The Forrest City times., 1912-04-26
STATEMENT BY
 THE SURVIVORS
'hey Tell of lnadequacy of Life- Saving Appliance on Titanic.
ASK FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW
would Have All Nation. Como.i steamship Companies to Garry Sufficient Number of Life.
 boats for All.

SSshs IOF All.
 New York, April 1s.-The following statement issued by committee of the surviving passengers was given the press on the arrival of the Car path1a:
 We, the undersigned surviving pas. sengars from the steamship Titanic ih order to forestall any sensational UT exaggerated statements. deem !. our duty to give to the press a state ment Of facts which have come to our knowledge and which We believe to be true.
 On Sunday, April 14. 1912, at about II ~ D. m., on a cold. starlight night in smooth sea and with no moon. the snip struck an iceberg which had been reported to the bridge by look cuts, but not early enough to avoid collision
 Steps were taken to ascertain the damage and save passengers and ship Orders were given to put On life belts and the boats were lowered.
 The ship sank at about 220 a. m. Monday, and the usual distress sig. naIs were sent out by wireless and rockets at intervals from the ship.
 Fortunately. the wireless message was received by the Cunard's Car pathia at about 12 o'clock midnight. and she arrived on the scene of the disaster about a. m Monday.
 The officers and crew of the steam. ship Carpathia had been preparing all night for the rescue and comfort of the survivors, and the last mentioned were received on board with the most touching care and kindness, every at tention being given, irrespective of class.
 The passengers, officers ana crew gave up gladly their staterooms. cloth ing and comforts for our benefit. all honor to them.
 The English Board of Trade pas sengsrs certificate on board the IT. anic showed approximately 3.Sso The same certificate called for hfeboat ac- commodadon for approximately $50 in the following boats:
 Fourteen large lifeboats. two small CT boats and four collapsible boats.
 Life-preservers were accessible and apparently in sufficient number for all on board
 The approximate number of passen- gers carried at the time of the col lision was:
 First class. 33o; second class, 32o; third class, 75o; total. HOO Officers and crew. $40. Total. 2,340
 Of the foregoing about the follow ing were rescued by tho steamship Carpathia:
 third class, 200; officers. 4; seamen, 39; stewards, s6; fremen. Il: total. PIC of the crew The total about 775 saved was about 80 per cent. of the maximum capacity of the lfeboats
 We feel it our duty to call the at- tention of the public to what We con. sider the inadequate supply of life saving appliances provided for on modern passenger steamships, and recommend that immediate steps be taken to compel passenger steamers to carry sufficient boats to accomTo- date the maximum number of people carried on board.
 The following facts were observed and should be considered in this con. nection:
 The inetficieney of lifeboats. rafts, etc; lack Of trained seamen to man at p not efficient boat handlersl; not enough officers to carry out emer gency order on the bridge and super. intend the launching and control of lifeboats, absence of searchlights.
 The board Of trade rules allow for entirely too many people in each boat to permit the same to be properly handled. On the Titanic the beat deck was about seventy-tfye feet above water. and consequently the passengers were required to embark before lowering boats, thus endanger' ing the operation and preventing the taking on of the maximum number the boats would hold.
 Boats at all times to be properly equipped with provisions. water lamps. compasses, lights, etc. Life saving boat drills should be more ire ouent and thoroughly carried out, and officers should be armed at boat drills. Great reduction in speed in fog and ice as damage If collision actually oc CUTS is liable to be less.
 In conclusion, we suggest that an international conference be called to recommend the passage of identical laws providing for the safety of all at sea, and We urge the United States government to take the initiative as soon as possible