davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
THE SURVIVORS, STORIES
OF GREAT SEA TRAGEDY
TITANIC GOING Il KNOTS AN HOUR WHEN SHE STRUCK
THE MONSTER ICEBERG
oUARTERMAsTER TELLS STARTLING STORY
Massive Hull Broke In Two and Expulsion Of Air Caused
Terrific Explosions as the Big Liner Settled Down.

Senator William Alden Smith, chair
man Of the Senate Investigating Com
mittee, held q conference aboard the
Carpathia soon after the passengers
had come ashore.
The arrival Of the Carpathia brought
vast multitude of people to the
Cunard docks. They filed the vast
pier sheds and overlooking for blocks,
crowded the nearby streets in q dense
throng. Through 1t all the rain fell
steadily. adding q funeral aspect to
the scene. The, landing of the sur.
vivors was attended with little excite
ment. the crowd standing in Awe-like
silence as the groups from the ship
passed along. The docking actually
began shortly after O'Clock and the
debarking Of passengers was so quick
ly disposed Of by the waving Of the
usual formalities.
Physicians and nurses went aboard
the Carpathia before anyone was al
lowed to go down the gangway, but
soon after the first cabin passengers,
women predominating, began descend
ing the incline. Some walked unaided,
some were assisted by friends, rela-
1tives ana nurses, and some were on
stretchers. Mrs. John Jacob -Astor,
now widow, was met by her step
son, Vincent, and her sister, Miss
Force.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

tention of the public to what we con-
slider the inadequate supply of life
saving appliances provided for on
modern passenger steamships, and
recommend that immediate steps be
taken to compel passenger steamers
to carry sufficient boats to aceommo-
date the maximum number of people
carried on board. The following facts
we're observed and should be consider
ed in this connection:
"The insufficiency of Lfeboats, RATS,
ETC.; lack Of trained seamen to man
same (stokers, stewards, etc., are not
efficient boat handlers); not enough
officers to carry out emergency orders
on the bridge and superintend the
launching and control of lifeboats;
absence Of searchlights.
'eThe London Board OF Trade rules
allow for entirely too many people in
each boat to permit the same to be
properly handled. On the Titanic the
boat deck was about rs feet above
water and consequently the passen
gers were required to embark before
lowering the boats, thus endangering
the operation and preventing the TAX
ing on of the maximum number the
boats would hold. Boats at all times
should be properly equipped with pro-
visions, water, lamps, compasses,
lights, etc. Life-saying boat drills
should be more frequent and thor
ough1y carried out and officers should
be armed at boat drills.
There should be greater reduction
in speed In fog and Ice, so that the
damage, II collision actually occurs,
would be less. In conclusion, we sug-
gest that an international conference
be called to recommend the passage
of identical laws providing for the
safety of all at sea and we urge the
United States government to take the
initiative as soon as possible.
The statement was signed by Sam
uel Goldenberg, chairman, and a com
mittee Of some Is passengers.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

salute as he returned to die. He had
kissed his wife as she entered the life
boat.
Howard Case a Hero.
"The men behaved bravely. Major
Butt took charge of one section Of the
ship in placing the women in the life
boats. Howard B. Case, of London,
and whose wife was resident of Luz
theryflle, Nd, was another hero. He
installed system to get the women
on, and he saw that the system was
followed. think he was the big hero
of the disaster"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
SURVIVORS MAKE REPORT
Say 2,34O Persons Were Aboard
and 745 Saved.

New York.-The- following state
ment issued by a committee of the
surviving passengers of the Titanic
was given the press on the arrival of
the Carpathia:
! 1--WE, the undersigned surviving pas
sengers from the steamship Titanic,
in order to forestall any sensational
or exaggerated statements, deem it
our duty to give to the press state
ment of facts which have come to- our
knowledge and which we believe to
be true.
ION Sunday, April IA, 1912, at about
11.40 P. M, on cold, star-lit night,
in smooth sea and with no moon,
the ship struck an iceberg, which had
been reported to the bridge by look
outs, but not early enough to avoid
collision. Steps were taken to ascer-
tain the damage and save passengers
and ship. Orders were given to put
on life belts and the boats were low
cred.
1.-THE ship sank at about 2.20 A. M.
Monday and the usual distress signals
were sent out by wireless and rockets
fired at intervals from the ship.
Fortunately the wireless message was
received by the Cnnard steamship
Carpathia at about 10 o'clock mid
night and she arrived on the scene
of the disaster at about 4 A. M. Mon
day.
"The officers and crew of the steam
ship Carpathta 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 at.
tention being given to all, irrespective
of class. The passengers, officers and
crew gave up, gladly, their staterooms,
clothing and comforts for our benefit,
all honor to them.
1.-THE English board Of trade pas
sengers' certificate on board the Ii
tanic allowed for a total of approx
imately $500. The same certificate
called for lifeboat accommodation for
approximately $50 in the following
boats:
Fourteen large lifeboats, two small
er boats and four collapsible boats.
Life preservers were accessible and
apparently in sufficient nu nber for all
on board.
.'The approximate number of pas
sengers carried at the time of collision
was.
"First-class. 800; second-class, 800;
third-class. $50; total, 1,400. Officers
! and crew, $40. Total, 2,340.
@0f the foregoing about the follow
ing were rescued by the steamship
Carpathia:
"First-class. 210; second-class, 1876;
third-class, 200; officers. 4; seamen,
80; stewards. 96; firemen. Il; total,
30 Of the crew. The total-775
saved-was about so per cent. of the
maximum capacity of the life-boats.
I'VE feel it our dnty to call the at
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

the iceberg was probably equivalent
to the simultaneous fire of thirty
twelve-inch projectiles, or the concen-
trated fire Of three such dreadnoughts
as the Florida.
1.-THE IRE Of ten twelveinch guns
such as the Florida carries is sup
posed to be sufficient to put any bat
tleship afioat out Of business, If the
projectiles should strike simultaneous
" The force Of the Titanic striking
the iceberg must have been approx
.mately 1000. 900 foot-tons, equivalent
to her being struck simultaneously by
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Jacob Aston held his wife for q
moment in his arms, kissed her ten
derby, passed her into lifeboat, stood
erect and, with military salute, turn
ed back to take his place on the sink
ing Titanic
This was the story told by sur
yivor.
4 did not see it myself. but they
told me about it. 1t was fine" said
Charles William Daniel, formerly Of
Richmond. Va. as he came ashore.
They said that Aston stood up as the
boats went away with military
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

New York.-Capt R. H. Rostron, Of
the Cunard steamship Carpathia, made
the following statement:
81 have gone through SO much since
/ received aboard my ship the first
distress cali of the Titanic that COM
plete narrative is impossible.
1T was between so and SO miles
from the Titanic when the wireless
sang into the ears of my operator the
first call for help. The operator said
that he received only one call. The
silence after the first frantic appeal
for help was ominous to me. Our
Marconi sent out rays that scraped
the sky, but there was no response
whatever to any of our inquiries.
swung the Carpathia around straight
to the position the poor Titanic's first
aerogram said she occupied. Our en-
gines were put at top speed.
sThe silence of the air, so far as the
Titanic was concerned, made me shud-
der, as we sped on our way to the
rescue. l realized what 1t meant. On
and on we sped. Our stokers never
worked harder. When the first faint
daylight came and knew we were
still miles from the spot of the
tragedy, felt we should arrive too
late to be of any service.
Saved Everyone.
When, however, after full daylight
we sighted the first lifeboat, filed with
women and children and eight or ten
strong armed and brave-hearted men
Of the Titanic's crew, realized that
we could at least save a few human
lives. ! was too busy for the next
hour or SO to recall now Just what oc-
Cured. My mind was wholly set upon
saving the lives of the people who
crowded the boats.
1.-THE sea was calm There was
scarcely a ripple upon its face Great
ice foes were crunching down from
the North. In the distance several
icebergs shimmered like mirrors. Why
the lifeboats were not crushed by the
swiftly moving ice foes call luck
The sixteen boats seemed at first near
ly all women.
II remember that it occurred to me
that the good God had stretched out
His mighty hand and had checked fur
ther murder by his elements.
I'VE got aboard the Carpathia every
human being in the sixteen lifeboats
.of the Titanic. Every officer and
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
AS TOLD BY OTHERS.
Graphic Descriptions Of Scenes Fol.
lowing the Crash


Statement of Robert W. Daniel, of
Philadelphia:
81 had just left the MUSHROOM and
disrobed and was in my bunk, when
there was terrific crash. The boat
quiyered and the lights went out. In
the darkness ! rushed on deck almost
naked. There seemed to be thousands
fighting and shouting in the darkness,
and then they got the storage bat
teries going and this gave us little
light. Captain Smith was the biggest
hero l ever saw. He stood on the
bridge and shouted through a mega
phone trying to make himself heard
The crew obeyed his orders as quickly
as could be expected Five minutes
after the crash everybody seemed to
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25


member Of our crew stood BY like the
brave and loyal lads they are and did
his fun duty.
we took aboard 705 women and
children who were alive, but some Of
them unconscious. We also dragged
to the decks Of the Carpathia four
members of the Titanfc's crew who
had been tolled on to man the life
boats and were stark dead. They had
been frozen to death Their strong,
horny fingers still clutched the oars
that they had been desperately pull.
ing. We buried these men in sailors
graves from the deck Of the Carpathia.
{ II am told that It was reported to
President Taft by Captain Chandler,
Of the scout cruiser Salem, that the
Carpathia had received, Wednesday
night, wireless messages from the
commander Of the Salem asking in the
name Of the President IL Major Butt.
John Jacob Astor, Frank Millet, Clar-
ence Moore and Isidore Stratus were
aboard his vessel.
1t is possible the Carpathia's wire
less operator acknowledged, but re-
fused to answer messages even from
the President of the United States afs
ter midnight, as he had then been at
his post more than ~ hours without
rest. But he never reported such a
message to me, and do not blame
him.
Did His Duty.
after reached the Cunard pier /
was asked as to the truth of reports
that some passengers, and particularly
some men passengers, on the Titanic
were kept back from the lifeboats at
the point of the pistol and that two
well-known men were shot. OF course,
/ was not there. l did not see the ship
go down. But from the survivors who
came aboard my ship heard no such
story.
"The Carpathia was amply provision
ed for the accommodation of the 705
persons rescued, and likewise there
was abundant and comfortable Sleep
ing room for the unexpected increase
of her passenger list by bringing into
requisition the big lounges in the
saloons.
81 thank the people who have con-
graduated me, but l am not entitled
to any more credit than would have
been due any other man of the sea
had the opportunity been afforded to
others thank Almighty God that /
was within wireless hailing distance
and that got there in time to pick up
every one of the 705 survivors of the
Titanic wreck"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
Bankers wan China.

Paris. 1t is understood here that
the representatives in Picking Of the
Six Power Group" comprising the
United States, Great Britain, Germany,
France. Russia and Japan. have stop
ped payment of advances on the Chin
iess loan as means Of protesting
against the signature of the 25.0O0, 900
taels approximately $17.5o0,OO0l loan
by the Belgian syndicate. France
and the other powers are opposed to
any participation BY Belgium.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
CAPT. SMITHS WIDOW.

Her Pathetic Message To Her Fellow.
Sufferers.
London.-T widow of Capt Smith,
the commander of the Titanic. has
written pathetic message, which was
posted outside the White Star offices.
It reads as follows:
ITO my poor fellow-sufferers: Ny
heart overfows with grief for you ali
and is laden with sorrow that you
are weighed down with this terrible
burden that has been thrust upon US.
May God be with us and comfort us
all.
Yours in deep sympathy.
ELEANOR SMITH"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
Valuable Mail Lost.

New York.-of the s.42s bags Of
mail In the hold Of the Titanic. about
200 bags contained registered matter.
Postmaster Morgan said that these
sacks contained. on an average. about
5000 letters each. He estimated that
approximately 100000 registered let.
tiers and packages had gone to the
bottom. Three Of the i've postal
clerks aboard the Titanic, Postmaster
Morgan said, were in the employ Of
the United States Postal service.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

havs gone insane. Men and Noms.
fought, bit and scratched 70 be In line
for the iife1oats / got black eye
and cut chm in the night Then Cap
tain Smith seemed to get some order
and the passengers were sent to lore
and aft on the big boat"
There was a frightful pounding
noise throughout saw men praying,
also struggling to get to the rail-
Prayers and cries followed. Women
who had been in the music room,
where concert had been In progress.
were still dressed in evening apparel
and wore diamonds Other women
had just got to their hunks and were,
in night attire. All rushed with one
object, to get to the boats. Captain
Smith remained on the bridge trying
to make himself heard. He was stin
shouting when last saw him. As the
passengers got into the life boats
women were thrown ii and they did
not move, and an ofticeh jumped In to
command. The boats were swung
from their davits and let down into the
water. Hundreds, it seems, did not
wait for the boats. They saw there
was no chance and they jumped over
board"
None Dreamed OF Danger.
DR.. Henry w. Frauenthal. 783 Lex,
ington avenue, New York, also de-
clared all of the women on board the
Titanic were thought to- have been
safely in the boats before the order OF
the men to take them came.
when the ship first struck" he
said, none Of US dreamed of the dan
ger we faced. All who had been asleep
after the first rush into the cabinways
and to the decks returned to their
cabins, to dress.
but when the word came that we
were sinking and the life5oats we're
ordered over the side the panic was
fearful. From all sides came shrieks
and groans and cries, and 1t seemed
as If all the devils of hell had been let
loose.
Just now am SO thankful to be
alive that my appreciation Of the
horror is dulled am only afraid
that when recover from the first
shock It will come back to me again,
and / would rather have gone down
with the boat"
Another of the survivors who would
have embraced death more happily
than safety was Mrs. A. o. Horveson,
whose husband, who was connected
with hn
down with the Titanic. With her hus-
band, Mrs. Horveson had been in
Buenos Ayres on a three months
pleasure and business trip, and, re-
turning by way of England, had
thought it would be great fun to help
the Titanic make her maiden trip.
we were SO happy" she cried, with
tears streaming down her faco. I'VE
had thought 1t such lark to come
back home on the Titanic. But now
there is nothing. nothing left in this
world. can't stand It," And, broken
completely down, she hid her face in
her hands and could say no more.
Only Baby Left OF Family.
Jane Smith, one of the English
nurses employed by ]. w. Allison, OF
Ontario, who brought Baby Smith
through the Titanic disaster, came
down the gangplank with the nine
months-old baby boy wrapped in her
arms. He was all that was left of a
family of father, mother and two chill.
dren. The oldest child was girl
three years cid.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
cRAzED BY TITANIC STORIES.

David Burns, Castle Gould Employe.
Goes Violently insane.
Hampstead, N. Y.-David Burns, an
employe of Castle Gould, the estate
Of Howard Gould at Port Washington,
went violently insane as result of
reading and talking Of the Titanic dis
aster.
Burns declared repeatedly that the
wreck was the work Of the Lord to
punish the people for their sins and
finally became SO violent that he was
arrested.
He will be sent to hospital for the
insane.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

thirty such projectiles. It is a won
der. in the light of such a comparison.
that she hoated SO long. 1t is incon-
ceivable that the ingenuity of man
can ever devise floating structure to
Withstand such terrible collision"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

sengers and crews. showing the mum
Der Of persons for whom no boat ac-
commodation is provided The hist
demonstrates that the number of per-
sons unproyided for ranges from 1,475
10 S,07O.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
lant .Ta,.I Robber senteneed.

New York Matteo Arbano. the last
Of the band convicted Of the SOS. 600
taxicab robbery from hank messen-
gers, was sentenced to not less than
two or more than four years in Sing
Sing.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A lecturer IN Philadelphia has been
advising mothers to teach their girls
how TO fiirt. This Is the sort Of the
orist who wants to paint the lily,
show duck how to swim and per
form other work illustrative OF the
nonconseryation 81 energy.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Chicago's police force lately devel-
oped the fact that It had a member
who INDUCED the eccentricity OF al
ways paying for his drinks and cigars.
He was permitted to resign, as such
unprofessiona1 conduct is not likely
To snreaf3
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A Maryland citizen committed sui
eide rather than submit to an opera
ton for appendicitis. Evidently he
preferred an sundertaker's bill to
doctors bill.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Our lamsels wear rings on their I'm
gers and feathers on their shoes, but
there is no danger that they viii wear
bells on their toes-not In this cii-
mate.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
PUT WIFE IN BOAT.

Then Mr.. Astor Gave Military Salute
and Turned Back To Death.
New York Passing his wife to
safety and returning to death, John
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Chicago man is being tried for
having married seven women. but
there are those who believe that he
should be examined by a flock Of
alienists.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A dispatch from England tells us
that schoolboys Of Elton are now al
lowed to wear soft shirts Verify, the
British monarchy is falling to pieces.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Boston astronomers have discovered
= new star. Second base or short
stopi
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A Baltimore man has just under
gone his twenty-fourth surgical oper-
alton. In one way he Is qualified to
be the village cut-up
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

went down, knew he went down too.
He was soldier and was on deck,
where he belonged
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A New York woman sent her con-
gratulations to her divorced husband
when he married again. she should
have sent her regrets to the new wife.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Massachusetts legislators propose
tax Of IS year on bachelors and
some Of them claim the freedom lie
worth IT.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

The druggist who boasts that he
has accumulated 175,0OO prescriptions
has no statistics to show how many Of
them cured.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A nnancier informs us that the man
who earns $19,25 a week is worth
$25, 900. The only trouble is that some
anancier has charge of the $25, 900.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Modern court procedure is said to be
joke. bit the Joke is on the poor
wretch who has not enough money to
hire flock Of lawyers.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

An astronomer in that dear Paris
informs US that the earth is 100. 000.-
900 years old What are a few CT
pliers more or less?
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A Philadelphia citizen says he lives
on 81 week, but he does not say
who feeds and clothes him in the
meantime.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
WOMAN HEADS NEW BUREAU.
Julia c. Lathrop, Of Chicago, APP
pointed By the President.

washington, Julia c. Lathrop. Of
Chicago, an associate OF Jane Adams
in the work at Hull House, a member
Of the Illinois Board Of Charity and a
graduate and trustee of Vassar Col
iege, was appointed by President Taft
as chief Of the new ChildFen's Bureau
in the Department Of Commerce and
Labor
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

With both poles discovered and
public interest on the wane, 1t looks
as If our professional discoveries may
be forced to go to work.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Butter can be made directly from
grass, says scientific sharp, and per
haps 1t can. We have long had apple
butter.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

A London specialist proposes to
cure badness by grating hair on the
dome. This will create demand for
Ivory experts.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

In Nyack, which is in New York.
not Tasmania or SAKE Meiningen5 the
best elective Offices are seeking men
TO fill them.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

The Pulitzer school of journalism
has refused to admit women There
will, therefore, be no journalettes.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

It took woman to run down New
FORKS taxicab bandits. Next thing
we know we shall hear of the Adven-
lures of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

Explorers tell US that there are val
liable coal deposits at the south pole,
not to mention the Ice
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

The average baseball fan cares not
a whit about the malefactiens Of the
baseball trust as long as the home
team wins a pennant
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

The prodigal son no longer comes
back to share in the fatted calf. He
prefers to wire for draft.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25

The Arctic explorer says dog meat
as delicious In spite Of which expert
opinion 1t seems cannibalistic to be
eating mans best friends.