The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-05-02
A SURVIVOR OF TITANIC DISASTER VISITS
M|N0T--TE[LS many INTERESTING FACTS
Charles Edward Dahl, Australian Car
penter, Enroute to Ross to Visit
Aged Mother, Tells independent
Thrilling Story Of His Escape

Charles Edward Dahl, one Of the
comparatively few male survivors OF
the Titanic, which went down with
more than 100 souls, passed through
Minpt Tuesday enroute to Ross, n. D.
where he is visiting his mother, Mrs.
Charlotte Dahl and sister, Mrs. Mar
tin Berke, whom he had not seen for
25 years. He was accompanied by
his neice, Miss Elveda Bordson,
pretty little Salvation Army lasste
from Fingal, n. D.
The Independent editor CHANGED tc
meet Mr.. Dahl and he told us the
following thrilling story Of the dis
aster:
am a carpenter and for the past
twenty years, worked at my trade
in Australia. My mother lives al
Ross. y, d. and as it has been 70
wears since I have seen her, was On
my way to America on board the IL
tanic. the night she struck an ice
berg. We left South Hampton on
April 10, travelled to the coast ~
France, then stopped at Queenstown,
Ireland, leaving there on the alter
noon Of April II. The weather was
fine and the voyage on Friday, Satnr-
dav and Sunday was without incident.
7 was standing ont on the deck OF the
steerage Sunday evening about 9:3o
o'clock and noticed that the weather
began to turn bitter cold all at once.
Some of the passengers mentioned
the fact that we must be in the vicin-
itv of icebergs. 1 went to my cabin
about ton o'clock and soon went to
sleep. At about half past eleven
that night l was awakened by ter
rife lar of the ship and was thrown
from my bunk. was dazed Tor
time and lost no time getting on deck.
I noticed 25 or 30 tons of ice on the
starboard side, forward that had been
broken off the iceberg when the snip
struck. / went to the port side to
see the iceberg, but it was not IN
view as we must have struck II
glancing blow, then passed on. II
vas fine bright starlight night. !
hurried back to my cabin and secured
some more clothes, but lost my mon
ey. When I returned on deck, | 81"
that the ship was taking water fast.
The front seemed to be sinking down
into the water. I asked a sailor II
there was any danger and he SAID
there was none. The steward then
ordered all hands on deck and aft.
T went back to the cabin and gathered
some more clothing in my arms and
nut on a life belt I adised others
to put their life belts on and they
lust laughed at me. ! then went up
on the deck with the first class Das
sengers and they were all busy by
that time putting on their life belts.
The crew from below then came up
and most everyone went to the star
board side of the ship. The star
board boats were the first to be low
cred. I waited on the port side for
a boat half an hour, then went over
to the starboard side. The women
and children we're looked after frst.
The men were ordered to stand back
and were warned that If they did
not obey they would be laid out.
Sang Hymns and Prayed
A priest came to where crowd
of MS we're standing and asked ns to
sing hymns and pray. We sans,
then knelt in prayer, and asked tne
Almighty to spare us II 1t was HIS
Will. will never forget that solemn
scene.
One man who jumped into q hfe
boat against orders, was grabbed by
the neck and thrown out and told
that IL he would do that again, no
would be thrown overheard.
How Dahl Escaped
I remained at the starboard side
until the last boat we'll filled, was
going down the side Of the ship.
When it was thirty feet down 1t
stopped because there was another
boat below that had not gotten out
Of the way. asked the officer II
he would have any objections to my
getting in and he told me to keep
out. He said the boat was too far
down. told him that II he'd give
me permission to get in I'd 40 50,
and he said It was o. K. for me to
try. knew that would be my last