Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-25
b WAS TOO LATE.
S. S. Frankfurt First to
Hear Titanic's Call,
But Reaches Scene Of Tragedy
The Next Forenoon.
Captain Claims Discovery Of Iceberg
Showing Evidence Of Collision.

Bremerhayen, Germany, April "a
The North German Line steamer
Frankfurt, which, according To her
commander, Captain IIattorn, WAS the
hrSi vessel to receive the 1itanic's APP
peal for help. arrived here. today
Cartam Hattorr reports that he
sighted the iceberg which sunk the
White Star steamer. bearing evidences
of the collision, shortly before arriv-
ing on the scene of the catastrophe.
The Frankfurt on receiving the APP
peal for help. headed for the Titapic
but die not reach the scene of the ae-
cidant until 10 o'clock, Monday norn-
ing.
Captain Hattorff states that ilis first
message from the Titanic was received
at 1910 O'Clock. Monday morning. 1t
aske1 him to communicate the Frank
furts position, which was immediate
" done. The Titanic then communicat-
ed her own position and stated that
sheswas fast in the ice and urgently
needed assistance.
The Frankfurt was then 140 nautical
miles distance
At 1915 A NJ, the distress signal
&C. O. d. was received from the IT.
TAME and at FIVE minutes past one the
Titanic reported that her passengers
were being loaded into the liteboats.
Wireless communication with the IT,
tame was Interrupted at 1.15 A. NJ
The Frankfurt on her way to the
scene passed three great ieebergs. II
smaller ones and great ice fields of
from 10 to 80 miles IN extent. The
greatest iceberg was 10 feet high and
900 feet long.
The Frankfurt with the steamer
Birma, the Allan liner Virginian and
the Gunard steamship Carpathia eruis-
ed among the icebergs searching for
victims of the catastrophe but with
out success. The Carpathias officers
said. according to Capt. Hattorff that
they had picked up % boats and that
two others were missing. The Frank
furt resumed her course at noon.
The foregoing facts were taken from
the official report of Captain Hattorff to
the North German Lloyd Steamship Co.
Mrs Johanna Stunke. a first cabin pas
senger. gave a vivid story of the scene
from the liners rail. She said
I'VE passed within a hundred feet of
the southernmost drift of the wreckage
anu loDhliS QoNu over the idiIt We us
tinctly saw a number of the bodies so
clearly that we could make out what
they were wearing and whether they
were men or women. ~
Eve saw one woman inh rr nightdress
with a baby clasped closely to her breast.
Several women passengers screamed and
left the rail in a faintine condition. There
was another woman. fully dressed, with
her arms tight around the body of a
shaggy dog.
THE bodies of three men in a
group. all clinging to one steamer
chair. lioated nearby and just beyond
We're q dozen bodies OF men. all in life
preservers. clinging together as
though in last desperate struggle
FOR life "
Mrs. StunKe said number of the
passengers demanded that the Frank
fort stop and pick up the bodies but
the officers assured them they had
just received a wireless message say
ing the cable ship Maellay Bennett
was only TIVE hours away from the
spot and was coming for that express
purpose. Other passengers corroborat-
ed Mrs Stunke