Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25

pie coming up by doing so. Presently we
heard the order:
% All men stand back away from the
boats and all ladies retire to next deck
beow-the smoking room deck or b
deck. The men all stood away and re-
NAMED in absolute silence leaning against
the end ratings of the deck or pacing
slowly up and down. The boats were
swung out and lowered from a deck.
When they We're to the level of b deck
where all the ladies We're collected the
ladies got in quietly with the exception OF
come who refused to leave their husbands
In some cases they We're 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 go.
Looking over tho side one saw boats
from aft already in the water, slipping
quietly away into the darkness and pres
entity the boats near to mo were lowered
and with much creaking as the new ropes
slipped through the pulley blocks down
the ninety feet which separated them
from the water. An officer in uniform
came up as one boat went down and
shouted: when YOU are ahoat row
around to the companion ladder and stand
by with the other boats for orders
Aye. aye. sir. came the reply. but
don't think any boat was able to obey
the order. When they were ahoat and
had the oars az work the condition OF the
rapidly settling boat was no much more
a sight for alarm for those in the boats
than those on board that in common pru'
dence the sailors saw they could dc
nothing but row from the sinking ship
to save at any rate some lives. They nc
doubt anticipated that suction from such
an enormous vessel would be more thar
usually dangerous to a crowded bOa'
mostly filled with women
IAN this time there was no trace OF an,
disorder; no panic or rush to the boats
| and no scenes of women sobbing hyster-
lcaly such as one generally pictures as
happening at such times. Every one
seemed to realize so slowly that there was
imminent danger. When it was realized
that we might all be presently In the sea
with nothing but life belts to support us
until we We're picked up by passing steam
ers It was extraordinary how calm every
one was and how completely self-con'
trolled.
ANY MORE LADIES' THE CRY
Zone by one the boats were Allied Will
women and children, lowered and rowed
away into the night. Presently the word
went round among the men, The men are
TO he put in boats on the starboard side
Vas on the port side and most OF th'
men walked across the deck to see II this
was so. remained where I was and
presently heard the call Any more ladies'?
Looking over the side Of the ship,
saw the boat. No. 10, swinging level with
| II deck half full of ladies' Again the cal
was repeated. Any more ladies'
II saw none come on and then one OF
the crew looked up and said.
Any ladies on your deck sir?'
ono 7 replied
| " Then you had better Jump
II dropped in and fell in the bottom q,
they cred lower away As the boa
began to descend. two ladies' were pushed
hurriedly through the crowd on r deck
and heaved over into the boat and baby
Of ten months passed down after them
Down we went, the crew calling TO thos,
lowering which end to keep her level
ATT St,arn Both Together until W,
were some 10 feet from the water, anc
here occurred the only anxious momen
We had during the whole Of our ex
perience from leaving the deck to reach
| ing the Carpathia
Immediately below our boat was III,
exhaust Of the condensers. a huge stream
Of water pouring all the time from tn,
ships side Just above the waterline. I
was plain We ought to be smart ava,
from this not to De swamped by 1t whei
we touched water. We had no office
aboard. nor petty officer or member o
the crew to take charge. So one OF tn,
stokers shouted: Some one find the phi
which releases the boat from the rope
and pull it up No one knew where 1
was. We felt as well as we could on tn,
.loor and sides. but found nothing an,
it was hard to move among so many PEG
pie. We had 10 Ia 10 on board.
Down we went and presently floatet
with our ropes stu holding VI, IA *