The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-04-25

and stars visible.
Chief officer Murdock was in charge
Of the bridge. The first intimation
of the presence of the iceberg that
he received was from the lookout in
the crews nest. They were SO close
upon the berg at this moment that
it was practically impossible to avoid
a collision with it. The first officer
did what other u%nstartled and alert
commanders would have done under
similar circumstances, that is he made
an effort by going full speed ahead
on his starboard propeller and re-
versing his port propeller simultane-
ously throwing his helm over to make
a rapid turn and clear the berg.
These maneuvers were not sue.
cessful. He succeeded in preventing
his bow from crashing into the ice
cliff, but nearly the entire length of
the great ship on the starboard side
was, ripped.
The speed of the Titanic estimated
to be at least twenty-one knots, was
so terrific that the knifelike edge of
the icebergs spur p%rotruding under the
sea cut through her like a can-opener.
The shock was almost ~imperceptible.
The first officer did not apparently
realize that the great ship had re-
ceived its death wound and none Of
the passengers it is believed had the
slightest suspicion that anything more
than a usual minor accident had hap
pened. Hundreds who had gone to
their berths and were asleep were not
awakened by the vibration.
Mr.. and Mrs. Astor we're in their
oom and saw the ice vision flash
by. They had not appreciably felt
the gentle shock and supposed that
nothing out of the ordinary had hap
pened. They were both dressed and
came on deck l%eisurely. 1t was not
until the ship began to take a heavy
list to- starboard that a tremor of fear
pervaded it.
The crew had been called to clear
away the life boats of which there
were t%wenty.four which were collap,
sible. The boats that were lowered
on the port side of the ship touched
the water without capsizing. Some
Of the others lowered to %starboard, in.
Guiding one collapsible were cap.
sized. All hands on the %collapsible
boats that practically went to pieces
were rescued by the other boats.
Sixteen boats in all got away safely,
1t was ven then the general impress
| sion fhof tho chin NO oil riohf on6
there is no doubt that, that was the
belief of ven some Of the officers
At the lowering OF the boats the Of
ticers experimenting it We're armed
with revolvers but there was no nee
essity for using them as there was
nothing in the nature Of a panic and
no man made an effort to get into q
boat while the mi and children
were being put aboard.
AS the ship began to settle to star
board heeling at an angle of nearly
forty-five degrees those who had be
lieved it was all right to stick by the
ship began to have doubt and a few
jumped into the sea. These were fol
lowed Immediately by others and in
few minutes there were scores swim
ming around. Nearly all of them wore
life preservers.
Under instructions from officers
and men in charge, the life boats
were rowed a considerable distance
from the ship herself in order to gel
away from the possible suction thai
would follow the laundering. The
marvellous thing about the disappear
ance was so little suction as to bt
hardly appreciate from the poin,
where the boats were floating. There
was ample time to launch all boats
before the Titanic went down, as i
was two hours and twenty minute:
afloat. So confident were all hand:
that she had not sustained a morta
wound that it was not until 1916 a
m. or thirty-tive minutes after the
berg was encountered, that the boats
we're lowered. Hundreds of the crew
and large majority of the officers in
Guiding Captain Smith, stuck to thu
ship to the last. 1t was evident aftel
there were several explosions, which
doubtless we're the boilers blowing
up, that she had but a few minutes
more of life.
The ship broke in half amidshil
and almost simultaneously the afteI
half and the forward half sank, thu
forward half vanishing bow first ant
the other half stern first.