Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-04-25

man to scramble into tho collapsible
boat. He said that for six hours he
was wet to his waist with the icy wa
ters that filled the boat nearly to the
/ sunwales.
Men Praised by Women.
One Of the few women able to give
an account Of the disaster was Miss
Cornelia Andrews OF Hudson, N. Y
Miss Andrews said she was in the last
boat to be picked up
The behavior OF the men," she said,
was wonderful-the most marvellous
| have ever beheld."
Did you see any shooting?" she
was asked.
NO" she replied. but one officer
did say he would shoot some of the
Storage who were trying to crowd in
the boats. Many jumped from the
decks. ! saw a boat sink"
Miss Andrews was probably refer
ring 10 the collapsible boat which
overturned. She said that the sinking
1f the ship was attended by a noise
euch as might be made by the boilers
exploding. She was watching the ship.
she said, and 1t looked as If 1t blew
up; anyhow. 1t broke in two
Story by Swedish officer.
Lieut.. Hakan Bjornstion Steffanson
Of the Swedish army, who was jour
neying to this country on the Titanic
to see about the expectation of pulp
to Sweden, narrowly escaped being
carried down in the sinking ship when
he leaped out from q lower deck to a
lifeboat that was being lowered past
him. Henry Woolner of London also
made the leap in safety. Lieutenant.
Steffanson thinks he made the last
boat to leave the ship and was only
about hundred yards away when It
went down with a sudden lurch.
He had about his experience as he
lay In bed at the Hotel Gotham,
utterly worn out by the strain he had
been under despite his six feet OF
muscle. It was also the first time he
had discarded the dress suit he had
worn since the shock OF collision
startled him from his chair In the
cafe where he and Mr.. Woolner were
talking.
1T was not severe shock" said
the lieutenant. at did not throw any
one from his seat; rather It was
twisting motion that shook the boat
terribly. Most of the women were in
bed. We ran up to the smoking room.
where most of the men were rushing
about trying to find out what was the
matter. but there was a singular alb
sence of apprehension, probably be-
cause We believed so thoroughly in
the massive hulk in which we were
travelling.
Sought to Calm Women.
I'VE helped to calm some of the
women and advised them to dress and
then set about getting them in boats.
There seemed to be really no reason
for 1t. but It was done because 1t was
the safest thing to do.
THE men went about their task
quietly. Why should they have done
| otherwise-the shock was so slight to
cause much ruin. Mr.. Woolner and /
then went TO lower outside deck. 1t
was deserted. but as we wished to find
out what had happened we went down
deck lower. Then for the first time
did we realize the seriousness Of that
| twisting which had rent the ship near
ly asunder. We saw the water pour
ing into the hull and where we finally
stood water rose to our knees.
"Woolner and ! decided to get out
as quickly as we could and as we
turned to rush upward We saw slid
ing down the port side of the drown
ing ship a collapsible lifeboat. Most
of those II contained were from the
steerage. but two OF the women were
from the first cabin. 1t was in charge
of two sailors.
Jump Into Swayne Boat.
"Iet's not take any chances,
shouted to Woolner. and as 1t came
nearly opposite us. swinging in and
| out slowly, we jumped and fortunately
landed in It, The boat teetered a bit
and then swiftly shot down to the wa
ter. Woolner and took oars and
started TO pull with all our might to
get from the ship before she sank, for
now there was little doubt of what
would happen.
I'VE could see some gathered in the
Storage. huddled together. as we
pulled away, and then cries Of fear
came to us.
I'VE had hardly reached a point a
hundred yards away-and believe
the boat I was in was the last to get
safely away-when the horrible
screams came through the night and
the ship plunged swiftly down. 1t was
so terribly sudden, and then there was
vast quiet, during which we shiv-
cred over the oars and the women
cried Historically. Some OF them
tried to jump overheard and We had
to struggle in the shaky boat to hold
them until they quieted down.
Victims Float to Surface.
"Thara Waa LITTLE widasDraad cuc.