Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-19
STORY Of THE
Loss Of TITANIC.
Mountain of Ice, Color of Sea, De-
Scried Too Late To
Avoid
CAPTAIN NOT ON THE BRID GE
Alleged to Have Unheeded Warnings
of Icc-Charge That Loss of Ship
Was Due To Carelessness.

of ice that destroyed the Titanic was
almost of the color of the water. II
was almost impossible TO distinguish
it at Il great distance and the big
liner was rushing through the wa
ter at such a fearful rate of speed
that there was not time to transmit
the reverse order to the engine room
before the crash came.
That the ordinary rules of caution
while passing through the ice fields
were dsregarded is known. Where
the responsibility rested will be de-
termined BY the Congressional inves-
tigation here or before the Board Of
Trade in London. But they cannot
question Capt. Smith. The veteran
seaman carried to the bottom of the
ocean knowledge of the truth or falls
ily of the allegation that his orders
were imperative to take the northerly
route, the short cut, and make Il
record for quick passage with u new
steamer.
The captain was not standing watch
when the liner struck. Chief Officer
Murdock was on the bridge, and he
Immediately pushed the electric but
ton which automatically closed the
doors. As he did this Captain Smith
rushed to the bridge and at once made
tests of the lighting apparatus and
called for report from the engine
room, while Murdoch was signalling
full speed astern.
But already there was drop by
the bow. And from the engine room
came the report that the vessel was
taking water forward. The shock had
been felt everywhere but there was no
alarm. Io wcould hitting some ice
hurt the "biggest vessel afoat?' Not
4 soul on the steamer had even the
faintest inkling Of the horrible trag-
edv that had been set in motion.
But soon Captain Smith noticed that
the big ship was dropping forward
and the indications were that the
bulkheads were giving way, and the
engine rooms were being endangered
Then he gave the order to get the
boats ready and the passengers over
side, and at the same time sent "ord
to wireless operator Jack Phillips to
send out the international call, the
continental appeal for aid.
Get all persons on the boat decks
came the sharp order and the army
Of stewards obeyed at once. Every
one was ordered to assemble on deck
with their life belts on. Many re-
fused. They could not realize that
there was danger. But the presence
If the crew at collision stations and
the uncoiling of lifeboat ropes soon
Indicated to everyone that business
was meant.
Then came the sharp command:
"Women and children first ana
there were revolvers in the hands OF
officers, showing the orders were to
he enforced. No distinction was made
between the women of the steerage
and the women of the first cabin. At
first they refused to enter the boats
The women felt that they were safer
on the liner than in the liteboatS
and the crew did not stand on cere'
mony. but promptly picked them up
bodily and threw them into the boats
Steerage passengers, men, MADE
rush for the boats. Murdock's pistol
was out. 1t spoke twice. Two men
dropped. A third was felled by a
ouartermaster's fist. The panic was
over; the men fell back.
Over the sea from the davlts the
loaded boats were swung and prompt
" dropped. One capsized and the
occupants were drowned. A collapse
BILE boat, a new type, also turned over
in the water and the occupants lost
their lives. although it was later right
ed and cot into commission.
The boats rowed away six in q
group, the others widely scattered, the
women protesting and insisting there
was no need to have left the vessel
And then the women in the boats sa"
the great Titanic, the boat they had
believed unsinkable, break in twain
At the same time there came q roar
and i series of explosions. The boil
ers under which the fires could not DC
drawn, had exploded when the icy
water rushed in.