Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28

men in the crows nest when the
u Titanic struck, who testified be-
fore the Senate Investigating Com
mittee that had he had the binoculars
for which he had asked in vain he prob
ably could have seen the iceberg
enough sooner so that the COLLISION
might have been avoided.
It was Fleet and his companion In
the crows nest. Leigh, who gave the
only warning of the impending calam-
ity. They sighted the dark bulk Of the
iceberg close on their bows at 1850
O'Clock Sunday. night. just an instant
before the collision came. Fleet sound
ed three bells and then telephoned to
the bridge, where he got prompt re-
Spouse, and instantly the bow OF the
boat shifted to port.
The manoeuvre was made quickly, al
most quickly enough to avoid the big
berg, but not quite. There was a graf
ing sound with little shock OF impact
and for a moment officers and crew
thought that a great danger had been
passed. Among the passengers the
shock was so slight that 1t was scarce
ly felt. Those who had retired already
were not aroused.
Among the officers, however. the I'M
pact, slight as it was, and tho sudden
reversal Of the engines, was enough to
impart the news that something was
wrong Chief Officer Murdoch was on
the bridge with Sixth Officer Moody.
Capt. Smith was there, too. when the
others, Second Officer Lightoller, Third
Officer ]. H. Pitman. Fourth Officer ].
S. Boxhall, and Fifth officer III. G.
Lowe ran on to the bridge. When the
Captain reached 1t will never be known.
There was no outward excitement yet
aboard the big ship. Passengers began
to come on deck. some only partly
clothed. wandering about and talking
nervously among themselves. but their
fears were assuaged by the reassuring
belief that the Titanic was unsuitable.
At most the experience would only be
something to talk about when the ship
reached America.
The officers were hurrying about.
though with calm demeanor and cheer
full faces which masked the fear that
was Selling each OF them that the IT,
tanic had received a mortal wound.
At the first impact Chief Officer
Murdoch had swung over the lever
which closed the water-tight bulkheads
and almost with the same movement he
sent to the engine room the signal
which first stopped the engines and
then reversed them.
Fourth Officer Boxhall made hur-
ried inspection Of the ship and found
that water was coming into the holds
in several places. 1t was the last evil
dence necessary to show that the IT,
tanic was hurt beyond repair. and Capt.
Smith went to the wireless room where
J. G. Phillips and Harold Bride. the
operators. were awaiting news Of what
had happened.
We've struck an iceberg" he ex-
claimed. land I'm having an inspection
made to tell what 1t has done to US.
You'd better get ready to send out a
call for assistance. But don't send 1t
tyet"
Then he hurried away, only to return
in ten minutes, this time scarce taking
time to cry in at the door of the wire
less room:
Send the call for assistance!
And then the kissing flashes OF the
wireless. begging help from any one
for the greatest vessel afloat. snapped
from the aerial wires Of the Titanic.
1t was the call which was picked up
at Cape Race and flashed over land
wires to New York and to the world.
II was the call which. it was learned
afterward. was heard but not needed
by the steamship Frankfurt but which
set the Cunarder Carpathia dashing at
more than high speed into a sea Of ice,
almost careless of her own safety so
that she reach the Titanic in time.
And now in the cabins and saloons
and on the decks Of the Titanic there
grew a feeling Of uneasiness. Even the
belief that the great steamship was
unsuitable had lost its power to charm
away the dread which the actual accl-
dent caused.
Sailors scurried over the decks, head
Ing for the boat deck, whittier the calls
Of officers summoned them. Stewards
ran through the ship, arousing such
fortunate ones as had been able to sleep
through the preliminary excitement.
Every one was ordered on deck, where
stewards fitted about adjusting life
belts on men and women alike.
But still there was no panic. From
the main saloon came the strains of
band music. There had been no ces-