davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
FALSE FIRST REPORTS
AROUSE IRE IN LONDON

until the last moment. The public will
want to know why and how this decep'
tion was carried out.
Among the messages on Monday which
appeared to be beyond question authen'
tic was that received by Mr.. and Mrs
Phillips, of Godalming, in Surrey. pa
rents of the wireless operator on board
the Titanic which read: Making slow
ly for Halifax; practically unsuitable
don't worry"
This was most reassuring, and the pos
sibiity Of doubt seemed to be remote. II
turned out yesterday, however. that the
message was not from the operator on tn,
Titanic at all. but from brother In
London. who sent II In order TO reassurt
his parents Seeing and believing the
messages from New York. he sent the
telegram in all good faith. The parents
however. naturally assumed ii was from
their son on the Titanic.
somewhat similar case occurred yes
terday when the Countess Pappenhein
in London received what was at first
reported to be wireless message from
the Titanic. saying "All WELL The
countess had some relatives on board
but Inquiries at her London residence
elected the fact that the cable was from
other relatives in Philadelphia. 1t II
not known how the news came into thei'
possession.
THE Times in an editorial asks
whether competition in the mere magnl'
tude of ships has not gone quite tsi
enough. THE Times" says II has al
ready produced very difficult questions
with regard to docks and channels, and
that 1t means the putting of gigantic
sums Of money into single bottoms
which may he As easily ripped open a:
those half the size. II means also thu
putting If enormous responsibility on ;
single man, whose momentary failure o
nerve. eve or judgment may spell disas'
ter upon a gigantic sale
THE Times" asks. therefore. II II is
not time to call halt. II expresses the
opinion that unbridled luxury, which
makes such mammoth vessels pay. anc
the speed competition. which leads tc
the selection Of track full Of ice. fot
and dangers, instead Of slower, safe
track. are not commendable signs. AM
that the time has arrived to bring saner
sounder public opinion to bear upor
these questions.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
WALTER D. DOUGLAS.
tey Telegraph TO The Tribune

Minneapolis. April 1e.-W. D. Douglas
,,ss ffty years old and retired. He for
r,erlv was connected with the grain COM
,n,ssion firm Of Piper, Johnson e. Case.
rsward Douglas. his son, received letter
from his parents saying they had reserved
osssage on the Titanic and would be In
Minneapolis about April D. Mr.. and Mrs,
oouglas sailed from New York on Janu-
sry 10 They spent much Of their time In
paris. Southern France and In Italy.
Until last fall the Douglas home was No.
,ne Harmon Place. Their home now is
vaIdon. at Deep Haven Lake. Minnetonka.
Two sons. Edward R. and George B. Doug
las reside in Minneapolis, and brother,
George B. Douglas. lives in Cedar Rapids,
iowa. Walter d. Douglas and his brother
have been interested In many large deals
IN the Stock Exchange. They now own the
Douglas Starch Works In Cedar Rapids,
which is the largest plant Of the kind In
the world Both men are wealthy.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
JEWELLED BOOK LOST
Fine Copy of "Rubaiyat' Went
Down in the Titanic.

Gabriel Weis. the owner of what Is
said 10 be the most expensively bound
copy In existence of Edward fitzger- r
aids translation ~ The Rubaiyst or
Omar Khayyam." said last night at the
Hoe sale that the book was lost on sun
day night. when the Titanic foundered.
This copy. which sold at Sotheby's, In
London. on March % last for S2.O25, was
illustrated bv Elihu Vedder, and II took
Sangorski and Sutcliffe. of London, two
years to bind II. About lo" jewels are
set in gold in the binding, including
rubies. amethysts, topazes. Clivines. gar
nets and one emerald.
Mr.. Weis received cable message
Yesterday from his agent In London
saying that the book had been insured
for $500.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Ever Present Iceberg Peril.

AS 10 detecting the presence of ice
beres. Il is known that within certain
,,oits there is falling of temperature
hoth IN the air and water. but with boa ts
rushing along from eighteen to twenty
eve knots an hour, this would not help
,,,ucb The echo Of the shrek of a
whistle from an iceberg can be heard
so,,eraI miles. provided the berg extends
,,nciaptlv out Of the water. This also
aonends on how much sleet and snow
arc ,ncorpoated in the berg. With per-
e.cuv nure ice, frozen in one solid mass,
,here would be very little appearing out
90 ,he water. It Is very probable. how
e,or that bell signals will so develop
~, any iceberg under the surface of
mater may readily be detected ty
ors of the bell signal apparatus on
board
when running in seas where icebergs
,o nc met there rs always danger
"a while a good lookout and such sp-
nc 7 have described may pos
,,,ip,nize the danger, II wfll be
,,ssent. ships, however do not
oo into the iceberg region. Vet
''a' ,now very well II this ship had sd-
ad ,hs, she would keep far 70 the
~. out OF the region Of icebergs
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17

: she would have had very few passen-
gers.
II do not gather from this disastrous
accident any lesson that would seem TO
indicate that there is any diminution in
strength or safety with increase Of size
in ships. In fact. as far az l under
stand the art OF naval architecture, the
contrary Is the case. While the splendid
enterprise which has produced the Olyin-
pic and the Titanic may for the present
receive a check. there is no question but
shat the larger ship is economically bet
ter and is also safer than the smaiier
one and hence ships will increase IN
size.
"A small ship striking this berg under
the same conditions as the Titanic
struck would have been hurt as badly
and proba bly, even worse, AS she "ouid
not have been locally so strong, though
Of course, she would not have hsd the
same momentum a. did the vast mass OF
the Titanic. Practically speaking, We
have no small ships now In the trans
atlantic passenger service. When snip
goes over 10000 tons. her momentum IS
tremendous, and there is no way ny
which a smaller structure can withstand
the force Of an impact such as the IL
tanic was subject to.
"As to the presence Of icebergs and
ice packs in the North Atlantic, there
will undoubtedly he under international
convention an ocean police instituted
within the next few years. From the
development i'm wireless. news can be
given of the icebergs. storm movements
and other marine phenomena which VIII
add vastly to the safety Of sea travel.
AS 70 the masters Of great liners TAX
ing risks In handling of steamships the
responsibility for this rests entirely upon
the shoulders Of the travelling public.
A great. silent force. the influence Of the
Messengers who are in a hurry TO cross
the ocean has forced many risks.
"If n lesson Of this awful disaster Is to
,nstill In the travelling public desire
on their part to support every precau-
tion taken by masters for their safety at
some ROCus 81 l'bS'' WIN ''hiS -
the tragedy. often men who have been
DELAYED q few hours. due TO stress Of tho
sea. will, upon landing, complain not
only of the ship but of the line. and say
they will never travel ny II again. This
fear forces the steamship companies 10
give rapid service; so think the re-
sponsibility for disasters lies more upon
the travelling public than upon the
masters. for the ma ster who loses his
ship has generally lost his livelihood for
the future
Il do not believe the government
should or can ever limit the speed of
passenger vessels in the open sea. The
insurance companies can force proper
regulation in time of fog. when in sound d.
ings or in the track Of iCebergs, and they
will undoubtedly find some way To pen
alize violations Of such regulations, even
when their violations do not lead 10 dis
aster. But in doing this they will have
to have the support Of the travelling
public
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Who Sent the Messages Tell
ing Of Transshipment Of All
Titanic Passengers and
Why, Are Questions
the Public Will
Want Answered.
tBy Gable to The Tribune.

London! April II. - One Of the mys-
teries in connection with the Titanic dis
aster which is at present unsolved, and
the solution Of which one can only sur
mise. is the extraordinary series OF false
messages with which the world was
l,illed into fancied security on Monday.
For sixteen hours. from a. m. on Mon
day until o'clock yesterday morning
right through all the editions OF the
evening newspapers and the earlier edi-
tions of the morning journals flood OF
alleged wireless messages was received.
These messages reported: First. that
all passengers had been saved: second.
that the Titanic WAS proceeding under
her own steam for Halifax: third, that
she could not possibly sink; fourth, that
twenty boatloads of passengers had been
trsnshjpped to the Parisian; fifth. that
the Partisan and the Carpathia were
both in attendance on the Titanic. sixth,
that the Nirginian was towing the IL
tsnic toward Cape Race to beach her
seventh. that all the passengers had been
taken off: eighth. that the Titanic was
still afioat at s: 30 a. m, and so IT Went
on, until | o'clock Yesterday morning
when the dire news came that the
Titanic had sunk at 2:20 q. M. on Mon
day. with a horrible loss of life.
Thus the stories Of the transfer of All
the passengers and the steamins ana
towing OF the Titanic vanished INTO thih
air.
But who sent these wireless messages
and why were they sent? These are
questions. saws THE Standard, that tne
public will naturally ask and require 10
have answered. on the face OF them
they are as inaccurate as they are inys-
terious. The leading newspapers ana the
puhlic Of two continents were misied
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
HERR BALLIN'S VIEWS
Expert Convinced Titanic Lacked
Nothing for Safety.

Hamburg April 16.-Albert Ballin' man
aging director OF the Hamburg American
Line. In reply to an inquiry to-day said re-
serrire 70 the possibility Of Incorporating
further safety devices on large vessels:
.'The great shipping companies must try
n enlarge ard improve upon the extensive
measures of precaution which they have
taken and which. I'm their opinion and In
that OF the underwriters. already give the
highest possible security. II will be clear
49, reasonable man that the size. speed
and other qualities OF the unfortunate IT,
tan,c had nothing TO do with her loss
"I am further firmly convinced that tine
,,osse, was fully provided with all modern
safety appliances. Why they proved m
sufficient is a question that can only be an
swered after more extensive reports have
ho., receiyed and examined by experts and
the results studied with the greatest care In
order 70 improve as much as possible the
present measures of precauton"
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Mr.. GUGGENHE1M HOPEFUL
Thinks Survivors in Other Lifeboats
Nav Have Been Picked Up.

Washington. April ls.-Senator Guggen-
helm, Of Colorado. In consultation by tele-
phone with the White Star Line officials
in New York to-day. was unable to learn
the fate of his brother. Benjamin Guggen-
helm reputed one Of the wealthiest men In
the world So far as known, his wife did
not accompany him.
"The company gave me one encouraging
statement" said the Senator. that the
Titanic carried all the lifeboats required
under the laws Of the United States and
Great Britain. OF course. the number al
ready reported rescued includes consld-
era bic number of seamen necessary TO man
the boats II is possible that some OF the
lifeboats got away from the scene. ana
that they may have been picked up by
other vessels not yet heard from"
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
TAFT MOURNS FOR BUTT
Gloom in White House as Hope
for Aid Grows Fainter.

Washington. April 1s.--The White House
was not a cheerful place to-day for Presi
dent Taft, and most Of his Cabinet and
many Of tho callers were deeply concerned
over the probable fate Of Major A. w Butt.
who has been Mr.. Tsfts military aid since
he entered the White House
The White Star Line officers in New York
kept the President advised during the day
as they checked over the list Of the rescued.
As the chance against Major Butts name
appearing among the saved grew fainter
and fainter the President began 10 give Jp
, hope
The chance is a slim one. but were hold
ing on to that" he said 10 a friend as he
left for luncheon.
During the day the White House offices
received many personal Inquiries All OF
Major Butts friends believed he would o.
among the last 10 leave the ship.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
w. Ha Spencer.

". H. Spencer, a brother Of the late
Lorillard Spencer and uncle of Lorilaro
Spencer, jr.. is among the missing HIS
wife is reported to have been saved. They
were on their way 10 New York from
Paris, where they have lived for several
years Mr.. Spencer used 70 own the famous
Waterbury place, near the Westchester
Country Club house. He retired actively
from business many years ago and turned
his attention TO rare old prints and manu-
scripts. His collections of these are said
10 be among the finest In Paris. I'orillard
Spencer, tr., visited the White Star Line
of1lces several times yesterday, and learned
nothing except that Mrs. Spencer was sup
posed 10 be alive, but her husband was
missing.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Ward Stanton,

Ward Stanton is a we'll known artist.
whose speciality Is marine scenes He was
born in the South and was educated there
and in New York. He began his career as
q Journalist, and for many years was an
editor and illustrator on the stan Of THE
Nautical Gazette" A few years ago re
abandoned magazine work to devote his
time TO art Among his works are the
mural decorations on the Hudson Day Line
steamer Robert Fulton. He is married and
has three children.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Jsns, V, Drew and Family.

Greenport Long Island, April 16-Mr. ana
Mrs James V. Drew and Master Marshsh
Drew. their fve-year-old nephew VINO
we're aboard the Titanic. are prominent
residents here. Mr.. Drew is a partner OF
William J. Drew, the father Of the boy. in
a stone cutting business. James V. Drew
Is about thirty-eight years old. His wife
was Miss Lulu Christian, of Greenport
Both are members of the Baptist church
here and leaders in the church choir.
The Drews came from Cornwall, Eng
land and II is the custom Of one of the
sons to visit their aged mother in England
once year. With the little grandchild
they spent the winter In Cornwall and
waited 10 come over on the newest and
biggest Of the White Star feet.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
LORD BURNHAM CABLES
Expresses to Mr.. Taft Sympathy
of London TELEGRAPH.

Washington, April 1s-Lord Burnhsm
cabled 10 President Taft to-day expressing
the sympathy Of the proprletors Of "The
London Daily Telegraph" for the terrible
loss OF so many prominent and disiih-
guished citizens and the appalling catas-
trophe which has befsllen the Titanic.
BY direction of the President Acting
Secretary Huntington Wilson, of the State
Department. sent a message In reply ex-
tending mutual sympathy.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Permit of Greater Stability,
Safety and Efficiency than
Is Possible in the
Small Ships.
WILL NOT END LEVlATHANS
Believes Submarine Signalling
Will Be SO Perfected as to
Detect Proximity of
Icebergs and Other
DISTINCTIONS.

All the hue and cry 10 the effect that
the building of great ships Of the Titanic,
Olympic, Mauetania class, and even the
larger boats Low building by the Ger
man lines. has been proved impraci-
cable by the catastrophe of the Titanic
was attacked by Lewis Nixon in an
interview with a representative of The
Tribune yesterday.
You can put it down as a maxim, -
said Mr. Nixon, that YOU can insure
more safety comfort, strength, stability
and general efficiency, not to mention
luxury, in the larger ships than could
possibly be embodied in smaller types.
Mr.. Nixon, who designed. among other
famous craft. the battleship Oregon, and
is perhaps as high an authority on mat
ters Of naval architecture as there is In
this country. then gsve his views on the
causes which sent the Titanic 10 the
bottom.
1T is next TO impossible now said
Mr.. Nixon, 'to. tell exactly why the IT,
tanic sank so quickly. The bulk Of the
Titanic TO the ordinary mind is enor-
nous. The mass of the iceberg struck
was undoubtedly many times greater.
Almost any speed with which the vessel
might strike a rock or such an iceberg
would do enormous harm.
THE bulkheads, of course. were closed
Immediately upon impact The forward
bulkheads would probably have no door
in them, anyway.
1T is conceivable that in developing
the longitudinal strength of a boat Of
such great dimensions as the Titanic
the longitudinal girders might be Of
such great strength and rigidity that.
instead of buckling forward as on any
ordinary ship, when she crashed into the
berg, they might deliver a thrust back
ward TO several other transverse bulk
heads that would cause the rending Of
rivets, ripping Of seams and such gem
eral distortion as might cause those
bulkheads to leak. Such leaking is pro-
gressive, in view of the fact that as wa
ter comes in and rises up in the bulk
heads the pressure increases. so that,
once the forewsrd bulkheads were dam
aged sufficiently TO allow water to enter
In dangerous quantities. Il was only a
question of time when the vessel would
sink
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
DanieI Warner Marvin.

Daniel Warner Marvin was returning
With his bride from their honeymoon. The
young couple were married on March l3.
attracting attention by having moving
pictures taken Of their wedding. They were
to make their home at No. S4o Riverside
Drive. Mrs. Marvin was one of those re-
ported among the saved.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Edosr j. Meyer.

Edgar 7 Never is a member OF the Stock
Exchange house Of Eugene Meyer, jr.. IL
Co Of No. Wall street He is twenty
ave years old. He went to Europe VII"
Mrs Never for vacation about the mlooie
Of February. Their home is at NO lSs "es'
@th street
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Colonel John Weir.

Colonel John Weir. sixty years old. is a
retired mining engineer. well known IN
mining and smelling circles throughout 'he
country He had been abroad seVerA
months with his son and two daughters
and was returning 10 the Waldorf "here
he made his home for several years.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
John Bradley Cummings.

John Bradley Cummings. member OF
the brokerage firm Of Cummings Mark
valid. of No. 56 Wall street, came TO this
city from Boston ten years ago. He Is a
member Of the Racquet, Riding. Metropoli-
tan and the Knollwood Country clubs He
is also a director Of the Subsurface Tor
pedo Boat Company. He lives with his
wife. who was Miss Florence r. Thayer, at
No % East 64thr street.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17

Berlin. April 16.--The Speaker OF the
po,chstae Johannes Kaempf. at the reopen
ing Of the sessions after the Easter vaca-
lion TO-DAY made speech expressing the
svrnatbv and grief Of the German Empire
a, ,he loss of the liner Titanic with so large
number Of lives
II was announced that the German trans
mort insurance companies lose about sS7o'-
ooo on reinsurance Of the Titanic
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
j. Montgomery Smart.

Montgomery Smart. an inventor. VINO
made his home al the Hotel Victoria. is not
reported among the survivors. He had
been abroad 10 visit his wife and two chill
drsn, sho are In Europe. Mr. Smart is the
inventor OF marine cold storage device.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17

snrinrheld. Mass He is a graduate of Co
,n,nbia University. and is preparing TO en-
,or the law profession. Mr.. Long was
,assepger last July on the steamer Spokane
nbicb was wrecked while making a trip to
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Alexander Robins.

Alexander Robins, contractor OF Yonk-
ers and his wife we're passengers OH the
Titanic according 10 their son, Alexander
Robins, jr. The son has heard nothing from
them since the vessel sailed. They mao
been visiting in Wales since last summer
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
WERE NOT ON THE TITANIC.

southampton. April is-The following
passengers whose names were on the lis
of the Titanic. did not embark:
FIRST CLASS.
4. Melody, NJ J. White and schahert'
SECOND CLASS.
pr / e. Jenkins. Mrs. g. Wilkinson anc
Ada Wilkinson.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
WycoH Vsnderhoef.

@ycon vanderhoef. OF Williamsburg, is
missing from the list OF rescued. Mr.. Van
dfrhoef is secretary Of the Williamsburg
cry Fire Insurance Company and weil
Known IN insurance circles in Brooklyn.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Erwin G. Levy.

Erwin g. Levy is the treasurer OF the
Levy Brothers Company. jewellers or Chi-
csgo. He is unmarried and lives at NO
S2s South Park avenue. Chicago.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
William Anderson Walker.

William Anderson walker Is garment
Manufacturer. with home at East orange
y. j. He is nifty years old.
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Herbert n. HiIliard.

Herbert ". Hilliard is buyer for Jordan
Marsh E. Co. Of Rostop lie lives with hi
iarriiy At no. 70 Hlchboin street, BnsM\l
ksss OIL
New-York tribune., 1912-04-17
Discusses UnsinkabIe Ship.

You ask whether il is possible -
make passenger steamships unsinkable'
steamships such as the destroyed
Titanic 1t might be possible to make
unsuitable steamships, but they would
be of very little use for any other pur-
nose than fotation. In regard 10 the
eouipping Of vessels with lifeboats. lifa'
RATS. etc. so that loss OF life may he
avoided. the question has received the
careful study not only Of those who
whose flags they fly. We have on this
side the rigid requirements of the Steam =
boat Inspection Service, covering .he
number, disposition and equipment Of
boats. and the same is true Of Europe.
SO we may be very sure that the Titanic
was fully equipped.
Modern vessels OF the sort that race
across the North Atlantic are very high
out of the water. There are problems in
connection with stowage, general dis
position. ease Of launching and the get
ting OF passengers into the boats which
are very difficult Of solution. The num-
ber of deckhands on these modern veS-
sells who are capable Of handling the
boats after they are in the water afferr.
If they do not control. the number %
boats carried. Every one who has seen
a lifeboat launched from davits high up
In the air against the sheer side of a
modern steamship in any sort of sea will
realize how essential calm water is -
safety with regard 10 lifeboats.
at advocated a number ~ years ago
a plan 10 build the part OF the after
structure Of passenger boats IN such n
way that II could float away or be
launched from the boat in times Of
emergency. With this there would nat
urally be proper equipment and some
provision for water and food. The old
time seaman as we know him Is rapidly
uassing away, and the men capable of
handling oars in heavy sea cannot be
easily found in sufficient numbers 10
man great feet of boats. We are now
eouipping the boats Of our Lifesaving
Service on shore with motors, and It viii
be only question Of time when they
will be found on all lifeboats Of the great
modern steamers for nova days. both in
passengers and crew, there will be found
many men and even women capable Of
handling with intelligence and skill ma
chinery similar to that of ordinary auto
mobiles.
The evening world., 1912-04-30
TRAIN SMASHES AN AUTO.
KILLS 3 AND INJURIES z.
Machine Fails TO Clear Tracks ny
Fraction of a Second and
Turns Somersault.

CHICAGO, April m-An Illinois Gem
trail train rushing along at the rate
Of forty miles an hour smishch INTO
An automobile on n surface crossing ~
North Riverside. a suburb OF Chicago,
shortly inter 0 o clock last night. killing
three persons, injurlng two others ana
completely de m%oilshing the car.
The dead are Robert Puner, Mrs.
Robert puTer and Mrs. c. M. streibe.
The injured. II. f. Pufer, rather OF
Robert Purer. and q salesman for an
automobile company. and w. v. Logan
another agent for the same company.
The engine Of tho train struck the
roar of the cara fraction Of a second
more and the danger world have
passed. The heavy limousine was
hurled high In the air md turning q
somersault camc down with . mighty
crash Instantly killing the three occu-
pants Of the rear seat.
". T.. PufYer and Logan fell . OF
t1pe car and neither 10 considered
seriously injured.