Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-04-24
STATEMENT By
THE SURVIVORS
They Tell of InadequaCy of Life
Saving Appliance on Titanic.
ASK FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW
Would Have All Nations Compel
Steamship Companies to Carry a
Sufficient Number of Life
boats for All.

New York, April 19.-The following
statement issued by committee of
the surviving passengers was given
the press on the arrival of the Car
pathia:
We, the undersigned surviving pas
sengers from the steamship Titanic,
in order to forestall any sensational
or exaggerated statements, deem it
our duty to give to the press state
ment of facts which have come to our
knowledge and which we believe to
be true
On Sunday, April IA, 1912, at about
11:40 p. m, on a cold, starlight night
in a smooth sea and with no moon,
the ship struck an iceberg which had
been reported to the bridge by look
outs, but not early enough to avoid
collision
Steps were taken to ascertain the
damage and save passengers and ship.
Orders were given to put on life belts
and the boats were lowered.
The ship sank at about 2:20 a. m.
Monday, and the usual distress sig
nails were sent out by wireless and
rockets at intervals from the ship.
Fortunately, the wireless message
was received by the Cunard's Car
pathia at about IL o'clock midnight,
and she arrived on the scene Of the
disaster about a. M Monday.
The officers and crew of the steam
ship Carpathia had been preparing all
night for the rescue and comfort of
the survivors, and the last mentioned
were received on board with the most
touching care and kindness, every at
tention being given, irrespective of
class.
The passengers, officers and crew
gave UP gladly their staterooms, cloth
ing and comforts for our benefit, all
honor to them.
The English Board of Trade pas
sengers certificate on board the I'll
tanic showed approximately $500. The
same certificate called for lifeboat &C.
commodation for approximately $50 in
the following boats:
Fourteen large lifeboats, two small
er boats and four collapsible boats.
Life-preservePs were accessible and
apparently in sufficient number for all
on board.
The approximate number of passen-
gers carried at the time of the col
lision was:
First class, $50; second class, 800;
third class, $50; total, 1,4O0. officers
and crew, $40 Total, 2,340
OF the foregoing about the follow
ing were rescued by the steamship
Carpathia:
First class, 21O; second class, 1875;
third class, 200; officers, 4; seamen,
80; stewards, 96; fremen, II; total,
210 of the crew. The total about IT'S
saved was about 80 per cent. of the
maximum capacity of the lifeboats.
We feel it our duty to call the at
tention of the public to what we con-
slider the inadequate supply Of life
saving appliances provided for on
modern passenger steamships, and
recommend that immediate steps be
taken to compel passenger steamers
to carry sufficient boats to accommo-
date the maximum number of people
carried on board.
The following facts were observed
and should be considered in this con-
nection:
The inefficiency of lifeboats, RATS,
ETC.; lack of trained seamen to man
same (stokers, stewards, ETC., are
not efficient boat handlers; not
enough officers to carry out emer-
gency orders on the bridge and super
intend the launching and control of
lifeboats, absence Of searchlights.
The board of trade rules allow for
entirely too many people in each boat
to permit the same to be properly
handled. On the Titanic the boat
deck was about seventy-five feet
above water, and consequently the
passengers were required to embark
before lowering boats, thus endanger-
ing the operation and preventing the
taking on of the maximum number
the boats would hold.
Boats at all times to be properly
equipped with provisions, water,
lamps, compasses,- lights, etc. Life
saving boat drills should be more fire.
quent and thoroughly carried out, and
officers should be armed at boat drills.
Great reduction in speed in fog and
| ice, as damage If collision actually oc-
ours is liable to be less.
In conclusion, We suggest that an
international conference be called to
recommend the passage of identical
laws providing for the safety of all at
sea, and we urge the United States
government to take the initiative as
soon as possible.