The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-28

Pres. Franklin of White Star Line,
3. Senator Smith Chairman.) a.
MaJor Peuchen, Survivor. S. Mrs.
Pcuchen. 8. J. Bruce Ismay.
9 ters corresponding to the initials of the
names of survivors they came to meet,
was the mass of the 1000 on the pier
| Women wept. but they wept quietly,
not Historically, and the sound OF Is
their sobs made many times less noisa
than tho hum and hustle which is usuaI%
on the pier among those awaiting an
| incoming liner.
! Then the Carpathia was made fast.
the gangplanks shot into place, and
from the forward one walked a sailor
dressed completely i'll yellow oilsksns.
About each gangplank portable
fence had been put In place marking off
come 90 feet of the pier, within which
! stood 100 or more customs officials
Next to the fence, crowded close against
1t, were anxious men and women. thelri
gaze strained for IL glance Of the first
| from the ship, their mouths opened to-
draw their breaths in spasmodic quiv-
ering saspS. their very bodies Shaking
with suppressed excitement, excitement
which only the suspense Itself was
keeping in subsection.
Tho sailor hurried outside the fence
and disappeared. apparently on a mis-
sion for his company. There was a
/ deep drawn sigh as lie walked away.
/ shaking his head sadly toward those
who peered eagerly at him. Then came
! 4 man and woman of the Carpathia's
own passengers, as their orderly dress
showed them to be.
Again II sigh that was like a sob
swept over the crowd and again the
! staring eyes turned back to the gang
plank, canopied structure like those
which are used at weddings.
| Several minutes had passed already
! ana theh woman, the dress she wore
obviously patched mp from contribu-
ions or the Carpathia's passengers. her
| lace red from weeping. her eyes start
ing almost from her head with the
eagerness with which she stared for a
| known face. started down the gang
plank, stopped, perplcXed. almost ready
to drop with terror and exhaustion. and
was caught by Il customs official
: survivor" he questioned rapidly.Y
and Il nod of the head answering him
1 lie demanded:
Your name:"
! The answer given he started TO lead
her toward that section OF the pier
where her friends would be waiting.
| When she stepped from the gangplank
there was quiet on the pier. The an
| sWers OF the woman almost could be
heard by those fifty feet away, but as
she staggered rather than walked.
olinging to the officers arm, toward
the waiting throng outside the fence, n
low wailing sound started from the
crowd. It's cadences, wild and weird.
grew steadily louder and louder till
they eliminated In a mighty shrek.
which swept the whole big pier as
| though at the direction of some mas
ter hand.
! In the roaring volume. the shriller
cries of women could be distinguished
| above the heavy sobbing OF men. No
! other sound was audible and to the ac-
compartment of the terrible chorus
the woman was led from the Enclosure.
| to be swept into the arms of a man
who threw his arms about her, his
tears falling over her as he struggled
to greet her with voice that broke
into sobs.
At the appearance of each the cries
OF the crowd swelled stronger and
stronger. Nurses and doctors rushed
to the sides of women who seemed
about to faint, and half led. half car
| ried them out OF the crush to parts OF
! the pier then almost deserted.
|
! Steeragc women, recognizable by
their dress ana appearance. came downs
the sanGplank, some of them not woep-S
ing as others We're but gazing with
fixed eyes hopelcssly about them. There
was no relative with an automobile,
! heavy rugs and additional clothing
waiting for them. but there We're tii,
| Sisters of Mercy the Salvation Army,
| corps. and the Moments Relief CONF
mittee, and no steerage passengers left
the ship without receiving n welcome
and helping hand. Some carried
babies in their arms. babies who gazcd
| about them. and even crowed or chuck
led as weeping mothers carried them
down to the pier
Mrs. Lucian b. Smith. the bride az I'll
few weeks who was forced to sit. ne,p
less in lifcboat while she watched tsioSs
| Titanic carry her husband to his death Rs
was one of the first off the ship. Her.
father. Congressman Hughes OF yfs
ginia. was waiting for her. rs 1ss'
Continued ON Following Paxes 3$