The Washington herald., 1912-04-19
Outline the Tragedy in Off
cial Statement to the
Public.
TRIBUTE TO CARPATHIA
Reduction of Speed in Fog and More
Safety Equipment
Urged.

New York. -.priI 1S-The following
statement, issued by q committee Of the
surviving passengers. was given the
press on the arrival of the carpathia:
I'VE. the undersigned, surviving pas
sengers from the steamship titanic, IN
order to forestan any sensational or
to give TO the press a statement Of facts
which have come to our knowledge and
which We believe to be true.
"On Sunday. April Il. 1872, at about
11:4O p. m, on q cold, starlit night, In
smooth sea and with no moon, the
ship struck an iceberg, which had been
reported to the bridge by loekouts, but
not early enough enough TO avoid col
lisIon. Steps were taken TO ascertain the
damage and save passengers and ship.
"Orders were given to put on life belts
and the boats were lowered. The ship
sank about 2:3O a. m. Monday and the
usual distress signals were sent out by
wireless and rockets fired at intervals
from the ship.
Aid Came Quickly.
Fortunately, the wireless message was
received by the Cunard steamship Car
pathia At about z o'clpck midnight, and
she arrived on the scene OF the disaster
at about 4 a. m. Monday.
The officers and crew of the steam
ship Carpathia had been preparing an
night for the rescue and comfort Of the
survivors, and the aforementioned were
received on board with the most touch-
ing care and Kindness, every attention
being given to all. irrespective of class.
The passengers, officers, and crew
gave UP gladly their staterooms. cloth
- e. A.
honor to them.
The English Board Of Trade passen-
gers certificate on board the Titanic
allowed for a total Of approximately
1850. The same certificate called for life
boat accommodation for approximately
go in the following boats: Fourteen
large 1ifeboats. two smaller boat. and
four coilapsible boats. Life-preservers
were accessible and apparently in suffi-
cient numbers for all on board.
Number of Passengers.
The approximate number of passen-
gers carried at the time Of the collision
were:
First. class, 80; second class, go; third
class $50. Total, LOO. oficers and crew,
90. Total, 2S4o.
"of the foregoing, about the follow
ing were rescued by the steamship Car
pathis:
First class. 40: second class, I25;
third class, 200; officers, 4; seamen, 50;
stewards, IS; iremen, Il Total. 40 of
the crew. The total Of about 10 saved
was about so per cent Of the maximum
capacity Of the lIfeboats.
I'VE feel it our duty to call the at
tention Of the public to what we con-.
slider the inadequate supply Of Hfe-sav-
ing appliances provided for on modern
passenger steamships, and recommend
that immediate steps be taken to COM
pei passenger steamers to carry sum-
Client boats to accommodate the maxi
mum number Of people carried on board.
The following facts were observed and
should be considered In this connection:
The insuficiency Of iifeboats, RATS,
&c; lack Of trained seamen to man
same (stokers, stewards. &c, are not
efficient boat handlers; not enough on
GERS to carry out emergency orders on
the bridge and superintend the launch
ing and control OF lifeboats; absence of
searchlights.
Too Many in Boats.
THE Board of Trade rules allow for
entirely too many people in each boat
to permit the same to be properly han
died.
ON the Titanic the boat deck was
about seventy-five feet above water. and
the passengers were re-
quired to embark before lowering the
boats, thus endangering the operation
and preventing the taking on OF the
maximum numbeS the boats would hold.
Boats at all times should be properly
with provisions. water. lamps,
compasses. lights, &C. Life-saving boat
drills should be more frequent and thor
oughly carried out. and officers should
be armed at boat drills.
Greater reduction in speed in fog
and ice, as damage II collision actually
occurs is liable to be less. In conclu-
sion, We suggest that an international
conference be called to recommend the
passage of Identical laws providing for
the safety Of all at sea, and we urge
the United States government to take
the Initiative as soon as possible
Although the foregoing was given out