TITANIC ENGINEERS HONORED.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 1

TITANIC ENGINEERS HONORED.

UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL AT SOUTHAMPTON. Impressive .scenes marked the unveiling of the memorial .to the Titanic engineers by Sir Archibald Denny, Bart!,' president ol' the institute ,of Marine Muffineers, at Southampton. Over 10,00!) people were present, and in the foreground was a sad group of widows whose husbands went down with the ill-fated vessel. Behind them, on either side of the monument, the centre feature of which is a statue of Glory resting upon a boat prow in bronze, practically all the engineers: of the port were mustered. In the centre were the surpliced choir, and clergv, and beside these the officers of the Territorial units. The service was conducted bv the aural dean, the Rev. De Vi'lle. Lovett, assisted by the Rev. John Mor-i-iss. Baptist minister.

The chairman, Colonel Albert W Swalm, United States Consul, said that never before had the town been so heavily taxed by a common sorrow. "Why a memorial to one professional class?" might be asked; the answer was that the appreciation of the world demanded it. The engineers died at'the post of duty, and in everv engine room of every steam-driven craft "they received the highest honor. Sir Archibald DennY'paid a glowing tribute to the bravery of the engineers. They must have spoil known, he said, that no pumping power could do more than delay the final catastrophe, vet they stuck pluckily to their ; duty, driven back from boiler room-to boiler room fighting for every, inch of draught to give time for launching the boats. '' He compared their action with that of the men of the Birkenhead, but whereas the soldiers stood together in the open air, their comrades worked below and perished in the dark. He unveiled. the monument that it might be for all time a witness of their gratitude and an inspiration to succe/eding generations to tread fearlesslv in the path of duty.

The "Last Post" was sounded bv Boy Scout buglers, and the monument was formally taken over bv' Alderman Sharp on behalf of the corporation.