New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
CROWD ON PIER FRANTIC
TO REACH SURVIVORS
Weak and Keeling Figures Hard
Iy Realize Where They Are
as They Leave Liner.
DEPRESSION PERVADES PIER
Many Collapse After Being
Helped Down cangway-
Some Look in Vain for
Familiar Face.

Familiar Face.
When the garSplanks were lowered from
tn" CarDatha and the first of the Titanic'a
survivors appeared on each of the two
long and narrow weys shat were 10 lead
Them into the arms Of relatives and friends
sorrow and fear and trembling expectancy
seemed to run riot In the hundreds Of
waiting people and a hush OF terrible de
PRECISION lay for moment on al.
Then came the frantic cudeavo" to reach
the descending survivors as they We're rec
ognized by their waiting friends and rclI-
tives. Old men and women children Of
gentle age, stretched out longing hands to
grasp those OF the weak and reeling tiguTes
as they walked down the ganspank i'm a
dazed and bewildered manner. The Gus
IONS men held out Their helping arms,
and In many cases they had TO lead even
the mon. who showed only roo plainly that
they hardly knew whore they were and
were entirely at n loss TO Gecldc where to
go.
number of the rescued paused al the
! head of the gangway and looked down on
the mass OF humanity waiting for them
! They looked In vain for familiar face
/ They had Known that their relatives in the
distant West could not reach here in time
and. yet they seemed to hang on the
thought that the unexpected might have
happened after all and the face Of some
, loved one might greet them after the ter
ror Of their horrible experience on the sea.
There We're others. walking Ike in Il
trance. oblivious Of their surroundings,
/ their minds apparently blank and unable
/ to receive any impression. Leaning on the
arm of a customs man or a nurse or a
/ physician, they walked short distance
| and then collapsed.
Hysteria Lay in III. Air.
! Hystera lay In the air slowly the ten
! sion was rising among those waiting for
| the survivors. The sobs that had been re-
! pressed while the Carpathla was still at
! Quarantine became more frequent as the
| boats approach was announced from time
! to time At FIVE minutes to o'clock the
| Carpathla was outside the pier ready -
dock The excitement was reaching its
climax. and when thirty minutes later the
| landing of the passengers. was about TO pe-
gin women became hystericai. even men
seemed to be on the verge Of nervous
breakdown while shrieks and frantic cries
We're heard everywhere.
The first survivors began to leave the
! ship at 93j O'Clock.
! The coming Of the steamer was reported
successiyely from various sources to the
! lcongregated crowds. Outside the Hook at
20 In the evening. the vessel was reported
successfully az passing each local harbor
mark reaching Quarantine at 1885. Every
! consideration having been taken in the
emergency. the Quarantine officials did not
/ hold up the ship moment. The physicians
put out In their launch and hurried along
side while the vessel slowed down little.
and Health Officer O'conne! was put
aboard. The Carpathia proceeded then
steadily toward her pier. passing the Statue
OF Liberty at 7:j0. the Battery at $40, and
then on past the forest Of shipping on both
sides of the river, proceeding cautiously.
under escort Of tugs.
Carpathia Passes Battery.
| As the liner passed the Battery the great
| crowds which lined the sea wall and were
nlassed in the park space behind stood I'm
! silence At intervals the dark river up
which the rescue ship with few lights
| showing. was passing. was lighted up as
| photographers. from decks OF tugs and
from well selected places on shore, eX-
| ploded the largest flashlights possible in an
effort to catch the first pictures Of the in
| coming liner
Two hours before the arrival of the Ca
pathia one of the few wireless messages
sent from her was picked up at the Brook
| lyn navy yard. II read
| Deliver Immediately TO Pier u (Cunard
| Line pier) % coats. 10 trousers and l. pairs
| Of socks for the destitute"
The scene at this time In and about the
great pier was one OF great animation and
eager expectancy. The crowds had steadily
augmented. but there was perfect order and
an awelIke air of waiting Automobiles
continued to arrive In great NUMBERS and
the crowd about the entrance to Tho pier
maintained respectful silence. Within the
vast lnclosure the company of people was.
Notwithstanding the precautions and the
limit which had been placed on the number
of passes issued. dense but serious and
orderly
As the Carpathia was passing into her
| slip she was surrounded by newspaper
boats and there were frequent flashes from
cameras which were taking photographs OF
the rescue ship.
| The Curious Turned Away.
| Pier 52. near West 18th street, where the
! Mauretania usually docks. was arranged
| for the reception of the Titanic's survivors
| who were brought I'm on the steamship
] Carpathia. Relatives. friends and business
associates of those who had come out of
| the terrible marine disaster began to come
| early to the pier. There was no difficulty
| "A 4 those u hn huI offi fal