The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-04-24
TG7d C11p CouIc NOT Sink.

struck the iceberg head-on. The pas
sengers ran out, but being assured by
the officers that the ship could not
sink went back to their staterooms.
After about two hours the alarm was
sent out and the passengers started
to enter the lifeboats. Mr.. Chambers
said that there was nothing like a
panic at first. as all believed that there
were plenty of lifeboats to go around
Mrs. Astor Could Not Talk.
Pale, trembling. and apparently i'll.
Mrs. John Jacob Astor was one Of the
first survivors Of the wreck to pass
down the Carpathia's gangplank. She
stepped from the Carpathia wearing a
long black astrakhan coat, small
toque covered by blue chiffon veil.
and at her throat reposed a large dia,
mond and pearl sunburst-
Mrs. Aston was completely broken
down by the narrowing experience she
had passed through, and the loss OF
her husband. and when asked to say
something cried in heartbroien tones:
II can't! l can't! am unspeak-
ably ILL"
Mrs. Astors mental suffering was
terrible, though physically she was not
much harmed Physicians gave or.
ders that neither she or her maid
should be permitted to talk about the
Titanic, and this rule was strictly Oh.
served. Nevertheless, before the order
had been given, she had told Vincent
Astor some Of her memories. She
thought she recalled seeing Colonel
Astor by her side. just before she got
into one Of the boats. She imagined
he was safe, too, and it was only
when she was on the Carpathia that
she realized he was not among the
rescued.
Like most of the survivors. Mrs. AS
tor was too stunned at first to recall
any of the incidents Of the sinking
ship. Other passengers said that Mrs.
Astor displayed remarkable courage
during the days on the Carpathia.
walking about the decks and trying to
cheer up other survivors whose sorrow
seemed beyond relief.
Aston Made Light Of Danger.
Colonel Astor was walking the deck
at the time the Titania struck the ice
berg" said William David, assistant
saloon steward on board the Carpa
thia. in reciting incidents which hac
been told to him by survivors.
HE was approached by frantic
waiter, l was told, and urged to put
on life belt. The waiter had several
life belts in his hand. Colonel Astor
waved him away.
"'Pooh,' he said, this Is nothing
There Is no need Of life belts And
that was the last seen Of Colonel AS
tor"
Band Played "Nearsr, Ny God, to Thee."
Mrs. a. A. Dick, who was saved
with her husband. told the following
story:
1.-The boats lay in the vicinity Of the
laundering vessel for about an hour.
No one believed she could 80 down.
We had been assured to this effect by
the captain. But as she began to set
tie it was soon seen that she was
about to 60 to the bottom, and if we
stayed near we would be drawn down
with her in the vortex.
"The marine band on board did it's
the passengers. One or two airs We're
struck up. 1t was spectacle that no
one will ever forget.
Suddenly the band stopped. The
leader moved his baton. In slow, sol
emn tones the air, Nearer. My God. to
our ears.
"The band played the hymn con-
tinuously until their instruments were
choked off by the swirling water that
closed about their heads as they went
to hero's grave"
Storage Passengers Experience.
A Swede named Oscar Johansen was
steerage passenger on the Titanic.
He said he was awakened in his steer
age bunk by a sort of grinding, tear
ing thump at the moment the Titanic
struck the iceberg He ran for the deck.
DuL wien lie fedcueu Tue Saloon lie
found the band playing some popular
air. THE officers Of the ship We're as
surfing the people that there was no
danger" said Johansen. They told
me to go back to the Storage and tell
the people who knew my tongue that
the accident was nothing. went back.
for the band kept on playing and the
people in the saloon We're leaving also
for their beds. An hour after the boat
sank. l hung onto ono Of the cO''"~r-
ible lifeboats for two hours and half
Then l was picked up
Mrs. Paul Shabert of Derby, Conn,
said that when the collision occurred
she came out on deck and asked one
Of the stewards if there was any dan
ger and he said he was afraid there
was. Shortly afterward one of the of
fcers shouted, Ladies first to the
boatsv'