The Van Buren press., 1912-04-27
LONDONER TELLS GRAPHIC STORY
OF HEROLSN WHEN SHIP GOES DOWN

"Finally it was decided 70 elect the
stokcr who was steering, captain, and Tor
all to obey his orders.
! "He set TO work at once TO get into
/ touch with the other boats, calling 20
them and getting as close as we could
50 that when the searching vessel came
to look for us there might be more
chances for all to be rescued by keeping
close together
"Tbe sea was calm as a pond-just a
gentle heave as the boat dipped up and
down in the swell; an ideal night, except
or the bitter cold.
"'The captain-stoker told rs that he
hau been at sea 20 years and had never
yet seen such a calm night on the At
lantic.
"As we rowed away from the Titanic
we looked back from time to time to
watch her and a more striking spectacle
it was not possible for any one to see.
Against the Starry Sky.
"In the distance she looked an enor-
nous length her great bulk outlined
AGAINST the starry sky, every portfolio and
saloon blazing with light. 1t was i'm
possible to think anything could be wrong
with such lcyiathan, were it not for the
ominous tilt downward by the bows,
where water was by now up to the low
est row Of portfolios.
"Prohably about n. m, as near as
can remember, we observed her settling
very rapidly by the bows, and the bridge
completely under water, and concluded it
was now only a question ST minutes be
fore she went, and so it proved,
''Sle slowly tilted straight on end, W h
the ster vertically upward, and as SHE
did so, the lighted cabins aud saloons
which had not fickcroa for a moment
since we left died out, came on again for
a single flash and finally went out all
together,
"At the same time the noise Of the
drowning machinery roarcd down through
the vessel with a great rattle and groan.
ing, the weirdest sound surely that could
be heard in the middle Of the ocean, a
thousand miles away from land.
But this was not yet quite the end,
"To our amazement she remained in
that upright position for a time | esti.
mate as Is minutcs-othcrs on the boat
say less. but it was certainly some min
utes-whio we watched at least $50 feet
Of the Titanic towering above the level
Of the sea and looming black against tie
sky.
In the Steward Boat.
"Then, with a quick slautng dive, she
. L.. MI ,11r
eyes had looked for the last time or the
gigantic vessel There was left TO MS
the gentle heavng sea, the boat filed to
standing room with men and women in
every conceivable condition Of dress and
undress; above, the perfect sky Of bril-.
liant stars. uncloudcd-al tempered W tn
bitter coda curious deadening bitter
cold, unlike anything we had felt before
"And then, with all these, there fell on
the ear the most appalling noise that hu
man being ever listened to-thc cries Of
hundreds Of our fellow beings struggling
in the icc.cold water, crying for help
with a cry that we knew could not be
answered,
owe surged to return and pick them
up-some Of those swimming-but this
would have meant swamping our boat
and the loss Of the lives Of all Of us.
owe tried to sing to keep the women
from hearing the cries, and rowcd hard
10 get away from the scene of the wreck
But | think those sounds will be one Of
the things the rescued will find it diff
cult TO ef'ace from memory.