Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25

about managed to seize a woodengrating
floating nearby. When I had recovered
my breadth I discovered a larger canvas
and cork life raft which had hoated up
A man, whose name did not learn, was
struggling toward II from some wreckage
to which he had chung. cast of and
helped him to get on to the raft and we
then began the work OF rescuing those
who had jumped into the sea and were
floundering IN the water.
THIRTY ON A RAFT.
when dawn broke there were 80 Of us
on the raft standing knee deep in the Icy
water and afraid to move lest the craft
be overturned. Several unfortunates. be-
numbed and half dead. besought us to
save them and one or two made an effort
TO reach us but we had to warn them
awav Had we made an effort to save
them We all might have persisted.
1.-THE hours that elapsed before We were
picked up by the Carpathia we're tho
longest and most terrible that ever spent
Practically without any sensation OF feel
ing because of the icy water, we were
almost dropping from fatigue. We were
afraid t. turn around to look to see
whether we were seen by passing craft
ard when some one who was facing
astern passed the word that somethirs
that looked like a steamer was coming up.
one of the men became hysterical under
the strain The rest of us, too, were
nearing the breaking point"
Colonel Oracle denied with emphasis that
any men were fi,ed upon and declared
that only once was revolver discharged.
This was for the purpose Of intimidat-
ing some Storage passengers. he said,
who had tumbled into boat before it
was prepared for launching This shot
was fred in tho air. and when the
foreigners were told that the next would
he directed at them they promptly returned
10 the deck. There was no confusion and
no panic"
Contrary 10 the general expectation,
there was no Earring impact when the
vessel struck. according 10 the army Of
ficer. He was In his Derth when the YES
sci smashed into the submerged portion
OF the berg and was aroused by the lar.
He looked at his watch. he said, and
found 1t was Just midnight The shin
SANK with him at 222 a. m. for his watch
stopped at that hour.
LAST WORDS WITH HAYS.
Before retired" said Colonel Oracle.
II had long chat with Charles NJ Hays.
president of the Grand Trunk railroad
One of the last things Mr. Hays said
was this The White Star. the Cunard
and the Hamburg American lines are de-
voting their attention and ingenuity in
vieing one with the other to attain the
supremacy in luxurious ships and In maxi
ing speed records. The time will soon
come, when this will he checked by some
appalling disaster Poor fellow, few
hours later he was dead"
"Tlie conduct OF Col. John Jacob Astor
was deserving Of the highest praise -
Col. Oracle declared. The millionaire
New Yorker. he said. devoted all his
energies 10 saving his young bride, nee
Miss Force OF New York, who was in
delicate health.
Colonel Astor helped us In our ef-
forts to get her in the boat" saii
Colonel Oracle. Il lifted her into the
boat and az she took her place Colonel
Astor requested permission of the sec
ond officer to go with her for her own
protection.
Aston WAS ORDERED BACK.
! "'No. sir replied the officer, not a
man shall go on boat until the wom-
en- are all Off Colonel Astor then M
uuired tine number OF the boat. which
was being lowered away and turned
to the work of clearing the other
boats. and in reassuring the frighten-
cd and nervous women.
by this time the ship began to list
frightfully to port. This became az
dangerous that the second officer or
dered every one to rush 10 starboard
This we did. and we foun1 the crew
trying to get a boat of In that quar-
ter. Here ! saw the last Of John b.
Thayer and George b. Wrdener. both
of Philadelphia"
Colonel Oracle said that despite the
warnings Of icebergs. no slowing down
OF speed was ordered by the comman-
der OF the Titanic. There were other
warnings too, he said.
In the "a hours run ending the l4th." he
said. the ships run was 548 miles and
we were told that the next "a hours would
see even a better record posted. No
diminution of speed was indicated in the
run. When Sunday evening came we all
noticed the increased cold. which gave
plain warning that the ship was in close
proximity TO icebergs or ice fields The
officers am credibly informed. had been
advised by wireless from other ships of
the presence Of cebergs and dangerous
foes in that vicinity. The sea was as
smooth as glass. and the weather clear
so that 1t seems that there was no occasion
for fear.
PASSENGERS JOKED ABOUT TT.
when the vessel struck" he cop.
tinued, "the passengers were 30 It'll,
alarmed that they joked over the matter
The few that appeared on deck early had
taken their time TO dress properly and
there was not the slightest indication OF
panic, some of the fragments OF ice hat
fallen on the deck and these were nick ~
UP ana passed around by some OF the
iacenous ones. who offered them AZ
mementoes of the occasion. on the port
size a glance over the side failed to show
any evidence of damage and the yesse
seemed to be- on an even kneel. James
'llnch Smith and !. however, soon fount
the vessel was listed heavily. A few
minutes later the officers ordered mer
and women TO don life preservers.
One OF the last women seen by Colone
Oracle. he said, was Miss Evans OF New
York who virtually refused to he rescued
because according TO the army officer 'sh,
had been told by fortune teller in Ion