Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-19
IGNORANT OF THE FATE
OF HUSBAND AND SON
Mrs. George D. Widener Lands
From the Carpathia in
Hysterical Condition.

NEW YORK. April 1e-On pier So,
Cunard line, with an agonizinE sob that
was stifled by hysteria, Mrs George d.
Widener. one Of the survivors Of the tt
tanic tragedy. last night fairly flung
herself into the arms Of her brother-in-
law. Joseph E. Wfdener. as she stepepd
down tho gangplank from the steamer
Carpathia at 10 o'clock last night.
In total ignorance OF the fate Of her
husband and her son, Harry ENkins
Widener. both Of whom went down into
watery grave when the huge steamer
sank into a depth OF two miles of the
caast of Newfoundland last Sunday
night. Mrs. Widener almost collapsed
when the strong arms Of Joseph Widener
encdrcled her waist and lifted her into
. waiting taxicab.
George d Widener, IN. another son,
was overcome when he bahed his mother,
and with tears streaming down his
osssas the d yss tHH ais 'sss d IN The
Fergus. the Wadener family physician.
who came hero from Philadelphia, also
greeted Mrs Widener with r-dimmed
eyes. and It was some time before the
party was sufflodently composed to leave
the pier.
Advised to Hope for the Best.
The first question asked by Mrs. Widen
er after she had recovered somewhat
from the severe shock Of her terrible ex-
prience was about her husband and SON
She was not aware Of their fate, and
during an days which passed since the
disaster she has labored under the i'm
preston that her husband and son were
among those rescued. It was thought
best not to say anything to Mrs. Widener
about the tragic deaths OF her dear ones,
but in order to allay her fears she was
told to hope for the best.
She was carried to the taxi and then
whirled away to tho I'D street ferry Of
the Philadelphia and Reading railway
and over to Jersey City. where q special
home.
It developed that Mrs widener was one
OF the last women to leave the Titanic
and 1t was only on the urgent persuasion
OF her son and husband that she agreed
at all to step into one Of the lifeboats
Mrs. Widener, her husband and son
were seated with a group Of friends in
one OF the lounging rooms when the first
crash came, and the confusion and ex-
element which followed an instant later
made it practically impossible for her to
realize what had occurred. They rushed
out onto the deck and heard the shouts
OF men that an iceberg had been struck.
Mrs. Wfdener chung to her son and hus-
cabin passengers,. awaited with SUD-
pressed excitement some word from the
captain.
Porting Words Spoken.
The most tense moment came when
the parting words were to be spoken Mrs
Widener hesitated. She wanted her hus-
band and son to come with her. But Mi.
Widener held back. So did the son.
The lifeboats were rapidly filling with
women and children. Most OF the men
stood aside while the crew helped the
women and children into the boats With
hasty goodbye the last words they were
ever to speak to each other, husband and
wife parted, and son and mother kissed
In their fond embrace. And even then
the men who stood aside did not fully
realize their awful position.
Eight Hours In Open Boat.
Mrs. Widener was eight hours in an
open Nfeboat in the midst Of a sea Of ice.
Those eight hours seemed like ages to
her. At o'clock in the morning the
boat in which she had found shelter was
picked up by the Carpathia, and since