River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-04-25
SPUR Of ICEBERG
RIPS BOTTOM OFF.
GIGANTIC SHIP
Titanic Is Literally DisemboWeled
by Submerged F!oe While
Speeding.
PLACID SEA HIDES DEATH
Little Shock Is Felt When Vessel
Strikes-Passengers for Half an
Hour Believe Damage Is Slight
Pathetic Stories of Sur
vivors.

New York, April l9-lt was the SUD
merged spur of an iceberg of ordi
nary proportions that sent the White
Star liner Titanic more than two miles
to the bottom of the Atlantic off the
banks of Newfoundland. The vessel
was steaming almost full tilt through
gently swelling sea and under star
lit sky, IN charge of First Officer Muir
dock, who a moment after the COLI
sion surrendered the command to Cap
tain Smith, who went down with his
boat
The Iifeboats that were launched
were not filed to their capacity The
general feeling aboard the ship was,
even after the boats had left it's sides,
that the vessel would survive its
wound, and the passengers who were
left aboard believed almost up to the
last moment that they had chance
for their lives.
The captain and officers behaved
with the utmost gallantry and there
was perfect order and discipline in
the launching of the boats and after
all hope had been abandoned for the
salvation Of the ship for those who
were on board.
Just before it went down the Ii
tanic broke it's back.
Placid Sea Hides Death.
The great liner was plunging
through a comparatively placid sea
or the surface of which there was
much mushy ice and here and there a
number of comparatively harmless
looking foes. The night was clear
and stars visible Chief officer Muir
dock was in charge of the bridge.
The first intimation of the presence
of the iceberg that he received was
from the lookout in the crows 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 I'M
startled and alert commanders would
have done under similar circum-
stances-that is, he made an effort
by going full speed ahead on his star
propeller, simultaneously throwing his
helm over, to make a rapid turn and
clear the berg.
Rips Bottom Open.
These maneuvers were not success
full 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 iceberg's spur protruding under
the sea cut through her like can
opener.
The shock was almost impercept-
ible. The first officer did not appar-
emily realize that the great ship had
received it's death wound and none of
the passengers it is believed had the
slightest suspicion that anything more
than usual minor accident had hap
pered Hundreds who had gone to
theft berths and were asleep were not
awaRHbed by the vibration.
Return to Gard Game.
To illustrate the placidity with
which practically all the men re-
garded the accident it is related that
four who were in the smoking room
playing bridge calmly got up from the
table, and, after walking on deck and
looking over the rail, returned to their
game. One of them had left his cigar
on the card table, and while the three
others were gazing out on the sea he
remarked that he couldn't afford to
lose his smoke, returned for his cigar,
and came out again.
The four remained only for a few
moments on deck. They resumed
their game under tae impression that
the ship had stopped for reasons best
known to the commander and not in
volving any danger IS her. The ten
dency Of the whole ships company ex-
cept the men in the engine depart
ment, who were made aware of the
danger by the inrushing water, was to
make light of it and in some instances
even to ridicule the thought Of danger
to so substantial fabric.
Slow to Realize Peril.
Within a few minutes stewards and
other members of the crew were sent
round to arouse the people. Some ut
terly refused to get up. The stewards
had almost to force the doors Of the