Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-18

WELLFLEET, Mass, April Is
(Bv wireless from the steamship
Carpathia)-A scene of indescrib-
able panic prevailed when the
giant Titanic struck the iceberg
last Sunday night. She was rent
almost asunder by the terrific inn
pact with the iceberg and went
to the bottom with almost the
entire crew and nearly all the male
passengers.
Capt. Smith was the first officer
who realized the peril after the
ship struck, but he did not be-
lieve that his boat, which he had
expected to pilot to glory on this,
her maiden trip, was in danger Of
going down. AS a precautionary
method, however, he instructed
the wireless operator to send out
the IS. O. s." call, the interna-
tional signal of distress, SO that
aid would be on hand when the
worst came.
This was before the power
failed, and the terrifying signal
was sent into the night asking for
assistance. The operator had
barely clicked his instrument for
the final letter of his message
when the water flooded the dyna-
mo room. He turned to his ac-
cumulator set, which was weak,
and spluttering messages were
sent out, but they were incapable
OF carrying. q greater distance
tran a hundred miles.
Finds Bodies Floating in Ice.
The first S. o. S. call was picked up by
the Carpathia, which headed at once for
the scene of the disaster. The Titanic
had gone down before she reached the
spot, but numerous pieces Of wreckage
told the story of what had happened.
A number OF bodies were seen floating
about in the ice field. They were evident
ly those who sought refuge in clingng to
wreckase. The cold overcame them and
rushing To their aid. No attempt was
made TO recover the bodies.
With the final revelation that his
splendid craft was doomed. Capt. Smith
ordered the lifeboats lowered. His orders
were obeyed with alacrity and the women
and children We're lowered. The life
boats were lowered, but, swayed by the
wind and the rolling steamer, great diff
Guilty was experienced in getting the
women aboard without mishap.
So great was the impact of the collision
that at least 80 members of the crew,
peacefully sleep ng in the forecastle head,
were instantly killed.
There was a gathering in the grand
salon Sunday night attended by men and
women OF the first cabin in evening
clothes Many of the women were low
cred into the lifeboats in their evening
gowns. which afforded but scant protec-
ton from the chill winds and water.
Picks Up Women and Children.
Guided only by the cries of the dis
tressed survivors, the Carpathia eau
tiously made her way through the dan
gerous ice fields. picking up boatload
after boatioad, of frenzied women and
children.
Many Of the women were rendered
temporarily insane by their narrowing
experience, and still under the care
of physicians in the Carpathia's hospital.
The Carpathia's message makes it GER
tain that Col. John Jacob Astor was
carried to the bottom when the Titanic
sank. The Carpathia also reports that
no trace was found Of Maj. Archibald
Butt.
Definite information has been received
here that the Titanic was proceeding al
a speed Of about ten knots. Ice abound
ed on all sides and Capt. Smith was
cautiously feeling his way through the
flowing cakes. There was thin, low
hanging haze, which added greatly to the
danger.
Too Late to Stop.
The iceberg was not sighted until the
Titanic was dead upon it, Capt. Smitl
signaled for the engines to stop, but Il
was too late. Bow on. the queen of the
seas sped to her fate. The gigantic