Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-30
Mistellaneons Rsaain9.
]. BRUCE lSMAY.
Pen Sketch of Personal Attitude Of
E.-l.,L Az.

Pen Sketch of Personal Attitude Of
English Shipping Man.
Joseph Bruce Ismay talks with his
head tilted back, viewing his listener
as from a great height, says a Wash
ington correspondent concerning the
features Of the senatorial investigation
His attitude is that Of man who has
been used to looking. down upon his
listeners. He has passed his life among
subordinates, has Ismay, from the day
when he first went abroad with an
English nurse until now, when he
commands the fleets and finances Of
the International Mercantile. Marine
and a salary of $175,000 a year, and
he displays the results of his training.
ing.
He does not seek social contact with
those whom he might perhaps regard
as his equals, as indicated by the fact
that despite his 20,000,O 900 pounds re-
puted wealth-s1OO,0 900, 900 American
reckoning-he is a member Of but one
club, the Reform.
Ismay is not much Of talker, but
he has grown more loquacious since
he left his cabin aboard the Carpathia,
edged through the crowd of survivors
who had slept on floors or crowded
hunks, and declined to tell the world
his version Of what happened on the
Titanic.
Vice President Franklin Of the
White Star line, acquainted with
American ways, did not favor Ismays
project of leaving at the earliest pos
sible moment for England, regardless
of American opinion and taking the
remnant Of the Titanic's crew along.
Franklin has been aware Of the disa-
greeable consequences Of evading
United States senate subpoena, includ-
ing seizure, haling before the bar Of
the senate and incidentally unfavor-
able advertisement for the trans-At-
lantic business under Ismay's direc-
ton.
Ismay himself has been profoundly
puzzled by the lack Of ceremony with
which he has been treated outside Of
the White Star offices. He showed it
on every occasion when 1t has been
his fate to converse with anyone not
his official inferior and has resented 1t
more than once with that fixed stare
the stares with which the king, for
example, might regard costermong-
er who trod upon his foot.
He used the stare when asked what
advice his counsel had given as to the
results which might follow an attempt
to leave the country.
Ismay has kept lawyers pretty con-
stantly at his side since the senate
committee began business here. He
hasn't liked it that Senator Smith has
declined to allow the lawyers to inter-
pose themselves as shield for their
employer.
Little impression has been made
upon Ismay by the American upbring-
ing of his wife, who was Julia Flor
ence Schieffelin Of New York.
Physically Ismay is Of a type that
Is little seen in New York. Men Of his
age-52-and complexion, which Is
swarthy, by a sort Of settled rule seem
to run to avoirdupois. Ismay Is tall
and slender. His height Is six feet
two. His hair Is black and short and
curly, as would be his mustache were
1t not carefully waxed and black. Over
the original olive hue Of his skin Is
laid flush that extends over his fore
head. His jaw Is short.
Benefting by the same training that
Is accorded the Fifth avenue little
boys, Ismay speaks always with a
suave courtesy, when he speaks at all,
modifying 1t over with that backward
tilt Of his head. His voice, ordinarily,
Is deep and resonant, suggestive Of
careful vocal education. There Is a
chance that Ismay is a singer. When
he becomes excited his voice rises un-
til it is near falsetto, bespeaking de-
licately strung nerves.
His hands, when he Is in repose. lie
easily. When he Is not In repose they
toy with his eyeglasses.