The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-04-25
SPUR Of ICEBERG
RIPS BOTTOM OFF.
GIGANTIC SHIP
Titanic Is Literally Disembowe'ed
by Submerged Floe While
Speeding.
m ANin cch lIncC death
PLACID SEA HIDES DEATH
Little Shock Is Felt Wheti Vessel
strikes-Passenaers for Half an
Hour Believe Damage Is Slight
Pathetic Stories of Sur.
vivors.

BANKS Ol NEW AAS 'OeO-
was teaming almost full tilt through
a gently swelling sea and under star
lit sky, in charge of First Officer Muir
dock, who moment after the COLL
sion surrendered the command to Cap
tain Smith, who went down with his
boat.
The lifeboats that were launched
were not filled to their capacity. The
general feeling aboard the ship was,
even after the boats had left its sides,
that the vessel would survive its
wound, and the passengers who were
left aboard believed almost up to the
last moment that they had chance
for their lives.
The captain and officers behaved
with the utmost gallantry and there
was perfect order and discipline IN
the launching of the boats and after
all hope had been abandoned for the
salvation of the ship for those who
were on board.
Just before it went down the IT,
tanic broke it's back.
Placid Sea Hides Death.
The great liner was plunging
through comparatively placid sea
on. the surface of which there was
much mushy ice and here and there
number of comparatively harmless
looking foes. The night was clear
and stars visible. Chief Officer Muir
dock was in charge Of the bridge.
The first intimation of the presence
of the iceberg that he received was
from the lookout in the crows nest
They were so close upon the berg at
this moment that it was practically
impossible to avoid collision with IT..
The first officer did what other un-
startled and alert commanders would
have done under similar circum-
stances-that is, he made an effort
by going full speed ahead on his star
board propeller and reversing his port
propeller, simultaneously throwing his
helm over to make a rapid turn and
clear the berg.
Rips Bottom Open.
These maneuvers were not success
full. He succeeded in preventing his
Bow from crashing into the ice cliff,
but nearly the entire length of the
great ship on the starboard side was
ripped.
The speed Of the Titanic, estimated
to be at least twenty-one knots. was
so terrific that the knifelike edge of
the iceberg's spur protruding under
the sea cut through her like can
opener.
The shock was almost impercept.
ible. The first officer did not appar
emily realize that the great ship had
received it's death wound and none OF
the passengers it is believed had the
slightest suspicion that anything more
than usual minor accident had hap
pened. Hundreds who had gone tc
their berths and We're asleep were not
awakened by the vibration.
Return to Card Game.
To illustrate the placidity will
which practically all the men re
garded the accident it is related tina
four who were in the smoking room
playing bridge calmly got up from th1
table, and, after walking on deck ant
looking over the rail, returned to thei
game. One of them had left his cigal
on the card table, and while the three
others We're gazing out on the sea hi
remarked that he couldn't afford tt
lose his smoke, returned for his cigar
and came out again.
The four remained only for a few
moments on deck. They resumed
their game under the impression tina
the ship had stopped for reasons hes
volving any danger to her. The ter
dency of the whole ships company eA
cept the men in the engine depart
ment, who We're made aware Of tn
danger by the inrushing water, was t
make light of it and in some instance
even to ridicule the thought of DANCE
to so substantial a fabric.
} Slow to Realize Peril.
Within a few minutes stewards an
other members of the crew were ser
round to arouse the people. Some u
terly refused to get up. The steward
had almost to force the doors Of tn
staterooms to make the somnolent a.
preciate their peril.
Mr.. and Mrs. Aston were in the
room and saw the ice vision flash b
!. They had not appreciably felt the ge
tie shock and supposed then nothir
, out of the ordinary had happene
They were both dressed and came {
deck leisurely.
1t was not until the ship began
take heavy list to starboard that
, tremor of fear pervaded it.
Launch Boats Safely.
The crew had been called to Gle
away the lifeboats, Of which the
were twenty, four Of which we're Ct