THE TITANIC DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 5

THE TITANIC DISASTER.

THE CARPATHIA ARRIVES IN NEW YORK WITH

SURVIVORS OF THE WRECK.

CAPTAIN AND CHIEF ENGINEER COMMIT SUSGSDE JUST

AFTER THE IMPACT,

ALLEGATION OF SHOOTIN 3 TO PROTECT THE BOATS.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE DISASTER.

(By Electric Telegraph., —Copyr

ight —United Press Association.)

New York, April 18. The Carpathia arrived at Now York at 8.30 this evening, bringing with, her the passengers and crew who wore saved from the wreck of the Titanic. The interest attaching to the arri val of the steamer was intense. Never in the history of the city has the population been so terribly impressed. Notwithstanding heavy rain, enormous crowds gathered to await the arrival of the vessel. Ten Thousand Watchers. Ten thousand people gathered at the Battery, and watched her pass in an impressive silence. Thousands of relatives and friends, many of them weeping bitterly, were admitted to the pier. The docking of the vessel was delayed while thirteen of the Titanic’s lifeboats were lowered for the survivors. Captain Commits Suicide. Tho committee lias issued an official statement, in order to forestall sensational exaggerations. The statement is as follows: Tho Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40 on Sunday night, April 14, which the look-out man reported he had no time to avoid. The night was clear, cold and starlit. Tho 'boats were at once lowered. Captain Smith himself was on the bridge. His officers had previously wrested a revolver from him in the library, but he broke away, rushed to the bridge and shot himself through the mouth. The chief engineer also committed suicide. Three Italians were shot dead in a struggle to reach the lifeboats. The Carpathian Readiness. The Carpathia received a wireless call, and reached the scene of the disaster at 4 o’clock in the morning. She (iad everything in preparation for the work of rescue. The Complement. The Titanic’s complement of 2340 souls was made up as follows: First-class passengers ... 330 Second-class passengers ... 320 Third-class passengers ... 750 Officers and crew ... 940 ' Total 2340 Tho Survivors. The Carpathia rescued 210 firstclass passengers, 125 second-class passengers, 200 third-class passengers, 4 officers, 39 seamen, 90 stewards, and 71 firemen, leaving 1595 people unaccounted for. On the arrival of the Carpathia the friends of many of the survivors, who wore suffering from shock, were wheeled to the dock in invalid chairs. Prompt Action for Life-Saving. According to the statement issued by the Survivors’ Committee, orders were promptly given after the Titanic struck, for the passengers to put on lifebelts. The lifebelts were launched and distress signals sent out by wireless telegraphy. Rockets were also fired. The vessel sank at 2.20 in the morning. The captain and officers of the Carpathia gave the most touching attention to the survivors. The Titanic carried fourteen life- 1 boats, two smaller boats, four collapsable boats, and lifebelts sufficient for all on board. The boats were insufficient to carry everybody. Faithful Wives. There was no panic while tho women and children were leaving, everyone believing that their disembarkation was simply a measure of precaution. Several women were torn from their husbands when the order was given to rescue the women only. Several even then refused to leave, and were drowned with their husbands. Death in a Lifeboat. One woman died in the lifeboat, and three others after reaching the Carpathia. The Titanic seemed to break suddenly in two, according to the statement of one passenger. It is impossible to say what occurred on hoard after the survivors left. Too Sad for Tears. London, April 19. The Carpathia sighted sixteen boats at three o’clock in the morning. The little children were hoisted on hoard in hags, and the adults by ropes. Some boats were- crowded, and a few were not half full. There wore husbandless wives, and wives husbandloss, and children parentless, hut not a soli was heard. Five women died soon after their rescue, and were buried at sea. The list of missing prominent persons is unaltered. Woman’s Legs Broken-. Mrs Candee, ol Washington, had both legs broken while getting into the lifeboat. She states that most

of the men were picked up after thc\ had plunged overboard. She declared that Mr Butt and Mr Astor died like heroes. At the Time of impact. The Now York Herald says tha: Mr Charles Stengel, a New Yorker described the impact of the wreck a; terrific. Tons of ice fell, killing the men. The bows of tho vessel wen torn asunder, and the water poured in. Pandemonium reigned. He pay.? a tribute to the bravery of the sailor; and officers. The majority of the narratives, however, testify that there was no panic or shooting, and the impact was light. The Gracio Denttown reached raft on which thirty survivors were knee-deep in water, and picked them up. Allegation of Shooting. It is alleged that Mr Butt, while defending a boat against a rush, killed twelve and then shot himself. The story of the captain’s and chie; engineer’s suicide is not in the official statement, hut is part of a passenger’s narrative. As the Titanic sank the ship’s banc played “Nearer, rny God, to Thee.” Lamentable Insufficiency. (Received 20, 8.55 a.m. London, April 19. The statement points out the insufficiency of lifeboats and rafts, and the lack of trained seamen to mar the boats. There were insufficieni officers to carry out emergency order; on the bridge and superintend the launching and control of boats, alsc the absence of search-lights. The necessity of taking in passengers before lowering to the water prevented the boats taking their maximum. Many Prefer Suicide to Drowning. The captain jumped over-hoard when the decks werp awash. Revo! ver shots were heard prior to sinking. The evening--pirpers published rumours that the officers committed suicide, but the crew descredit this Members of the Stock Exchange brought twenty thousand dollars, foi distribution to the neediest. .. • •FHJ.’I Investigating Committee. The unexpectedly early arrival prevented the Senate’s Investigation Committee boarding the Carpathia bo fore she was docked. The chainnar states that he has learned that tin surviving officers and crew contom plated boarding the Cedric immediate ly to proceed to England, placing them selves beyond the committee’s jurisdiction. The chairman adds that he intends to tell Mr Ismay in order tr avoid trouble that the company and officers should assist in the inquiry. Deliberate Suppression of News. The Department of Justice, Wash ington, believes erroneous message; concerning the fate of the Titanic were a deliberate attempt to postpone knowledge of the wreck, and give time to reinsure the cargo. Science Master’s Description. •Mr Beasley, science master at Bui winch College, in a narrative, said there was fine weather and a calm sea on Sunday, when it was very cold. A slight jar was felt lasting ten to fifteen seconds or somewhat greater, but insufficient to create anxiety. The engines stopped. He thought they had lost a propeller. He went up on deck. There were only a few about. Passengers not Perturbed. Card players in the smoking room noticed the jar and looking out sav, an iceberg at the vessel’s side strik ing a grazing blow. He went to the cabin and returned to the deck later and found the ship unmistakably dowr at the head. He went below and heard the cry“ All passengers or deck with lifebelts on!” The passengers merely regarded this as a precaution. There was no panic oi alarm, and no visible signs of disaster. V/cmen Leave Quietly. The boats were swung out, and this awakened a sense of danger. The next order was:—“All men stand from the boats—women retire to the deck below!” As the boats reached the lower deck, the women quietly entered, with the exception of some refusing to leave their husbands, in some cases they were forcibly torn from their husbands and pushed into the boats, which, as they touched the water, slipped away into the darkness. There was no hysterical sobbing—am extraordinary calm reign cd. A Stoker’s Promptitude. The men was then ordered to the boats. He saw a boat half full of women on the port side. A sailor asked if there wore any more ladies on his deck. There were none. He was then invited to jump in. There was no officers’ boat. No one seemed to know what to do. They swung out under another descending boat

and tiie promptitude of a stoker cuti ting a fall prevented all being crushed. : The stoker then took charge. Entirely Different Stories Other accounts allege wild disorder and a maniacal struggle at the boat;; Hysterical passengers, who did not give their names, declare that tin captain and engineer committed sui cide. These stories, owing to the confusion of landing, could not be confirmed. Vessel Terribly Ripped. The mass of ice lipped the sid< like a gigantic can-opener from tin stem to the engineroom. Shortly he fore she sank she broke in twain ai the abaft engineroom, carrying witl her hundreds grouped on the decks Their cries were pitiable. The Captain’s Fats. Braden, a passenger, said the cap tain was standing alone. Once a wave upset him. Then as a boat sank another wave knocked him down and he disappeared. The Last of the Leviathan. Mr Beeley, continuing his story, says the leviathan liner loomed uj against the sky, every porthole blazing. At two o’clock she settled rap idly by the bows and the bridge wa: under water. The lights flickered and were then extinguished. Tin stern tilted and all the machinery roar cd down through the vessel with a rat tie audible for miles. About a bund red and fifty feet of the stern pro truded straight up for about live minutes and then there was a slanting dive, followed by appalling crie; for help by hundreds of humans in the icy water. Fullest Inquiry Courted 1 . Mr Ismay welcomes the fullest inquiry. Ho left the Titanic in the lasf boat. He has deferred his statement. The survivors from a safe distance witnessed the final plunge and heard the hand playing. Shooting Denifed; Colonel Gracio emphatically denies shooting. His revolver was once fired .to intimidate some steerage passengers. Colonel Astor’s Heroism, Colonel Aster, after placing his wife in a boat, asked permission to accompany her. The second officers said: “No, Sir! No man may enter the boats till the last woman is off!” Colonel Aster then assisted in clearing other boats and reassuring nervou; women. A Terrific Speed. Several survivors 'state that the Titanic was travelling at the rate oi 23 knots. Looking the Stable Dcor. All steamers already started westward have been ordered to travel further south. Mr Taft has been informed that Butt shot twelve people and was then himself shot. Women's Pitiable Plight, Among the most affecting scenes at the landing was the sight of women steerage passengers, who were thinly clad, shivering, their eyes red with constant weeping, and whom the charitable organisations speedily succoured. After the Plunge. When the Titanic plunged many people jumped overboard, some being rescued by boats. A number embarked on collapsibles, which the boats subsequently picked up. An Heroic Officer, A passenger describes Fifth Officer Lowe as saving many lives, by warning people not to jump and swamp the boats. When his collapsible was launched he hoisted the mast and sail, collected other collapsibles, and arranged an'adequate crew for each and connected them by lines, all moving together. Later he returned to the wreck and saved a collapsible containing thirty people, scantily clad, on the verge of sinking. ■ Some died from exposure, whilst they were being transferred to the Carpathia. Survivor of the Plunge. Colonel -Gracio states that he war driven to the topmost deck and saw no other survivor. After the wave had swept the liner ho grasped the brass railing desperately, but was forced to release his hold, when the flhip plunged he was swirled round, for what seemed to him an intermediate time, but eventually he came to the surface and seized a wooden grating. When he recovered his breath he discovered a large canvas cork raft. Another survivor struggled to the raft, and both of them rescueu others who were floundering in the sea. At dawn there were thirty on the raft, kneedeep in water and afraid to move lest it overturned.' Long and terrible hours passed before the Carpathia picked them up. Berg Sighted Beforehand. (Received 20, 10.30 a.m.) New York, April 10. “The World” publishes passengers’ details. The iceberg was eighty feet long. It was sighted a quarter of a mile away. When the crash came the engines stopped and the hulkheads wore closed almost simultaneously by levers from the bridge. Captain Smith, on the bridge, ordered all to take life savers. "Women First,” The boats lowered first contained more males, as they were the first to roach the deck. When the women and children appeared the rule “womenfirst” was strictly observed. The officers drew revolvers which were not used in most cases. Ship Blown in Two, The impact made a hole iu Lie ■starboard side admitting ice and water and causing an explosion in the boilers which broke the snip in two. How Did He Die? Mrs Astor hazily remembers when amidst the confusion of being about to be placed iu u boat her husband

stood by her side. She has uo knowledge of how lie died. The Saved and Missing. Thayer Straussc and his wife are missing. .Mrs Dodge is saved. Mrs Lucing Smith, daughter of Congressman Hughes, was rescued. Her husband is missing. The Government is in receipt of world-wide messages of sympathy. The Pope’s Condolences. (Received 20, 10.30 a.m.) Rome, April 19. The Rope has condoled with Mr Taft. Reticence Condemned. (Received 20, 10.30 a.m.) New York, April 19. The extreme secrecy in withholding details is severely commented upon. The Carpatia refused to take the cruisers’ wireless messages or supply information. A Criminal Speed. Commenting on the Titanic’s wireless knowledge of the proximity of ice the New York Times says she did not avoid the region but steamed at high speed—not merely imprudent or reckless, but criminal. A Self-sacrificing Wife. Mrs Edgar J .Meyer, New York, daughter of Andrew, says a prominent New Yorker lost her husband. She pleaded with her husband to be allowed to remain with him. He throw her into a lifeboat, remaining witli a nine-year-old child. Honeymoon Goupio Parted. Mrs Marvin, who was honeymooning, was prostrated when she learned ashore that her husband was drowned. As he placed her in a lifeboat he exclaimed: “It’s all right, little girl. You go. I will stay.” When the boat put off he shouted and threw her a kiss. That was the last she saw of him. “Review of Reviews’’ Editor. Mr W. T. Stead was last seen on the deck near the smokeroom. Another account states that he jumped overboard after the boats left. Expressions of Sympathy. Nelson, April 19. The City Council adopted a resolution to-night expressing profound sorrow' at the international disaster occasioned by the wreck of the Titanic. New Plymouth, April 19. At the meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday a resolution was passed, all the members standing, expressing the heartfelt sympathy of the Board with the sufferers through the great loss of life caused by the wreck of the Titanic. STRATFORD’S SYMPATHY. The Mayor has sent the following message to the Premier for transmission to the proper authorities: “That the Stratford Borough Council expresses its profound and deep sympathy with the relatives of the passengers and crew in the appalling disaster caused by the wreck of the Titanic; also its admiration of the manner in which the officers and men upheld the best traditions of the sea.