The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1912-04-25

The story OF the loss OF the
Titantic, while it proves that
man has not yet found absolute
mastery over the sea and its
perils, has demonstrated that all
that is required to develop he
roes is opportunity. None may
read the simple stories Of the
last hours on board the fated
liner without understanding the
better side of human nature and
how, IN the face of great calami-
ty, men rise to heights which
prove them men. Who can
read the story told by Second
Officer Lighthollder without un-
derstanding why it is that a
glamour spreads over the sea
where so many real heroes show
themselves in time of stress?
When this young officer told how
Captain Smith had instructed
him TO put the women and child
ren in the boats first, Senator
Smith asked him what he did.
"Obeyed orders" was his la
comic and sailor-ike reply. And
he did. None better knew than
this officer the peril which was
present. None better knew.
and few knew so well, that
when he sent the last boat away
loaded with passengers and
barely enough men 10 man her
in the quiet sea. that he was
surely parting with his last
chance of IIe. But he stood
on the rail, the water rising
rapidly unit. the deck was near
Iy awash and sent to safety the
women and children who had a
prior right 90 ife when disaster
rides the sea.
Nor are such men as this Of
iicer the exception. They are
everywhere aboard every ship
and in every station. II IS not
saving too much 20 declare that
80 per cent of the MEN who go
down the sea in shiDs are Of the
type Of the second mate Of the
ill-fated TitantIc.
Nor were the passengers less
brave. They were sharing a
common peril and they shared il
with all the self sacrifice which
the occasion demanded. Not an
incident marring the splendor OF
the conduct of either passenger
or officer has been recorded after
the accident happened, the one
black spot being the rescue
of the managing director of the
line, the man whose policy was
responsible for the loss of the
ship and the lives sacrificed.
But Mr.. j. Bruce Ismay will
carry the weight of his own act
and the best 10 do with him is to
forget that such creatures
cumber the earth.
But while we have heard of
the heroes on deck who helped
passengers 20 the lifeboats, what
must we think of the men below
decks who stood 10 their posts.
fighting the thrush of the water
and keeping the engines and
pumps going in order to give
time to these same passengers TO
embark in the lifeboatS? So far
there has been none 10 sing their
praises. the praise of these men
who. cooped like rats in the very
bowels OF the doomed slip.
stuck to their posts and did their
utmost in the performance of
their duty that others might
live. IL is grand to know. and
to have demonstrated this fact.
that the sea breeds such men.
although the sacrifice and cost
of the demonstration is pathetic
beyond words.
Not an engineer was savedl
Not a stoker rescued except
those who were dragged from
the water by boats which had
not been filed
That is a record these poor
fellows MADE when they went
down in their ship. true to their
trust and doing their duty to the
ultimate and bitterest end. AS
the water rushed into the en-
gine room. what thoughts came
to those standing bravely by
their giant engines and meeting
their doom? Probably the grim
satisfaction of duty well done