The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-28

noticeable. There was no system for
loading the boats. There was indeci-
sion as to where to load them. There
was no direction whatever as to the
number of passengers to be cared for
On one side only women and children
were put in, while on the other an
equal proportion of men were put in.
THE failure to utilize all the life
boats to their recognized capacity I'M
questionably resulted in the needless
sacrifice of several hundred lives.
Had the sea been rough, 1T is question
able whether any Of the lifeboats
would have reached the water with
out being destroyed.
Except in isolated cases there was
no panic. No distinction was made
between first, second and third class
passengers. Women and children with
out discrimination were given prefer
ence"
How the survivors waited until the
cries of the drowning had subsidized,
without making an effort to save the
struggling mass of humanity in the
water, is then dramatically declared
by the committee.
That the Titanic did not break in
two, but plunged down perpendicu-
larry is the finding of the committee.
Absence of suction is declared re-
markable. In praising Captain Ros-
iron for his heroism, the committee
says:
THE committee deems the course
followed by Captain Rostron as de-
serving of the highest praise, and
worthy OF especial recognition. Not
withstanding the risks, he pushed his
ship at her very highest limit
through the many dangers Of the
night to the relief of the stricken
ship. His detailed instruction issued
in anticipation of the rescue were a
marvel of systematic completeness.
How the first boat was picked up at
4:10 a. m. April ID, is recounted with
the prayer service on board the Car
pathia for the living and dead. That
no floating survivors or bodies were
found above the wreck is explained
by the committee by the fact that
they were either carried down and
held for hours; we're caught beneath
ice fields, or carried away by the
swift current.
Commenting on the wireless re-
ports, the committee says Captain
Rostron Immediately sent messages
to the New York shipping offices of
the White Star line and Cunard lines.
notwithstanding the specific i'm
structions of the captain regarding Is.
mays message to Vice President
Franklin the committee declares,
the evidence shows the message was
not received by. Franklin until nine
o'clock Wednesday morning, April II
two days later"
That the White Star offices receiv.
ed their first official account of the
disaster from Captain Haddock from
the Olympic at 6:16 p. M, on Mon.
day, April 10, is asserted.
After that, the committee says. \
message went from the White Star
office to Representative HUGHES OF
West Virginia, denying the disaster
Responsibility for that cruel act is moi
fixed
THE committee does not believe,
it is declared, that the operator OF
the Carpathia showed propeh' vigi
lance in handling the important work
confided to him. Information con.
corning an accident at sea had pre-
viously been used by an operator for
his own advantage. That such pro-
c--1ure had been permitted by the
Marconi company may have had its
effect on this occasion. Sale of the
experiences of operators of the Til.
tanic and Carpathia subjects the par.
Elephants to criticism and the practice
should be prohibited"