief justice, who hat been visiting in the United States. A passenger, John Joseph Xii coyn, was in the smoking room ; when the Celtic crashed. He die not realize that anything serious hau happened. although the liner trem bled from stem to stern while plants
 and glassware on the tables were thrown to the floor. kilcoyn and his friends continued : playing cards until a steward enter : ed and said quietly: Gentlemen why not get to your boat stations?' He served out lifebelts and everyon. went 10 the deck and stood by th~
 lifeboats for lowering. Perfect dis . cipline ruled, kilcoyn said. and tht crew behaved perfectly. When it developed that there
 was no immediate danger the stew.
 ard brought us breakfast" kilcoyr continued There was absoluteiy no panic"
 Waves Wild : E. Sheehan, salon passenger : who was on deck, sad that rock! loomed suddenly out of the mist ? They appeared so cloa. that i
 seemed to him as though he coult , have stretched out his hand ana