The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-19

New York, April 19.-The noun tain of ice that destroyed the Titanic was almost the color of the water. It was almost impossible to distinguish it at a great distance and the big liner was rushing through the water at such a fearful rate of speed that when the lookout in the crows nest reported "ice ahead" there was not time to transmit the order to the engineroom before the crash came. That the ordi nary rules of caution while passing through the ice fields were disre- garded is known.
 Where the responsibility rests will be determined by the Congressional investigating committee here or the board of trade in London. But they cannot question Captain Smith. The veteran seaman carried to the bottom of the ocean alone has knowledge of the truth or falsity of the allegation that his orders were imperative to take the northerly route, the short cut, and make record for quick pas sage with a new steamer.
 The captain was not standing watch when the liner struck. Chief Officer Murdock was on the bridge and he immediately pushed the electric but ton which automatically closed the doors. As he did this Captain Smith rushed to the bridge and at once made tests of the lighting apparatus and called for a report from the en- gineroom while Murdock was signall- ing full speed astern. But already there was a drop by the bows and from the engineroom came the report that the vessel was taken water fast.
 Soon Captain Smith noticed that the big ship was dropping forward and the indications were that the bulkheads were giving way and the engineers were being endangered. Then he gave the order to get the boats ready and the passengers oversize and at the same time sent word to Wireless Operator Jack Phillips to send out the international call, the Continental appeal for aid.
 : "Get all persons on the boat deck, came the sharp order. Everyone was , ordered to assemble on deck with their 1ifebelts on. Many refused They could not realize that there was 1. danger. But the presence of the crew at collision stations and the untyine of life ropes soon bore this out : Then came the sharp command women and children first and ! there were fevolvers in the hands o1 officers. showing these orders were to be enforced. No distinctions were made between the women of the steer age and the women of the first cabin At first they refused to enter the boats The women felt that they were safer on the liner than in the life. boats and the crew did not stand or ceremony but promptly picked them up bodily and1thew them into the . boats
 Steerage passengers, men, made a sr rush for the boats. Eurdock's pistol 7 was out. It spoke twice. Two men dropped. A third was felled by a quartermasters fist The panic was over, the men fell back.
 Over the sea from the davits the loaded boats were swung and prompt. ly dropped. One capsized and the oc- cupants drowned, collapsible liferafts one of the new types, capsized. The boats rowed away six in a group the others widely scattred, the wom- en protesting and insisting there was no need to have left the vessel. And then the women in the boats saw the great Titanic the boat they had .be- lieved unsuitable, break in twain. Al the same time there came a roar and a series of explosions. The boilers under which the fires could not be drawn. had exploded when the icy water rushed in
 The after part seemed to right itsel1 and bob up and down. It was black with men and women who could not be taken off because there were not 7 sufficient boats and rafts Anothe, explosion came and the great mass ! of steel sunk down in the water, rais. ed again then plunged forward to dis. appear forever. And as she went ,edown, from the wreck came the las ' feeble strains of the music of the heroic ships band playing "Neare1 My God to Thee.''
 Women, horror stricken, tried te jump overheard. They had to be for.
 cibly restrained. Others fell back ,,
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