The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-26
LOOKOUT SEES ICEBERG
TOO LATE TO AVOID CRASH
Calls Public Attention to made
quate Supply Of Litesav-
ing Appliances.

New York, April 19.-The following
statement issued by a committee of
the surviving passengers was given
the press on the arrival of the Car
pathia:
eve, the undersigned surviving pas
sengers from the steamship Titanic, in
order to forestall any exaggerated
statements. deem it our duty to give
to the press a statement of facts
which have csme to our knowledge
and which We believe to be true.
"On Sunday, April IA, 1912, at about
11:40 p. M, onsa cold, starlight night
in smooth seasand with no moon, the
ship struck an iceberg which had been
reported to the bridge by lookouts, but
not early enough to avoid collision.
Steps were taken to ascertain the DAM
age and save passengers and ship.
Orders we're given to put on life
belts and the boats were lowered. The
ship sank at aboTt 2:20 a. m. Monday
and the usual distress signals were
sent out by wireless and rockets at in
tervals from the ship. Fortunately the
wireless message was received by the
Cunard's Carpathia at about II O'Clock,
midnight, and she arrived on the scene
of the disaster about a. M, Monday.
Kindness Shown Survivors.
"The officers and crew of the steam
ship Carpathia had been preparing all
night for the rescue and comfort of
the survivors and the last mentioned
were received on board with the most
touching care and kindness, every at
tention being given irrespective of
class
THE passengers, officers and crew
gave up gladly their stateroOms, cloth
ing and comforts for our benefit. All
honor to them.
The English board of trade passen-
ger certificate on board the Titanic
showed approximately $500. The same
certificate called for lifeboats accom-
mediation for approximately $50 in
fourteen large lifeboats, two smaller
boats. and four collapsible boats.
and apparently in sufficient numbers
for all on board
THE approximate number Of pas
sengers carried at the time of the col
lision was: .. ....
First class, $50; second class, 800;
third class, $50; total, 1,40O; officers
and crew, $40; total. 2,340,
/ Estimate of the Rescued.
COZ the foregoing about the follow
ing were rescued by the steamship
Carpathia: ..
First class, 2l0; second class, 200;
third class, 200; officers, 4; seamen,
80; stewards, SO; firemen, II; total,
30 of the crew. ..-
The total, about IT'S saved, was
| about so per cent of the maximum ca
pacity of the lifeboats.
1--WE feel it our duty to call the at
tention of the public to what we con-
slider the inadequate supply of life
saving appliances provided for on
modern passenger steamships and rec
ommend that immediate steps be taken
to compel passenger steamers to car
ry sufficient boats to accommodate
the maximum number of people car.
ried on board.
THE following facts were observed
and should be considered in this con-
nection:
"The insufficiency of lifeboats, RATS,
etc.
Lack of trained seamen to man
same (stokers, stewards, cts, are not
efficient boat handlers).
Not enough officers to carry out
emergency orders on the bridge and
superintend the launching and control
OF lifeboats.
Absence Of searchlights.
Too Many People in Each Boat.
"The board of trade rules allow for
entirely too many people in each boat
to permit the same to be properly han
died. On the Titanic the boat deck
was about seventy-five feet above wa
ter and consequently the passengers
were required to embark before lower
ing the boats, thus endangering the
operation and preventing the taking
on of the maximum number of boats
would hold Boats at all times to be
properly equipped with provisions,
water, lamps, comp@sses. lights, etc.
''Lifesayiug boat drills should be
more frequent and thoroughly carried
out and officers should be armed at
boat drills. Great reduction in speed
In fog and ice, as damage if collision
actually occurs is liable to be less
I'm connection, we suggest that an
international conference be called to
recommend the passage of identical
laws providing for the safety OF all at
sea and we urge the United States
government to take the initiative as
soon as possible"
Although the foregoing was given
out as signed statement by COM
mittee of passengers their signatures
were omitted, attendant upon the con.
fusion when the Carpathia tdocked.