Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-04-24
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Of tangled wreckage.

Of tangled wreckage.
LUCKILY was unhurt, and casting
about managed to seize a wooden graf
ing floating near by. When had re-
covered my breath l discovered a
larger canvas and cork life raft which
had fcated up. A man whose name
I did not learn was struggling toward
it from some wreckage to which he
had chung. cast off and helped him
to get on to the raft and We then be-
gan the work of rescuing those who
had jumped into the sea and were
floundering in the water
Had to Deny sucoor to Others.
"When dawn broke there were thirty
Of US on the raft, standing knee deep
in the Icy water and afraid to move
lest the cranky craft be overturned.
Several unfortunates, benumbed and
half dead, besought us to save them,
and one or two made an effort to reach
us, but we had to warn them away.
Had we made any effort to save them
we all might have perished
'The hours that elapsed before we
were picked up by the Carpathia were
the longest and most terrible that l
ever spent"
Colonel Oracle denied with emphasis
that any men were fred upon and de-
clared that only once was a revolver
discharged.
This was for the purpose of intimi-
dating some of the steerage passen-
gers" he said, 'who had tumbled into
a boat before it was prepared for
launching. This shot was fired in the
air, and when the foreigners were
told that the next would be directed
at them they promptly returned to
the deck. There was no confusion and
no panic"
Contrary to the general expectation.
there was no Earring impact when the
vessel struck, according to the army
officer. He was in his berth when the
vessel smashed into the submerged
portion of the berg and was aroused
by the jar.
"Before RETIRED" said Colonel
Oracle, II had long chat with Charles
NJ. Hays, president of the Grand
Trunk railroad. One of the last things
Mr.. Hays said was this: The White
Star, the Cunard and the Hamburg
American lines are devoting their at
tention and ingenuity in vieing one
with the other to attain the supremacy
In luxurious ships and in making speed
records. The time will soon come
when this will be checked by some ap-
palling disaster Poor fellow, a few
hours later he was dead.
'"The conduct of Colonel John Jacob
Aston was deserving of the highes,
praise" Colonel Oracle declared. "Colo
mel Astor," he said, devoted all hi.
energies to saving his young bride
he helped US in our efforts to get he
into the boat. I lifted her into tn,
boat, ana az she took her place Colo
mel Astor requested permission Of the
second officer to go with her for her
own protection.
"'No, SIR replied the officer, not q
man shall go on boat until the wom-
en- are all off, Colonel Astor then
inquired the number of the boat. which
was being lowered away, and then
turned to the work of clearing the
other boats and in reassuring the
frightened and nervous women"
Says Fishing Boats Were Near.
| Mrs. D. W. Marvin, who was on q
/ hnnavnn0r trim hos
was Frustrated when she reached the
pier, as her husband was lost. She
said:
he grabbed me in his arms and
knocked down men to get me in the
boat. As I was put in the boat he
cried: It's all right, little girl! You
Co. and I'll stay little while. I'll
put on life preserver and jump of
Ind follow you The boat started off,
and he threw kiss at me.
"There were fishing boats about the
boat, and think others must have
been saved. Dan and l saw them be.
fore we went to our room. The men
whom saw were brave, for they
pushed aside others when tho towards
made for the boats before the women.
"For Gods Sake, Col"
Jacques Futrelle, the author, was one
OF the first cabin passengers who part.
ed with his wife and steadfastly re.
fused to accept chance to enter 4
hfeboat when he knew that the I'll.
tanic was sinking under him. The
story Of how her husband went to his
death was told thus by Mrs. Futrelle:
when the Titanic hit the iceberg
there was the most appalling excite
ment," said Mrs. Futrelle, "and who
after they have passed through such
an experience, could blame those pool
people for the panic that overwhelmed
some Of them?
! 4 Dc not doubt that my husband /.