New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
COL, ARCHIBALD GRAClE.

Colonel Archibald Oracle, L. s. A.. the
last man saved. welr down with the vessel,
but was picked up. He was met by
his daughter who had arrived from
Washington, and his son-in-law, Paul II.
Fabricus Colonel Oracle told a remark
able story of personal hardship and denied
emphatically the reports that there had
been any panic on board. He praised in the
highest terms the behavior Of both the
passengers and crew and paid high trib
ute to the heroism of the women passen-
gers.
Mrs. Isidor Strsus" he said, went to
her death because she would not desert
her husband Although he pleaded with
her 10 take her place in the boat, she stead
fsstly refused. and when the ship settled
at the head the two were engulfed by the
wave that swept her"
Colonel Oracle told Of how he was driven
10 the topmost deck when the ship settled
and was the sole survivor after the wave
that swept her just before her final plunge
had passed.
jumped with the wave" said he just
as ! often have Jumped with the breakers
ct the seashore. BY great good fortune I
deck above. and l hung on BY might and
main. When the ship plunged down | was
forced 10 let 90. and I was swirled around
and around for what seemed to be an in
term!nable time. Eventually l came TO the
surface. 10 find the sea mass Of tangled
preckege.
Luckily I was unhurt and, casting about.
managed 20 seize wooden grating floating
near by. When ! had recovered my breath
discovered a larger canvas and cork life
raft which had foated up 4 man whose
name did NOT learn was struggling toward
~ from some wreckage TO which he had
clung I cast of and helped him TO get
On 10 the raft, and We then began the work
Of rescuing those who had Jumped into
the sea and were houndering in the water.
When dawn broke there were thirty or
us on the raft. standing knee deep in the
icv water and afraid TO move lest the
cranky craft re overturned. Several IN
fortunates, benumbed and half dead, be-
sought US 10 save them and one or TWO
made an effort TO reach US, but we had to
warn them away. Had we made any effort
20 save them we all might have perlshed.
The hours that elapsed before we were
es, and most terrible that ] ever spent
Practically without any sensation OF feel
ing because OF the icy water. were were al
most dropping from fatigue. We were
afraid 10 turn around TO look 20 see whether
we were seen by passing craft and when
some one who was facing astern passed the
word that something that looked like
steamer was coming up one OF the men be
came hysterical under the strain. The rest
OF US, too. were nearing the breaking point
Colonel Oracle denied with emphasis that
any men were fired upon and declared that
only once was revolver discharged
This was for the purpose OF intimidating
some steerage passengers. he said, who
had tumbed into a boat before II was pre-
pared for launching This shot was fired In
the air. and when the foreigners were told
that the next would be directed at them
they promptly returned 10 the deck. There
was no confusion and no panic
Contrary to the general statement, there
was no Earring impact when the vessel
struck. according 10 the army officer. He
was i'm hts berth when the vessel smashed
into the submerged portion Of the berg and
wa aroused by the jar. lie looked az his
watch. he said. and found II was just mid
night. The ship sank with him at @G
a. m. for his watch stopped at that hour.
Before | retired" said Colonel Oracle
u had a 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 Cunafd and the
Hamburg American lines are devoting their
attention and ingenuity In vying one win
the other to attain the supremacy IN luxurl-
ous ships and i'm making speed records The
time will soon come when this viii be
checked by some appalling disaster Poor
fellow. a few hours later he was dead