The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-20
HAD FEAR OF BEING ROASTED ID DEATH Oracle Tells Experiences
 After Titanic Sank PRAYED FOR SAFETY
Just Before Head Appeared Above Water Funnel Separated Scatter
 ing Dead Bodies All Around. Clung to Wreckage

1 New York, April 19.-Col. Archibald Oracle, United States army, who jumped from the topmost deck of the Titanic as she sank and swan about until he found a cork life raft and then helped rescue others who had jumped into the water, added today to his statement of during the night as follows:
 "The interval between the collision and sinking was two hours and g minutes, starting with 220 a. m. After sinking with the ship 1t seemed to me as if 1t were being propelled by some great submerged force through the sea This might have been occasioned by explosions under the water nremember that 1 was most fear full of being roasted to death. The second officer, who was on the top deck, told mo that he had similar sensation.
 Prayed for DeIiverance
 "Innumerable thoughts of a personal nature. relating to telepathy inculcated in lyceum courses, flashed through my said good bye to them, picturing my spirit going away to them. l saw my wife. She awoke that night, too, tor tured with fear. Again and again 1 prayed for deliyerance, although 1 felt sure that the end had come. My greatest difficulty was in holding my breath until | l came to the surface I knew that once 1 I had inhaled water I would have sui | located with the pressure. Under the wa ter I worked away with all my strength | for popping to the top. [ reached the | .x1 There was nothing In sight save the ice and large field of star-shaped wreck age. There were dying men and women all about. The second officer and J. B. l Thayer, Jr.. who were swimming near | told me that just before my head ap- peared above the water one of the IT. tanic's tunnels separated and fell apart near me, scattering the bodies. I saw wreckage everywhere. All that came within my reach I clung to. great crater like piece of fiotsam came near and l 1 grabbed it. 1t seemed sufficiently sea worthy to Keep me ahoat At this mo- ment 1 saw an overturned boat q short distance away. l swan to it. l caught the arm of man who grasped it; threw my leg over the boat and rested on it. | On ths raft was a collapisabe boat l Twenty men of the crew then came along. Two men in the bow of the boat, through the wreckage with pieces of wood. Presently the raft became so | filled it seemed it would sink if more came aboard. The crew for self preser- yation had to refuse to permit others to climb aboard. This was at once the most pathetic and the most horrifyng scene Of all. The pitable cries still ring in my l ears I will remember them to my dying minute. Hold on to what you have, old boy,N we shouted to each victim wlro tried to reach us, one more would sink all Many answered us as they went down, | Good luck and God bless you We were sustained by hope for rescue. So we passed the night, Waves washed over us and the raft buried deep in the water under cur feet.
 r Lords Prayer Said
 "Did we pray? Through all that wild night there was moment that our prayers did not rise above the waves. Men who seemed to have forgotten long ago how to address their supplications
 
 said the Lords prayer again apd again together.
 Long before daylight we stood columns two deep. back to back. balanc- irg ourselves, fearful to move les the delicate balance should disturb the equi- hbrium of the raft all again thrown into the water. We maintained this boise of standing knowing that our only hope for rescue was n this observance. God seem- ed to allay the sea. It calmed.
 l "An eternity weighed us down. Then we saw the twinkling lights of the Car pathia We recognized her as our res cuer. The Marconi operator, one of tie | 35 on the raft, confirmed our hopes by saying that he too knew that it was the Carpathia. While we looked at the dis tanee intervening some one whispered a l ship was behind us. We dared not turn | to look so fearful were we that We would l list the frail raft. The second officer 1 finally ordered one man 10 look behind while the other remained still The slip ping of one man would have meant prob abley the death of all of us. The man who lookde. passed the word that there was no ship behind When day broke