Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-20
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one Berthon boat had not been
launched, it having got damned, max
ing L. lifeboats and four Berthon boats
accounted for. BY the time we had
cleared first boat it was breaking day
and ] could see all within an area of
four miles. We also saw that we were
surrounded by icebergs, large and
small, and three miles to the northwest
of us a huge field of drift ice with
large and small bergs in it, the ice
field trending from northwest round
west and south to southeast as far
as We could see either way.
At s A. NJ. the Leyland steamship
Californian came up. l gave him the
principal news and asked him to
search and l would proceed to New
York.
At $50 we proceeded at full speed.
While re-searching over the vicinity
of the disaster and while we were get
ting people aboard, | gave orders to
get spare hands along and swing in
all our boats, disconnect the fall and
hoist up as many Titanic boats as pos
sibie in our davits: also got some on
fo-castle heads by derricks. We got
Is lifeboats, six on forward deck and
seven in davits. After getting all sur
vivors aboard and while searching, l
got a clergyman to offer short PRAYER
of thankfulness for those saved and
also Il short burial service for their
loss, in saloon. Before deciding def
ntely where to make for | conferred
with Mr.. Ismay and thought he told
me what | though best, | informed
him, taking everything into consider
alton l considered New York best.
knew we should require clean blank
cts, provisions and clean linen, even
If we went to the Azores, as most of
the passengers saved were women
and children and they hysterical. not
knowing what medical attention they
might require, thought it best to go to
Now York. l also thought it would be
better for Mr.. Ismay to go to New
York or England as soon as possible
and knowing / should be out of wire
less communication very soon if / pro-
ceeded to the Azores. it left Halifax,
Boston and New York, so / chose the
latter.
again passengers We're all hystericai
about ice, and l pointed out to Mr. Ismay
the possibilities of seeing ice if / went to
Halifax.
'Then / knew from the gravity of the
disaster that it would be best TO keep in
touch with land stations as best / could.
We have experienced very great difficult
ty in transmitting news, also names of
survivors Our wireless is very poor and
again we have had so many Interruptions
from other ships and also messages from
shore principally press. which we ig-
nored). / gave instructions to send first
all official messages, then names of pas
sengers, then survivors private mes
sages.
I'VE had haze. early Tuesday morning,
for several hours; again more or less on
Wednesday from $50 p. M. to p. M.
strong south-southwesterly winds and
clear weather, Thursday, with moderate
rough sea.
81 am pleased to say that all survivors
have been very plucky. The majority of
women, first, second and third class, lost
their husbands and, considering all, they
have done wonderfully well. Tuesday,
our doctor reported all survivors physi-
cally well. Our first class passengers
have behaved splendidly, given up their
cabins voluntarily and supplied the la
dies with clothes, etc We all turned out