MR ISMAY'S STORY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12772, 25 May 1912, Page 5

MR ISM AY'S STORY

TELLS HOW HE WAS SAVED.

"WHAT KIND OF A MAN DO YOU THINK I AM."

Mr J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star Line, Avhcn seen .affer 1 his arrival m New York, said that his experience had taught him much.

"Hereafter I Avill see personally that every ship of the International Mercantile Marine is equipped Avith lifeboats enough to carry every living person on board," he declared. Ismay also said he wished the creAv of the Titanic to return immediately, not because he feared any exposures they might make, -but simply because the shore Avas no place for them. , They Avould get into trouble, he thought.

The published assertions that he had given orders to increase the speed of the Titanic m order to shoot by the icefields were absolutely unfounded, Ismay said.

In talking of *his rescue, after he had been questioned by the Federal investigators, Ismay said that it was absolutely untrue that the White Star management tried to keep from the public the details of the disaster. "There Avas no attempt to suppress anything, and any sensible person knoAvs how impos* sible that would be," he said. "I had nothing to do with anything that was sent out from the *Carpathia. The wireless ' was' not under my control, and, as a matter of fact, I did not make a request about Avhat should be sent. . I do not believe it possible that the officers m New York delayed giving out the neAVs of the sinking. I think the first news of the extent of the disaster went to the public almost as soon as it was received. The captain of the Carpathia came to me after we went on board 1 his ship and asked me if I Avanted to send a message to my company. ' I wrote one out then, and it did not get here until Wednesday, two days after messages came from Captain Haddock, . which Avent to the press immediately. A message that should have been here" hours before did not come until after or aboui the time the Carpathia arrived last night.''

When he was asked if there were any Avomen or children on the deck Avhen he Avent into the lifeboat, he said : "What kind of a. man do you think I am? Certainly there were no women and children around, and I thought they had all been saved. I think it was the last boat that was lowered that I went into* and I did then just Avhat any other passenger would do. And tell me how I was different than any other passenger? "I was not running the ship, and was asleep m my stateroom Avhen the collision occurred. If they say I am president of the company that owns the ship; then I want to know where >' you will draAv the line?

"As I lay m my stateroom on board the Carpathia I Ayent over every detail of the affair. There was nothing that I did that I am 'sorry for. I tried to think if I had done the right thing; and I can truthfully say that my conscience is clear. If it was otherwise, and if I thought for a moment that a life had been lost by any act or omission of mine, I would never have a happy moment again as long as I lived. I can't realise even iioav that the Titanic is no more. She represented all that' was great and fine„in ships. Not a, single thing had been slighted to make her safe. A few of the passengers Avho knew I was interested m the ownership^ c;ame to me. and congratulated me on .such a fine vessel.

"Many different stories, Or stories'differing m detail, have been told about the,, collision and' the sinking of the v ship. I do not believe .that any person can tell Avhat occurred, or the details of' Avhat took place. "The Senatorial Committee has been asking the second officer how many persons Avere m this boat, and, how many Avere m that one. I helped load several of the boats, , and I knoAv I could, not answer the quest jons about those. '

"I have offered to help' m any way I can> the investigation that is being conducted, but you can hardly blame, me for wanting to get back to my home. I lost all my clothing except what I have on, and it Avas only by the merest chance that I did not ship on the Cedric and return to England. If I had 1 suppose it would have been said- .that I was running away, Avhen, as a mat; ter of fact, I did not. know that any investigation was contemplated : until after the Carpathia arrived, last night."