The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-04-25
VICTIMS Of SEA HORROR
WENT DOWN LIKE HEROES


heasIey OF London. one OF the pas
sengers on the Inflated steamer:
The voyage from Queenstown had
~en quite uneventfui: very ins
weather was experienced and the sea
was quite calm. The wind had been
westerly TO southwesterly the whole
way. but very cold, particularly the
last day; in fact. after dinner on sun
day evening II was almost too cold to
be out on deck al all. I had been In
my berth for about ten minutes. when
at about 1i:15 p. m, I felt a sligh,
Jar. and then. soon after, a second
one. but not sufficiently large TO cause
any anxiety to any one. however nery.
GUS they may have been. However
the engines stopped Immediately aft.
erwards. and my nrst thought was
she has lost q propeller went IN
on the top tboat) deck In a dressing
gown and found only a few people
there. who had come up similarly 10
Inquire why we had stopped. but
there was no sort OF anxiety In the
minds OF any one
CARD PLAYERS SAW ICEBERG.
We saw through the smoking room
window game OF cards going on and
went in 90 inquire II they knew any.
thing; II seems they felt more Of the
Jar. and looking through the window
had seen a huge iceberg 20 by close
10 the side OF the boat They thought
We had just grazed II with a glancing
blow and the engines had been
stopped TO see II any damage had
been done No one. OF course, had any
conception that she had been pierced
below by part OF tho submerged Ice
berg. The game went on without any
thought OF disaster. and I retired to
my cabin To read until We went on
again. ! never saw any OF the players
or the onlookers again. A little later.
hearing people going upstairs. I went
out again and found every one want.
ing 20 know why the engines had
stopped. No doubt many were awak-
ened from sleep by the sudden stop
ping OF a vibration TO which they had
become accustomed during the four
days We had been on board. Natural.
". with such powerful engines as the
Titanic carried the vibration was very
noticeable all the time. and the sud.
den stopping had something the same
effect as the stopping Of a loud tick
ing grandfather's clock in a room
On going on deck again saw that
there was an undoubted list down.
wards from stern 20 bows. but. know.
Ing nothing OF what had happened.
concluded some OF the front compart-
ments had filled and weighed her
down. went down again 10 put on
warmer clothing and as I dressed
heard an order shouted:
LIFgsoArs ORDERED.
IAN passengers on deck with life
belts on
We all walked slowly up with them
tied on over our clothing. but even
then presumed this was n wise pre-
caution the captain was taking. and
that we should return In a short time
and retire TO bed. There was total
absence OF any panic OF any express
sions OF alarm. and suppose this
can be accounted for by the exceed.
ingly calm night and the absence OF
any signs OF the accident The ship
was absolutely still and except for a
gentle TIT downward. which ! don't
think one person in ten would have
noticed at that time. no signs OF the
approaching disaster wero visible.
She lay Just as II she were waiting
the order 10 20 on again, when some
trining matter had been adjusted.
But IN a few moments We saw the
covers lifted from the boats, and the
crews allotted to them standing by
and curling up the ropes which were
10 lower them by the pulley blocks
into the water.
We then began TO realize II was
more serious than had been supposed.
and my first thought was 10 go down
and get more clothing and some
money. but seeing people pouring up
the stairs decided Il was better 10
cause no confusion 20 people coming
up by doing so Presently we heard
the order:
WOMEN TORN FROM HUSBANDS.
IAN men stand back away from
The boats and all ladies retire TO
next deck beiow!'-the smoking room
deck or II deck The men all stood
away and remained In absolute ri.
lence. leaning against the end ratings
OF the deck or pacing slowly up and
down. The boats were swung out
and lowered from A deck. When they
were TO the level OF II deck. where all
the ladies' were collected, the ladies' |
got in quietly. with the exception OF |
some who refused 10 leave their hus-
bands. In some cases they were torn |
from them and pushed into the boats.
but In many instances they were al |
lowed TO remain because there was
no one 10 insist they should go.
Looking over the side, one saw
boats from aft already In the water,
quietly away into the dark
ness. and presently the boats near To
me were lowered and with much
creaking as the new ropes slipped
the pulley blocks down the
ninety feet which separated them
from the water. An oficer In uni
form came up as one boat went down
and shouted: When you are afioat.
l.. I