The Green Forest tribune., 1912-04-26
PASSENGERS BARE
 THE AWFUL FACTS
Committee of 25 Titanic Sur viv0rs Relate Story In a
 Signed Statement.
LIFE SAVERS INSUFFICIENT
Suggests International Conference to Provide for Safety of all Sea
 Passengers.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
 Curnard Pier, New York.-The fol lowing statement issued by a com mittee of the surviving passengers was given the press on arrival O the Carpathia:
 "We, the undersigned surviving pas sengers from the steamship Titanic, il order to forestall any sensational ol exaggerated statements, deem it oul duty to give to the press a statemen of facts which have come to our knowl edge and which we believe to be true
 "On Sunday, April 14, 1912, at abou 11:40 p. m., on cold starlight night on a smooth sea and with no moon the ship struck an iceberg, which hat been reported to the bridge by look outs, but not early enough to avolt collision. Steps were taken to ascer tain the damage and save passengers and ship. Orders were given to pu On life belts, and the boats were low cred.
 Ship Sank at 2:20 a. m.
 "The ship sank at about 2:20 a. m Monday. The usual distress signals were sent out by wireless, and rock cts were fired at intervals from thu ship. Fortunately, the wireless mes sage was received by the Cunart steamship Carpathia at about | o'clock midnight, and she arrived ol the scene of the disaster at about a. m. Monday.
 "The officers and crew of the steam ship Carpathia had been preparing al night for the rescue and comfort o tue survivors, and the last mentioned were received on board with the mos touching care and kindness, every at tention being given to all, irrespectiV' to class. The passengers, officers ant crew gladly gave up their staterooms clothing and comforts for our benefit
 "The English Board of Trade pas sengers' certificate on board the ri tanic allowed for total of approxi mately $500. The same certificat' called for lifeboat accommodation fo approximately $50, in the following boats:
 Fourteen large lifeboats, two small CT boats and four collapsible life pre- servers were accessible, and apparent ly in sufficient number for all oI board.
 "The approximate number of pas sengerb carried at the time of the col lision was:
 "First-class 33O, second-class 32o third-class 750; total 1,400; officer and crew $40; total 2,340.
 "Of the foregoing about the follow ing were rescued by the steamship Carpathia:
 "First-class, 21O; second-class, 125 third-class, 200; officers, four, sea men, 39; stewards, 96; fipemen, 71 Total, 210 of the crew.
 "The total of about 74S saved wa about 80 per cent of the maximum ca pacity of the lifeboats,
 Lives Unearei For.
 I've feel it our duty to call the al tenion of *he public to what we COT sider the inadequate supply of life saving appliances provided for O. modern steamships, and we recon mend that immediate steps be take to compel passenger steamers to carr sufficient boats to accommodate tn maximum number of people on board
 "The following facts were observed and should be considred in this COT nection:
 "The insufficiency of lifeboats rafts, etc., lack of trained seamen t man some (stokers, stewards, etc are not efficient boat handlers); nc enough officers to carry out emerger cy orders on the bridge and superb tend the launching and contol lof lift boats; absence of searchlights.S
 "The Board of Trade (British1 rule allow for entirely too many peopl in each boat to permit the same to b properly handled.
 "On the Titanic the boat deck wa about 75 feet above water, and col sequently the passengers were req ii cd to embark before lowering boat thus endangering the operation an preventing the taking of the max mum number of persons the boat would hold.
 Boats at all times should be properl equipped with provisions, wate lamps. compasses, lights, etc. Lif, saving boat drills should be more fir, quent and thoroughly carried out, an officers should be armed at boat drill
 There should be greater reductio in speed in fog and ice, as damage, collision actually occurs, then is liabl to be less.
 "In conclusion we suggest that a international conference be called { recommend the passage of identic; laws providing for the safety of a at sea, and we urge the United State government to take the initiative g soon as possible"
 The foregoing statement was signe by Samuel Goldenberg, chairman, an a committee of some 25 passengers.
 Although several consistent account of what happened aboard the Titani have been obtained from survivors, was manifestly impossible for or fully to take account of all that o cured on her great decks, four cit blocks in length, Thus there are thos who maintain that there were one ( more cases of suicide among the of cers. Captain Smith, it would appeS