The Washington times., 1912-04-16
BLAME COMPANY
FOR FAL Sc NEWS
Relatives of Victims Say the White Star Line Officials
Gave Out Erroneous Messages of
Hope. ~~~'r~
Hope.

NEW YORK. April l6.-Stunned by
the weight OF the terrible disaster that
followed the loss of the giant liner
Titanic on her maiden voyage, New
York halted today. II 10 hard to re-
alike that the latest cheation OF marine
architecture, the great steamship which
only yesterday, when news that she
had been In collision was received. was
proudly branded by her owners as ,'un-
sinkable," now lay below the waters OF
the Atlantic off the banks Of New
foundland. ...... ...r
Not since the ill-fated French liner
Bourgoyne was rammed and sent to
the bottom with all of her company
by the great iron freighter Cromarty-
shire on July q 1898. have such scenes
been Witnessed as were enacted at the
office of the White Star line on lower
Broadway throughout the night and
day. Men, women and children, many
hysterical and weeping. stormed the
offices and vainly begged for some word
Of comfort regarding the fate of their
loved ones.
Few got any satisfaction. For the
great majority all that the company
would say was that there. had been
loss OF life, but they were hoping for
the best To relatives of noted pas
sengers a private audience was grant
ed and It was quietly whispered that
the outlook was most serious. But
even they did not get all of the facts
which the company had in It's posses
sion. For some inexpHcable reason the
White Star line has steadily refrained
from making public facts in Its posses
sion and apparently Ii was able to
muzzle the wireless. as messages sent
direct to ships on the scene were held
up, while not single word was per-
mitted to penetrate from the -fogbound
banks Of New Foundland where the
worst, tragedy of the seas was being
enacted. ' ,f' d
Charges were freely made by rela-
tives of the missing that the company
not alone withheld news Of. the dis
aster,. but that 1t was responsible for
the messages of comfort received yes
terday, saying all of the passengers
had been rescued and the disabled liner
was being towed toward port. But the
officials refused explanation, They ad-
mitted they had known- for some hours
before they made public announce
ment that the Titanic had foundefed
but they defended their action by say
ing that until Captain Haddock of the
Olympic confirmed the reports they had
not felt justified In alarming the people
of the nation. ...r. .-
When the first announcement was
made lsst night, the Titanic had sunk
and that there was probable loss of
life." the offices of the line were i'm
mediately besieged by anxious men and
women all waiting for a word OF COM
fort or assurance. To all the statement
was made that the Titanic had found
cred and that there was loss of life.
but that no names were then available.
The word reached many while they
were in the theaters and the restau-
rants, and soon automobiles and ye-
hicles of all descriptions were rolling
up to the offices. Soon the offices were
crowded and the line had extended far
out into the street.
Among the first to reach the offices
OF the line was Vincent Astor, only
son of Col. John Jacob Astor. He was
worried. but hopeful. when he arrived,
and was admitted to the private offices
OF Vice President Franklin. He Nss
accompanied by A. J. Biddle and the
representative OF the Astor estate. Hail