Abilene weekly reflector., 1912-04-25

Nea York. April ls,-The early Ar
rival OF the Carpathia at quarantine
surprised even the customs onicinls.
Five hundred friends and relatives
had gathered inside the pier sheds al
$50 o'clock.
The relatives arranged themselves
in the alphabetical sections 80 there
would be no confusion. The customs
men were Instructed 10 direct the sur
vIvors to proceed 10 the sections. The
arrangements were perfect to avoid
confusion.
when the news came that the Car
pathla had passed the Battery, there
was an air OF expectancy, but no one
moved from the places assigned them.
Great bundles OF blankets ana
stretchers we're carried to the gang
way entrances while the doctors ana
ambulance attendants grouped them
selves ready to go aboard s-soon az
the lines we're made fast.
A committee from the New York
stock exchange went to the pier short
ly before the Carpathia arrived. bring.
ing $4,000 in cash to be distributed
among those most in need OF assist
ance.
This money was raised on the ex.
change by popular subscription and
brought to the pier in an oblong box
As the liner gradually warped into
her berth, the widest of reports were
passed back and forth among the
great crowd.
captain smith was at first reported
20 have shot himself on the
bridge and the chief engineer likewise
committed suicide and three Italians
we're shot TO death in the struggle for
the lifeboats.
Women First to Leave.
Three women were first to leave.
They did not wait for the boat to stop
but climbed down the ladders.
: After the women came a sailor. he
was followed by aHnan in big brown
raincoat and q soft hat He was fol-
lowed by a woman who looked around
.as II startled.
Then followed three other women.
They went into the freight elevator TO
be lowered to the street.
II was plain from the appearance OF
the survivors that they had lost their
clothing and had been fitted out by
the Carpathia's passengers. Clothes
did not At and many instances women
wore sweaters. One wore an opera
hat.
Two men and women. apparently
violently insane, we're carried from the
steamer, while there were scores OF
women in a state of coma and plainly
mentally unsettled.
Survivor Charges carelessness.
C.. II. Stengle, one Of the first pas
sengers on the vessel, said that the
collision of the Titanic with the ice
berg was the result of criminal care
lessness."
"The ship was going % knots an
hour when she struck" he exclaimed
Stengle said that the impact was SO
terrific that great blocks OF Ice were
thrown on the deck and number o.
persons we're killed when these blocks
slid across the decks.
The stern rose in the air. People
ran. shrieking from below. Women
and children Immediately rushed tC
the deck.
AS fast as possible they were low
cred away to the sea. Sailors took
the women ard hurled them bodily In
TO the boats, tearing them away from
their husbands to whom they were
clinging.
Statement Of Committee.
This statement by committee Of
survivors was given to the press or
the arrival of the C2rpathia:
eve. the undersigned surviving
passengers from the steamship tt
tanic, in order to forestall any sensa
tional or exaggerated statements
deem 1t our duty to give to the press
a statement of facts which have come
to our knowledge and which we be
lieve to be true.
."On Sunday, April IA 1912, at about
11:4O D. M, on a cold starlight night
in a smooth sea and With no moon
the ship struck an iceberg which had
been reported to the bridge by look
outs, but not early enough to avoit
collision.
"Steps were taken to ascertain th'
damage and save passengers and SHIP
Orders we're given to put on life beiti
and the boats were lowered
"The ship sank at about 2.2O a. m
Monday, and the usual distress signals
were sent OUT Dy wireless ana rockets
at intervals frsm the ship"
Fortunately the wireless message wat
received by the Cunard's Carpathia a
about 12 o'clock midnight and she ar
rived on the scene Of the disaster a
about 4 a. m. Monday.
The officers and crew Of the steam
ship Carpathia had been preparing al
NJ n