East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-04-19
NO PANIC AMONG PASSENGERS WHILE LIFE
BOATS WERE BEING FILLED, SAYS Student

New York, April 19.-The follow
ing account of the Titanict accident
is given by l.. Beasley of London,
Cambridge university man:
Il had been in my berth for about
ten minutes when at about 11:15 =.
m, l felt slight jar and then soon
after a second one, but not suffici-
emily heavy to cause any anxiety. How
ever, the engines stopped immedi-
ately afterward and l went up on
deck in a dressing gown and found
only few people there who had come
UP similarly to inquire why We had
stopped. We saw through the smok-
ing room window a game of cards
going on and went to inquire If the
players knew anything. 1t seems they
fe.t more of the jar and looking
through the window had seen huge
iceberg go by close to the side of the
boat. They thought we had just
grazed it with glancing blow ana
the engines had been stopped to see
Il damage had been done.
Did Not Suspect Catastrophe.
NO one, of course, had any con-
low by part of the submerged ice
berg. The game went on without
any thought of disaster and 1 re-
tired to my cabin to read until we
went on again. l never saw any or
the players or the on-lookers again
A little later, hearing people going
up stairs, / went out again and saw
there was an und ubted list down
wards from stern to bow but knowing
nothing of what had happened, con-
cluded some of the front compart-
ment had filled and weighted her
down. l went down again to- put on
warmer clothing and as l dressed
heard an order shouted "All pas
sengers on deck with life belt on.
We all walked slowly up with them
tied on over our clothing, but even
then presumed this was precaution
the captain was taking and that we
should return in a short time and re-
tire to bed. There was total abb
sence of panic or any expression oi
alarm. and / suppose this can be ac'
counted for by the exceedingly calm
night and the absence of any sign:
of the accident. The ship was abso'
| lutely still and except for a gentle
tilt downward which 1 do not think
one person in ten would have noticed
at that time, no signs of the ap
preaching disaster were visible. Sh'
lay Just as if she were waiting fol
orders to go on again when som'
trifling matter had been adjusted
But in few moments we saw thu
crews allotted to boats, standing by
and curling up the ropes which wer'
to lower them by the pulley block
into the water. We then began t.
realize it was necessary to get NOR
clothing and some wootens but see
ing others pouring up the stairs, de
cided it was better to cause no con
fusion to people coming up by doin
so. Presently we heard the order.
Men Arc Ordered Back.
"'All men stand back away fror
the boats and all ladies retire to tn
next deck below'-(the smokin
room on B deck). The men all stoo
away and remained in absolute s
lence, leaning against the end raj
I ing or pacing up and down slowl.
| The boats were swung out and low
cred on A deck, When they were ;
Ethe level of B. deck where all the Ii
dies were collected, the ladies got
p quickly, with the exception of SON
f who refused to leave their husband
n In some cases they were torn fro
e them and pushed into the boats b
!. in some instances they were allow'
q to remain because there was no ol
o to insist they should go.
e Boats Put OFF I'm Dark.
l. Looking over the side. one SO
boats from aft already in the wat