Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-22
WIFE SAYS ASTOR WAS
CALMEST MAN ABOARD
Cheered by His Assurances.
Denies That He Made Any
Move to Enter Lifeboat.

NEW YORK, April 22-The story told
by Mrs. John Jacob Astor Of the sink
ing of the Titanic and Of the scenes pre-
ceding it indicates the calmness of her
husband and his efforts to allay her ap-
connected one, but given bit by bit as
her strength permitted. since she landed
from the rescuing steamship Carpathia
last Thursday night. Her physicians for
babe her talking very much at any one
time: in fact, they would have preferred
that She say nothing until she was strong,
but that was too much to ask after the
experiences of that awful night, and lit
tie by little she has related the facts that
go to make up the story Of the founder
ing Of the White Star steamship.
Mrs. Aston spent a good deal Of the
time in her room, and was hardly of
the one deck until the accident. Col.
Aston and she took frequent walks and
he romped with Kitty, his favorite Aire-
dale terrier, great deal. He was in
the new Titanic, for anything mechanical
interested him, and he frequently con-
suited the log and heard from Capt Smith
and Mr.. Ismay of how the great ship was
behaving.
Quietly Told Of Accident.
But no unusual incident marked the
voyage until the collision that sent her to
the bottom. Col. and Mrs. Astor had
both retired when the great ship struck.
Whether he was awakened by the shock
or not Mrs. Aston has not said, but, at
any rate. he went to his wife's bedside
and awakened her.
Gently he told her that something was
wrong and that he thought she had bet
ter get up and dress. He dressed before
she did and said he would go and find
out the extent of the ships injury.
When he returned his face was graver
than it had been, but still he was sure
there was no danger. Mrs. Astor did not
know at the time, but since she has come
to believe that her husband must have
known that the Titanic and all her pas
sengers were in peril.
Encouraged by His Calmness.
The colonel told his wife that the IL
tanic had struck a submerged iceberg,
and was apparently resting on it. He
assisted her in the final details of dress
ing, but without hurry, and his calmness
encouraged her greatly.
When she was ready they went to an
other deck, probably the boat deck There
were few other persons there at the
time. All put on life preservers. This
contradicts the report that Col. Aston
precaution. He saw particularly that his
wife 8 belt was adjusted properly.
His solicitude for Mrs. Astor was then
shown in another way. She shrank from
the cold and he noticed it. He said:
You are not dressed warmly enough
my dear; that suit you have on is too
light" and then she noticed that she
had put on one Of the lightest costumes
in her wardrobe. Col. Aston then ordered
the valet to get one Of Mrs. Astors heav-
lest dresses
There. in the cold Of the deck, Mrs. AS
tor changed her gown. putting on the
heavier dress.
No Attempt to Enter Boat.
Emphatically she denied the report
that Col Astor got into or made any
move to enter the lifeboat in which she
was. He was the calmest man on the
Titanic deck, SO far as she could see. He
said:
1.-THE sea is calm and you will be all
right. You are in good hands, and L will
meet you in the morning" The boat was
launched and got away without accident.
Mrs Aston is still in bed but her physi-