Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-23
HEROES!

TNHRoUGH the shroud Of sea and the mist Of
Il tears that enfOld the doomed Titanic. two epic
figures CLEAN. two southern boys amid an he
rOic thrOng, erect and smiling.
The English world is one household today. touched
BY common grief. ennobled by the common con-
sciousness Of what its manhood like In all Amer
lea and Britain there is scarcely hresids to which
the story of the great ships ending has not come
home as a poignant and mystic message. If not
through kindred or friendship. through humanity
itself the hearts of whole people drawn to the
decks where Americans and Britons died that women
and children might be saved.
To this lofty sacrifice Georgia and the south gave
two OF the bhest and the bravest spirits they
krev-"Archie" Butt and Jack" Futrelle They were
linked to our homes and hearts. We knew. them as
comrades; had followed their gallant and bril-
liant careers They have passed as they had lived
true noblemen. And with their memories is Joined
that Of another whom Georgia claims as her own,
Isdor Strauss The south is greater for having given
such men to history, men who stood dauntless in
the valley Of the shadow and went serenely and
augustly to their end
And with them stood hundreds Men of wealth
and prestige like Aston. men Of genius like Stead,
sailors artists and craftsmen and merchants soldiers
ana AaUorers men OF divers stations ana OF varied
rearing all OF them lifted and fraternized in the
moments heroism, all immortal, though unknown
Such is the glory of the AngloSaxon spirit and
the splendOr of humanity.
The terrible loss of life in the wreck of this
great ship has been ascribed, in quarters.
to commercial greed and indifference. The
lack Of a sufncient number of nfeboats was
due. it has been alleged. simply to the parsi-
mOnius policy Of who lusted for extrayagant
gain. Such an idea is scarcely tenable. It was
carelessness or ignorance, no doubt that suffered
vessel bearing more than two thousand human lives
to venture a voyage across the Atlantic with only
enough life boats to care for one-fourth of them;
but II was not vanton stinginess.
The fact is. these giant ocean steamers have
been built and operated the theory that they
virtually invincible in the face Of danger that no
matter what mishap they might they could
not sink, but would float long enough to summon
and receive deliverance. Indeed. the modern pur-
pose of the Hfeboat has been generally considered
to transfer passengers from one vessel to another,
or for some momentary emergency; it has not been
regarded. in days OF old, means of keeping
men and women adrift for long hours OF days on
the ocean waste.
The Titanic was one of those Tnarvels of marine
architecture into which had been wrought all the
strength and skill and genius that master builders
ultimate triumph over the ancient perils and mys-
eres Of the To this confident but really hollow
pride is due, doubt the fact that few If any, of
the ocean liners take due preoaUI n in the matter
OF lifesaving appliances.
Now that this theory of our twentieth century
ships has been exploded, however we must return
to the old humble safeguards. 1t is the duty of
this government, in cooperation with those of Eng
land Germany france, Holland and all other sea-far-
terng their ports equipped with enough RATS or
ifeboats to save every man, woman and child who
may be aboard, and enforce rigid regulations con-
corning routes and speed.
The Titanic went down in a quiet sea with more
than thousand souls upon her fated decks. Some
eight hundred and seventy of her passengers were
saved by virtue Of the Hfeboats available; all Of
them. no doubt, could haze been saved had there
been sufficient number Of boats.
What tragic irony is this!
All that human ingenuity could devise; all that
science could reveal, had been assembled for the
comfort and security of these two thousand lives.
TIE genie Of wireless telegraphy was swarmng near
TO summon aid from afar. single flash OF the
danger call brought rescue ships from hundreds of
miles away And yet, because OF the absurdly simple
lack Of few lifeboats all these wonderful contriv-
ances proved futile.
The Titanic went down about half past two in
the morning. At dawn the Carpathia hove in sight
to find all the Hfeboats floating safely, but she was
Just three hours too late for the thirteen hundred
people for whom boats we're available
In the presence Of such tragedy there is no
consolation be found that of the lofty heroism
OF those brave spirits who babe the women and
children go first and then, serenely abided
their fate But there is this DO gnant and practical
lesson that from this day henceforward no vessel
should be permitted to leave enter ports that
is not duly forefended against such disaster.