Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-20
HIGHEST KIND OF TRIB.
| UTES FOR MAJOR BUTT.
Statements from Pres. 1af
And EXPIRES. RoOSeveIt--Died with
Smile on Lips, an American, a
Credit to the Whole Nation.

Washington. April 1S.-With all hope
or the rescue of Major Butt abandon
I'd, President Taft, today, issued
I5tatement showing the high regard in
which he held him and his belief that
/ he died as man should die in the
ace of such disaster as that TO the
Titanic. The President said:
Major Archibald Butt was my mill
airy aide He was like member Of
| ny family and | feel his loss as if he
lad been younger brother The chief
raft of his character was loyalty to
his ideals, his cloth and his friends.
lis character was simple one in the
ense that he was incapable Of intrigue
| sr insincerity He was gentle and con-
iderate 10 everyone, high and low.
' lie never lost. under any conditions,
( ais sense Of proper regard TO what he
considered the respect due TO consti-
uted authority. He was an earnest
I nember of the Episcopal church and
/ loved that communion He was sol
I Tier, every inch of him; most COM
Ibetent and successful quartermaster
| and a deyotee of his profession.
After / heard that part of the ships
company had gone down, | gave up
hope for the rescue of Major Butt, un-
ess by accident. | knew that he would
certainly remain on the ship until
Every duty had been performed and
livery sacrifice made that properly fell
pm one charged. as he would feel him
| elf charged, with responsibility for
The rescue of others.
He leaves the widest circle OF
riends whose memory of him is sweet
n every particular"
Mrs. Henry Harris of Washington.
n an interview in the Washington
| Star. today, also described the heroism
|pf Major Butt. She said
"Archie Butt was major to the
last God never made a finer noble
nan than he. The sight of that man,
| alm, gentle and yet as firm as a rock
will never leave me. The American
|lrmy is honored by him and the way
| he showed some of the other men how
o behave when women and children
we're suffering that awful mental fear
| hat came when we had to be huddled
/ II those boats. Major Butt was near
| ne and I know very nearly everything
be did.
when the order came to take to-
| he boats he became as one in su-
|preme command. You would have
have thought he was at White
House reception, so cool and calm was
he When the time came he was
Imam to be feared. In one of the earl
her boats, so women, it seemed, were
about to be lowered, when a man sud
|denly panic stricken ran to the stern
'of it. Major Butt shot one arm out
Taught him by the neck, and jerked
him backward like a pillow. His head
cracked against a rail and he was
stunned.
Sorry said Major Butt, Women
Twill be attended to first or I'll break
every damned bone in your body
THE boats were lowered away one
by one, and as / stood by my hus-
bands side he said to me: Thank God
for Archie Butt, Perhaps Major Butt
heard it, for he turned his face to-
|ward as for second. Just at that
|time a Young man was arguing to get
Into a lifeboat, and Butt had hold OF
THE lad by the arm like a big brother
land appeared to be telling him to keep
shis lead.
How inspiring he was. / stayed I'M
It'll almost the last and know what
la man Archie Butt was. They put me
lin collapsihle boat. / was one of
three women in the first cabin in the
Thing. the rest were steerage people.
Major Butt helped those poor fright
Tened steerage passengers wonderful
|ly. tenderly and yet with such cool
land manly frmness. lie was SOL
|dler To the last. He was one of Gods
greatest noblemen and | think | can
|say he was an example of. bravery