THE TITANIC WRECK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10442, 23 April 1912, Page 1

THE TITANIC WRECK.

« NEWS FROM LONDON. THE TITANIC'S WIRELESS. CONFLICTING MESSAGES. ITnited Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 22. The Olympic has arrived from New York. The officers state that they were 600 miles from the Titanic when a wireless message announcing the accident was received through the Celtic. The Olympic's stokers and engineers worked like Trojans and forced the speed to twenty-four knots for thirteen hours. The tension was relieved temporarily, the wireless stating that all aboard the Titanic had beon saved; but the Carpathia later informed the Olympic of tho truth. The Olympic then resumed her voyage. The officers of the Virginia state that they received a wireless message from Cape Race giving word of the Titanic's danger at 12.40 a.m. on the Monday morning. The Virginia was then 178 miles distant. The Titanic sent a wireless saying that she was sinking at 1.20 a.m. Tho wireless messages ceased abruptly at 1.47.

'ATTACKS ON ME ISMAY. WILD REPORTS SPREAD. A SENATOR'S PROTEST. NEW YORK, April 22. Wild reports, the circulation of which has been abetted by excitable members of Congress, declare that Mr Isfnay was responsible for the wreck. It is said that lie virtually superseded Captain Smith, and compelled him to take an unusually high northerly course and to maintain excessive speed. Referring to Mr Rayner's violent attack upon Mr Ismay, Senator M'Cumber, in the Senate, protested against the trial, conviction, sentencing and execution of Mr Ismay without fair, honest consideration. When the feelings of the civilised world desired a victim upon whom to vent its wrath, the Senate should be particularly deliberate. Senator Lodge endbrscd' Senator M'Cumber's protest. A STEWARD'S STORY.

ICE REPORTED BY LOOK-OUTS

WARNINGS DISREGARDED.

SCENES ON A RAFT. NEW YORK, April 22. Whitley, a first-class steward, who is in hospital suffering' from frozen feet, states that .he overheard two of the Titunic's crow's-nest look-outs talking. One said that fifteen minutes before the collision he reported to Mr Murdock, the first officer, on the bridge, that he fancied he saw an iceberg. Twice afterwards the look-outs gave warning, but Mr Murdock was most indignant and no attention was paid to the warnings.

One of the look-outs added: "No ■wonder Murdock shot himself."

_ Whitley was assisting to launch the lifeboats when he. was caught in a rope as it uncoiled and was thfown into the sea. A lifebelt kept him afloat till he found an oak wardrobe, which rose to the surface after the Titanic sank. Two men dropped off 'it exhausted.

_At daybreak Whitley saw a collapsible raft, black with men, all standing. He swam to it but' Avas not allowed to board it. He - was told, "It's thirty-one lives against yours." "I prayed that someone on the raft (might die," he said, "so that I might take his placo. Someone did die and I was allowed aboard." Afterwards, those on the raft were transferred to seven of the Titanic's lifeboats, which were lashed together. It was here Whitley heard the lookputs' conversation. _ He believes the look-outs are returning to England in ihe steamer Lapland.

AFTER THE COLLISION

A PASSENGER'S STATEMENT.

_Mr Deck, a passenger from the Titanic, states that Andrews, one of the Titanic's engineers, went bolow and reported to a group of passengers that the vessel was torn to bits below but would not sink if the bulkheads would hold. She had been ripped by an underlying peak of ice, which had torn many of the forward plates from the bolts. Mr Deck added that it seemed impossible that the statement could be true, and many of the group smiled. THE WIRELESS OPERATORS. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS. NO SLACKENING OF SPEED. NEW YORK, April 22. Mr Bride, the assistant wireless operator, had to be wheeled to the inquiry, frhioh ifl being held in a room at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, owing to his feet being crippled A Press photographer exploded a flashlight, and the chairman protested that such conduct Jyaa intolerable. Mr Bride stated that he intercepted » message from the California, announcing that three bergs had been jeen. He gave the message to the captain, who acknowledged it. I Mr Bride added that the Frankfurt dras the first vessel to answer the signals of distress. The strength of the Wireless ourrent showed that the Frankfurt waa nearer to the Titanic than the Oarpathia was. ! Twenty minutes later the Frankfurt's operator asked, "What's the matter?" Captain Smith was told, of the question, and said, ' The fellow's 'ft fool." Mr Phillips replied to the /Frankfurt's operator, "You're a fool; (keep out of it." J Mr Bride explained that Mr Phillips preferred to rely on the Crirpathia, which meanwhile had telegraphed that #he was hastening towards the Titanic. Mr Lightoller gave evidence that he discussed the nearness of the icebergs with Captain Smith, who did not tell ilm to slow up. BEATEN OFF BY THE CREW. REFUSED ROOM IN A BOAT. NEW YORK, April 22. < Thomas M'Cormiok, who is in hospital -with Wounds in his head, declares that ho julnped when the Titanic was •inking. He got his hands 011 the gunWhale of a lifeboat, but members of the crew struck him on the head and tore his hands loose. After repeated efforts he swam to another boat, wM©re he had the same reception. Fiu&lly two sisters, Majy and

Kate Murphyf pulled him aboard, despite the crew's efforts. SAVING THE WOMEN. THROWN INTO A BOAT. "BE QUIET, OR GO OVERBOARD." Mrs J. Brown, wife of a Denver mine-owner, states that the whole thing was so formal that it was difficult to realise the tragedy. Men and women talked and laughed in little groups. "I was looking at the boats,' she said, " when two men seized me and throw me in, saving, 'You're going, too.' " After tucking the women in, many of the men went to tho restaurant to smoke. Mrs-Brown says that, knowing how cold the water was, she to:>k off her lifebelt, because in the event of drowning she did not wish to linger. Then she took an oar and kept herself warm by rowing. She saved many lives.

Soon a great wave came and she knew the Titanic had gone. "One man/' she added, "began to complain because Ave liad no food, no water and no compass. I called, 'Bo quiet, or go overboard.' " The dawn revealed a wonderful sight. At first all was grey. Then there was a Rood of light and a ball of red fire illuminating forty miles of icebergs."

BODIES RECOVERED. • The steamer Mackay Bennett reports that she recovered sixty-four bodies that were identifiable. Others that were unrecognisable were buried at sfea. THE FRANKFURT'S CASE. A STATEMENT DENIED. BREMEN, April 22 The captain of the Frankfurt denies Mr Bride's statement that he did not offer .assistance. He states that he immediately steamed 140 miles and arrived at the scene of the disaster at 10.40 p.m. on Monday. THE RELIEF FUNDS. LONDON. April 22. The "Daily Mail's" relief fund has reached £13.000, and the "Daily Telegraph's " £9749. THE OLYMPIC'S PRECAUTIONS. The Olympic is shipping sufficient collapsible boats to provide for all on board.