The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1912-04-25
1900 PEOPLE DROWN
STEAMER CRASHES INTO BIG
sUNKEN ICEBERG
only 745 Of the $500 Persons Aboard
Saved-Steamer carpathla Arrives
In Time To Pick Up All Who
Took to Boats
Passengers Issue Statement


was given the press on the arrival of
the Carpathia:
1--WE, the undersigned surviving
passengers from the steamship Ii
tanic, in order to forestall any sensa-
tional or exaggerated statements, deem
it our duty to give to the press a state
ment OF facts which have come to our
knowledge and which we believe to be
true.
"On Sunday, April IA, 1912, at about
11:40 D. M, on a cold starlight night
in smooth sea and with no moon the
ship struck an iceberg which had been
reported to the bridge lookouts, but
not early enough to avoid collision.
Steps we've taken to ascertain the dam
age and save passengers and ship. Ord
ers were given to put on life belts and
the boats were lowered. The ship
sank at about 2:30 a. m. Monday and
the usual distress signals were sent
out by wireless and rockets fired at
intervals from the ship. Fortunately,
the wireless message was received by
the Cunard steamship Carpathia at
Sbout IL o'clock Monday and she ar
rived on the scene of the disaster at
about 4 a. m. Monday.
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 to all, irrespective
of class. The passengers, officers and
crew gave up gladly their staterooms,
clothing and comforts for our benefit.
"The English board of trade passen-
gers certified on board the Titanic al
lowed for total of approximately 81
800. The same certificate called for
life boat accommodation for approxi-
mately $50 in the following boats:
fourteen large life boats, two
smaller boats and four collapsible
boats Life preservers were accessible
and apparently in sufficient number for
all on board.
THE approximate number of pas
sengers carried at the time of the
collision was:
First class $50; second class 800;
third class 75O; total 1,40O. officers
and crew $40 Total 2,340, OF the
foregoing about the following were
rescued by the steamship Carpathia:
First class 210; second class 1926;
third class 200; officers 4; seamen 80;
stewards So; firemen II. Total 210 of
the crew. The total, about 745 saved,
was about 80 percent of the maximum
capacity of the life boats.
I'VE 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 mod
ern passenger steamships and recon-
mend that immediate steps be taken
TO compel passenger steamers to carry
sufficient boats to accommodate the
maximum number Of people carried
on board. The following facts were
observed and should be considered in
this connection:
"The insuficiency Of lifeboats, RATS,
etc.; lack of trained seamen to man
same; (stockers, stewards, ETC., are
not efficient boat handlers); not
enough officers to carry out emergency
orders on the bridge and superintend
the launching and control of life boats;
absence of searchlights.
THE board of trade (British) rules
allow for entirely too many people in
each boat to permit the same to be
properly handled On the Titanic the
boat deck was about rs feet above
water and consequently the passengers
were required to embark before low
ering boats, thus endangering the oper-
alton and preventing the taking on or
the maximum number the boats would
hold. Boats at all times should be prop
erly equipped with provisions, water,
lamps, compasses, lights, etc. Life
saving boat drills should be more fire.
quent and thoroughly carried out, and
officers should be armed at boat drills.
There should he greater reduction in
speed In fog and ice, as damage. If
collision actually occurs is liable to be
less. In conclusion 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 10 take the initiative as
soon as possible"
Although the foregoing was given
out az a signed statement by a COM
mittee OF passengers, their signatures
were omitted attendant upon the con-
fusion when the Carpathia docked.