The Van Buren press., 1912-04-27


gown, and found only few people
there, who had come up similarly to in
quire why we had stopped but there
was no sort Of anxiety in the minds Of
any of us.
Watched a Card Game.
"We saw through the smoking room
window a game Of cards going on ana
went in to inquire if they knew any
thing; it seems they felt more of the
Jar, and looking through the window,
had seen huge iceberg 60 by close to
the side Of the boat. They thought we
had Just grazed it with a glancing blow,
and that the engines had been stopped
TO see if any damage had been done. No
one, of course, had any conception that
she had been pierced below by part of
the submerged iceberg The game went
on without any thought of disaster and
] retired to my cabin to read until we
went on again.
81 never saw any Of the players or
the onlookers again,
"a little later, hearing people going
upstairs, ! went out again Gnd found oy'
eryono wanting to know why the en-.
gines had stopped.
"No doubt many were awakened
from sleep 10y the sudden stopping of a
vibration to which they had become ac.
customed during the four days we had
been on board. Naturally, with such
powerful engines as the Titanic carried,
the vibration was very noticeable all
the time, and the sudden stopping had
something the same effect as the stop.
ping of a loud ticking grandfather s.
clock In room.
saw the Ship Listing,
"On going on deck again ! saw that
there was an undoubtcd list downward
from stern to bows; but, knowing moth,
ing of what had happened, ! concluded
some of the front compartments had
filed and weighed her down, l went
down again to put ON warmer clothing,
and as ] dressed ! heard an order shout
ed;
"'Au 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 a wise precau'
ton ordered by the captain, and that
we should return in a short time and re-
tire TO bed.
"Tbore was a total absence Of any
panic or any expressions Of alarm, and
! suppose this can be accounted for by
the exceedingly calm night and the alb
rcnce Of any signs Of the accident
Tho ship wns absolutely still, and ex'
cept for n gontlc tit downward (Which
don't think one person In ten would
have noticed at that time), no signs
Of the approaching disaster were Wis
ible,
"But in few moments we saw the
covers lifted from the boats and the
crews allotted TO them standing by aud
curling up tho ropes which were TO
lower than by the pulley blocks into
the water.
"'We then began TO realize II was
more serious thon had been supposed,
and my FIRST thought was to go down
and get more clothing and some money
but seeing people pouring up the STAIRS
decided IL was better 10 cause no con-
fusion TO people coming up by doing 80.
"prescntly we heard the orders AN
men back Stand back away from tho
boats, and ladies' retire TO next deck
belowl-the smoking room deck or -
deck
"The men MI stood away and re-
maInod In absolute silence, leaning
against the railings Of the deck or pac'
ing slowly up and down.
Swung Out the Boats,
"Tho boats were swung out and low
cred from ~ deck, When they were
10 tho level Of ~ deck, whore oil
tho ladies were collected, the ladies got
IN quietly, with the exception Of some
who refused TO leave their husbands.
In some cases they were torn from
them and pushed into the boats but in
many instances they were allowod to
remain. because there was no one 10
insist they should go,
"Lookmg over the side, one saw
boats from aft already In the water
slipping quietly away into the darkness
and presently the boats near to me
we're lowered. with much crcaking M
tho new ropes slipped through tho pul
lay hlosks down the 75 feet which sep
nfatod them from the water,
'An officer In uniform came up a'
ono boat went down, and shouted,
" when you are nloat, row 'rount
TO the companion ladder and stand b,
With tho other boats foe ordcrs'
Aye, aye, came up the reply
but / do no, think any boat was able /,
sbsy The order.