The Yale expositor., 1912-04-25
TITANIC HORROR
AWFUL CRIES OF LOST WERE DROWNED BY
SONG TO KEEP WOMEN SANE
Survivor Tells Thrilling and Graphic Story of How
Titanic Struck, Boats Were Loaded and
Wreck Went Down.
Appalling Noise Arose the Doomed Hundreds Strug
glcd in the Icy Water-Then Silence
That Broke Hearts.

events of the wreck told by Mr.. Beas-
ley, OF London, rescued passenger:
"The voyage from Queenstown had
been quite uneventful; very fine
weather was experienced and the sea
was quite calm. The wind had been
westerly to southwesterly the whole
way, but very cool, particularly the
last day; in fact, after dinner on
Sunday evening it was almost too
cold TO be out on deck at all.
had been in my berth for about 10
minutes, when, at about 11:15 p. M,
| felt a slight jar and soon after
second one. but not sufficiently large
to cause any anxiety TO anyone, how
ever. nervous they may have been.
However, the engines stopped imme-
diately afterwards and my first
thought was: She has lost a propel-
Ter ! went upon the top (boaD
deck In dressing gown. and found
only few people there. who had
come up similarly TO inquire why we
had stopped, but there was no sort
Of anxiety in the minds OF anyone.
THE ship was absolutely still. and
except for a gentle tilt downward,
which | don't think one person in
ten would have noticed at that time.
no signs OF the approaching disaster
were visible. She lay as If she were
waiting the order TO go on again.
when some trihing matter had been
adjusted. But in few moments We
saw the covers lifted from the boats.
and the crews allotted 10 them stand
ing by and curling up the ropes which
were 10 lower them by the pulley
blocks into the water.
Launching the Boats.
I'VE then began to realize that il
was more serious than had been sup
posed. and my first thought was to
so down and get more clothing and
some money, but seeing people pour
ing up the stairs decided ii was bet
ter 10 cause no confusion 10 people
coming up by doing so. Presently
We heard the order:
"'All men stand back away from
the boats and all ladies retire 10
next deck below"--the smoking room
deck or h deck The men all stood
away and remained in absolute ST.
lence, leaning against the end rail
ings of the deck or pacing slowly up
and down. The boats were swung out
and lowered from A deck When they
were TO the level of u deck, where
all the ladies were collected. the la
dies got in quietly, with the exception
OF some who refused 10 leave their
husbands. In some cases they were
torn from them and pushed into the
boats. but in many instances they
were allowed TO remain because there
was no one to insist they should 90.
Looking over the side. one saw
boats from aft already in the water,
slipping quietly away into the dark.
ness and presently the boats near TO
me were lowered and. with much
creaking as the new ropes slipped
through the pulley blocks down the
30 feet which separated them from
the water An officer in uniform
came up as one boat went down and
shouted: When you are afioat. row
around 10 the companion ladder and
stand by with the other boats for or.
ders.'
No Trace Of Disorder.
Aye. eye. sir came up the re-
ply, hut | don't think any boat was
able to obey the order When they
were atloat and had the oars al work
the condition of the rapidly settling
boat was so much more sight for
alarm for those in the boats than those
on board that in common prudence the
sailors saw they could do nothing but
: row from the sinking ship to save at
any rate some lives. They no doubt
anticipated that suction from such an
enormous vessel would be more than
usually dangerous to a crowded boat
mostly filled with women.
All this time there was no trace
OF any disorder, no panic or rush to
the boats, and no scenes OF women
sobbing Historically such as one gen.
orally pictures as happening at such
times. Everyone seemed 10 realize
so slowly that there was immediate
danger. When Ii was realized that
We might all be presently in the sea
with nothing but our life belts 10 sup.
port us until we were picked 40 ~
passing steamers. ii was eXtraordin-
AIRY how calm everyone was and how
completely Self.ccrt-olied.
Women Went First.
One by one the boats were filled
with women and children. lowered
and rowed away into the night. Pres
emily the word went round among
the men. The men are 10 I've put in
boats on the starboard side | was on
the port side and most OF the men
walked across the deck TO see if this
was SO. | remained where was. and
presently heard the call:
ANY more ladies'
Looking over the side Of the ship,
I saw the boat No. Is, swinging level
with u deck. half full OF ladies'. Again
the call was repeated
Any more ladies'"
IL saw none come on and then one
OF the crew looked UP, said
ANY more ladies' on your deck.
SIR
NO | replied.
Then YOU had better jump.
Last Glimpse Of Titanic.
we drifted away easily as the oars
were got out and headed directly
away from tho chin Tho cra,v .aap,