The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-04-25
OF
TITANIC
FATE Toll
Though Nearly a Week Has
Passed, But Few Facts of
Terrible Catastrophe
Are Known.
INQUIRY Is CONTINUED
Before Congressional Probe,
Prominent Among Those
Rescued Have Told
Their Story.
SPEED ADMITTED RECKLESS
Burden of Testimony Shows Of
ficers Pushed Ahead, Hav-
ing Great Faith in
the Liner.
SPEED ADMITTED RECKLESS

New York, April 22.-Nearly a week
has passed since the Titanic, greatest
marine achievement in the history or
the world, sank in midocean. Much OF
her story still is untold n many q
day will pass before the world will fully
| comprehend the significance Of the dis
aster. The number of the dead will
probably never b. exactly determined.
inasmuch as the correct passenger list
went down with the vessel. The num-
| Der of survivors Is fixed at 705 by the
| report Of Captain Rostron. Of the Car
pathia. The White Star line officials
believe the death list totalled approx
mately 1885.
Bravery U~unassumed.
The narratives gathered piecemeal
from the liners survivors a a trl-
butte without precedent to the bravery
Of the men and women Of these modern
days, a bravery of impulse ~unstudled,
u~nassuming and instructive alike in
steerage passenger, stoker and million
aire.
/ BY common consent the churches or
the world will set aside their pulpits
tomorrow, for a reverent consideration
Of the disaster and for mourning for
the lost.
Relief Fund Crows.
AS to the needs of the living, ample
provision Is rapidly being made. The
relief funds being gathered l n New
York and London already total well up
in the hundreds of thousands. Most OF
the steerage passengers who cached
New York distraught n penniless,
have already come to realize the gen.
crosby and hospitality Of America.
Clad, fed and housed, they will be CIV
en- ample time to recover from the
chanly nP fhatr avnarionCa and will start
their life in the new world with ample
funds and kindly advice - excellent
counsellors.
Committee Has Best Story.
The most complete story of the IT.
tanic's fate yet obtained is being rap
idly gathered in New York by the
members Of the Senate investigating
committee.
The committee has already listened
TO the testimony OF j. Bruce Ismay,
managing director Of the White Star
line, Captain Rostron, Of the Carpathia,
Charles w. L~ightholder, second officer
of the Titanic n others.
The witnesses called for today's ses-
sion included III. ]. Pitman, third Of
ficer of the Titanic: j.. O.. Roxhall.
fourth officer; G.. Low, also In an Of
fetal position on the Titanic and Is
members of the crew.
The committee in its work has the
assistance Of George Uhler, chief OF the
United States steam boat inspection
service and Truman II. Newberry. who
was secretary OF the navy under Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
Had Faith in Ship.
The burden Of the testimony thus far
presented emphasizes the unquestion-
ing faith Of the Titanic's officers in her
unsuitable character, the reckiessness
of steaming full speed through a sea
where dangerous icebergs were known
to threaten and the remarkable calm
ness with which passengers n crew
faced the last moments of the sinking
ship.
TIL Titanic's fate has already re-
suited in prompt action by the ran
Atlantic lines to insure liners hereafter
taking a course far to the south, where
the iceberg dangers will no longer be
present. The various lines, 1t is an
nounced, have agreed on a new long"
course which dips far to the south Of
the course upon which the Titanic met
disaster.
There is little disposition to crit
icize Captain Smith for following the
ocean lane in which he met disaster.
Captain Showed Caution.
He showed caution. according to the
naval photographers. in steering a
course we'll to the south Of the regular
southern lane.
The northern course led by vessels
from July to January crosses the Grand
Banks in latitude As north, four degrees
further up the map than the southern
or 'long" course, in which the Titanic
met It's fate. AS a matter Of fact. the
Titanic was so miles south Of the reg
ular southern course and was even In
danger of collision with eastbound
steamers, which, by the rules of the
sea. are entitled to right of way there.
The new route, eastbound, provides
that steamships shall dip to latitude
$500 on the first third of their course,
making a total distance from New York
to Fastnet, 5000 miles. where the dis
lance Is now reckoned as 2.85S miles.
The loss Of time On the new course
will be about nine hours for a "a knot
boat. Boats of the Olympic class may
be IL or IL hours longer in crossing.
They will gain. however. In having
clear weather most of the time, avoiding
delays from fog.
Crew Is Critisized.
There was some criticism among the
survivors here today Of the Titanic
crews inability to handle the life boats.
Albert Major, steward on the Titanic,
admitted that there had been no boat
drills and that the life boats We're poor
ly handled.
zone thing comes to my mind, above
all else" he said. I'VE of the crew
realized at the start of the trouble that
we were unorganized and although ey-
cry man did his best. we were hindered
In getting the best results because we
could not pull together. There had not
been a single boat drill on the I'll
tanic." One story. told by a fireman,
runs:
Fireman's Story.
"The engineers stayed by the pumps
and went dow with the ship. The fire.
men and Stokers were sent on deck