The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-19

be wrong with such a leviathan were It
rot for that ominOuS tilt downwardS in
the bows. where the water was by now
up to the lower row of port holes.
| Presently about M. as near as
/ can remem Der. we observed her set
/ ting very rapidly with the bows and
! the bridge completely under water and
! concluded it was now only question
| of minutes before she went, and so it
! proved. She slowly tilted, straight on
end with the stern vertically upwards
ar: a $ she did, the lights in the cabins
and saloon, which had not f1ickered for
a moment since we left died out, came
on again for a single flash, and finally
went altogether. At the same time the
machinery roared down through the
vessel with a rattle and a grooming
that could be heard for miles, the
wierdest sound surely that could be
| heard in the middle of the ocean, a
/ thousand miles away from land. But
this was not quite the end.
Last Seen of Titanic.
ITO our amaZement, she remained IN
that upright position for time which j
estimate five minutes; others in the
boat say less, but it was certainly some
minutes while we watched at least 15C
feet of the Titanic towering above the
i level of the sea and looming back
against the sky.
Then with a quiet, slanting dive
she disappeared beneath waters, and
:
on the gigantic vessel we had set out
on from Southampton last Wednes-
day. And there was left to us the
gently heaVing sea, the boat filled to
standing room with men and wome
in every conceivable condition of dress
and undress, above the perfect sky OF
brilliant stars with not cloud IN
sight, all tempered with a bitter cold
that made us long to be members of
the crew who toiled away with the
oars and kept themselves warm.
And then with all these, there fell
on the ear the most appalling noise that
human being ever listened to-the cries
of hundreds of our fellow beings strug
Cling in the icy cold water, crying for
help with a cry that we knew could
not be answered. We longed to re
turn and pick up some of those swim
ming, but this would have mean
swapping our boat and further loss
of lives of all of US.
I'VE tried to sing to keep the wo-
men from hearing the cries, and the
men rowed hard to get away from the
scene of the wreck, but I think the
of the things the rescued will find it
difficult to efface from memory. We
are all trying hard not to think of
it.
I'VE kept a lookout for lights and
several times it was shouted that
turned out to be either a light from
another boat or a star low down on
the horizon. About 3 a. m. we saw
faint lights showing on the sky and
all rejoiced to see what we expected
was the coming dawn, but after watch
ing for half an hour and seeing no
change in the intensity of the light
realized it was the northern lights.
Presently low down on the horizon
we saw a light which slowly resolved
III Is-~l,k cob
ed eagerly to see if the two lights
would separate and so prove to be only
two of our boats, or whether they
would remain together, in which case
we should expect them to be the mast
head light and deck light below OF a
rescuing steamer.
Sing Row for the Shore
"To our joy, they moved as one, and
round we swung the boat and headed
for her. The steersman shouted:
time, the boat broke into song with,
Row for the Shore, Boys, and for the
first time tears came to the eyes OF US
all as we realized that safety was at
hand. The song was sung but it was
a very poor imitation of the real thing,
for quavering voices make poor songs
A cheer was given next, and that was
better-yOu keep l. tune for cheer.
as she swung round we saw her cabins
all alight and knew she must be
large steamer. She was now motion
less and we hao to row to her Just
with faint pink clouds just above the
horizon and a new moon whose cres- |
cent just touched the horizon.
Turn your money over, boys salo
our CHEEKY steersman, that is if you
have any he added We laughed at !
him for his superstition at such a !
time, but he countered very neatly by |
adding: We'll, I shall never say again |
that Is is an unlucky number. boat
10 has been the best friend we ever |
had. Certainly the 8 superstition |
is killed forever in the minds of those |
who escaped from the Titanic IN boat |
13. AS we neared the Carpathia we
saw in the dawning light what we |
thought was a full rugged schooner |
standing up near her and presently |
behind her another, all sails set and |
we said:
g They are fisher boats from the
bank and have seen
the steamer lying t. and are standing !
by to help But in another five min
utes the light showed pink on them
and we saw they were icebergs tower |
ing masses. deadly white, still and |
peaked in a way that had suggested |
schooner. We glanced round the hori- /
zOn and there were others wherever |
the eve could reach. The steamer we
had to reach was surrounded by them
and we had to make detour to reach
her. for between her and us lay anOth-
er huge berg. We rowed up to the !
Carpathia about 4:3O a. m. and were
hoisted or climbed up the ships sides
with very grateful hearts.
Warmly welcomed.
1--WE were received with a welcome
hat was overwhelming in its warmth.
and I should like to say here that
here is not a member of the Titanic
On board who feels capable of eX-
in adequate terms his graft
-ude for the attentions showered upon
is by the captain, officers, crew and
passengers on board the Carpathia.