The Florizel Disaster

More Bodies Arrive – One Unidentified.

            Eight bodies recovered from the Florizel were brought to the city yesterday, one by the Terra Nova direct and seven by train.  The remains of the latter were landed from the Terra Nova at Cape Broyle and placed on board the Trepassey train from where they were conveyed to the Goulds station and given in charge of Undertaker Carnell, who assisted by an able and willing staff of workers prepared most of the bodies for burial, the remainder being made ready at the morgue this morning.  The identified bodies are: F. C. Smythe, George Massey, Miss Massey, Miss Kehoe (Stewardess), Walter Richards, James Crockwell, Manual Rodriguez, Thomas Garcia and one unidentified, possibly a seaman or second class passenger whose appearance is familiar to undertaker Carnell and others who viewed the remains at the morgue this morning.  None, however, could recall the man’s name.  The remains of F. C. Smythe were found on the deck of the steamer dressed in night attire and was neither bruised nor broken.  Death was due to exposure.  The funeral will take place this afternoon at 2:30 from his late residence Military Road and interment will be at Belvedere.  George Massey’s body was identified by a Masonic emblem, cheque books and correspondence.  His body was found on the main deck fully dressed and on his person was a large amount of money.  Death was due to exposure.  The remains were embalmed yesterday and will be sent to his late home Chicago, U.S.A. by Sunday’s express.  Mr. Massey represented the firm of R. B. Boak & Co., a large fish dealing concern in Chicago.  The body of Miss Massey, daughter of the foregoing, was fully dressed and met death through exposure.  Her remains are being embalmed to-day and will be sent home with her father’s on Sunday.  Miss Kehoe’s body when picked up on the beach was fully dressed, she also meeting death with exposure.  Walter Richard’s body was identified by Capt. Miller of the schooner Emily Anderson with whom deceased had sailed on several voyages.  He is a native of LaHave, N.S., where he leaves a mother.  The remains are also to be embalmed and sent home for burial.  The body was in an unbroken condition when found.

            James Crockwell’s remains were found to be fully dressed and death was due to drowning.  The deceased was of great physique, weighed about 240 pounds and stood 6 ft. 6 in.  He was under 30 years of age.  The remains were sent to his late home, Bay Bulls, for burial, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Constable T. Murphy.

            The remains of two Spanish firemen, Thomas Garcia and Manual Rodriguez, were identified by their fellow shipmate Joe Fernandez.  Garcia’s body was hooked up from the forecastle, and that of Rodriguez on deck; his jawbone being fractured and one of his legs broken.

            We since learn that the unidentified body at the morgue is Gerado Rodriguez, a Spanish fireman.

The Evening Telegram March 1, 1918


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