New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-28


nov. complain that they handled an oar or
hacked a glass of water, or that some one
spoke grufly. We might point out that II
was this same sense OF honor which saved
the women and children, the families of
those men. whether passengers or on shore'
who intrusted the lives Of wife and child
TO the keeping of these brave ohlcers ana
self ga criicing crew.
The Judgment which has 5"eu impugned
upon the bridge yet fails OF CONTAMINATION
when exercised in the boats. do not WISH
20 indorse with enthusiasm Judgment
which is exercised at the expense OF Draw
cry. of generosity and Of humanity, nut the
CRY Of the women In the boat OF lhIru
Officer rfttman. do not put hackTWe sha'l
be swamped": the hesitation OF that oHlcer
IN obey his instinct and put back, Win
four men at the oars, was not WITHOUT
good reason. To 90 back in among strug-
Cling men In the water with such ere"
was almost certain death to all. Not one
nor three or four men clambering over the
side could upset such "A boat, nut WHAT
shall I say Of dozens? Nor could one III
the darkness pick and choose. man here'
another there. Once among tho s"ntinet''
and without crew the boat was lost
The first swimmers reaching the boat seize
its side and impede its progress: announcer
clutches an oar in the water; you cannot
shake him off; others come up and swarm
over the sides. and II you are not upset.
still YOU cannot back away; the drag OF so
many men in the water is as strong as al
anchor against four oars. supposng you
could use them; still others come, UNTIL IL
not upset. you're swamped by very torce
of numbers The experience of young NC
Cormack, of Bayonne, who, though only
one. vet succeeded in clafnbering into A
boat where they tried to beat him on Is a
striking example OF the powerlessness Oh
these boats. with their small crews ana
lack Of manPuvring power. against oeS-
perate men in the water. | say nothing oil
the panic which must have reigned In that
boat whose passengers could find the heart
to refuse Succor 10 n single man, VINO couId
neither swamp nor overload them. Panic
is to be expected II was his good fortune
that there were only women 10 resist, Tor
the men must have been unable or uh"lH-
ing 10 get at him.
come to the quartermaster IN Major
Peuchen's boat. lie had Major Peucheh
and a sailor at the oars. do not nehtoh
the foreigner, who could not speak "oru
of English nor presumably. had ever seen
an oar. If our nuartermaster manned an
oar himself he then had threc-enoush 10
noddIo away I'm a calm. but not enough 10
90 back. The major and the ladies wanted
10 so back All honor to their tehoet
hearts. There are two ways YOU may get
a man 90 do what you want nm TO- lou
may cause him TO fear. or you may Pe'
suadc. Did the major use threats! OF dlu
he persuade? Why. no. He showed MS
conteupt-and that 10 man in command
OF mon, and in their presence was 'here
a more certain means 20 make MIN stun
born? Was there a surer way TO get away
from the ship? Yet we would not sccus'
the gallant major OF anything but want
~ Judgment Bur the quartermaster was
,n 4 panic II had 20 run Sc course ana
while Il so ran this vulgar seaman IAN
ruag. was very mladyllke. He asked tor
a drink Of brandy. and even FOR an extra
wrap hope h. did not take it by force.
Rut I am treasured The gallant major
would never have permitted IT,
For my part. | think that every Hteooh'
should carry cushioned seats. SaSoIeh'
motor and stove Il cook. steward ana en-
gluccr. and BIZ well slowed with provisions
for thirty days and oil for the stove ana
motor. Il would he advisable. too 10 nave
q, Narconi operator on each boat who at
all times could he in touch with the 'hNesu-
eating committee. which should be MADE
st.rJiug committee These men should b."
chained 10 their posts throughout the Voy-
10, Ga that nour might b" unnecessarily
temptcd 10 Yield his place - lady, ana
thus force her 10 bend her tender back to
an oar would also strongly adViS' 'n''
the officers OF all ships touching at ports IN
Tho United states y" instructed by tn" IN
,..t!ga,irE committee hereafter 10 aNoiu
All mistakes OF Judgment In tn" eNcr"is" ot
thos.. disrr",lonarv powers with when the!
ha,, L..u iutrustcd and at all times 10
maintain = proper vigilance, not only WIN
regard IN jccbcrgS. but 10 sunk"n wrecks
IN. rocks uud prout"ntorics OF ~" sea ana
fine. other dangers Of S"aiarinG men. t"'i
chat these injunctions would not only IN
,.,.,.a n not insure tho safety Of the pas
.o,gors I'm, alleviate the dlscomtorts IF a
sh.pvtc"k.
lu 'I"Ntu- d's'l' w 'NF' 's' "
medium Il ,our columns. and on behalf "l
m, .sIf and all those who road IN" papers
4 grateful acknowledgment 10 tn" in'"stl-
Eating committee for ia exhaustive cnor'S
not only In laying bare thu natur" ~ tho
accident. hut In disclosing just how j.
Erucc Ismay got OF tho ship. "a to when
,..,pu,, hut lellcy. that w all felt an in
,.r,st amounting almost to curiosity.
X. PRESCOTT GILMAN.