SINKING OF TITANIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 86, 13 April 1940, Page 6

SINKING OF TITANIC

THE ANNIVERSARY OF SEA DISASTER TO-MORROW HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST To-morrow is the anniversary of the sinking of the White Star liner Titanic. The vessel collided with an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. All told the number of persons drowned was 1500, among them being Colonel J. J. Astor, Jacares Futrelle. the American novelist and dramatist. F. D. Millet, the artist, William T. Stead, journalist, and Harry Widener millionaire book collector. Out of 2201 passengers on board only 711 were saved. The Titanic, which was then the largest ship afloat, 45,000 tons, was on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, and shortly before* midnight the liner struck an enormous iceberg a glancing blow, stripping her of her bilge. All the lifeboats were filled mainly with women and children and, in less than three hours, the huge ship with hundreds on board plunged to her doom. The 711 survivors were picked up by the Carpathia, which had been in wireless communication with lh<* Titanic. Commander J. Smith went down with his ship. Mr. J. Pitman, who was one of the officers on the Titanic, traded to New ( Zealand for many years as chief J purser on the lonic. ‘ 7