Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-05-29

- and maintenance We're lnvOlV-
ed every science, profession and trade
known to civilization. On her bridge
were officers, wL~, besides being the
pick of the royal navy, had passed
rigid examinations in all studies that
pertained to the winds, tides, currents
and geography Of the sea. They were
not only seamen, but scientists. The
same professional standard applied to
the personnel of the engine room, and
the stewards department was equal to
that of a first class hotel.
Two brass bands. two orchestras and
a theatrical company entertained the
passengers during waking hours, a
corps of physicians administered to the
temporal and Il corps of chaplains to
the spiritual welfare of all on board.
while we'll drilled fire company
soothed the fears of nervous ones and
added to the general entertainment by
daily practice with their apparatus.
From her lofty bridge ran hidden
telegraph lines to the bow. stern, en-
CINE room, crows nest on the fore
mast and to all parts Of the ship
where work was done. each wire ter
minating in marked dial with NOV
able Indicator containing in it's scope
every order and answer required in
handling the massive hulk, either at
the dock or at sea, which eliminated
to great extent the hoarse, nerve
racking shouts Of officers and sailors.
From the bridge, engine room and
dozen places on her deck the ninety
two doors of nineteen water tight COM
partments could be closed in half a
minute by turning a lever. These
doors would also close automatically
in the presence of water. With nine
compartments flooded the ship would
still float. and as no known accident
of the sea could possibly fill this many
the steamship Titan was considered
practically unsuitable.
Built of steel throughout and for pas
senger traffic only, she carried no COM
bustible cargo to threaten her destruc-
ton by fire. and the immunity from
bled her designers to discard the fiat.
kettle bottom of cargo boats and give
her the sharp dead rise-or slant from
the keel-of steam yacht. and this
improved her behavior in a seaway.
She was 800 feet long. Of 10000 tons
displacement, 10000 horsepower, and
on her trial trip had steamed at rate
T. kt,rN
bottom. in the face of unconsidered
winds. tides and currents. In short.
she was floating city. containing
within her steel walls all that tends
to minimize the dangers and discom-
forts of the Atlantic voyage, all that
makes life enjoyable.
Unsuitable. indestructible, she car
ried as few boats as would satisfy
the laws, These. twentyfou in num-
Der. were securely covered and dashed
down to their checks on the upper
deck, and if launched would hold 500
people. She carried no useless. cum
bersome life RATS. but, because the law
required It, each of the 5000 berths In
:" the passengers. officers and crews
quarters contained cork Jacket. while
about twenty circular life buoys were
strewn along the rails
In view of her absolute superiority
to other craft. rule of navigation
thoroughly believed in by some cap
tains. but not yet openly followed. was
announced by the steamship company
to apply to the Titan. She would
steam at full speed In fog, storm and
sunshine and on the northern lane
route. winter and summer, for the fol
lowing good and substantial reasons
First. that If another craft should
strike her the force Of the impact
would be distributed over larger ares
II the Titan had full Roadway, an(
the brunt Of the damage would b.
borne by the other; second, that If thu
Titan was the aggressor she would
certainly destroy the other craft, ever
at half speed, and perhaps damage he
own bows. while at full speed sh'
would cut her In two with no more dam
age to herself than paint brush coult
remedy. In either case. as the Jesse
Of two evils, 1t was best that tn
smaller hull should suffer. A third rea
son was that at full speed she coul!
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