The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-04-25
THE TITANIC DISASTER.
The Geeai Ship Vent Down In Mid.Ocean
aHdl LOCI Human Beings Perished.
GREATEST OCEAN TRAGEDY ON RECORD.

doWnpour drenchlng the lhousaii"s
who crowded adjoining thorough
fares and docks received the rescu-
ing Cunarder Carpathia, when IL
locked here last night at 9 O'CLOCK.
Physicians. nurses and ambulances
from every hospital in the city were
hurried to the docks and every avail
able official was on hand to facilitate
the landing of the surviving passen
gers of the Titanic. AS soon as the
Carpathia locked it was aseertalned
the list Ct rescued was only 739,
placing the number of souls lost IN
the disaster at 1,340. Whatever
clinging hope was entertained that
the total of rescued would be larger
than ct first learned from wireless
reports, was dashed when the Gu
harder had unloaded her cargo OF
terrified survivors.
Passengers on the Titanic gave d.
yersified accounts Of the terrible
happening. Various as these stories
were they all agreed in that the II
tanic was struck glancing blow by
tie gigantic iceberg when making a
speed of about % knots. Mr.. j. II.
Moody, a quartermaster OF the ship
and helmsman in one of the life
boats, was on the bridge with the
second officer, who was in command.
Close to midnight the officer sighted
the iceberg a quarter of mile Off
and gave the command, Port your
he!mn' The order was executed,
! but too late, as several moments
! later the Titanic was shaken from
stem to stern as it came into col
,ision with the submerged part OF
the berg. The Titanic was split
open amidship as though it had been
made of cardboard; a shower OF icy
water and Jumps Of ice drenching
the upper decks. Captain Smith
was Immediately on deck and order
ed that everybody put on life pre-
servers and have the boats lowered.
When the ship was struck the ma
jority Of the people on deck were
men and the first boat lowered was
filed with them. An instant later
the decks were crowded with terri
fed women and children. Officers
and members of the crew, as well as
some of the men passengers. rushed
TO the boats and in some instances,
gun in hand, saw to it that only wo-
men and children, with the necessa-
nv men to man the boats, took thei1
place within them. After the first
moment of panic the work Of saving
, women and children went on order
| y, every man submitting to the
{ grim rule of the sea, Women anC
children frst!' Officers and crew
displayed the greatest heroism ane
t self-denial in experimenting tn
4 rescue.
, Before the last life-boat had beef
lowered the Titanic was heavily list
ing the port, and as this last boa
, made away from the fated vessel i
was seen to deepen quickly forward
Women in the boats saw the rest o
the passengers crowd to the back
decks. They plainly heard the ban
playing "Nearer My God to Thee
and the following instant the NOR
ster ship had been engulfed in tn
: Atlantic.
Il Some women refused to leave tt
! ship and would rather meet deaf
:, by their husbands than be saved
L Among them was Mrs. Isador Strau!
d the New York merchant prince
,, wife.
- Captain Smith remained on til
Il deck till the last second and W.
l. then seen to jump into the sea as tt
&c Titanic was sinking to it's deep grav
. Accounts of some Of the passenger
y to the effect that Captain Smith hs
committed suicide as had some (
~ his officers was strongly denied /
other passengers.
New York, April 18.-The folloy
ing tabulation of the passengers al
4. q, crew on board the Titanic, togeth
!" with those saved and lost, has bee
- compiled from the figures in tt
statement issued by the commit
of passengers.
ne Approximate number of passe
gers aboard:
First class, $50; second class, 81
y third class, $50; officers and ere
nc $40; total, 2,340.
AZ Number of passengers saved
a Carpathia:
First class, 210; second class, l:
saS third class, 200; total passenge
'e saved, 535 Members OF crew save
'"' Officers, 4; seamen, 80; stewart
90; firemen, Il.
Total number of crew saved, 81
Total saved. passengers and ere