The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-04-26
THE PATHS OF GLORY.

The greatest of all disasters at sea ever
recorded in history was the sinking of the
British steamer Titanic at midnight OF
last Sunday off the New Foundland coast.
The steamer was bound for New York
from South Hampton and was making
her maiden voyage. 1t was the newest
and best steamer of the great White Star
line, and was the last word in ConStruc-
ito of modern passenger vessels. The
vessel struck an iceberg few minutes
before midnight and went to the bottom
with approximately fifteen hundred on
board two hours later. Some nine hun
dred, including over two hundred mem.
bcrS of the vessels crew, and ]. Bruce
Ismay, managing director of the com.
pany owning the ship, were saved. The
horror of this fearful sea tragedy has
been the appalling subject of comment
the world over for the last week. The
many phases of it, notably the many acts
of hcroism and self sacrifice, in contrast
to the few acts of selfishnesS and coward.
ice, have been such as to impress all
that the good in humanity needs but
the call to be asserted. That the
cause OF the collision may be laid TO
criminal oversight and carelessneSS is
amply proved by the accounts of the sur.
vivors and the investigation of the affair
which was Immediately set afoot by the
U. S. Senate. The examination of Ismay
before the investigating committee estab
lished the fact that the ship had been
warned that the course it was pursuing
lay through the region of floating ice.
Little or no heed was given TO these
warnings. Even after the vessel struck
the enormity of what had happened was
not comprehended by these in authority
1t was shown that with all its magnifi-
cent equipment for the comfort of the
guests and for the sake of mere appear
ances that the vessel was not properly
equipped with wireless apparatus and
had only two inexperienced and poorly
paid operators in charge of this very i'm
portant department of modern ship SER
vice.
Those in authority are being con-
demned by the people and the press
generally for taking the northern route
known to be dangerous. 1t is that well
recognized principle of greater consider.
alton for the welfare of others than for
ones self that rises and is heard on such
occasions as this. The brave captain OF
the vessel was the last to leave the ship,
and he persisted in the waters while at
tempting TO save child, after having
seen to the launching of all the life boats.
There is nothing but praise for the per.
Sonal courage of Captain Smith, while
he shares the blame for the terrific ac.
cident of which he was victim. But
for ]. Bruce ISmay there is little but cen.
sure He was managing director of the
company and embarked on the maiden
voyage of The ship in a semi-official ca.
pacity. He testified that he occupied
the same position as any other passenger,
that he had nothing to do with the di.
recting of the ships course. But il
stands out that lsmay was among the
first TO leave the vessel, and closed him,
self in palatial apartments on board the
reScuing steamer, and did not emerge
until that vessel reached New York. He
took no part or interest in the rescue OF
Others He acted the part of the coward
and cold blooded materialist. Enough
for ]. Bruce lSmay! 1t is good TO reflect
that the other men on the boat were not
of his mold. 1t is also a sorrowful re-
Election that the best achievements OF
man are full of error and fault and "the
paths of glory lead but to the grave"