Gilpin observer., 1912-04-25

WHO uhu 10 De out IN Tue mluule VI
the Atlantic ocean in an open boat,
and II ever there was a time when
such a night was needed, surely 1t
was now, with hundreds Of people,
mostly women and children, afloat
hundreds of miles from land.
THE captain-stoker told us that he
had been at sea twenty-six years and
had never yet seen such a calm night
on the Atlantic. AS we rowed away
from the Titanic we looked back from
time to time to watch her. and more
striking spectacle 1t was not possible
for any one to see.
TN the distance she looked an enor-
nous length. her great bulk outlined
in black against the starry sky. every
port-hole and saloon blazing with
light. 1t was impossible to think any
thing could be wrong with such
leviathan were 1t not for that ominous
tilt downward in the bows, where the
water was by now up to the lowest
row Of portfolios. Presently about 2
a. m. as near as l can remember, we
observed her settling very rapidly.
with the bows and the bridge COM
pletely under water, and concluded
1t was now only a question Of minutes
before she went: and so 1t proved.
She slowly tilted straight on end.
with the stern vertically upward, and
as she did the lights in the cabins and
saloons. which had not fiickered for
moment since we left, died out.
came on again for single fash and
finally went out altogether. At the
same time the machinery roared
down through the vessel with rattle
and groaning that could be heard
for miles. the weirdest sound surely
that could be heard in the middle Of
the ocean, thousand miles away
from land But this was not yet quite
the end.
ITO our amazement she remained
in that upright position for a time,
which I estimated as nve minutes;
others In the boat say less but It
certainly was some minutes, while we
watched at least $50 feet OF the Titan
ic towering above the level Of the
sea and looming back against the
sky.
Then with quiet slanting dive
she disappeared beneath the waters.
and our eyes had looked for the last
time on the gigantic vessel We had
set out on from Southampton last
Wednesday. And there was left to us
the gentle heaving sea, the boat filled
to standing room with men and wom-
en- in every conceivable condition Of
dress and undress, above the perfect
sky Of brilliant stars with not cloud
all tempered with a bitter cold that
made us all long to be one Of the crew
who toiled away with the oars and
kept themselves warm thereby-a
curious. deadening bitter cold unlike
anything We had felt before
CRIES ARE UNANSWERED.
And then, with all these there
noise that human being ever listened
to--the cries OF hundreds of our fel-
low beings struggling in the icy cold
water. crying for help with cry
that we knew could not be answered
We longed to return and pick up some
of those swimming. but this would
have meant swamping our boat and
further loss of the lives OF all OF us
We tried TO sing to keep the won.
en- from hearing the cries and rowed
hard to get away from the scene OF
the wreck. hut think the memory OF
those sounds win be one OF the
things the rescued will find It dim.
cult TO efrace from memory We are
trying hard not to think of 1t.
We kept lookout for lights and
several times II was shouted that
steamers lights were seen. but they
turned out to be either light from
another boat or a star low down on
the horizon. About 3 a. m. we saw
faint lights showing on the sky and
all reioiced to see what we expected
was the coming dawn. but after
watching for half an hour and seeing
no change in the intensity OF the
light. realized II was the northern
lights.
Presently low down on the horizon
We saw light. which slowly resolved
itself into double light and we
watched eagerly to see II the tive
to be only two of our boats or wheth.
er they would remain together. in
which case We should expect them tc
be the masthead light and deck
light below of rescuing steamer.
CHEER SIGHT OF REScUER.
ITO our Joy they moved as one and
and round we swung the boat and
headed for her The steersmar
shouted: Now boys. sing and foi
the frst time the boat broke inte
song with Row for the Shore. BOYS
and for the FIRST time tears came to
the eyes of us all as we realized that
safety was at hand The song was
sung. but II was a very poor imita.
tion OF the real thirg for uuaverine
voices make poor songs. A cheer was
given next and that was beta ---yts,