The evening world., 1912-04-20
MAN DISGUISED
AS WOMAN GOT INTO BOAT
Fortune Tells How Other Men,
Maddened by Icy Seas, Tried to
Capsize Frail Craft After Being,
Dragged From Water.

How one mn escaped from the Titanic dressed In wornens clothes even
to hat and VEIL when the ships officers we're not permitting men, with the
exception Of those who manned the lneboats to leave the sinking ship. was
told by Mrs. Mark Fortune yesterday through her soninIaw. II c. Hutton.
Of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mrs. Fortune. with nr daughters Misses Lucille,
Mabel and Alice, are at tho Hotel Belmont. The husband and father n
the on and brother of the family persisted.
Mrs Fortune was aroused by her sol Charles knocking at the door Of
the cabin. He told her the ship had struck an iceberg and was in danger.
About the same time a steward rushed through the passage and yelled;
There is danger. This ship cannot sink!"
The women we're not Inclined to take things 70 calmly as the steward
wanted them to and hurriedly dressed. On their way 70 the deck they were
Joined by Mr.. Fortune and Charles.
At the stairway they we're met by omcers who informed the father AM
son that they would not be permitted to 90 any further. The women were
instructed to get into a nfeboat. but still they did n lot realize the ship was
in danger. One of the Fortune girls called back to her brother:
Charlie. you look after father"
That was the only message that passed between them. The mother and
daughters were placed in Mfeboat 10. It wa terribly overcrowded. Mrs
Fortune told her brotherinlaw. and with the exception Of a Chinaman. a
stoker and four men who were to MAJ the boat all In II we're supposed to
be women.
1t became necessary to transfer these four me- to another boat which
va without q crew. This left only the Chinanan to row
About this time the discovery was MADE that q yelled person In womens
clothes wa a man. He made no explanation a S to why he was SO dressed
and none was asked Of him. but that he had donned the clothes to escape
with women when men were being held back to die there ws n question.
Nor did any M ask his name or learn It later. -r
The only request made of him was that he take an oar. This he did
reluctantly. The Chinaman and stoker knew almost nothing DO rowihS
and the maj in womens clothes knew less
One Of the Fortune girls and another girl got out An ga each and
helped to pull away from the wreck. The family agreed that they we're IN
the boat one hour after the liner struck. At 25 the next morning. as
far a they can remember. they saw the stern Of the Titanic hoist itself IN
tho air. A crowd could be seen struggling. shreks and yens came aero"
the water to the crew OF the tenth boat
The bandsmen continued playing to the last. some with life preserver'
on their arms a they worked their Instruments and others with the belts
around their waists Not made 4 attempt to saw himself. -
Mrs. Fortune WI Of the opinion that no discrimination was made b."
tween passenger Of the first, second n third classes in making the auot
ments for seats in the boats. The rule applied only to the women. how.
When the ship struck, several lei in the seerase tried to rush tn.
them of by slugging them as they surged around them, but the passengers
grew more terrified. Then the oncers made Sc Of their revolvers, nrst t.
Are II the air and then to aim at the men H.t
Ms. Fortune and her daughters we're spared the sight Of a wholesale
slaughter of the steerage passengers. but she saw at least N man 20
down. He was shot in the arm. and his fate intimidsted the Others. The
men rushed of to another quarter of the ship to resume their attempts
upon the boats.