HERO OF THE TITANIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 152, 30 June 1932, Page 11

HERO OF THE TITANIC

SECOND MATE’S RESCUE WORIt DESTITUTE IN OLD AGE When, in San Francisco recently Mr. N. Eaton, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States, read an article in tho San l£rancisco Chronicle of April 15 entitled “Hero of Titanic Disaster Goes to Toor Farm.” He was impressed by the fact that tho subject of the article was an Australian also. He sent the article to tho Argus in Melbourne in the hope that it might be read by some relative or friend of Mr. Charles Herbert Lightholdor. Mr. Lightholder was second mate of the Titanic, when she struck an icfr* berg and sank with the loss of 1513 lives on April 14, 1912. He was one of those who directed the rescue of hundreds of men, women and children When he was rescued he was hailed as a hero; to-day, friendless and alone, he is a patient at the Sonoma County Hospital and Poor Farm at Santa Rosa, California, suffering from paralysis, which has rendered helpless his right arm and side. After the Titanic disaster. Mr. Lightholder continued his career, and for years commanded ships on tho Pacific Ocean. Forced ashore by advancing ago. ho went to Santa Rosa three or four months ago, hoping to make a living by constructing ship models. Bo was thus engaged when stricken. Fading newspaper files fell of Mr. Light holder’s graphic test imony before the United States Senate investigating committee. Senator William Alden Smith, of Michigan asked Mr. Lighfholder, “What time did you leave the ship?” Mr. Lightholder: I didn’t leave it! Did it leave you? Mr. Lightholder stated that he stood atop of tho officers’ quarters as the ship plunged beneath the surface; dived with it. and was blown to the surface apparently by the explosion of the ship’s boilers, coming up near a. lifeboat. ”' M’h n n tho sixth lifeboat came to K® loaded under Mr. Light holder’s direction ho found difficulty in finding sufficient women to fill it. “I called for women, and none were on deck,” he said in his evidence. “The men began to get in. and then women appeared. As laoidly as they did the men passengers got out of‘the boat again. The boat deck was onlv ten feet from the water when I lowered the sixth boat. When we lowered tho first, rhe distance to the water was 70ft.”