Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-23

HARDLY LIKELY

There is noareason to believe, from re-
ports SO far received, that the body Of
Maj. Butt is. among those SO far picked
up by the c$ble ship Mackay-Bennett,
which is in, search of the victims Of the
Titanic.
In the list of bodies identified and
whose names were wirelessed to New
York appeared the name of "R. B. Att"
1t had. been suggested that this probably
was intended for Maj. Butts name, being
nisspelled in wireless transmission. 1t is
pointed out. however. that every member
of the crew of the Mackay-Bennett. from
the captain to the fhumblest stoker or
cabin boy, and every wireless operator on
the ship, as we'll as all operators on other
steamers and at shote stations, probably
knew that the whole country would be
anxious to know if the body. of Maj. Butt
was recovered Under these circum-
sances. it .is thought it would have been
practically impossible for mistake to
occur.
II Maj Butts body was actually
picked up and identified the fact would
be made known immediately and there
would not he one chance in q thousand
that his, name would be misspelled even
though. the swirele3s message was re-
layed through,a a. dozen stations.
Many Names Spelled Correctly.
The fact that the names of others
whose bodies weIe recovered have
been wirelessed correctly, even though
the persons We're not of any particular
prominence, = is taken as additional
proof ~tlfa t-the r. B. Att mentioned Is
the fact that in the list aerogrammed
from the ,Mackay-Bennett are names OF
several syllables and Of unusual SPELL
ing, and that these names were trans
fmitted correctly. while MAI. Butts
urally be much more readily sent and
received. The fact that the White Star
line officials say they knew Of no per-
son named Att in the passenger list Of
the Titanic does not alter the belief
that Mai. Butts body has not as yet
been recovered.
Praise From Train Crew.
While much has been written and said
OF the esteem in which Mai. Butt was
held by. Statesmen. diplomats, ecclesiasts.
officers and others In the higher walks of
life; II Is declared by his closest friends
that some OF his warmest admirers were
to be found In far more humble stations.
Clerks policemen, messengers at the
White House and War Department knew
him as friend to be depended upon. He
was quick to tntercede In pehalf OF any
of these men when trouble threatened
them. and. many have been the express
sions OF gratitude and regret since his
untfmely end.
His death was keeniy Felt by the Pull
man crew which always mans the Pred-
dents private car during his travels. Will
Anderston, the steward. and e. b.
Letcher. porter, OF the presidential crew.
are now In the city waiting to accompany
Mr.. Taft to New England tomorrow
night. They are picked men Of the Pull
man service and have travelled with
Presidents for many years.
never knew Q finer gentleman than
Maj Butt. =. said Anderson today. 81 had
travelled with him and waited on him for
nearly 10000 miles, guess. He was
always shappy and was the life OF the
parties at the Presidents table. I used
70 take care Of the ma1or's uniforms and
would pack them up when he wiz going
on the trafn to spend the night. The
Sunday night the Titanic sank Z had &
dream that I was packing the major up.s
remember eoing up III. the baggage car
and taking q lot OF things out Of the
ltttle red army, trunk he always carried.
The ma 50r &as always mighty goOd to
.Letch' and me ana No certainly w1ll miss