Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1912-04-24
It was a"clear, starlight
ni0ht-" the survivors described

| AlS uoS ou0 ooAS1'oe
the weather, ard the great ship
sped through quiet seas with Off
GERS confident that even though
an iceburg should be seen, the
vessel could be controlled. Thit
confidelce is emphasized in the
stories of nearly ell survivors,
that when the crash came thare
was practically no excitement.
Many who felt .ahxious to go on
deck to inquire as to what had
happened were but little pertur'
bed when they learned that the
ship had "only struck an ic;-
turg." 1t appeared TO be glanc'
ing blow. At first there was nc
indication Of serious accident.
A group of men at card table IN
the smoking room seLt one OF
their number to thu lookout win
dow. When he returned with the
announcement that the ship
grs zed an icsburg, the party COL
tinued the game; but it was never
| finished.
The stoppage Of the engines was
noticed more than the collision.
The over.confident passengers
we're not brought to realization
that the collision might mean Sc
rious danger until ths call ran
through the ship, "All passengers
on deck with life belts on"
Captain Smith, it is said, was not
on the bridge when the collision
occurred, but when hurriedly
summoned by his first officer be
taok charge of whas seemed to be
+ hopeless situation in a resolute
manner.
One of the stirring narratives
of the scenes following the oolll-
sion was told today by L. Beasley,
a Cambridge University man, one
of the second cabin passengers.
"The steamer lay as if waiting for
orders togo on again, when some
trif1ing matter had been adjust
cd" he said. ''But in few
mii. utes we saw the covers lifted
from %the boats and crews allotted
80 them standing by ready to low
~sr them to the water. Presently
We heard an order: All me1
stand back, and all ladies retire
to next deck below, smoking room
deck, Or B deck. The men, stand
ing away, renamed i'll absolute
silence. leaning against the end
railing, Or pacing slowly up and
down.
"The boats we're lowered from
a deck. When they were to the
level of B. deck, whore the wom-
an we're collecsed, the women got
in quietly with the exception of
some, who refused to leave their
husbands. In some cases they
we're torn from their husbands
and pushed into the lifeboats.
"All this time there was no
trace of disorder; no panic or
rush for the boats; no scenes Of
women sobbing Historically.
Every one senmed to realize So
slowly that there Was imminent
danger. When 1t was realized va
would be presently in the sea,
with nothing but our life belts TO
support US until we wese picked
up by passing steamers it was ex-
traordinary how CAIN every one
was and how complete the self
control.
'.One by one the boats were
6!leo with women and childre1,
| aud lowered and rowed away into
the night. Soon word went
around among the men. "Men
are to be put in the boats on the
starboard side" / was on the
D rt side sud most of the men
walked across the deck to see If
this was go. Presently heard q
call: "Any more ladies;' l
saw one more come. One of the
cr4 W said then. "You better
Jump" l dropped i'll, falling to
the bots m as they cried: ''Low-
er away "
Mr.. Bsasley said the lifeboat
was nearly two miles away from
the Titanic two hours later, when
they saw the liner sink. The
other survivors nearer the ship
heard Nearer, My God, to
Thee" played by the band as the
/ liner sank. Suddenly there was