Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-04-24

Say 2.3+0 Persons We're Aboard
and 745 Saved.

New rork.-The following state
nent issusd by a comIalttee sf the
surviving passengers OF the Titanic
was given the press on the arrival OF
the Carpsthia:
We. the undersigned surviving pas
senGers from the steamship Titanic,
in order to torestall any sensational
or exaggerated statements, deem It
our duty to give to the press a state
ment OF facts which have come TO our
knowledge and which we believe TO
be true.
"On Sunday. April IL. 1912, at about
1i-&0 p. NJ. On a cold. star-lit night,
In smooth sea and with no moon,
the ship struck an iceberg. which had
been reported 10 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 pvt
on life belts and the boats were low
cred.
The ship sank at about 2.2O 4. VI.
Monday and the usual distress signals
were sent out by wireless and rockets
fired al intervals from the ship.
Fortunately the wireless message was
received BY the Cunard steamship
Carpsthia AZ about u o'clock mid
night and she arrived on the scene
OF the disaster at about 4 A. NJ. Mon
day.
THE officers and crew Of the steam
ship Carpnthia had been preparing all
night for the rescue and comfort Of
the survivors and the last mentioned
were received on board with the most
touching care and kindness, every at
t-ntion being given 10 all. Irrespective
OF class. The passengers. officers and
crew gave up, gladly, their staterooms.
clothing and comforts for our benefit.
all honor to them.
''The English board of trade pas
sengers' certificate on board the II
tanic allowed for a total OF approx
i.nately $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 boats
Life pressrvers were accessible anu
oPPoi Shbig III Suu4Clcul Id HDeT lot All
on board.
The approximate number OF pas
sengers carried at the time OF collision
was:
"First-class. $50: secon6-class. 800:
third-class, ESQ; total. 400 Officers
and crew, $40. Total. 2.340.
OF the foregoing about the follow.
Ing were rescued by the steamship
Carpathia:
"First-class. 210: second-class. 195;
third-class. 200; officers, 4: seamen.
80; stewards. 90: firemen. IL: total.
2l0 OF the crew The total-775
ssyed-was about so per cent Of the
maximum capacity OF the Hfe-boats.
We feel 1t az: duty to call the at.
tention of sac aiic to what we con.
slider the Inadequate supply OF life.
saving appliances provided for on
modern passenger steamships, and
recommend that imme diate steps be
taken to compel passenger steamers
to carry sufficient boats TO accommo-
date the maximum number Of people
carried on board. The following facts
were observed and should be consider.
ed In this connection:
The insuficiency OF lifeboats, RATS.
etc; lack Of trained seamen to man
same (stokers. stewards. etc. are not
efncient boat handlers); not enough
ofcers to carry out emergency orders
on the bridge and superintend the
launching and control OF lifeboats;
absence Of searchlights.
The London Board OF Trade rules
allow for entirely too many people in
each boat to permit the same to be
properly handled. On the Titanic. the
boat deck WAS about rs feet above
water and consequently the passen.
gers were required to embark before
lowering the boats. thus endangerins
the operation and preventing the tax.
ing on OF the maximum number the
boats would hold. Boats at all times
should be properly esluipped with PRO-
visions. water. lamps. compasses.
lights, etc. kBe-saving boat drills
should be more frequent and thor.
oughly carried out and officers should
be armed at boat drills.
The statement was signed by Sam.
uel Goldenberg. chairman, and a com
I