River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-04-25
Remarkable Heroism Dis.
played by All.
Enforcement of the Rule HWomen
First" Sunders Family Ties
F0revef-Famous Americans
Show Elements of Strong Man.
hood-Passengers in Lifeboats
Watch Great Steamer Sink.

nurse and was taken in charge by
Maj. Arthur Peuchen.
The admiration felt by passengers
and crew for the matchlessly appoint
ed vessel was translated, in those
first few moments, into confidence
which, for some, proved deadly.
Lifeboats Are Lacking.
In the loading OF the first boat, re-
strictions of sex were not made, and
it seemed to the men who piled in be-
side the women that there would be
boats enough for all. But the ships
officers knew better than this, and as
the spreading fear caused an earnest
advance toward the suspended craft
the order, Women first!" was heard.
and the men were pushed aside.
To the scenes Of the next two hours
on those decks and in the waters be-
low, such adjectives as dramatic
and tragic" do but poor justice. With
the knowledge of deadly peril gaining
greater power each moment over
tfose men and women, the nobility
of the greater part, both among cabin
passengers, officers, crew and steer
age, asserted itself.
Straus Held Back by Guard.
Isidor Straus. supporting his wife
on her way to a lifeboat, was held
back by an memorable guard. Another
officer strove to help her to seat OF
safety, but she brushed away his arm
and chung to her husband, crying, Il
will not go without you"
Another woman took her place, and
her form, clinging to her husbands,
became part of a picture now drawn
indelibly in many minds. Neither wife
nor husband, SO far as anyone knows,
reached place of safety.
Astor and Wife Part.
Colonel Aston, holding his wife's
arm. stood decorously aside as the
officers spoke to him, and Mrs. Astor
and her maid were ushered to seats.
Mrs. Henry B. Harris parted in like
manner from her husband, saw him
last at the rail, beside Colonel Astor.
nephew Of the Montana senator,
joined the line of men as his young
wife, sobbing, was placed in one OF
the craft.
Let MIN come! There is room!"
cried Mrs. Emil Taussig as the men
OF the White Star line motioned to
hor husband to leave her. 1t was with
difficulty that he released her hold to
permit her to be led to her place.
George D. Widener, who had been
in Captain Smiths company a few
moments after the crash, was an
other whose wife was parted from
lin and lowered, moment later, to
the surface of the calm sea.
Butt, Hays and Stead Lost.
OF Major Archie Butt, favorite
with his fellow tourists; of Charles M.
Hays, president of the Grand Trunk;
of Benjamin Guggenheim, and of Will
liam T. Stead, no one seems to know
whether they tarried too long in their
staterooms or whether they forebore
tx approach the fast filling boats
None of them was in the throng
which, weary hours afterward, reached
the Carpathia.
Pistols Check Storage Men.
simultaneously on the upper decks
OF the ship the ropes creaked with the
lowering of boats, and as they reached
the water those in the boats saw
what those on the decks could not
see-that the Titanic was listing rap
idly to starbOard, and that her stern
was rising at a portentious angle. A
rush of steerage men toward the
boats was checked by officers with
revolvers in hand.
Some of the boats, crowded too full
to give rowers chance, drifted for a
time. None had provisions or water,
there was lack of covering from the
icy air, and the only lights were the
still undimmed arcs and incandescents
of the settling ship, save for one OF
the first boats. There steward, who
explained to the passengers that he
had been shipwrecked twice before.
appeared carrying three oranges and a
green light.
Green Lantern as Savior.
That green light, many of the sur.
vivors say. was to the shipwrecked
hundreds as the pillar of fire by night.
Long after the ship had disappeared,
and while confusing false lights
danced about the boats, the green ham
tern kept them together on the course
which led them to the Carpathia.
AS the end IF Tfforio