The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-16

winter and remodeled at q cost OF
$4,000 to serve as an icebreaker to
enable the Harmsworths to get pulp
and paper shipments out or their
spring port at Botwood, founo tne ne re
so Immensely heavy that she was SO
days making 80 miles up the Expiolts
inlet to Notre Dame bay to BostWooo
harbor and only succeeded IN getting
there by the lavish use OF dynamite
When she arrived on March 1 she was
without coal % return and is still
there with the inlet frozen sol1d.
Behind her, waiting for the spring
freshets to break up the floes ana
admit a collier to supply her with
fuel for the return voyege to- England,
is the Reid company's powerful new
ice breaker Bruce, which made her
maiden trip in February and has been
battling with the floes between New
foundland and Cape Breton since and
has suffered such amage-though
she is the finest of her class in the
world-that she will require extensive
repairs in dry dock next month, when
the vanishing of the ice will enable
an unsheathed steamer to take her
place. Because of the prevalence of
ice this winter the operations of the
American, Canadian and NeWfound-
land fishing vessels on the Grand
Banks have been greatly hampered,
while the fresh stream trawlerS have
found it impossible to operate at all.
The immense floes are disposed over
the whole ocean where these fishing
smacks cruise md form the greatest
menace to their success. The chang
ing winds often bring in Immense
fields crashing together, jeopardizing
fishing boats in their vicinity and
when ice prevails on the Grand Banks,
as it has this winter, fishing vessels
are obliged to give the area wide
berth.
Little Hope for Major Butt.
lit a-i6 Hon
Taft today ordered out two revenue
cutters to meet the Carpathia, which is
bearing the Tftanic's survivors to New
Y ork. The Gresham is at Boston and
the Acushnet at4Woods Hole, Mass.
The White House was not cheer
full place today for President Taft and
most of his cabinet and many OF the
callers were deeply concerned over the
Butt, who has been Mr.. Taft's mill
tary aide since he entered the White
House. The White Star line office in
New York kept the president ADVISED
during the day as they checked over
the list of the rescued. AS the chance
against Major Butts name appearing
among the saved grew fainter and
fainter the president began to give
up hope.
holding to that" he said to a friend
as he departed for lunch. During the
day the White House offices received
many personal inquiries. All OF Ma
jor Butts friends believe he would be
among the last to leave the ship.
Another Hope Gone.
Halifax, April 16.-The Sable Is
land cable ship Nina reported this
afternoon through the wireless station
she had sighted a great mass or
wreckage, but no boats or RATS from
the Titanic. This for the time being
disposes of the hope that the Nina
which had anchored off Cape Race,
when the Titanic first called for help
might have picked up some OF the IL
tanic passengers
Builders Were on Board.
Belfast April 16.-Thomas An
drews, jr., director of the shipbulId-
ing firm of Harland and Wolf was
among the passengers on the Titanic
He was accompanied by mechanics
the latest product of the firms yards.
Carpathia Is Silent.
New York, April 16.-There was no
further word this afternoon from the
steamship Carpathia which had the sos
survivors of the Titanic on board. The
officials of the Cunard line who sent
a dozen messages to Captain Rostrol
of the Carpathia said they did not know
whether the wireless operator had been
able to reach the steamship.
Crowds on Broadway in front of the
White Star line offices blocked traffic
for a time and police reserves had tC
make a pathway.
The board of aldermen passed a res