Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-05-29
The Titanic,s Death BLOW.


The steamship Titanic was moving
swiftly over quiet sea under a sky
brilliant with stars. had just switch
ed off the light over my bed, when
the ship struck with a grinding,
wrenching force, followed by several
violent humps. My friend, Mrs.
White, and | thought we had struck
a small boat, and she urged me to
go with her Immediately to Deck "A,
where the promenade deck was situ-
ated. Since sailing from Gherbourg,
Mrs. White had been confined to her
bed with a sprained ankle and wrist,
IL. had she not made the effort to
leave her stateroom Immediately, our
lives might have been lost, for it
seems certain many passengers per-
ished in their staterooms, as very few
report being called.
We put on our wrappers and fur
coats, and went up from Deck c to
Deck A, where steward told the
gathering passengers that We had
grazed an iceberg, but the ship was
in no danger. Consequently, we lost
valuable time, sitting in the corridors
watching the young girls and men
come in from the deck, carrying
pieces Of ice which had fallen on the
deck GO feet above the seat, when
We struck. In this time we might
have collected valuables and dressed
warmly for the undreamed-of exit
into the icy night. The engines were
letting off steam, all headway being
stopped.
Suddenly, Capt Smith ran down
or a attf Dttt 20
belts."
Il seemed impossible we could
have really understood his words, so
full of tragic import, and spoken on
such gigantic, unsuitable" boat
as the Titanic.
| ran down to our room, took a
life preserver from the rack on the
ceiling, and finding the second one
caught in the hinge, l took another
from the top of the wardrobe. Then
catching up some money lying near,
and a sweater and extra coat, ran
to Deck A again, in time to hear the
order given for all women to go to
the boat deck.
There was no hurry, no confusion
no crowding. The ship was so large
the passengers had not gathered to-
gether.
We heard that chivalrous and gal
liant command, Women first"
Chivalry of Men.
One boat had already been lower
ed from the port side when We were
lifted into Boat No. 8. The captain
was beside us, and from a hamper
nearby he threw huge loaf of bread
into the boat. To group of waiting
seamen and stewards we heard the
question put. Can you row."
No sailor had any station assigned
him for any boat, and this scratch
crew had known no boat drills.
Eagerly four men entered our boat
as oarsmen, and with only 22 souls
aboard we were lowered away from
the height of 80 feet into the sea
| Our stern lowered at such a start II
seemed certain We would ship water
but finally we slipped gently from
the hawsers and rested on the ocean
whose calmness was our salvation.
Capt. Smith called to us to pull fol
a green light seen in the distance te
unload passengers and return the
boat at once. We left above us weep
ing wives who refused to leave theil
husbands, and young mothers who
had come up to place nurses and
babies in a boat. They went below
to save their children. but they We're
not seen again. Our boat was rowet
a short distance. then rested, as opin
ions We're divided between following
the captains orders and staying, near
by to pick up possible survivors.
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