The Titanic Tragedy

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 17, 24 April 1912, Page 7

The Titanic Tragedy

HOW SHE WENT TO HER DOOM APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE-1635 MISSING Heroism of Officers, Crew and Passengers The White Star liner Titanic, the latest and one of the two largest ocean leviathans launched, struck an iceberg off Cape Race on her maiden trip from Southampton to New York, in the early part of last week, resulting in the most appalling marine tragedy on record. Captain Smith, a veteran officer in the White Star tine, was in charge. The vessel’s complement of 2340 included many prominent English and American people. Only 705 people were saved, 1035 being reported missing. Survivors of the ill-starred Titanic state that the vessel was steaming at a speed of 21 knots an hour, according to instructions to keep up a speed sufficient to break the first voyage record. Alfred White, an oiler, says that the iceberg the Titanic struck was a black one. and was difficult to see. Coffee was made for all hands after the vessel struck. THE CAPTAIN FACES DEATH BRAVELY — OPERATOR STICKS TO POST—GAME OF CARDS INTERRUPTED. All commend the heroism of Captain Smith, He was literally washed from his post. When the boats were clear of the ship the captain said: — ‘•Men. you have done your full duty. You can do n 0 more. It’s now every man for himself.” Before the Titanic sank Captain Smith megaphoned to the mass of people on the deck: "Be British.” Later he was seen helping those struggling iu the .water, but he refused to take opportunity to save himself. Phillips, the wireless operator, who was drowned, stuck to his post until the dynamo ceased, and the water invaded the wireless room. With Bride, his assistant, Phillips was washed overboard. Bride was saved. Bride had both his feet injured. He bears testimony to the courage of Phillips. Bride strapped a lifebelt on Phillips white the latter was informing the Olympic that her sister ship the Titanic was sinking. The water was then entering the wireless room. Another witness saw Phillips die on a raft through exposure. Comtan. wireless operator on the Carpathia, states that Phillips' last message was: “Come quickly. The engine-room is filling to the boilers.” Three French survivors state that they were playing cards wlif-n they heard a violent noise, like the screws racing. They saw an iceberg rubbing the vessel’s side, and a tremendous list followed. There was a momentary panic, but it speedily subsided, and confidence was restored. The captain said: “Let everyone don a lifebelt, it is more pr’udent.” The band played popular airs to reassure the passengers. No one-wanted to au into the boats, believing that there was no risk In remaining aboard. Hence, in some of the boats there were few passengers. THE LAST SCENES—ARRAY OF HORRORS—SEA STREWN WITH DEAD. The last scenes presented an agonising array of horrors. As the ship split the stern rose precipitously, and scores of people leaped overboard. Others scrambled madly upwards on the stern, but as its incline steepened hundreds of them lost their footing, and tobogganed downwards into the sea amid pitiable shrieking. Later, the surface of the sea was strewn with dead. Hundreds who escaped the vortex clung to wreckage or to rafts. It is believed that 800 jumped as the vesse] sank, but only the hardiest could stand the icy water. They made a few vigorous strokes, and then their stiffened forms floated away. The boat commanded by the purser was capsized, owing to three women rushing to the side to bid farewell to relatives. It is believed that none of the 30 women in it survived. There are rumours of atrocities by frenzied members of the crew —including the shooting of passengers in the boats and the braining of swimmers who were trying to enter boats —but the majority of witnesses do not confirm these. It is rumoured that a. number of foreigners made an ”g*v rush for the boats, whereupon Mr. Murdock, first officer, drew a revolver, and said. “I wilt kill the first man that rushes.” Three men rushed at him. One dropped, shot through the head. Another had his jaw blown away. A quartermaster felled the third. CHORUS OF UTTER AGONY—VESSEL DISAPPEARS —PISTOL SHOTS FIRED. Lady-Duff Gordon who, with her husband, Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff-Gordon, was among the survivors, in the course of an interview with the correspondent of the “Daily News," stated: “I was asleep when the crash came. I had previously been watching the fields of ice, and an officer had printed out ono apparently a hundred feet high and several miles long. “I was awakened by a long grinding crash, and aroused my husband. He ran to investigate the cause of the noise. He returned in a few minutes and said, ‘VVe have hit a big berg.’ “We adjusted life-preservers, and went oil depk. There wus no excitement. The ship listed slightly, but nobody dreamed that she could sink. There svas little alarm,even when the officers came running along the decks announcing that the women and .children must get into the boats. We thought it was j.ubt a'n drdihhry jnycaytton.'"' • f •» ' •■“.seour botft' was<l<lie twelfth or thirteenth of «fhvse- Ijupiched, ,|it contained

five stoker*. two Americans named Solonum-, Nir. Stengel, two. sailors, and Sir Cosmo and myself and Miss Frank, who in an English girl. Numbers, of men who were standing hear joked with us l»eroiise we were going out on the ocean. They remarked, laughingly, ‘You'll get your death’of-void out amid the ice.’ “We cruised around for two hours, ami then suddenly saw the Titanic giva a curious shiver. There were no lights on the ship except a few lanterns We heard several pistol shots tired, and a great screaming from the decks. ‘‘The stern lifted in. the air. and there was a tremendous explosion, then another explosion, and the whole forward part of the vessel went under. Tha stern rose a hundred feet into the air like an enormous black finger against the sky. Little figures hung to the stern by their fingers, and then dropped into the water with agonising screams. 1 have never heard such a continued chorus of utter agony. “A minute or two later the Titanic's stern slowly disappeared us though a great hand were pushing it gently under the waves. As she sank the screaming of the poor souls aboard seemed to grow louder. ‘‘We were 200 yards away from th? vessel, and watched her go Icwn slowly, almost peacefully. For a moment there was an awful silence, and then from the water where the Titanic had been arose a bedlam of shrieks and cries from women and men clinging to the wreckage in the icy water. “It was at least an hour before the awful chorus of shrieks ceased, after gradually dying away into a moan of despair. ‘‘The very last cry was a mans ‘My God! My God!’ cried monotonously in a dull, hopeless way. “There was one iceberg, possibly the one the Titanic struck, which seemed to pursue us, and the rowers made frantic efforts to get past. At last the morning came. On one side were icefloes and big bergs, while on tho other we were horrified to see a school of tremendous whales.

“Then we caught sight of the C arpathia looming in the distance and heading straight for us. We were too numb and cold with horror to utter a sound. There were more than 50 women who had lost their husbands, including 15 brides, and the gloom on the Carpathia was ghastly. I buried myself in my cabin and did not come on deck until New York was reached.” THE INQUIRY OPENED—MANAGING DIRECTOR GIVES EVIDENCE-THRILLING ACCOUNT BY OFFICERS. The inquiry ordered by the United •States Senate has opened. One of the first witnesses was Mr. Joseph B. Ismay, managing director of the White Star Company. ■Mr. Ismay stated that he was asleep at the time the Titanic struck (11.40 p.m. on Sunday, April 14). The Titanic was not pushed to her speed limit. She averaged about 21 knots. He only once consulted Captain Smith about the vessel’s movements, when they arranged not to attempt to reach New York before five o’clock on Wednesday morning. Witness only entered a boat when there was no response to (he call for women. He left the Titanic about an hour after the collision. He believed the ship was struck between the bow and the bridge. ’ In the course of an interview. Mr. Ismay expressed (lie’opinion tliat the Committee had beeij brutally unfair to him. lie remarked: “My conscience is clear. I took the opportunity to escape when it came, but I did not seek it.” Mr. Lightoiler, second officer, maintained that the boats were well filled, and that preference was given to women. He accounted for the saving of so many of the crew by stating that five out of every six picked up in the water were firemen or stewards. There was no demonstration aboard, not even lamentation amomr those left behind. He dived as the vessel sank, and was sucked under, and was held fast against the blower, when a terrific gust through the blower due pro bably to the boiler collapsing—blew him clear. He reached the surface near one of the boats. Mr. Lightoiler, continuing, stated that when the first boat win lowered soon after the vessel struck, the deck was seventy feet above the >ea level. When the last boat was launched, however, so rapidly did the vessel settle down that she was only a few feet above tho water. Though ice was reported, it was not thought that an additional lookout was necessary. He heard the captain’s last command: ‘ Put the women and children in the boats, and lower away.” Air. Lightoiler adds that whenever he saw a woman on the vessel he put her aboard a lifeboat.. The numbers of those saved and those lost in the foundering of tho vessel are stated by the officials of tho White Star Company to be as follows: * On board the vessel 2340 Saved 705 Total number lost 1635 The subscriptions iu Great Britain towards the Titanic Relief Fund amount to £IOO,OOO. The sum of £20,000 has been collected in America towards the relief of the distressed. The Titanic sank at 2.20 o’clock On Monday morning, two hours and 40 minutes after she struck the iceberg, and one hour and 40 minutes before ths Carpathia arrived. 'Flic Carpathia received a wireless call at 3 o’clock on Monday morning, and, while making her way to the scene of the disaster, sighted 16 boats containing the survivors. The little children were hoisted aboard in bags, and the adults by mean? of ropes. Some boats were crowded, while a few were not half full. There were husliandH wifeless, wives husband less, and children parentless, but not a sob was heard. Five women died soon after the rescue, and were buried al sea. One died in one of tlje boats.' After searching caaefully for further survivors the Carpathia steamed -towards. New ;V<»ck, reaching there early Friday morning. “ .U ,v New York ls»<»fi so ten ibly impressed.

STATEMENT BY A COMMITTEE OF THE SURVIVORS. The ducking of the Carpathia was delayed while 13 of the Titanic's life, boats were lowered. A committee appointed by the survivors issued a statement in order to forestall sensational exaggeration. It says:—• The Titanic strek an iceberg at 11.40 o’clock on Sunday night. The iceberg was reported by the lookout, but there was no time to avoid it. Ties night was clear, eold, and starlit. Orders were promptly given to put on lifebelts and to launch the lifeboats. Distress signals were sent out by wireless., and rockets were fired. There was no panic while the women and children were leaving, everyone at the time believing that it was simply a measure of precaution. Several, women were torn from their husbands when the order was given to rescue ths women only. Even then several wives refused to leave, and were drowned with their husbands. One woman died on a lifeboat, and three other's died after reaching the Carpathia, It is declared that the Titanic seemed to break suddenly in two, and to sink instantly. The Titanic carried 14 lifeboats, two smaller boats, and four collapsible boats; also, sufficient lifebelts for all aboard. The boats were entirely insufficient. The "New York Herald” says that Mr. Charles Stengel, a racehorse owner, of New York, described the impact as terrific. Tons of ice, he adds, fell on the steamer, killing the men in the bows, which were torn asunder. The water poured in, and pandemonium reigned. He pays a tribute to the bravery of the sailors and officers. The majority of the narratives, however, testify that there was no panic and no shooting, and that the impact with the iceberg was light. Colonel Gracie alleges that Major Butt defended a boat against a rush, killed 12, and was shot himself. Though faced with death, the band on the Titanic played “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” Professor E. S. Beesby, science master at Bulwinch College, in the course of his narrative, stated that the weather was fine and the sea was calm on Sunday, when it suddenly became very cold. A slight jar was felt, and fof ten to fifteen seconds was somewhat greater, but was not sufficient to create anxiety. ANOTHER VERSION—THE DANGER NOT REALISED—NO PANIC. The Professor, continuing his story, stated that he noticed a jar, and looking round, saw an iceberg strike the vessel’s side with a grazing blow. He went to his cabin, and on returning to the deck later found that the vessel was unmistakably down at the head, He went below and heard the cry of "All passengers on deck, with lifebelts on.’’ The passengers merely regarded this as a precaution, and there was no panic or alarm. There was no visible signs of a disaster. When the boats were swung out, the passengers awakened to the 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 who refused to leave their husbands.. In some cases fae women were forcibly torn from their husbands, and pushed into the boats. As the boats touched the water, and slipped away in the darkness there was no hysterical sobbing, but an extraordinary calm prevailed. The leviathan, continued Professor Beesly, loomed up against the sky with every porthole blazing. At two o'clock she settled down rapidl'y at the bows. The bridge was soon under water. The lights flickered, and were then extinguished. The stern tilted, and all the machinery roared down through the vessel with a rattle audible for miles. About a hundred and fifty feet of the stern protruded straight up for about five minutes, and then the vessel went down with a slanting dive, followed by appalling cries for help as hundreds of human beings were hurled inte the icy water. INSUFFICIENT BOATS—LACK OF TRAINED SEAMEN—NO SEARCHLIGHTS—AN OFFICER S BRAVERY. The statements made by various survivors shows that there was an insufficiency of lifeboats and rafts, an j a ] a ek of trained seamen to man the boats. There was an insufficient number of officers on the bridge to carry opt emergency order and superintend the launching and control of the boats. There was also an absence of searchlights, and the boats had to be lowered in tho darkness. The necessity for taking the passengers in the boats before lowering them into the water prevented them from taking the maximum number. The evening papers published rumours to the effect that the officers had committed suicide, but the crew discredit these allegations. When the Titanic made her final plunge many jumped overboard. Some were rescued by the boats, and a number embarked in the collapsible boats, Which were subsequently picked up. A passenger states that the fifth officer, Mr. Lowe, saved many lives by warning the people not to jump and swamp the boats. When his collapsible was launched he hoisted a mast, and attached a sail. He then collected the other colVapsibles, ami arranged an adequate crew for each. Then he connected them by lines, ami they all moved together. Later Mr. Lowe returned to the wreck, and saved a collapsible (containing thirty scantily clad people), which was on the point of sinking. Some died from exposure whilst being transferred to the Carpathia. The Rt. Hon. S. C. Buxton (President of the Board of Trade), in the House of Commons, staff'd that the rules regarding life-saving appliances on British ships had not been revised since 1894. The Board of Trade in 1911 asked the shipowners to report on the matter. It had never been the Board of Trade’s policy that vessels well equipped with watertight compartments should neeesv lardy /carry lifeboats to accommodate a'l the passengers.

The Titanic, stated Mr. Buxton, carried' boats for 1178 people, also 48 lifeboats and 3560 lifebelts. She was certified to carry 3500 passengers and crew, and actually carried only 2208. Mr. Buxton suggested that an inquiry be held as to whether vessels were forbidden to take the Northern Atlantic route in the spring. The Board had no power to stop liners from racing. Mr. Alexander Carlisle, who is consulting expert to Messrs. Harland and Wolff, states that when making the design for the Olympic and Titanic he suggested special davits providing for 40 boats. Those davits were fitted. The Board of Trade required 16 davits, but 20 were supplied. The White Star Company officially stated that there were life saving appliances for all the passengers, and that the boat accommodation was in excess of the Board of Trade requirements. The “Times” questions whether it is not time to call a halt in the construction of mammoth steamers made for speed competitions, and the selection of a track dangerous at certain seasons when a safer route exists. The journal appeals for a saner and sounder public opinion on the subject, According to the “Daily Mail ” tbc Titanic was provided with 100 per cent more boat accommodation than is provided for by the Board of Trade requirements, but the provision was altogether inadequate. THIRTY ON A RAFT—TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES—STRUGGLE FOR BOATS. Colonel Gracie states that he w a s driven to the topmost deck, and saw no other survivor after a wave swept the liner. He grasped a brass railing desperately, but was forced to release his grip. When the ship plunged he was swirled round for what seemed to be an interminable time, but eventually came to the. surface, and seized a wooden grating. When he recovered his breath he discovered a large cork raft, and with another man struggled to it. They rescued others who were floundering in the sea. , At dawn there were thirty on the raft, knee deep in water, afraid) to move lest the raft overturned. Those on the raft experienced long terrible hours before they were picked up. Colonel Gracie emphatically denied shooting anyone with a revolver. He only fired once to intimidate some steerage passengers. Other accounts allege that there was wild disorder and a maniacal struggle for the boats. Hysterical passengers, who will not give their names, declare that the captain and engineer committed suicide. Mr. Braden, a passenger, said that the captain was standing alone when one wave upset him, and then, as the vessel sank, anotlrer wave knocked him down, and he disappeared. Colonel J. J. Astor, after placing Us wife in a boat, asked permission to accompany her. The second officer said “No, sir. No man shall enter the boats till the women are off.” Colonel Astor then assisted in clearing the other boats, and reassuring the nervous women. SIDE RIPPED BY ICE—SPEED OF 23 KNOTS-EXPLOSION I SUNDERED THE SHIP. Several survivors state that the vessel was travelling at 23 knots when she struck. A mass of ice ripped the side of the vessel like a gigantic can opener from the stem to the engine-room. Shortly before the vessel sank she broke in twain abaft the engine-room, carrying hundreds of people who were grouped on the decks, and who uttered pitiable cries as they were hurled into the water. The “New York World” publishes details given by the passengers to the effect that the iceberg, which was eighty feet high, was sighted a-quarter of a mile away. When the crash came the engines stopped. The bulkheads were closed almost simultaneously by levers controlled from the bridge. Captain Smith, who was on. the bridge, ordered all passengers to take life-savers. The boats when towered first contained more males than females, as the former were the first to reach the deck. When the women and children appeared, the rule, “women first,” was strictly observed. The officers drew revolvers, but they were unused in most eases. The impact of the collision made a hole on the starboard side, admitting ice-water and causing an explosion of the boilers, which broke the ship in two. President Taft was informed that Major Butt shot twelve people who were trying to rush the boats, and was then shot himself. THE WORK OF RESCUE—ICY COLD WATER—LOSS OF VALUABLES. ' When the Olympic, the sister ship to the Titanic, reached the scene of the disaster she found that wreckage belonging to the latter vessel was all that was left to tell the terrible tale. The Cunard liner Carpathia (13,063 tons) was sailing to New York when she received the Titanic’s wireless call for help. She proceeded out of her course to the vicinity of the tragedy, and picked up 866 of the passengers in lifeboats. Those saved were mostly women, although a few men were aboard. The Titanic sank shortly after striking the iceberg, and now lies two miles deep on the bed of the ocean between Sable Island and Cape Race (Newfoundland) . The vessel had among her passengers many wealthy English and American ladies, who had among their possessions an enormous quantity of diamonds and jewellery. The disaster occurred with such awful suddenness, however, that there was no time to save these valuables, and no less than a million pounds’ worth of diamonds and half a million pounds’ worth of jewellery went down with tho vessel. Owing to the enormous depth of water there is absolutely no chance of recovering the lost valuables. r}

The men mostly behaved gallantly. They made no attempt to rush the boats and crowd out the women and children, but went down heroically with the ship. The liner Virginian, which was 170 miles away from the Titanic when the latter vessel' sent her fateful wireless message hurtling over the black waters, arrived on the scene too late, although she had on every ounce of steam throughout the whole journey. The icy cold water made it impossible for any survivors dinging to the wreckage to escape. Many attempted to save themselves on floating spars, but, unable to maintain their hold until help came, were soon engulfed in the relentless waters. The women and children spent hours in the open boats exposed to bitter winds before they were picked up, but there was very little complaining, most of the survivors bearing up as bravely as was possible in the circumstances. A prominent banker, who is looked upon as an authority in financial matters, estimates that there were twenty persons aboard the lost liner whose wealth totalled a hundred million pounds sterling. The wealth aboard in passengers’ jewellery and personal belongings is estimated at two millions sterling. The Titanic, which was built at Belfast by Messrs. Harland and Wolff, cost i 1,250,000. Her hull and cargo are insured for £2,350,000. Reinsurances have been effected at 50 guineas per cent. Many ladies who were wearing evening gowns were bundled into the boats, not believing there was any danger. When the real danger was apprehended, however, a panic ensued. There was a wild stampede for the boats, many of the women losing control of themselves entirely. It is estimated by the “Financial Times” that the total loss is £5,000,000, including, besides the vessel, the cargo, mails, and life and other insurances. There were 3000 sacks of mails aboard the Titanic, including 1586 sacks from London. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED-IMPRESSIVE SCENE IN .THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The members of the House of Commons stood bareheaded while Mr. Asquith read the latest telegram regarding the wreck. The message stated that all the boats had been accounted for, and only 675 souls had been rescued. Speaking Under considerable emotion, Mr. Asquith said: “We must brace ourselves to confront an event which appals the imagination.” Mr. Asquith, amid a profound silence, expressed the deep admiration felt by the members of the House of Commons at the manner in which the traditions of the sea had been upheld in saving those who were least able to sable themselves. The scene was one of the most impressive that has ever taken place in the House, and many of the members sobbed openly. Reference was made in the Reichstag to the Titanic disaster. Herr Kaemff made a sympathetic speech expressing grief at the catastrophe which England bad experienced. All the members of the Reichstag rose to their feet as a mark of sympathy. The Parliaments of Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and South Africa have passed resolutions of sympathy- .in connection with the disaster.