The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-04-25
DETAILS OF TITANIC
DISASTER LEARNED
Survivors Number 705, Death
List Approximately Totals
1886.

passed since Iue llCdulC, CilO SAN''eN
marine achievement in the history or
the world, sank in mid-ocean.
The number of dead probably never
will be exactly determined, inasmuch
as the complete passenger list went
down with the vessel. The number
of survivors is fixed at 7O5, by the
report of Captain Rostron, OF the Car
pathia. The White Star line officials
believe the death list totaled approx
mately 1885.
All the stories brought out show
that the disaster was one of the most
horrible that could be imagined, that
the passengers suffered hardships
which could not well be described or
long endured; that the rowboats, as
they left the Titanic, drifted through
a veritable sea of drowning men, all
swimming with their last strength IN
an heroic if not maniacal effort to
reach the small boats, which of neces-
sity had to fight them off; that many
head with oars just as he was about
to grasp the side of retreating boats;
that the suffering was most intense
during the short period before the
small boats were picked up by the
Carpathia and that the notable men
passengers on the ship performed acts
of gallantry and courage when they
fully realized the situation, rejecting
most glorious credit upon their mem
cries and upon their race.
Captain Not On Watch.
The captain was not standing watch
when the liner struck. Chief Officer
Murdoch was on the bridge and he
Immediately pushed the electric but
ton which automatically closed the
doors. AS he did this Captain Smith
rushed to the bridge.
Get all persons on the boat deck"
came the sharp order and the army
of stewards obeyed at once. Every
one was ordered to assemble on deck
Will ll16 U0lIS Ou. uSu CdLlS
the sharp command: women and
children first" And there were re-
revolvers in the hands of the officers,
showing that the orders were to be
enforced No distinction was made
between the women of the steerage
and the women of the cabin. At first
they refused to enter the boats
Passengers Believed Ship unsuitable
When the first Iifeboat was being
filled, the male passengers, firm in
the belief that the Titanic was unsink-
able, laughed about the "skiff ride
the women were about to take.
1t was not until half a dozen boat
loads had been sent adrift that the
gravity of the situation began to dawn
upon the majority of the passengers,
time to put on the life belts. The I'll
tInic was sinking by the head.
Lfeboat Supply Insufficient.
The lifeboat supply was insufficient
to take off half of those on board
One by one the lights began to go out
as the water crept higher into the
vessel. The crew, lacking in discip-
line, cut away boat after boat, leav-
ing many of the seats unoccupied.
The women in the boats saw the
great Titanic break in twain. At the
same time there came roar and a
series of explosions The afterpart
seemed to right itself and bobbed up
and down. It's top was black with
men and women who could not be
taken off because there were not suf-
fcient lifeboats and RATS. Another
explosion came and then the great
mass of steel sank down into the
waters, raised again and then plunged
forward to disappear forever
Through all the narrowing scene
eight heroic bandsmen had played con-
stantly to allay panic. When the
Titanic finally plunged under the sur
face, these brave musicians were send
Ing out the strains of Nearer, My God
to Thee" playing their own funeral
dirge as they stood knee deep in wa
ter with their eyes fixed on the giant
iceberg which lowered above them
like a great white monument.
Thirteen boat loads of passengers
and crew were picked up by the Car
pathia after thrilling journey
through the icy sea. Four hundred
and ninety-fve passengers and PIG.
OF the crew were landed at New York.
Among the notable passengers
were: John Jacob Astor, Major Arch
ibald Butt, President Taft's military
aide; Isidor Straus, Benjamin Gug-
genheim, Jacques Futrelle, the author:
F. D. Millet, artist; Henry B. Harris.
theatrical manager; J. B. Thayer. c.
M. Hays, president of the Grand
Srunk railway; W. T. Stead, editor
ell of whom persisted
49,