The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-04-26
SPUR Of ICEBERG
RIPS BOTTOM Off
GIGANTIC SHIP
Titanic Is Literally DjsemboWeIed
by Submerged Floe While
Speeding.
PLACID SEA HIDES DEATH
Little Shock 10 Felt WhsM Vessel
6trikss-Passengers for Hall an
Hour Believe Damage 10 eight
Pathetic Stories Of Sur
vivors.

~ tn0IiC 0tOVlCo VI S0T
vlvors.
New York, April LIT was the sub
merged spur of an iceberg OF ordi-
nary proportions that sent the White
Star liner Titanic more than two miles
to the bottom Of the Atlantic of the
banks Of Newfoundland. The vessel
was steaming almost full tilt through
4 gently swelling sea and cNder a star
lit sky, in charge Of First Officer Muir
dock, who a moment after the COLI
SION surrendered the command to Cap
tain Smith, who went down with his
boat.
The Nfeboats that were launched
were not filed to their capacity. The
general feeling aboard the ship was,
even after the boats had left its sides,
that the vessel would survive its
wound, and the passengers who were
left aboard believed almost up to the
last moment that they had a chance
Tor their lives.
The captain and officers behaved
with the utmost gallantry and there
was perfect order and discipline in
the launching Of the boats and after
eli hope had been abandoned for the
salvation Of the ship for those who
were on board.
Just before it went down the II
tanic broke it's back.
Placid Sea Hides Death.
The great liner was plungtng
through a comparatively placid sea
ON the surface Of which there was
much mushy ice and here and there a
number Of comparatively harmless
looking foes. The night was clear
and stars visible. Chief Officer Muir
dock was in charge Of the bridge.
The first intimation Of the presence
pf the iceberg that he received was
from the lookout in the crows nest.
They were so close upon the berg at
This moment that 1t was practically
impossible to avoid q collision with It.
The first officer did what other un-
startled and alert commanders would
have done under similar ctrcum-
Stances-that is. he made an effort
BY going full speed ahead on his star
board propeller and reversing his port
propeller, simultaneously throwing his
helm over, to make a rapid turn and
jelear the berg.
: Rips Bottom open.
/. These maneuvers were not success
eul. He succeeded In preventing his
BOW from crashing into the Ice chf,
but nearly the entire length of the
kreat ship on the starboard side was
ripped.
The speed Of the Titanic, estimated
30 be at least twentyone knots, was
10 terrific that the knifelike edge Of
khe iceberg's spur %protruding under
the sea cut through her like a can
opener.
! The shock was almost imperoept-
tble. The first officer did not appar-
sntly realize that the great ship had
received its death wound and none of
the passengers 1t Is believed had the
Highest suspicion that anything more
than a usual minor accident had hap
pened. Hundreds who had gone to
their berths and were asleep were not
awakened by the vibration.
Return to Card Game.
To illustrate the placidity with
which practically all the men re-
.garded the accident 1t Is related that
four who were in the smoking room
playing bridge calmly got up from The
table. and, after walking on deck and
looking over the rail, returned to their
game. One Of them had left his cigar
on the card table, and while the three
others we're gazing out on the sea he
Vremarked that he couldn't afford to
lose his smoke. returned for his cigar,
and cane out again.
The four remained only for a few
moments ON deck. They resumed
their game under the impression that
the ship had stopped for reasons best
known to the commander and not In.
volving any danger to her. The ten
dency Of the whole ships company ex-
cept the men in the engine depart
ment, who were made aware Of the
danger by the inrushing water, was to
make light Of 1t and In some instances
ieven to ridicule the thought Of danger
to so substantial a fabric.
Slow to Realize Peril.
Within a few minutes stewards and
other members Of the crew were sent
round to arouse the people. Some ut
terly refused to get up. The stewards
had almost to force the doors of the
ls~taterooms to make the somnolent ap-
pYeciate their peril.
Mr.. and Mrs. Astor were in their
room and saw the ice vision fash by.
They had not appreciably felt the gen.
tie shock and supposed then nothing
Iout Of the ordinary had happened.
They were both dressed and came on
deck leisurely.
It was not until the ship began to
take q heavy list to starboard that q
tremor Of fear pervaded 1t.
Launch Boats Safely.
The crew had been called to clear
awav the lifeh0ata- Of which fhero