The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, April 25, 1912, Image 5

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I THE AWFUL STORY NEARLY SIXTEEN HUNDRED PEO-j dic itfcliT nnuru tn ILL IVLIU UUVVil 111 I ? GREATEST SEA TRAGEDY T ? i News Brought by Carpathla, Which l 1 teaches New York Thursday Night I With 730 Rescued Aboard, and is Greeted by Solemn Silence by I Thousands Awaiting licr. j j Tho steamship Carpathla arrived at New York Thursday night with first news direct from the great White Star liner Titanic, which sank oft the Grand Banks of New Foundland early Monday. The great liner went down with her band playing, taking with her to death all but 7 45 . of her human cargo of 2,340 souls. To this awful death list six persona were added. One died in tho life boat when it put off from the liner's aide and five subsequently I succumbed on the rescue ship Car-! pathia. Tho list of prominent men | missing stands as previously report- , ed and tho total death list as brought to New York by the Carpathia is 1,601. Survivors In tho lifeboats huddled In tho darkness at a safe distance irom me siricaon snip buw nui down. As to the scene on board when tlio liner struck, accounts disagree widely. Some maintain that a comparative calm prevailed; others say that wild disorder broke out, and that there was a maniacal struggle for the lifo boats. That the liner struck an iceberg, as reported by wireless, was confirmed by all. Ripped from stem to engine room ; by the great mass of ice, she struck, tho Titanic's side was laid open as if by a gigantic can opener. She quickly listed to starboard, and a shower i of Ice fell onto the forecastle deck. | Shortly before she sank, she broke in two abaft tho engines and as she disappeared beneath tho water com- j pression of air caused two explosions which were plainly heard by the sur-j vivoi s adrift. A moment more and , the Titanic had gone to her doom | with the fated hundreds grouped on 1 tho after deck. To tho survivors they were visible to the last and a their cries and moans were pitiable. ^ Statement of tho Survivors. "Wo, tho undersigned surviving passengers from tho steamer Titanic, in order to forestall any sensational ; or exaggerated statements, deem it j our du;y to give to the press a statement of facts which have come to our knowledge and which we believe to be true. "On Sunday, April 14, 1912, at about 1 1:40 p in., on a cold starlight night, in a smooth sea, and with no moon, the ship struck an iceberg which had been reported to the bridge by lookouts, but not early enough to avoid collision. Stops were taken to ascertain the damage and save passengers and ship. Orders were given to put on lifo belts and tho boats were lowered. The ship sank at about 2:20 a. in. Monday, and tho usual distress signals were sent out by wireless and rockets fired at intervals from the ship. Fortunately, the wirelese message was received by tho Cunard ship Carnathia at about 12 o'clock midnight, and Bho arrived on the scene of the disaster at about 4 a. m. 'Monday. "The officers and crew of the steamship Carpathia had been preparing all night lor the rescue and comfort of the survivors and the last mentioned were received on board with the most touching care and - kindness, every attention being given to all, irrespective of class. The passengers, officers and crow gave up gladly their staterooms, clothing and comforts for our benefit, all honor to them. "The English board of trade passenger certificate, on hoard the Titanic, allowed for a total of approximately 3,500. The same certificate called for life-boat accommodations for approximately 950 in the following boats: "Fourteen largo life-boats, two smaller boats and four collapsible boats. Life preservers were accessible and apparently in sufficient numbers for all on board. "The approximate number of passengers carried at the time of the collision: First, 330; second class, 320; third class, 750; total, 1,400. Officers and crew, 940. Total, 2,340. . "Of the foregoing, about the fol lowing were rescued by steamship Carpathia: First class, 210; second class, 125; third class, 200; ollicers, 4; seamen, 89; stewards, 90; fire men, 71. Total, 210 of the crew. The total, about 7 4 5 saved, was about 80 per cent, of tho maximum capacity of tho life-boats. "Wo fell it our duty to call the attention of the public to what we consider the inadequate supply of lifesaving appliances provided for on modern steamships, and recommend that immediate steps be taken to compel passenger steamers to carry sufficient boats to accommodate the maximum number of people carried cn hoard. The following facts were in this connection, y "Tho insufficiency of life boats, rafts, etc.; lack of trained seamen to maintain same (stokers, stewards. rr ***- / r ^ etc., are not efllclent boat handlers) tiot enough officers to carry out emergency orders on the bridge and superintend the launching and control of lif* boats; absence of searchlights. "The board of trade rules allow for entirely too many people In each boat to permit the same to be properly handled. On the Titanic the boat deck was about 75 feet above water and consequently the passengers were required to embark before lowering boats, thus endangering the operations and preventing the taking on of the maximum number the boats would hold. Boats at all times to be properly equipped with provisions, water, lamps, compasses, lights, etc. "Life-saving boat drills Bhould be more frequent and thoroughly carried otit; and officers should be armed at boat drills. Greater reduction in speed in fog hnd ice, as damage, if collision actually occurs, is liable to bo less. In conclusion we suggest that an international conference be called to recommend the passage of I identical laws providing for the safety of all at sea and we urge the United States government to take the Initiative as soon as possible." The statement was signed by Samuel Goldenberg, chairman, and a committee of some 25 passengers. In a drizzling rain, 250 policemen gathered early at the Cunard line piers at west Fourteenth street and North river, preparatory to handling the crowds. Inspector McClushey was in charge of the squad and ropes dotted with green lights were stretahed for 75 yards in front of the piers to hold back the throng. No one without a special permit was allowed beyond these ropes. As early as 8 o'clock automobiles, in which veiled women and silent men were seated, began arriving, and by 8:30 a small crowd had already entered tho great steel and concrete structure which covers the piers. Tho police regulations were made more rigid as the evening wore on. All trafiic on West street, directly in front of tho piers, was diverted at Fourteenth street on tho north and at Thirteenth street on the south. Another line was drawn on tho east at Eleventh avenue. Thus tho block immediately in front of tho piers was held sacred to those immediately concerned in tho tragedy. Shortly before 8 o'clock, news came that the Carpathia was passing tho statue of Liberty. At that hour more than 50 automobiles were parking in front of the piers. The early arrival of the Carpathia at quarantine surprised even tho customs ofllcers, 150 of whom were on tho pier under tho direction of Gen. Nelson P. Henry, surveyor of tho port, who came to facilitate tho landing of the surveyors. Five hundred friends and relatives had gathered inside the pier sheds at 8:30 o'clock, taking up their positions under the initial of the name of the survivor. The Carpathia at this time was a quarter of a mile down tho Hudson and drawing near tho docks. A stream of people was filing into the pier entrance, and automobiles cont iniinrl tulfo fhoir nlao.AH in tho street. There were 1,000 persons in these sheds at 8:45 o'clock, many of whom were weeping. Outside, the automobiles kept piling up. The Carpathla was off the end of the pier ready to dock at 8:55. The pilot of a tugboat engaged to assist in warping her in announced that she could not dock until the lifeboats were taken off. A large number of Sisters of Charity from the various hospitals arrived in a number of ambulances. A commissioner of immigration was present to expedite the landing of a number of steerage passengers. At 9:10 there was an agonized wailing, while the boat was being slowly warped into her berth. Crowd Seemed Awed. The SGene at this time in and about the great pier was one of great animation and eager expectancy. The crowd had steadily augmented, but there was perfect order and an awed air of waiting. Automobiles continued to arrive in numbers and the crowd about the entrance to the pier maintained a respectful silence. Within the vast enclosure the company of people, notwithstanding the precautions and the limit which had placed upon the number of passes Issued was dense but serious and orderly. As the Carpathia was passing into her slip sho was surrounded by newspaper boats and there were frequent Hashes from cameras which wero fnhing flash lights on the rescue ship, punctuating the silence like a series of bombs. The great ship came up slowly and had a hard time docking. Her decks wero black with passongors. There was a notable absence of the hilarity and excitement usually attendant upon an ocean liner's arrival. An air of solemnity was added to the scone by the presence of scores of white clad hospital attendants - - ? ?~ .1 wftn stretcners, wuuu, inqwini i<.?i the worst, there mingled In the tlirong attaches from the coroner's staff. Many invalid chairs also wore rolled up to the entrance and placed in waiting for those unable to walk. When the ship docked at 9:30 the gang plank was quickly lowered and the doctors and nurses went aboard. The first survivors began to leave the ship at 9:35. As they came into he street a dead silence fell over the crowd and even the flash light battery for a moment ceased its bombardment. T " HOW SHE WENT DOWN ? I GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE SINKING OF THE SHIP AND MANY PEOPLE Survivor Tells of the Disaster, How the Passengers Acted, the Loading of the Life Boats, the Plunge of the Great Ship Into the Sea and Other Details. Mr. Beasley, of London, one of the survivors of the disaster, tells cf the sinking of the Titanic. lie says: "The voyage from Queenstown had been quite eventful; very fine weath<1,1/1 f ll /\ U /"> Q W fl <4 vi was ca^ci icutcu anu mu ?Vu ??? quite calm. The wind had been very cold. I had been In my berth for about 10 minutes, when, at about 11:15 p. m., I felt a Blight jar and then soon after a second one. The engines stopped Immediately afterwards. I went up on the top (boat) deck and found only a few people there who had come similarly to inquire why we had stopped. We saw through the smoking room window a game of cards going on. "The card players apparently felt more of the jar and looking through the window they had seen a huge iceberg go by close to the side of the boat. They thought wo had just grazed it and the engines had been stopped to see if any damage had been done. No one, of course, had any conception that she had been pierced below by part of the submerged iceberg. The game went on without any thought of disaster, and I retired to my cabin. I never saw any of the players or the onlookers again. Anxious Inquiries. "A little later, hearing people going up-stairs, I went out again and found everyone wanting to know why the engines had stopped. No doubt many were awakened from Bleep by iho sudden stopping of vibration, to which they had become accustomed during the four days we had been on board. "On going on deck again I saw that there was an undoubted list downstairs from stern to bows, but, knowing of what had happened, I concluded some of the front compartments had filled and weighed her down. I went down again to put on warmer clothing and as I dressed heard an order shouted: " 'All passengers on deck with life belts on.' "We walked slowly up with them tied on over our clothing, but even then wo did not realizo the danger. There was a total absence of any panic or any expressions of alarm, and I suppose this can bo accounted for by the exceedingly calm night and the absence of any controversy. The ship was absolutely still and except for a gentle tilt downward at the time, no signs of the approaching dsaster were visible. But in a few moments wo saw the covers lifted from the boats and the crews allotted to them standing by and curling up the ropes which were to lower them by the pulley blocks into the water. "All Men StAiid Back." "We then began to realize it was moro serious than had been supposed. Presently we heard the order: "All men stand back away from the boats and all ladles retire to next deck below!'?the smoking room deck, or P deck. The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence, leaning against tlio railing of the deck or pacing slowly up and down. The boats were swung out and lowered a deck. When they were to the level of the P deck, where all tho ladies were collected, the ladies got in quiet-j ly, with the exception of some who refused to leave their husbands; in some cases they were torn from them and pushed into the boats, but in many instances they were allowed to remain because there was no one to insist they should go. "Looking over the side, one saw boats from aft already in the water, slipping quietly away into darkness and presently the boats near to me were lowered and with much creaking, as the new ropes slipped through tho pulley blocks down tho seventyfive feet, which separated them from the water. An ofllcer in uniform came up as one boat went down and shouted: 'When you aro afloat, row round to the companion ladder and stand by with tho other boats for orders.' " 'Avp. nvo.' came un tho reply, but f don't think any boat was able to obey the order. When they were afloat the sailors saw they could do nothing but row from the sinking ship. No Disorder. "All this time there was no trace of any disorder; panic or rush to the boats and no scenes of women sobbing hysterically. Every one seemed to realize slowly that there was imminent danger. When it was reali i/ed that we might all bo presently ? in the sea, with nothing but our life i belts to support us until wo were picked up by passing steamers, it was extraordinary how calm everyone was and how completely self controlled. i \ T - 1 "One by one the boats were filled with women and children, lowered and rowed away into the night. "Presently the word went round among the men, 'the men are to be put in boats on the starboard side.' "I remained on the port aide and presently heard the call: " 'Any ladies on your deck, sir?' "No," I replied, and looking down, saw boat No. 13. " 'Then you had better Jump.' "I dropped in and fell into the bottom as they cried: 'Lower away?' As the boat began to descend, two < ladies were pushed hurriedly through the crowd on B deck and heaved over into the boat and a baby of ten months passed down after them. Down we went until we were sonil fen feet from the water. Here occurred the only anxious moment ol our experience. V. ~1 < HIlIllUUmLtMy UUIUW UUI uuai w i\o the exhaust of the condensers, a huge i stream of water pouring all the time i irom the ship's side above the water ] line. It was planned wo ought to bo i smart way from this not to be swamped by it when wo touched water. We had no officer aboard i nor petty officer nor member of "he ; crew to take charge. Soon after the stokers shouted: " 'Some one find the pin which releases the boat from the ropes and pull it up.' No one knew where it was. "Down wo went and presently floated with our ropes still holding us directly under Doat No. 14, wlilcfi had filled rapidly with men and was coming down on us in a way that threatened to submerge our boat. "'Stop lowering 14,' the crew shouted and the crew of No. 14, now only 2 0 feet above, shouted the same. But down she came?flften feet, ten feet, five feet and a stoker, and I reached up and touched her swinging above our heads. Just beforo sne dropped another stoker sprang to the ropes with his knife, llis knife cut through the pulled ropes and the next moment the exhaust streams then carried us clear, while Boat 14 dropped into the water, into the space wo had the moment before occupies. "Wo drifted away easily and headed directly away from the ship. The '1 ~ ~ K/> mnotli. UJ'UW BtSUlIltHl t*J 1I1U V.U UU uiuou; cooks in white jackets, two to an oar, with a stoker at the tiller. The stoker who was steering was chosen captain. He set to work at once to get into touch with the other boats, calling to them and getting as close as seemed wise, so that when the searching boats came in the morning to look for us there would bo more chance for all to be rescued. "It was now about 1 a. m., a beautiful starlight night, with no moon, and so not very light. The sea was as calm as a pond. "As wo rowed away from the Titanic, we looked back from time to time to watch her. In the distance she looked an enormous length, her great bulk outlined in black against the starry sky, every port hole and saloon blazing with light. It was impossible to think anything could be wrong with such a leviathan, wore it not for that ominous tilt downwards in the bows, where the wate.* was by now up to the lowest row of port holes. Presently, nnout 2 a. m., as near as I can remember, wo observed her settling very rapidly. She slowly tilted straight on end and with the stern vertically upwards, and as sho did so, the lights in the cabins and saloons, which had not flickered for a moment before we left, died out, came on again for a single flash and finally went out altogether. At the same time the machinery roared down through the vessel with a rattle and a groaning that could be f milttu Hnf- fliifl wan not yet quite the end. "To our amazement, she remained in the upright position some minutes and we watched at least 150 feet of tho Titanic towering up above the level of the sea and looming black against the sky. Then, with a quiet, slanting dive, sho disappeared beneath tho water and our eyes hitd looked for tho last time on tho gigantic vessel. And there was loft to us tho gently heaving sea, tho boat filled to standing room with men and women in. every conceivable condition of dress and undress. "And then thereon tho ear the most appalling noise that human being ever listened to?the cries of hundreds of our fellow beings struggling in the Icy cold water, crying for help with a cry that wo knew could not bo answered. "Wo tried to sing to keep the women from hearing tho cries and rowed hard to get away from the scene of tho wreck, but I think those sounds will ho one thing tho rescued will find it difficult to efface from memory. "We kept a lookout for lights and about 3 a. m. saw faint lights showing in the sky, which turned out to be only (ho northern lights. "Presently low down on the horizon we saw a double light. They proved (o lo the masthead light and a deck light below of a rescuing steamer. Wo swung around and headed for her. Tho steersman shouted: 'Now boys sing,' and for tho first time, tho boat broke into song with 'Row for the Shore, Hoys/ and for the first, time tears came to he eyes of us all, as we realized that safety was at hand. The song was sung, but it was a very poor imitation of the real thing, for quiet evening voices make poor songs. A o'toer was given next, and that was bo/^br." r WAS SAVED ON BAFT TELL GRAPHIC STORIES OF THE AWFUL DISASTER. A THRILLING DESCRIPTION Col. Graice, Rescued After Going Down With the Titanic, and Other Survivors, Tell Graphic Tales of the Sinking of the Great Liner and Great IjOks of Idfc. Some of the survivors from the Titanic wreck tell graphic stories of the terrible disaster, by which nearly sixteen hundred people lost their lives. B. Z. Taylor of Philadelphia, one of the survivors, jumped into tbe sea just three minutes before the boat sank. He told a graphic story as ho came from the Carpathia, when she arrived in New York Thursday night. "I was wakened when she struck the iceberg," he said. "There was an awful shock that made the boat tremble from stem to stern. I did not realize for some time what nad happened. No one semed to know the extent of the accident. We were told that an iceberg had been struck by the ship. I felt the boat ri3e ana it seemed to me that she was riding over the ice. I ran out on deck and then I could see ice. It was a veritable sea of ice, and the boat was rocking over it. "I should say that parts of tht iceberg were SO feet high, but it hac been broken into section, probalilj by our ship. I jumped into the oceaL and was picked up by one of the boats. I never expected to see land again. I waited on board the boat until the lights were out. It seemed to mo that the discipline on boaro was wonderful." Col. Grade a Hero. Col. Archibald Gracio, U. S. A. the last man saved, went down with the vessel, but was picked up. Col Gracio told a remarkable story of personal hardship and denied emphatically tho reports that thero had been any panic 011 board. Ho praised in the highest t^rins the behavior of both the passengers and crew and paid a high tribute to tho heroism of the women passengers. "Mrs. Isador Straus," ho said "went to her death because she would not desert her husband. Although ho pleade<l with her to take her place in the boat, she steadfastly refused and was in the ship when it settled at the head and the two were engulfed by tho wave that swept her." Col. Gracie told of how he was driven io the topmast deck when tho ship settled, and was the sole survivor after the wave that swept tier just before her final plunge had passed. "1 jumped with the wave," he said, "just as I often have jumped with tlie breakers at tho seashore Hy great good fortune, I managed to grasp the brass railing on the deck above and I hung 011 hy might and main. When the ship plunged down l was rorcou 10 let go, ana i wa? swirled around and around for what seemed to bo an interminable time Eventually I camo to the surface to find the sea a mass of tangled wreckage. "Luckily I was unhurt, and casting about managed to seize a wooden grating floating nearby. When 1 had recovered my breath I discovered a large canvas and cork liferaft which had floated up. A man, whose name I did not learn, was struggling toward it from some wreckage tc which ho had clung. I cast off and j helped him to get on to the raft, and we then began the work of rescuing thoso who had jumped into the sea and wero floundering in tlio water. Saw Wretched Men Die. "When dawn broke there were 3h of ns on the raft, standing knee deer in tho icy water and afraid to move lost the cranky craft be overturned Several unfortunates, benumbed and half-dead, besought us to save them and one or two made an effort to reach us, but we had to warn them away. Had we made any effort to save them, wo all might have perished. The hours that elapsed before we were picked up by tho Carpathia wero tho longest and most terrlblo that I ever spent. "Practically without any sensation of feeling because of icy water, we were almost dropping from fatigue Wo were afraid to turn around to look to see whether we wero seen by pass-craft, and when some one who was facing astern passed the word that something that looked like a steamer was coming up, ono of the men became hysterical under the strain. The rest, of us, too, wort Hearing the breaking point." Col Gracie denied with emphasis that any men were fired upon, and declared that only once was a revolver discharged. "This was to intimidate some steerage passenger," he said, "who had tumbled into a boat before it was prepared for launching. This sho: was fired in the air and when the foreigners wero told that the next would ho directed at them they promptly returned to the deck. There was no confusion and no panic." Col. Graclo waa in his berth when 1 T ^ m / V V the vessel smashed into the berg and was aroused by the Jar. He looked at his watch, he said, and foand It was just midnight. The ship sank with him at 2:22 a. m. for hie watch stopped at that hour. "Before I retired," , eald CoJ. Grade, "I had a long talk with Cbas. H. Hayes, president of the Grand Trunk railroad. One el the last things Mr. Hayes said was this: . ' premacy in luxurious ships and mak* ing speed records. The time frill soon come when this will be checked by some appalling disaster." "Poor fellow, a few honrs later he was dead." "The conduct of Col. John Jacob Astor was deserving of the highest praise," Col. Grade declared. "The millionaire New Yorker," he said, "devoted all his energy to saving his young bride, nee Miss Force of New York, who is in delicate health. "Col. Astor helped ns in our efforts to get her in the boat," said Col. Gride. "I lifted her into the boat, and as she took her place Col. AHtnr rnmiostp-d uermisslon of the second officer to go with her for her own protection. " 'No, sir' replied the officer, 'not a man shall go on a boat until the women are all off.' Col. Aetor then inquired the number of the boat which was being lowered away and turned to the work of clearing the other boats and in reassuring the frightened and nervous women. "By this time the ship began to list frightfully to port. This become so dangerous that the second offleer ordered every one to rush to starboard. This we did, and we found tho crew trying to get a boat off in that quarter. Il-ero I saw the last of J. B. Thayer and George B\. Widener." At High Speed. Col. Oracle said that despite warnings of icebergs, no slowing down of speed was ordered by tho commander of the Titanic. There were other warnings too, he said. "In tho 24 hours' run ending 14th," he said, "tho ship's run was 546 miles, and wo were told that the next 24 hours would see even a betI ter record posted. No diminuitlon of speed was indicated in the run. Tho otlicers, I am credibly Informed, had been advised by wireless from other ships of icebergs and dangerous floes in that vicinity. The sea was as smooth as glass and the weather clear, so that it seems there was no occasion for fear." "When the vessel struck," he continued, "the passengers wore so little alarmed that they joked over the matter. There was not the slightest indication of panic. Some of the ir. ^ l-i rwl f o linn nn t h n i rugiliuiii.? ui u,u uau lanun v. ? t" u dock and these were picked up and i passed around by some of the face- J tious ones, who offered them as mo- | mentoes of the occasion. On the I port side a glance over the side I failed to show any evidence of dan>- I age and the vessel seemed to be on an even keel. James Clinch Smith and I, however, soon found the vessel was listing heavily. A few minutes later the oflicers ordered men j and women to don life preservers." One of the last women Been by Col. Gracie, he said, was Miss Evans of New York, who virtually refused to bo rescued because, according to the army officer, "she had been told I by a fortune teller in London that fIio would meet her death on the Tj water." Fifth Officer Efficient. A young English woman who requested that her name bo omitted, told a thrilling story of her experience in one of the collapsible boata which had been manned by eight of ?.J the crew from the Titanic. The boat was In command of the fifth officer, II. Lowe, whoso actions she described as saving many lives. Ilefore the ^ lifo boat was launched he passed jj along the port dock of the steamer j commanding the people not to jump I into tho boats and otherwiso re etraining them from swamping the craft. When tho collapsible was launched Officer Lowe succeeded in putting up a mast and a small sail. I To collected the other boats together; in some cases the boats were short of adequate crews and he directed an exchango by which each J was adequately manned. lie threw lines connecting tho boats two by two and all thus moved togother. Later on ho went back to tho wreck with the crew of one of the boats and succeeded in picking up some of those who had jumped overboard and wero swimming about. On his way back to the Carpathia he passed a ono of the collapsiblo boats which A was on the point of sinking with 3 0 passengers aboard, most of them in j^K scant night clothing. They wero rescued just in tho nick of timo." ? ? ? I NONE HESCUKB BY THEM. 1 Xon^ of Titanic 1'asscNgers on Pa* m rlsian or Virginian. A dispatch from Montreal says !ho definito statement that neither tho staemer Parisian nor the Virginian succeeded in rescuing any of tho Titanic's passengers was made Tuesday night by George Hannah, general passenger agent of tho Allen Pino. It is believed, Mr. Hannah said, that tho Titanic sank more rapidly than those on board had expected she would do, and that tho work of loading tho boats and getting the passengers over the aide had not been completed when the final plunge occurred. j