The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-17

turned and took it out. placing fi On a
cold stove. Proceeding Mr. Burgess
said: then went to the boat deck az
my station. which was No ~ boaf on
the starboard side. As we stood there
awaiting orders someone told me to
go and call the other bakers who were
Off duty and had turned in I went
down to our quarters and told them
to get up and come mp with lifebe1ts-
They simply ridicuIed me and told ne
them another call went down again
later. but they took no notice and o.
ly abused me for disturbing their sleep
I never saw them again On returning
we were ordered to get in the boat
and lower to A deck and take in EO-
men and children We took in about
40 women and six children and as
there were no more about ten male
passengers were told to get in We
were then lowered down and we to-
tailed about 20. Then came the most
exciting moment Of my experience We
had got down within FIVE feet Of the
water when they stopped lowering
those above evidently thinking we had
reached the water On looking up
we saw No. Is boat coming down on
top of us. The shouts of our e0Gzwair
and bowman to lower away were use
less. 1t was a case of chance and our
coxswain ordered the ropes CfalRsl TO
be cut and let the boat trOp- FOrruR-
ately, both severed together, and we
were so evenly sitting in the life boat
that she dropped on the keel quite ev-
enly. Then we were faced with am
other danger. Just below US was the
sluicec. out of which the water WIS
pouring from the couGensers4 As we
dropped we pushed away from the
ships side with our oars. and the rush
Of water mfraculously caught the bow
and forced us away just i'm time as the.
other boat dropped alongside We
pulled away from the ship for about
ten minutes and then laid on our oars
waiting. as we expected to get orders
| to return to the ship again We h2d
no idea that she would sink or 1haG
the damage done was so great 1t Was
| then we noticed that she was sinking
by the head Slowly the lights from
the portfolios became extfngufshed as
the water rose up deck after deck
On being asked il it was correct
about the band playing Nearer, My
God. To Thee" Burgess replied Yes
it is. heard it distinctly 1t sound
ed grand across the water lust be-
fore she sank for good all the lights
| went out. the stern rose high into the
air, and then. as the ship broke in two.
the stern righted for few seconds and
I then the rattle and rumhdrg as If eV-
| erything was rushing out OF her Was
| screams of the drowning and the ex-
! plosions of the boilers as the ship
| glided beneath the wares To drown
| the cries and groans Of the drowning
we started singing in our boat as the
passengers were getting very restless
| I'm quite sure that those left On board
| did not realize the boat would sink
| We pulled about all night folEOwfng
/ green light in the first boat PrOvbden-
/ TALLY the sea was calm in fact I newer
knew it finer off the Banks Ii WAS
beautifully starlight but intensely
/ cold. | was only clad in my white
ducks. Just as I worked in the bake
house. The six children were placed
together in a sack bag and put in the
cuddy under the stern buIkhead- where
the pretty dears slept throughout the
night until brought out to be placed on
board the Carpathia- They knew moth
ing of the awful tragedy that had TAX
en- place. Daylight seemed ages com
ing, and when it did IL seemed to- c0ms
all at once. Wherever one looked
there was nothing but ice Once We
thought we could see q schooner with
all sails set. but it turned out TO be an
iceberg Never shall forget 5he feel
ing of all on board our boat when tbs
Carpathia hove In sight We whG
were at the oars pulled with renewed
spirits. and one by one the boats 1ooti
up the hymn Pull for the Shore Sahl
or" as We put our backs to- the work
The officers and crew OF the Carpahh1l
were kind and attentive beyond al
praise. as were the American PeoVla
on our arrival in New York They ru
ted US all out with a double s1Eit q
everything On our h0mewart laUrus1
by the Lapland we were trsaued mos
kindly was fortunate enough 10 hs
given something to do which greatly
helped me to forget the awftIl eHQsr
iencs of the past days.
In conclusion. Mr. Burgess said nj
praise should be given to- the man o
the Carpathia who when they btaru