SYMPATHY and AID

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIV, Issue 25, 19 April 1912, Page 5

SYMPATHY and AID

/iN APPEAL TO SEAMEN. AUSTRALIAN CONDOLENCES. •Press Assn— By telegraph—Copyright (Received April 19, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 18. L:;rd Demnan sends condolence:? on behalf of the people of Australia, re los:. of the Titonic. NEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY. [Press Association.] ROTORUA, This Day. Mr. Havelock Wilson, General Secretary of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union of Croat Britain and Ireland, sent the following; cable to the secretary of the Union in London : "I appeal to the seamen of the world to give two days' pay each to relatives of the sailors, firemen, cooks and stewards of the Titanic. 1 will give l £loj and will ask the seamen of New Zealand and Australia." Tins appeal will be sent to every maritime owner in the world, as the English Union is federated to the National Union. Prior to his address at the Coronation Hall, Palmerston, last evening, tiie Mayor of Palmerston (x\lr. J. A. Nash) made feeling reference to the terrible disaster that had occurred in the great loss of lives through the wreck of the Titanic, and moved the following resolution:—"That this meeting expresses its profound and deepest sympathy with the relatives of the passengers and. crew of the Titanic in the sad and deplorable disaster resulting in the loss of so many lives, and also its admiration of the gallantry of the officers and men in sacrificing their lives to save women and children." The motion was carried in silence, the audience standing. Mr. Nash intimated that he would forward the resolution to the Prime Minister to-day. Similar resolution were carried yesterday at Mastcrton, by the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and by the Napier Borough Council.

TITANIC'S COMMANDER. Captain Smith, who was in command of the Titanic at the time of the collision, was the oldest servant in the White Star Line. He is between 68 and 70 .years of age, and has commanded all the latest vessels of the fleet, with the exception of the Oceanic, it is said that he was offered command of that vessel but refused. The reason of that refusal is told by an interesting story. It appears that there was some question as to whether Captain Smith or another commander (Captain Cameron) was commodore of the fleet, and it so happened that when the Oceanic was built Captain Smith's rival was appointed to command that vessel. Subsequently Captain Cameron died, and Captain Smith was offered command of the Oceanic. This he refused, and later on went to. the Adriatic, being content to Avait until the Olympic and then the Titanic Avere built. For 35 years he lias been commander, and up to the time of the mishap to tlie Olympic had not had any accidents. This Avas his first trip across the Atlantic in his neAv charge, and the result is already known. Captain Smith is said to be one of the coolest commanders afloat. A little story is told how on one occasion a mast on the Olympic carried away. At the time Captain Smith was sitting-in his cabin, and Avhen informed by an officer of Avliat had happened, he scratched his head and said : "Yes, sir, I heard the bump."