Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28

dence, nearly 500 people were needlessly
sacrificed to want of orderly discipline In
loading the few that were provided And
yet IL h said by some wel-meaning per
sons that the best of discipline prevailed.
IL this II discipline, what would have been
disorder7
Among the passengers were many
strong men who had been accustomed to
command, whose lives had marked every
avenue OF endeavor, and whose business
cially fitted them for Euch an emergency,
These were rudely silenced and forbidden
to speak. as was the president or this
company, by junior officers, a few Of
whom. regret to say, availed them
selves of the first opportunity to leave
the ship. Some Of the men, to whom had
been intrusted the care OF passengers.
never reported to their official stations.
and quickly deserted the ship, with a
sponsibtlities OF their positions as eulpa-
bic and amazing as 1t 10 impossible to be-
lieve. And some Of these men ray Trey
laid by in their partially filed lifeboats
and listened to the cries OF distress 'un-
til the noise quieted down. and surveyed
from q safe distance the Lnself1eh men
and women and faithful fellow-oficers
and seamen whose heroism lightens up
this tragedy and recalls the noblest ira
ditions OF the sea.
Lauds Wireless Men.
Tributes to the valor of Phillips and
Bride. the wireless operators on the IT.
tanic. were paid by Senator Smith. He
said that the final exit OF the Phillips
boy was mot so swift as to prevent him
from pausing long enough to pass a cup
of water to fainting woman" The SEN
ator showed that had not the underpaid
wireless operator on the Carpathia pre-
pared for bed with his receiver still on
his head the Titanic's distress signals
never would have been received by the
rescue ship.
when the world weeps together over a
common loss" said Senator Smith, ''all
nations should take steps wisely to reg
ulate wireless telegraphy and see that
operators are fairly paid" He con-
demned the reign of silence" concern
ing the details of the disaster. In con-
| demning the failure of the Californian to
learn all about the disaster before the
Titanic sank, and go to her rescue Sen
ator Smith said:
THE steamship Californian was within
easy reach of this ship for nearly four
hours after all the facts were known to
Operator Gotham. The captain of the
Carpathia says he gave explicit directions
that all official messages should be i'm
mediately sent through other ships. and
messages of passengers should be given
preference. According to Binns the in
spector. the apparatus on the Californian
was practically new and easily tuned to
carry every detail Of that calamity to tho
coast stations at Cape Sable and Cape
Race, and should have done So
Takes Fling at Officials.
1.-THE course taken was singularIy in ac-
cord with the reticence of the officials of
the White Star Company, who knew at
2:3O Monday morning." said the senator,
what was supposed to have occurred
| and yet at ISL Monday evening a message
| from their own office, officially signed
containing the positive assurance of the
safety OF The passengers, was sent to q
half crazed father at Huntington. w. Va,
nearly two hours after their admitted
familiarity with the details of the dis
aster. 1t is little wonder that we have
| not been able to fix with definiteness the
author of this falsehood.''
Senator Smith reviewed the testimony
of Capt Lord. showing that the Califor-
MAN came within four miles of the doomed
vessel and that he went to his room to lie
down while signal rockets were being
fired.
Failure Of Capt Lord to arouse the
wireless operator on his ship, who easily
could have ascertained the name OF the
vessel in distress and reached her In time
to avert loss Of life" said Senator Smith,
places tremendous responsibility on
this officer from which 1t will be difficult
for him to escape.
Contrast II you will, the conduct of the
captain Of the Carpathia In this emer-
gency and imagine what must be the con-
ISOLATION OF that thoughtful and sympa-
thetic mariner, who rescued the ship
wrecked and left the people of the world
his debtor as his ship sailed for distant
effacement and his own indifference to
peril by his promptness ana ms knishty
sympathy he rendered great service 70
humanity He should be made to+reallze
lit inn,
had so often been familiar with his un-
a fYected valor would henceforth carry the
name of Capt Rostron to the remotest
period Of time.
Advocates Reform.
THE lessons of this hour said Senator
Smith, In conclusion. ARE. indeed, fruit
less and precepts ill-conceived II rules OF
action do not follow hard upon the day
of reckoning. Obsolete and antiquated
shipping laws should no longer incumber
the parliamentary records OF any gov
eminent and overripe administrative
boards should be pruned Of dead branches
and less sterile precepts taught and ap-
Piled"
Senator Smith recommended that lanes
Of travel should be more carefully de-
fined. strength of ships bows increased,
pine and practice made an exaction- He
said buoys should be carried to mark
temporarily the place of the ships burial
in case of accident: and men of strength
and spirit there must be- won back to
calling already demoralized and decadent
But 10 per cent of the men before the
mast in our merchant marine are ma
tives or naturalized Americans" he said
Even England. that twenty years had
barely 1900 orientals on her merchant
ships, now carries over 10000 of that alien
race.
Americans must re-enlist in this serv-
ice they must become the soldiers OF the
sea, and, whether In the lookout. on the
deck, or at the wheel, whether able or
common seamen. they should be better
paid for their labor and more highly
honored in their calling: their rights must
be respected, and their work carefully
performed: harsh and severe restraining
statutes must be repealed and a new
dignity given this important field Of
labor.
|RAYNER POINTS MORAL
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