The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-05-10


ed. and my first thought was TO 90
down and get some more clothing
and some money. bat seeing people
pour up the stairs decided it was
better to cause no confusion to peo-
pie coming up by doing 80.
Presently We heard the order:
"All men stand back away from
the boats and all ladies retire 20
next deck below"
This was the smoking room deck
or b. deck. The men all stood away
and remained in absolute silence.
leaning against the end railing Of
the deck or pacing up and down. The
boats were swung out and lowered
from A deck. When they were 10
the level of Il deck where all ladies
were collected. the ladies got in
Quietly. with the exception of some
few who refused to leave their hus-
bands. In some cases they were
torn from them and pushed into the
boats. burt in many instances they
were allowed 10 remain, because
there was no one to insist they
should 90.
Looking over the side one saw
boats from aft already in the water.
slipping quietly away into darkness.
and presently the boats near to me
were lowered. and with much creak-
ing of the new ropes slipped though
the pulley blocks down the ninety
feet which separated them from the
water. An officer in uniform came
lup as one boat went down and
shouted: when you are afloat row
around to the companion ladder and
stand by with the other boats tor
orders.
"Aye. ave- came up the reply. bun
| don't think any boat was able to
obey the order. When they were
afloat aud had oars at work the
condition of the rapidly settling
boat was so much more a sight for
alarm for those in the boats than
those on board that in common nru-
dence the sailors saw they could do
nothing but row from the sinking
ship To save ut any rate some lives.
They do doubt Anticipated that sue
ton from such an enormous vessel
would be more than usually danger
Gus to a crowded boat mostly filled
with women.
All this time there was no trace
of any disorder. panic or rush to the
boats and scenes of women sobbing
Historically such as one generally
pictures a. happening at such times.
Everyone seemed to realize so slow
~ that there was imminent danger.
When it was realized that we might
all be presently in the sea with moth
ing but our life belts 10 support us
until we were picked up by passing
steamers it was extraordinary how
calm everyone was and how com
pletelv self controlled.
One by one the boats were filled
with women and children. lowered
and rowed away into the night. Pres
emily the word went around among
the men. the men are to be put in
boats on the star board side | was
on the port side aud most of the
men walked across the deck 10 see
if this was so. I remained where !
was and presently heard the call:
"Anv inoIe LADIES'"
Looking over the side of the ship.
! saw the boat No. -. swinging lev
Ell with b deck. half full of ladies.
Again the call was repeated;
'Any more ladies ?"
] saw none come on. and then one
of the crew looked I'M aud said:
"Anv ladies on YOUR deck sir?"
"No" ] replied.
"Then You had better Jump"
| dropped in and fell at the bot
tom rs they cried. CLOVER away"
As the boat began to descend two
ladies were pushed hurriedly through
the crowd on B deck and heaved ov-
.er into the boat and baby 10
months passed down after them.
Down we went. the crew calling to
those lowering which end TO keen
level. "Aft". "stern" "both together"
until we were some ten feet from the
water. and here occurred the only
anN'ons moment we had during the
whole of our eXperience from leav-
ing the deck TO reaching the Capa-
thia.
Immediately below our boat was
the exhaust of the condensers. p
huge stream Of water pouring al
the time from the ships side above
the water line. II was plain we
ought to~be smart away from this
not 10 he swamned b. II when we
touched the water.
We had no officer or petty off
Ger or member of the crew to take
charge. "Someone find the pio
which releases the boat from the
ropes and pull ii up" No one knew
where il was. We felt as well as We
could on the floor and sides. but |
found nothing, and it was hard l.,