Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-16
CAPTAIN SMITH PROBABLY
WENT DOWN WITH SHIP
Rescued Passengers Drifted in Lifeboats
Many Hours Before Aid Came
John Jacob Astor Among
Those Picked Up.

These pinnacles of fact concern
ing the worlds greatest steamship
disaster-the sinking of the great
White Star liner Titanic off the
banks of Newfoundland at 40
yesterday morning-stand out
prominently early today as sifted
from the wireless reports:
Revised estimate loss of life,
1894 souls.
The $40, ooo, 900 steamship, with
cargo and jewels worth perhaps
$4,000, 900 more, a total loss.
No Mention of Col. Aston.
No mention among the sur
vivors of Col. John Jacob Astor.
His bride, who was Miss Force of
New York, has been saved. Maj.
Archibald Butt, President Taft's
military aid, is still unaccounted
for, as are many other persons OF
international prominence. ].
Bruce Ismay, president of the In
ternational Mercantile Marine
Company, owners of the White
Star line, is among the survivors,
as is his wife. Col. Archibald
Oracle of Washington was saved.
Wireless reports say the Cunar-
der Carpathia has on board 500
survivors, the total thus far ac-
counted for. She is steaming for
New York and should arrive Fri
day. The rescued passengers
drifted in life boats for many
hours before succor came.
May Have Saved Others.
Wireless messages to St. Johns,
N. F., report the Allan line Vir-
gilman en- route there, possibly
with additional survivors on
board. That she carries survivors
had not been confirmed at day
break this morning, nor has con-
flrmation been found that her Sis
ter ship, the Partisan, had aided in
the rescue work, as was reported
yesterday.
Capt. +. j. Smith. commander of thu
Titantic, probably went to his grave with
his vessel without once being able Il
communicate direct with the agents o.
his line. Aside from the - o. g" SEN
by his wireless operator, not one wore
from him was received up to the tim,
the Titantic sank. bow foremost, int
the ocean. The presumption Is that h,
met death at his post. That he and hi.
crew enforced risidly the unwritten Law
Of the sea-women and children first.
plainly indicated by the preponderanc,
of women among the partial list of sur
yivors that the wireless has given.
Has Had Ill Luck.
Although rated as one Of the most abb
commanders since the advent of tn
modern steamship Capt. Smiths caree
had been recently marred with i'll luck
He was in command of the Titanic's sis
ter ship Olympic, when that vessel wa
in collision with the British cruise
Hawke Exonerated Of all blame 10
this occurrence, he was placed In charg
OF the Titanic only to Craze disaster whel
his new charge fouled the steamship New
York in the Solent after leaving South
ampton on her maiden voyage. which ha
ended so disastrously. He had been Ii
the lines employ for more than thirt
years and his first important comman
was the Majestic.
Although S66 souls are reported to b.
on the Carpathia, 1t is apparent that al
of them are not passengers, for 1t wa
necessary for members OF the Titanic
crew to man the ifeboats which set on
from the sinking liner. How many o
the crew were assigned to each boat is
matter Of conjecture. similarly unset
tied matter is the percentage OF first