The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-04-25
By TlTANlC's SURVIVORS
(Continued from Yesterday

Mrs. Astor's mental suffering Mas
terrible, though physically she was not
much harmed, Physicians gave or
ders that neither she or her maid
should be permitted to talk about the
Titanic, and this rule was strictly OBJ
served. Nevertheless, before the order
had been given, she had told Vincent
Astor some of her memories. She
thought she recalled seeing Colonel
Astor by her side, just before she got
into one Of the boats. She imagined
he was safe, too, and it was only
when she was on the Carpathia that
she realized he was not among the
rescued. -
Like most of the survivors. Mrs. AS
tor was too stunned at first to recall
any of the incidents of the sinking
ship. Other passengers said that Mrs.
Astor displayed remarkable courage
during the days on the Carpathia,
walking about the decks and trying to
cheer up other survivors whose sorrow
seemed beyond relief. .s
Astor Made Light Of Danger
Colonel Astor was walking the deck
at the time the Titania struck the ice
berg" said William David, assistant
saloon steward on board the Carpa-
thia, in reciting incidents which had
been told to him by survivors.
"He was approached by a frantic
waiter, I was told, and urged to put
on life belt. The waiter had several
life belts in his hand. Colonel Astor
waved him away.
"'Pooh,' he said, this is nothing!
There is no need Of life BELTS And
that was the last seen Of Colonel AS
tor" --.. f..
Band Played "Nsarsr, My God, to Thee"
Mrs. A. A. Dick, who was saved
with her husband, told the following
story:
'"The boats lay in the vicinity of the
laundering vessel for about an hour.
No one believed she could go down.
We had been assured to this effect by
the captain. But as she began to set
tie it was soon seen that she was
about to go to the bottom, and If we
stayed near we would be drawn down
with her In the vortex.
'The marine band on board did it's
best to cheer up the waning hopes of
the passengers. One or two airs were
struck up. It was a spectacle that no
one will ever forget.
"Suddenly the band stopped. The
}, ho%
emn tones the air, Nearer, My God, to
Thee was waited across the water to
our ears.
1.-THE band played the hymn con-
dnuously until their instruments were
choked off by the swirling water that
closed about their heads as they went
to hero's grave"
Storage Passengers Experience.
A Swede named Oscar Johansen was
steerage passenger on the Titanic
He said he was awakened in his steer
age bunk by sort Of grinding, tear
Ing thump at the moment the Titanic
struck the iceberg he ran for the deck,
but when he reached the saloon he
found the band playing some popular
air. 'The officers of the ship were as
suring the people that there was no
DANGER" said Johansen. 'They told
me to go back to the steerage and tell
the people who knew my tongue that
the accident was nothing. went back,
for the band kept on playing and the
people In the saloon were leaving also
for their beds. An hour after the boat
sank. hung onto one of the collaps-
ible Hfeboats for two hours and half.
Then was picked up."
Mrs. Paul ShaDert ofDerDy, Conn.,,
said that when the collision occurred
she came out on deck and asked one
of the stewards If there was any dan
ger, and he said he was afraid there
was. Shortly afterward one Of the Of
fcers shouted, Ladies first to the
boatsr' r@~..-...
Mrs. Henry Stengel Of Newark, N. j.,
said that she witnessed terrible scenes.
Chinese stokers hid in the bottom of
the lifeboats before they were launch
ed. Men jumped into boatloads Of
women, injuring them. There were no
lights and no provisions. The COL
usion was terrific, but nobody appeared
to realize how serious matters were.
There appeared to be overconfldence,
as it was thought that the Titanic was
unsinkable. II am sure that more
might have been saved had it not been
tor this overconfldence. The boats
were undermined. My husband help
ed to row nfeboat. Captain Smith
stuck to the bridge like hero. The
behavior Of the entire crew was per-
feet. It was most beautiful night
The vessel was surrounded by Ice
bergs. Some Of the passengers were
on the deck of the great liner, enjoy
Ing the strange and beautiful scene,
when the crash came"
Went Down, but Was Saved.
Colonel Archibald Oracle, U. s. A., the
last man saved, went down with the
vessel, but was picked up. Colonel Ora
Gle told remarkable story Of personal
hardship and denied emphatically the
reports that there had been any panic
on board. He praised in the highest
terms the behavior of both the pas
sengers and crew and paid a high tri-
butte to the heroism of the women pas
sengers. ~
II jumped with the sea-" said he,
'.Just as often have jumped with the
breakers at the seashOre. By great