The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-19
Seriousness of the Accident Not Realized at the
 Beginning
A CARD GAME WAS
 NOT INTERRUPTED
Men Stood Back While Women Went First-But One Anxious Moment for Beasley-Stoker Saved
 Boat Load of Over 10

New York. April 1s.-F ollowlng is the account of Mir. Beasley of London:
 "The voyage from Queenstown had been quite eventful, very fine weather was experienced and the sea was quite calm. The wind had been very cold, particularly the last day: in fact, after dinner on Sunday evening it was almost too cold to be out on deck at all. l had been in my berth for about 10 minutes, when at about 11.15 l felt a slight jam and then soon after q second one but not sufficiently large enough to cause any anxiety. How ever, the engines stopped immediately afterward and my first thought was she has lost a propeller. l went up on top deck in a dressing gown and found only a few people there who had come up sim ilarly to Inquire why we had stopped, but there was no sort of anxiety in the minds of anyone. We saw through the smok- ing room window a game of cards going on and went in to inquire If they knew anything; it semes they felt more of the far and looking through the window had seen a huge iceberg go by close to the side of the boat They thought we had just grazed 1t with a gancing blow and the engines had been stopped to see if any damage had been done. No one, of course, had any conception that she had been pierced below by part of the submerged iceberg.
 Played as Steamer Sank
 .nrhe game went on without any thought of disaster. and l returned to cabin to read until we went on aSalh. l never saw any of the players or the onlookers again.
 "A little later. hearing people going upstairs. l went out again and found every one wanting to know why the engines had stopped No doubt many were awakened from sleep by the sud den stopping of vibration to which they had become accustomed during the four days we had been on board Naturally with such powerful engines as the Titanic carried, the vibration was very noticeable all the time and the sudden stopping had something of the same effect as the stopping or & loud ticking grandfathers clock In a room.
 there was an undoubted list downward from stern to bows, but, knowing noth- ing of what had happened, conciuded some of the front compartments had rlled and weighed her down. l went down again to put on warmer clothing ana as l
 
 Passengers Ordered on Deck
 "All passengers on deck with life belts on
 we all walked slowly up with them tied on over our clothing but even tneh presumed this was wise preeaution 'he captain was taking, and that we shouu return in a short time and retire to ped. There was a total absence of any panic or any expressions of alarm, and l sup pose this can be accounted for by the eN- oeptionally calm night and the absence of any signs of the accident. The snip was absolutely still and except for a gen tle tit downward which don't think one nerson in ten would have noticed at that time, no signs of the approaching disaster were visible. But in few mo- rnents we saw the covers lifted rom lne boats and the crews allotted to them standing by and curling up the ropes which were to stow by the bully biocKs into the water.
 Realizing Seriousness
 .'We then began to realize 1t was more serious than had been supposed, and my first thought was to go down and get more clothing and some money, but seeing peo- ple pouring up the stairs decided 1t was better to cause no confusion to people coming up by doing so. Presently we heard the order: All men stand back away from the boats and all ladies re- tire to next deck beow'-the smoking deck or B deck. The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence. leaning against the railings of the deck pacing slowly up and down. The boats were swung out and lowered from deck When they were to the level of B deck, where all the ladies were collected. the ladies got in quickly, with the exception of some who refused to leave their hus-
 
 from them and pushed into the boats, but in many instances they were allowed 10 remain because there was no one to insist they should go. Looking over the side one saw boats from aft already in the water. slipping quietly away into darkness and presently the boats near to me were lowered and with much creaking the new ropes slipped through the pulley blocks down the 75 feet which separated them from the water. An officer in uniform came up as one boat went down and shouted when you are afoat row round to the companion ladder and stand by with the other boats for orders.
 Unable to Use Boats ".Aye. aye came up the reply. but I doo't think any boat was able to obey the order. When they were ahoat the con dition of the rapidly settling boat was so much more sight for alarm for those in the boats than those on board that the sailors saw they could do nothing but row from the sinking ship. They no doubt anticipated that suction from such an enormous vessel would be moro than usually dangerous to a crowded boat mostly filled with women.
 ..All this time there was no trace of any disorder panic rush to the boats and no scenes of women sobbing hNs- terically. such as one generally pictured as happening at such times. Everyone seemed to realize slowly that there was imminent danger. When it was realized that we might all be presently in the sea with nothing but out life belts to sup port us until we were picked up by passing steamers. it was extraordinary how calm everyone was and how com pletely self-controlled.
 "One by one the boats were filled with women and children, lowered and rowed away into the night Presently the word went round among the men. the men are to be put in boats on the starboard side. I was on the port side and most of the men walked across the deck to see If this was so. I remained where l was and presently heard the call:
 Any more ladies?
 "Iooking over the side of the ship saw the boat No. E swinging level with B deck. half full of ladies. Again the call was repeated: Any more ladies?
 .I saw none come on and then one of the crew looked up and said:
 Any ladies on your deck. sir?
 NO I replied.