The Van Buren press., 1912-04-27
PASSENGERS BARE
THE AWFUL FACTS
Committee of rs Titanic Sur
viyOrs Relate Story In a
Signed Statement.
LIFE SAVERS insufficient
Suggests international Conference to
Provide for Safety Of all Sea
Passengers.

Curnard Pier, New York.-The fol
lowing statement issued by a com
mittee of the surviving passengers
was given the press on arrival OF
the Carpathia:
1--WE, the undersigned surviving pas
sengers from the steamship Titanic, in
order to forestal any sensational or
exaggerated statements, deem it our
duty to give to the press a statement
Of facts which have come to our knOWl
edge and which we believe to be true.
"On Sunday, April IA, 1912, at about
11:40 p. m., on a cold starlight night,
on a smooth sea and with no moon,
the ship struck an iceberg, which had
been reported to the bridge by look
outs, but not early enough to avoid
collision. Steps were taken to ascer-
tain the damage and save passengers
and ship. orders were given to put
on life belts and the boats were low
cred
Ship Sank at 2:2o a. m.
"The ship sank at about 2:2G a. m.
Monday. The usual distress signals
were sent out by wireless, and rock
cts were fired at intervals from the
ship. Fortunately, the wireless mes
sage was received by the Cunard
steamship Carpathia at about 70
o'clock midnight, and she arrived on
the scene Of the disaster at about A
a. m. Monday.
"The officers and crew Of the steaI7.
ship Carpathia had been preparing aE
night for the rescue and comfort Of
the survivors, and the last mentioned
were received on board with the most
care and kindness, every at
tenton beins given to all irrespective
to class. The passengers, officers and
crew gladly gave up their staterooms,
clothing and comforts for our benefit
"The English Board Of Trade pas
sengers certificate on board the Ii
tanic allowed for a total Of approx
mately $500 The same certificate
called for lifeboat accommodation for
approximately $50, in the following
boats:
Fourteen large lifeboats, two small
er boats and four collapsible life pre-
servers were accessible and apparent.
ly in sufficient number for all on
board.
"The approximate number Of pas.
sengers carried at the time Of the col.
lslon was:
"First.class $50, second.class 800,
third-class $50; total 1,4OO; officers
and crew $40; total 2,3iO
"Of the foregoing about the follow
ing were rescued by the steamship
Carpathla:
"First.class, 2lO; second-class, 1875;
third.class, 200; officers, four, sea.
men, 80; stewards, 90; firemen. II.
Total, 2l0 Of the crew.
"The total Of about 7Aj saved was
about so per cent Of the maximum ca.
paclty OF the lifeboats,
Lives Uneared For,
1--WE feel 1t our duty TO call the at.
tentlon Of the public to what we con.
slider the inadequate supply Of life.
saving appliances provided for on
modern steamships, and we recon.
mend that immediate steps be taken
to compel passenger steamers to carry
boats to accommodate the
maximum number Of people on board
"The following facts were observed,
and should be considrod in this con.
nection;
"The insuffclency OF lifeboats
RATS, etc, lack Of trained seamen to
man some (stokers, stewards, etc,
are not efficient boat handlers); not
enough officers to carry out emergen.
cy orders on the bridge and superln.
tend the launching and contol Of life.
boats; absence Of searchlIghts,
"The Board OF Trade (Brtsh) rules
allow for entirely too many people
in each boat to permit the same to bo
handled.
"On the Titanic the boat deck was
about 75 feet above water, and con.
sequcntly the passengers were reQuIr.
ed TO embark before lowering boats,
thus cndangerIng the operation and
preventing the taking Of the maxi.
mum number OF persons the boats
would hold
Boats At all times should be properly
equipped with provisions water,
lamps, compassos, lights, etc, Life.
saving boat drills should be more fre.
Quont and thoroughly carried out, and
officers should be armed at boat drills,
"Thcre should be greater reduction
In speed In fog and ice, M damage, II
collision actually occurs, then Ia liable
to be less
"ln conclusion we suggest that m
international conference be called to
recommend the passage OF identical
laws providing for the safety Of all
NJ sea, ana We urge the united Stntoa
government TO tNko tho initiative as
soon M possible"
The foregoing statement was signed
by Samuel Goldenberg, chairman, and
a committee OF some 90 passengers,
Although several consistent accounts
OF what happened aboard the Titanic
have been obtained from survivors, II
was manIfcstly Impossible for ono
fully TO take account OF sll that 90.
cured on her great decks, four city
blocks In length, Thus thcrc are those
who maintain that thofc were ono or
more cases OF suicide among tho ON.