New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
CARPATH|A SILENT TO END
Fleet of Newspaper Tugs Vainly
HurI Questions.
PASSENGERS ALSO DUMB
Not Until Rescue Ship Reached
Dock Did Full Story of
Disaster Come Out.

Through fog and a driving rain the ship
Carpathia ran the final lap OF her errand
OF mercy down the New England coast
Yesterday afternoon Just as she was
sighted from the Ambrose lightship a gim-
mer of dull gold broke through the west
ern sky and for a moment her black hulk
emblematic OF mourning. reflected a ray
Of hope Stopping for the barest moment
to pick up the pilot she sped away from
the questions shot after her by the waiting
newspaper tugs, still concealing In her
gloomy mass secrets as dark as the thun-
derstorm which lay between her and her
destination.
From the time that the newspaper tugs
threw their first question across her rail
until the vessel slid soberly into her berth
at West 18th street, there was a strange
reluctance on the part of the people aboard
her TO reveal any details OF the greatest
Of ocean tragedies. AS the cluster OF tugs
which escorted the liner up the river flung
name after name into the crowd that lined
the rails far above there was almost al
ways an answering hail, but beyond that
the responses ceased. Even messages from
friends and relatives failed to elicit con-
nected reply from the survivors.
Holds Her Grim Secret.
The swiftness. the silence Of the big vessel
that held so much OF which thousands were
waiting to hear was comparable to the sud-
denness with which the tragic news f1rst
flashed on the world and the painful days
OF conjecture which followed. Perhaps the
realization OF the meaning of the news they
had to convey the mountains of hopes and
fears that were built upon 1t, laid weight
on the lips of the Carpathia's company.
But 1t was also argued that the spell Of the
iron rule TO which their wills have bowed
since the night OF the catastrophe would
not melt away until they had stepped for
good from the decks of the Cunard liner.
Reported as passing Nantucket shortly
after daylight yesterday morning, the Car
pathia came with a speed OF which none
thought her capable to the edge OF the
fog at Sandy Hook Three tugs. one bring
ing the pilot. were the only vessels wait
ing to welcome her at the entrance OF the
harbor moment or two after o'clock
in the evening she stole into view as dark
blur on the misty horizon. and as one the
three small boats turned their prows in
her direction.
When the liner slowed down for the pilot
The Tribune's tug swung under her rail
and sent the first hail across the water
The starboard decks were jammed with peo-
ple. a black mass at either end, and on the
high promenade in the centre was a con-
glomeration OF color as II every outer wrap
aboard had been pressed into service to
shield the Titanics scantily clad survivors
from the chill wind.
A scattering OF waving hands and hand
kerchiefs answered the hail. and here and
there a doubtful cheer fioated downward az
the Tribune's boat swung alongside.
Captain SiIences Passengers.
MAY we send man aboard?' was the
first question put.
Yes. YES. yesr' rang out more clearly
from steerage and first cabin passengers
alike. There was a note OF subdued eager
ness in the cry.
Mo- Numbered the single syllable from
the bridge, as the order for fun speed
ahead was flashed to the engine room.
Al this rebuke a silence like that OF
broken spirited children settled down upon
the throng and no pleas nor further ques-
tions through the megaphone were able to
break II. A call for J. Bruce Ismay, chair
man OF the International Mercantile Ma
rine. Of which the White Star Company Is
a part. brought forth nothing beyond
momentary glimpse on the bridge OF an In
diviGual in the black garb of civilian.
Through the thunderstorm and up the
harbor the dumb Carpathia proceeded with
The Tribune's tug as the only escort for
the entire way. Across the busy ferry
routes of the lower North River she ran at
speed OF about fourteen knots. While the
army OF Cunard tugs was warping her into
her pier which she had overshot In her
grim eagerness, the lifeboats in which she
found the Titanc's survivors on Monday
morning were lowered over her side. Four
of them found rest on a derrick boat along
side. Two others remained across the Tor
ward hatch of the liner -Four Others APP
parently in better condition, were towed
away to a quiet berth.