The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-04-25

and n ever there was a time when
such a night was needed, surely II
was now. with hundreds OF people
mostly women and children, afoat
hundreds Of miles from land.
| The captain.stoker told us that he
had been at sea twenty-six years and
had never yet seen such a calm night
on the Atlantic. Az we rowed away
from the Titanic we looked back from
time 10 time 10 watch her. and a more
striking spectacle II was not possible
for any one to see.
TN the distance she looked an enor.
nous length. her great bulk outlined
In black against the starry sky. every
port.hol and saloon blazing with
light. II was impossible 10 think any.
thing could be wrong with such a
leviathan we're II not for that ominous
tilt downward In the bows. where the
water was by now up to the lowest
row OF portfolios. Presently about
a. m. as near as can remember. we
observed her settling very rapidly,
with the bows and the bridge com
pletely under water. and concluded
II was now only a question OF minutes
before she went: and so II proved.
She slowly tilted straight on end.
with the stern vertically upward. and
as she did the lights in the cabins and
saloons. which had not nickered for
moment since we left. died out.
came on again for a single fash and
finally went out altogether. At the
same time the machinery roared
down through the vessel with q rattle
and a groaning that could be heard
for miles. the weirdest sound surely
that could be heard in the middle OF
the ocean, a thousand miles away
from land But this was not yet quite
the end.
ITO our amazement she remained
In that upright position for a time.
which I estimated as i've minutes:
others in the boat say less. but II
certainly was some minutes. while we
watched at least $50 feet Of the Titan
ic towering above the level OF the
sea and looming back against the
sky.
Then with quiet slanting dive
she disappeared beneath the waters.
and our eyes had looked for the last
time on the gigantic vessel We had
set out on from Southampton last
Wednesday. And there was left to us
the gentle heaving sea, the boat filled
to standing room with men and WON
en- In every conceivable condition OF
dress and undress. above the perfect
sky OF brilliant stars with not a cloud
all tempered with a bitter cold that
made us all long to be one OF the crew
who toiled away with the oars and
kept themselves warm thereby-a
curious, deadening bitter cold unlike
anything We had felt before.
CRIES ARE UNANSWERED.
And then. with all these there
fell on the ear the most appalling
noise that human being ever listened
to-the cries OF hundreds OF our fel.
low beings struggling in the icy cold
water, crying for help with a cry
that We knew could not be answered
We longed to return and pick up some
OF those swimming. but this would
have meant swamping our boat and
further loss Of the lives Of all OF US.
We tried TO sing to keep the won.
en- from hearing the cries and rowed
hard TO get away from the scene OF
the wreck. but I think the memory Of
those sounds will be one OF the
things the rescued will find II din
n,,It to aHaoa from unap,ory W. ara
trying hard not to think Of II.
I'VE kept a lookout for lights and
several times It was shouted that
steamers lights were seen, but they
turned out TO be either a light from
another boat or a star low down on
the horizon. About 8 a. m. we saw
faint lights showing on the sky and
all rejoiced to see what we expected
was the coming dawn. but after
watching for half an hour and seeing
no change In the intensity OF the
light. realized II was the northern
lights.
Presently low down on the horizon
We saw light. which slowly resolved
itself into a double light and we
"dtth@u tdbtIig " sec III tue tWC
lights would separate and SO prove
to be only two OF our boats or wheth
er they would remain together. In
which case We should expect them &c
be the masthead light and a decb
light below of rescuing steamer
CHEER SIGHT OF REscuER.
ITO our Joy they moved as one and |
and round We swung the boat and |
headed for her. The steersmar
shouted Now. boys, sing and for |
the first time the boat broke into |
song with Row for the Shore, Boys.
and for the first time tears came &c |
the eyes OF us all as we realized that |
safety was at hand. The song was
sung, but II was very poor imita
ton OF the real thing. for quaverine |
voices make poor songs. A cheer wa,
given next. and that was better-you
keep In tune for a cheer"
hC NEEhC HCTC CIHuT