The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-19

NEW YORK, April 1s.--The fol.
lowing statement. issued by COM
mittee of the surviving passengers
was given the press on the arrival
of the carpathia:
I'VE, the undersigned. surviving
passengers from the steamship IT,
tanic, in order to forestall any SEN
sational or exaggerated statements.
deem 1t our duty to give to the press
come to our knowledge. and which
We believe OF be true.
"On Sunday. April II. 1919, at
| about 11::40 r. NJ. on a cold, ttarlit
| night. in smooth sea, and with no
| moon. the ship struck an iceberg
! which had been reported to the
bridge by lookouts. but not early
enough to avoid collision.
Steps were taken to ascertain the
damage and save passengers and
! ship. Orders were given to put on
! ered.
The ship sank at about 2:20 A. NJ.
Monday. and the usual distress sig
| nails were sent out By wireless and
rockets fired at intervals from the
ship.
Fortunately, the wireless message
was received by the Cunard 3. g..
Carpathias~ at about IL O'Clock mid
night, and she arrived on the Scene
OF the disaster at about A. NJ. Mon
day.
! The officers and crew Of the 8. 3.
Carpathia 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 attention being given to all.
irrespective OF class. The passen-
gers officers and crew gave up gfad-
ly their staterooms clothing and
comforts for our benefit. All honor
TO them.
Boats Inadequate.
The English board OF trade pas
sengers certificates on board tho IT,
tanic allowed for total OF approx
imately $500. The same certificate
called for life boat accommodations
(. for approximately $50 in the follow
ting boats: Fourteen large lifeboats.
two smaller boats, and four collapse
BILE boats. Life preservers were ac-
cessible and apparently in sufficient
number for all on board.
Number Of Passengers.
The approximate number of pas
sengers carried Mt the time Of the
collision was:
irst class, $50.
Second class. $50.
Third class, $50
Total. 1,40o.
officers and crew, $40.
Total, 2,34o.
OF the foregoing about the fol
lowing were rescued by steampshil
Carpath
First class 2Io.
Second class, rs
Third class. 2Cc
Officers. 4. sesmen, 80.
Stewards, SO.
Fiji emen. II.
! Total, 2l0 ST tii,. crew.
7T5 Saved.
!, The total. ABOUT IT'S saved. wa
about so per cent Of the maximum
. capacity Of the lifeboats.
We feel It ouI duty to call the at
, ttrtion OF the pphlic to what we con
. slider the inade1 aate supply Of lii
saving appliances provided for o.
|. modern PASSENGER steamships. an
recommend that immediate steps b
taken to comle. passenger steamers t
, carry sufficient boats 20 accomodat
. the maximum number of people car
rieG on boarG.
Recommendations.
me following facts were observe
aid should be ccnsidered in this con
nection. The insuflciency Of life
! boats. RATS. etc. Jack OF trained sea
men to man the same (stokers. stew
ards ct. ure not eff1eient boat hand
lers): net enough cfrccrs to carry OH
; emergency orders on the bridge, an
s-superintend tire launching and cor
troll Of lifeboats. absence Of search
lights.
The hoerd o. uade rules allo,
for entirely too many people In ca (,
boat to permit the same to b
property handled.
"On the Titanic tho boat deck wa
about IS Zee, above water and conse
3 quently the passengers wer require
! to embark before lowering boats, thu
endangering the operation and pre-
9 venting the taxing on Of the max
\ mum number the boats would hol,
3 How Boats Should BE Equipped.
;. Boats at all times should be pror
: eriy equipped with provisions, waite
t lamps. compass, lights. etc.
8 Life saving boat drills should /
9 more frequen: and thoroughly carrie
I out and officers should be armed ,
q boat drills Greater reduction