Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-18

4.
devices kept pace with the ac-
commodations of modern passen-
ger carrying steamships?
How many people could crowd
temporarily, on smooth sea, into
the 20 boats carried by the
Titanic and said to be sin excess
of the official requirements?
If the Titanic had been of American
register she would have been required
to carry boats accommodating 23f7
persons.
When will such awful lessons
force an international rule of the
sea that will place human life
above the gamble for mere dol
lars?
In this worst of all sea disasters, ii
was a matter of sustaining life for
very short time. But for the chilling
waters in which icebergs We're floating,
even life preservers might have saved
more than a thousand lives. Suf-
fieient boat, raft or eatamaran float
ing. surface. to- haze sustained these.
people for few hours. or minutes
even, would have meant joy in a
thousand homes where grief refgns To-
day.
Whom shall we blame?
Every disaster teaches its lessons.
Doubtless when we know more of the
cireumstane4s we shall be able to
view it with far different feelings. We
earnestly hope so. for now we are
compelled to consider the probability
that a great crime or a great blunder
has been committed. Certain it is
that this tragedy has dealt terrific
blow to public confidence in the
staunchness and safety of ocean-g going
leviathans. 1t has almost destroyed
our faith in the claims of great
steamship companies as TO safe
guards of life entrusted to their care.
What answer are they to make
as to the adequacy of life boats,
and their ability TO care for the
large numbers of human lives
placed in their keeping?
All these questions and others of
stilf greater Importance must be an
swered at rigid investigation which
rpnst follow
Was the Titanic proceeding at
full speed toward New York at the
time of the collision?
This question and its answer will
have great weight in the shaping of
popular opinion. 1t is presumed that
the Titanic was equipped with special
apparatus, very sensitive to heat and
cold. designed to give warning of the
proximity of icebergs. Her master
and officers knew the danger at this
time, of crashing upGa them in the
northern lane of traffic.
Were they proceeding at the
same speed that would have been
maintained in an open sea, in
broad day?
Were they attempting TO make
advertised time into New York, in
spite of the menace of beres?
The White Star line had advertised
that this beautiful and luxurious
steamer would, with her sister ship,
tthe Olympic "maintain an ocean
ferry with the REGULARITY Of the
ferries across river, for their i'm
mense tonnage displacement makes
| them practically impervious to the ele
| ments, no matter how adverse they
| may be-"
| Were they maintaining "REGU-
LAR" speed in order to reach New
| York on the advertised minute, in
spite Of warnings that icebergs
were at hand?
| Whatever the explanations made
concerning this greatest Of sea tiisas-
tiers, II Is safe to assume that IL will
take long years TO luil civilization into
i the sense of security felt on the four
teenth of this month. Any sort Of
Inntoward incident will be likely to
cause panic and uncomfortable pas