The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-04-18


pubIicans Would Support Amy Rea-
sonable Measures.
Especial to The Caucasian.)
Washington, D. c., April 16, 1912.
Since yesterday morning not only
Washington but the whole country.
and indeed all nations, have been
shocked at the news of the greatest
marine disaster in the history of the
world
The Titanic, the greatest and finest
ocean liner ever built, which had just
been completed, was on it's maiden
voyage heavily ladened with freight
and passengers from England to New
York. The news flashed from it's wire
less instruments while it was in mid
ocean that near midnight on Sunday
night it had struck an enormous ice
berg and was badly damaged. Wire
less appeals were flashed constantly
over the waters in every direction for
help to come to the crippled ship as
quickly as possible. This message was
picked up by number of vessels,
though, unfortunately, none were
very near. Messages were flashed
back from these vessels that they
were coming as fast as possible to the
rescue. When the first vessel reach
ed the site of the terrible disaster
the great ocean liner had sunk in the
midst of a number of floating ice
bergs, and nothing was seen left of
the ship, and less than a third of
the passengers, who had been placed
in the lifeboats, all the boats would
hold, were rocking in the icy water.
1t seems that the great vessel sunk
within less than three hours after it
struck the iceberg. Could it have
held out a few hours longer every
passenger on board would have been
saved AS it was, over 400 went to
their Watery graves in icy water more
than two miles deep. Nearly every
woman and child was saved, but few
men. This is a wonderful tribute to
the chivalry and heroism of the men
who saved first the women and chill
dren and then remained on the doom
ed ship to face certain death. The
vessel had 1900 people on board
when it sailed from England. Only
about 500 were saved.
Great Criminal Carelessness.
Tho Ti+opio ,,,oe NOT oplx, Tho lorO-
est vessel aflOat, but was thought to
De the safest against such catas-
trophe. 1t seems, however, that the
vessel was sailing at an unusually
last speed while passing through the
dangerous zone which was known to
be infested with iceberbs. 1t is re-
ported that every life-boat which the
vessel carried was crowded with all
the people that they would hold when
the vessel went down.
This suggests criminal negligence
on the part of the steamship line that
Is almost beyond belief. 1t is sup
posed that every vessel that goes
across the ocean carries enough life
ooats to accommodate not only every
passenger which the vessel has the
capacity to carry, but also the crew.
besides, every vessel is supposed to
oe equipped with RATS that are non
slnkable, and with a life-preserver
IoF every passenger. So far there
are no reports of any persons floating
III the water with life-preservers.
IN the first place, if the vessel had
carried sufficient life-boats for the
@'ZOO people on board, it seems that
very one would have been saved.
ouch criminal negligence should be
Investigated by our Government, and
oil other governments should be ap-
pedIeo to to cooperate to prevent
any vessel sailing that is not thus
properly equipped.
besides, it was thought that the
'dhuc was a non-sinkable vessel.
builders and owners claim that it
"u sufficient water-tight compart-
nts so as to make it practically
blnposslble for it to sing, no matter
~" many holes were made in it's
,ull' - Indeed, it is claimed that if
vessel was cut half in two that
0t each part of the vessel would
o'l With its crew and cargo. It now
ppeaFs that such claims were not
s n founded, though it is certain that
eh non-sinkable vessel can be
IL 1iu' and certainly this disaster calls
sbo on this Government and all
nations of the world to hereafter