The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-05-04

ing of the catastrophe, my inform
ant grew indignant. I'D just as soon
people said things rejecting my
mother as to say that Captain Smith
was drunk" he declared. I'm my
opinion the sinking of the Titanic
was one of those things that can't
be helped. But is was crime not
to have enough life boats and skilled
seamen to handle them so that every
human being aboard could be saved
How were you saved?''
Il was ordered to help man one of
the life boats. There were not enough
men aboard who knew how to handle
a boat in mid-ocean. The fourth Of
fcer knew that l had experience and
he ordered me down to lend hand.
I really did not want to go as I be-
lieVed that the Titanic would not
sink but drift along until help would
come while going into life boat was
taking some chances
Only IS Skilled Scamen.
That only about 10 of the 900 men
in the crew We're skilled seamen was
the startling declaration given by
my informant. The rest were stew
ards, porters, cooks, waiters-persons
such as work in big hotels. Many
of these took their first sea voyage
aboard the Titanic.
Il noticed that your papers are de-
ploring the fact that a few of our
boys had been saved-that it would
have been better that Astor, Guggen-
helm and some of the other rich
Americans had been saved rather
than men of the crew. But the fact
is that only about $50 were saved
and those were mostly needed to man
the life boats and the collapsibles,"
he declared.
II am sorry that so few of our boys
had been saved. The death of rich
man means more money to his FAM
lily. But with us, God knows, it
means taking the bread out of the
mouths of our wives and children,
My mate-a gne fellow-drowned
He left a wife, six children and aged
mother in Southampton. How they
are going to live now. / don't know
The rich Americans are response
bic for the lack of life-boats etc.
The boats were built to accomodate
them. We poor devils are being
crowded right along to make room
for salons, billiard rooms and dane
, ing halls. Why should the crew pay
the penalty for the lack of life boats
and DROWN
Owners Were Responsible.
I told him that in my opinion the
Astors and the Guggenheims and the
owners of the ship were responsible.
He grasped my hand. II am sorry
that some of the men did not make
greater efforts to save themselves
after the women and children had
been taken away. If they had done
SO there would not be so many dark
homes in Southampton, Liverpool
and other sea towns today
He expressed an opinion that most
of those who are in Washington to
testify before the senate committee
would probably never get work from
the International Marine Company
tify to things unpleasant to Ismay
and Franklin, who note every word
spoken by their employees.
I'VE Don't Count For Much"
When told that the firemen of the
Olympic had already taken matters
into their own hands to defend their
rights, he smiled family. 1.-THE In
ternational Marine Company" he
said, may give in now because OF
public opinion being aroused. But
they Will have things the way they
want before long. We poor devils
don't count for much. We cannot
strike under the law. And If We
could there are plenty of unemployed
to take our places"
! Have you no hope, at all?" |
! asked.
! "Oh, yes When We get enough
| of workingmen in the House of Com
mons we will change the law about
sailors striking and about providins
life-boats. And we will abolish the
House of Lords, too.'