" BE BRITISH."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 7

" BE BRITISH."

CAPTAIN SMITH'S LAST APPEAL COUNTESS COMMANDS A BOAT. NEW~YORK, 20th April. Survivors state that when the Titanic crashed into the iceberg off Cape Race on Sunday night she was steaming twenty-one knots an hour, according to instructions to keep up speed and break the first-voyage record. All commend Captain Smith's heroism. He was literally washed away from his post. When the boats had got clear of the ship, the captain said: — "Men, you have done your full duty. You can do no more. It's every man tor himself." Before the ship sank he megaphoned to the mass of men on deck : "Be British P Later, the captain was seen helping those struggling in the water. He refused to avail himself of an opportunity to save himeelf. Many passengers retired to bed, convinced that the ship .would not sink, while others stood by tho rail ridiculing as landlubbers those who were' taking to the boats. Colonel Gracie, who was rescued after a sensational experience, declares that when he reached the surface he found the second officer and young Theyer swimming near him. One of tho steamer's funnels fell, scattering bodies in the water. An explosion blew the ship's barber off the deck. When the rafts were full several persons piteously begged for help, but the crew, for their own self-preservation, refused to permit more aboard. All on the raft prayed throughout tho weary night. The Countess of Rothes, who 10 an expert oarswoman, practically commanded the boat in which' she was placed, when she found the men could not row properly, and several women took the places of weak and unskilled stewards at the oars. (Received April 22, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, 21st April. The steerage passengers included 120 from Marseilles.