The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-26
Martyrs to
True Manhood

The pen Of a Dickens or the elo-
quence OF IN Ingersoll fall short Of
power to portray that category of hui
man emotion and passion all minds
on the Titanic must have felt. Sur.
prise, fear, hope, horror and fnal res
~ignation must have been the channels
through which those minds found ex.
preston.
We seem TO stand upon the shores
OF the mighty deep in sad contempla-
ton, and. with tear-dimmed eyes and
throbbing hearts. pay silent tribute TO
the dead.
Paused round all old oceans grey
and melancholy waste are but the sol
emn decorations, all OF this great
tomb Of man"
shores Of the old world the GROWING
achievement Of mans maritime ge
MUS, laden with human freight from
every walk Of life; some Of world
wide recognition, some scarcely no
ticed in LIES distinction.
l e the millionaire. surrounded by
all that exalts and embellishes civil
lied life, prepare his careless pleas
ure in that floating palace OF gran
deur.
l see the humble peasant awaiting
the land OF promise. / hear and see
a joyous farewell rs the mighty IT.
tanic floats away frOm the harbor Of
safety.
Day and night 60 by In peace: the
golden sun. the silvery moon, the
twinkling stars above-and all about
the sea eternal waste. all therein
and the calm breeze from somewhere.
nowhere, bring to all memories of the
past and hopeful anticipations OF the
future.
But alas! as II awakened from a
sweet, sweet dream, that mighty yes
sci. a challenge to the elements, is
halted In her course-the unseen icy
monster OF the North has crept across
her path like bandits in a mountain
fastness-she lies a wreck.
/ see the fiash from the wireless
az II sends its mute appeal out across
the darkened waste like INTO the
wall OF the tigress for her irst-born.
e TO hear the captains order.
"An on deck" see surprise change
to fear when the lifeboats are low
cred. / hear the panic 'mong rich
and poor alike-all are equal nowi
/ hear the order. Women and chill
dren first" and in that discipline I
see the true principle Of manhood rise
In men like unto the courage OF q
general on the field Of battle.
Riches and position are forgotten
now-life hangs IN the balance-all
are equal-hesh and blood acne!
Men who twas thought would wayer
and shrink with fear in time Of trial
men who we're sconed at because Of
rich vanity-now are true soldiers in
a crisis and lend a helping hand.
With tender car they aid the
weaker TO places OF safety-wives
leave husbands-daughters leave
fathers. ne'er knowing tbs a final
farewell.
I see the lifeboais rowed away mid
the icy waters OF the sea.
! see the doomed passengers gather
'on the deck, looking for the last time
upon their loved ones. I see the hor.
ror-strcken knault IN prayer-the
calm nursing their doom: and as I
q the mighty vessel sink deeper in
the merciless waters-hope gone
solemn resignation crseps in az the
floating palace OF the sea passes from
viev-martyrs % true manhood.
No stately tomb can ever mark
their burial place. but the epitaph
carved upon the grandest OF monu-
ments could never be as eloquent and
deep In meaning as public sentiment
inscribed upon the tablets OF love and
memory. J. @. YOUNG.
rkhauu Va Va