The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-19
No Signs of Panic.

"All this time there was no trace of
any disorders; no panic or rush to
the boats and no scenes of women
sobbing Historically such as one gen
orally pictures as happening at such
times Every one seemed to realize
so slowly that there was imminent
danger. When it was realized that
we might all be presently in the sea
with nothing but our life belts to sun.
port us until we were picked up by
passing steamers II was extraordi-
nary how calm every one was and
how completely selfcontroled One
by one the boats were filed with wo.
men and children, lowered and rowed
away into the night Presently the
word went round among the men
The men are TO be put into boats on
the starboard side" | was on the
port side and most of the men walk
ed across the deck to see if this was
so. remained where | was and pres
emily heard the call Amy more lad
ies| Looking over the side of the
snip ! saw the boat, No. 10, swinging
level with b deck half-full of ladies
Again the call was repeated. ANY
more ladies'" / saw none come on
and then one of the crew looked I'M
and said: Any ladies' on your deck
sirY No, | replied.
Then you had better jump'. |
dropped in and fell in 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 I'm.
10 the boat and baby of 10 months
passed down after them. Down we
went, the crew calling TO those low.
erlhg which end to keep her level.
art stern both together.
We drifted away easily as the
oars were got out, and headed direct.
~ away from the ship. The crew
seemed TO me TO be mostly cooks in
white Jackets, two to an oar. with
a stoker az the tiller. There was n
certain amount OF shouting from one
END OF the boat to the other and die.
cussion as TO which way we should
60 but finally It was decided TO LEI
the stoker. who was steering. captain
ana Tor all to obey his orders we
went to work at once to get into
touch with the other boats. calling IN
them and getting as close as seemed
WISE so that when the search boats
came In the morning to look for ms
there would be more chance for ali
10 De rescued by keeping together
IL was now about | a. m. n beauti.
lul starlight night with no moon. and
so not very light The sea was ms
calm as n pond, just a gentle beavo
as the boat dipped up and down I'm
lhe swell; an ideal night except for
the bitter cold for anyone who had
10 be out In the middle of the AtIontic
ocean IN an open boat, and II ever
tnere was n time when such n niebt
was not needed, surely Il was now
win hundreds Of people. mostly wo'
men ana children, ahoat hundred nj
miles from land.
ne captain-stoker told us thar he
nad been at sea 20 years and bad
never yet seen such calm night ON
me Atlantic. As we rowed owo,,
from the Titanic we looked baoi,
rom ume to time to watch her. and
a more striking spectacle II was NOT
possible for anyone to see. onlv tbe
evening before at dinner / remarked
70 my neighbor thai when we arr,v'
ca az New York / should take an on.
Pp,1r.unlty to get a look at her from n
distance to realize some OF hor a.
menslons. We did not think our 40
s, was so soon to be gratlaed In
me distance she looked an enormons
length her great bulk outlined q,
. ulaek against the starry sky. every
port hole and saloon blazing Viii