The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-04-26
Though Nearly a Week Has
Passed, But Few Facts of.
IT, Terrible Catastrophe
Are Known.
INQUIRY Is CONTINUED
Before Congressional Probe,
Prominent Among Those
Rescued Have Told
Their Story.
SPEED ADMITTED RECKLESS
Burden of Testimony Shows Of
fcers Pushed Ahead, Hav-
ing Great Faith in
the Liner.

New York, April 22.-Nearly a week
has passed since the Titanic, greatest
marine achievement in the history OF
the world, sank in midocean. Mucn OF
her story still is untold and many a
day will pass before the world Will fully
comprehend the significance or the ols-
aster. The number of the dead Will
probably never be exactly determined,
inasmuch as h correct passenger llst
went down with the vessel. The num-
Der of survivors is fixed at 700 by the
report of Captain Rostron, or the Car
pathia. The White Star i omclais
believe the death list totalled approx
mately 1885.
Bravery Uunassumed.
The narratives gathered plecefneai
from the liners survivors pay a trl-
butte without precedent to the bravery
of the men and women of these modern
DAYS. a bravery of impulse
~unassuming and instructive alike IN
steerage passenger, stoker ana mlliloll-
aire.
BY common consent the churches OF
the world will set aside their puiplts
tomorrow, for a reverent conslderatlon
of the disaster and for mourning tor
the lost.
Relief Fund Grows.
AS to the needs of the living, ample
proyision is rapidly being made. Ine
relief funds being gathered IN New
York and London already totai wen up
in the hundreds Of thousands. Most "a
the Storage passengers VINO reacneu
New York distraught and pennlless'
have already come to realize the gen
crosby and hospitality Of America.
Clad. fed and housed, they will be CIV
en- ample time to recover from tne
rno nn6 Will START
their life in the new world with ample
funds and kindly advice Ct eXcelien'
counsellors.
Committee Has Best Story.
The most complete story of the IT,
tanic's fate vet obtained Is being rap
idly gathered in New York by the
members Of the Senate investigating
committee. -
THE committee has already listened
IN fine testimony of j. Bruce Ismay.
managing director of the White Star
line. Captain Rostron, of the Carpathla,
Charles w. L~ightholder, second oncer
of the Titanic and others.
The witnesses called for todays se es-
ficer of the Titanic; j.. G.. Roxhail,
fourth officer; G. Low, also in an OF
fetal position on the Titanic n 10
members of the crew.. -
The committee in it's work has me
assistance OF GeOTRe OIlSI, SAiSh eAN
United states steam boat inspection
service and Truman H. Newberry, who
was secretary of the navy under Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
Had Faith in Ship.
The burden of the testimony thus far
presented emphasizes the unquest1on-
ing faith Of the Titanic's officers IN her
unsuitable character, the reckiesshess
of steaming full speed through a sea
where dangerous icebergs were known
to threaten and the remarkable calm
ness with which passengers n crew
faced the last moments OF the sinking
ship.
The Titanic's fate has already re-
suited in prompt action by the trans
Atlantic lines to insure liners hereafter
taking a course far to the south. where
the iceberg dangers Will no longer DC
present. The various lines, 1t is an.
nounced, have agreed on a new long
course which dips far to the south o.
the course upon which the Titanic me-
disaster.
There is little disposition to 'crit-
icize Captain Smith for following the
ocean lane in which he met disaster.
Captain Showed Caution.
He showed caution, according to thu
naval photographers, In steering {
course well to the south OF the regular
southern lane.
~ ooAS ~
from JULY to January crosses the Crane
Ranks in latitude As north, four degrees
further up the map than the souther
or .long'' course, in which the Titanic
met it's fate. AS a matter or fact, TIT
Titanic was 60 miles south of the reg
Mar southern course and was even ii
danger of collision with eastbount
steamers. which, by the rules of tn
sea, are entitled to right OF way there
The new route, eastbound, provide
that steamships shall dip to latitud'
rs. 20 on the first third of their course
making a total distance from New Yorl
to Fastnet, 5000 miles, where the dis
lance is now reckoned as .2.S5S miles
The loss of time on the new cours
will be about nine hours for a "a kno
boat. Boats of the Olympic class ma,
he II or IL hours longer in crossing.
They will gain, however, in havin
clear weather most of the time. avoidin
delays from fog.
Crew Is critisized.
There was some criticism among tn
survivors here today of the Titani
crews inability to handle the life boats
Albert Major, steward on the Titanic
admitted that there had been no boa
drills and that the life boats were poor
ly handled.
cone hin comes to my mind. abov
oil else" he said. I'VE Of the ere,
realized at the start of the trouble tina
we were ~unorganized and although ev
ery man did his best, we were hindere
in getting the best results because W
could not pull together. There had nj
been a single oat drill on the tt
tanic." One story. told by a fireman
runs:
Fireman's Story.
"The engineers stayed by the pump
and went down with the ship. The fire
men and stokers were sent on dec
rive minutes before the Titanic san