The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-06-15
PRIESTS HEROES OF TITANIC
Lost Their Lives While Aiding and
Comforting Passengers in
StearaUe.

! Protestants and Jews, realinzins
that their last hour was at hand,
took part in the final religious SER
vices on the sloping deck OF the
! Titanic as she was heading down
ward for the depths.
One of the clergymen was Rev.
4 Thomas r. Byles of Westminster
/ parish, London, who was on his
way to this city to officiate in
the marriage of his brother iii
Brooklyn The other was Ger
/ man priest who spoke the Hun
garian language in addition to
his own Father Byles was in the
first cabin The German priest
was in the third cabin. The name
of the German clergyman has not
been ascertained
Both priests celebrated mass for.
the Storage passengers Sunday
morning. Father Byles delivered
a sermon in English and French.
the other in German and Hunga-
rian. Strangely enough the
priests spok,, of the necessity of
man having a lifeboat in the shape
of religious consolation at hand
in case Of spiritual shipwreck
After the Titanic struck Father
Byles made his way to Storage
He was active in getting steerage
passengers up to the boat deck
and assisting women and children
to the lifeboats. OF the two clergy
rendering material aid to the
frightened emigrants, but in keep
ing the religion aspect of the ter
rible occasion to the fore When |
the time for confession seemed too
short, he babe all kneel and repear
the act of contrition, after which
he gave absolution.
Three of the survivors who vivid
ly remember the last hours of the
heroic English priest are Miss Ellen
Mocklare, pretty dark-haired
young girl from Galway, now at
her sisters home. 412 West Seven
teenth street; Miss Bertha Moran.
who has gone to Troy, N. Y, and
Miss Mccoy, who is in St. vincent's
hospital. They told their expert
ences to a reporter of daily paper
the other day.
When the crash came we were
thrown from our berths," said Miss
Mocklare. Slightly dressed, we
prepared to find out what had hap
pened. We saw before us, coming
down the passageway, with hand
uplifted, Father Byles. We knew
him because he had visited sew
era1 times on board and celebrated
mass for US that very morning.
Be calm, my good people. he
said, and then he went about theI
steerage giving absolution and bles-
sing"
Meanwhile the stewards order
ed us back to bed spoke up Miss
Mccoy, but we would not go"
"a few around us became very
excited" Miss Mocklare continued
"and then it was tn
the priest again raised his hand
and instantly they were calm once
more The passengers were imme-
diately impressed by the absolute
self-control of the priest He be-
gan the recitation of the rosary
The prayers of all. regardless of
creed, were mingled and the res
ponses, Holy Mary were LOUD
and strong"
Continuing the prayer" said
Bertha Moran, he lead us to
where the boats were being lower
ed. Helping the women and child
rem in he whispered to them words
of comfort and encouragement"
"One sailor said Miss Mocklare,
warned the priest of his danger
and begged him to board boat,
Father Byles refused The same
seaman spoke to him again and
seemed anxious to help him, but
he refused again, Father Byles
could not leave while one was left
and the sailors entreaties were not
needed
After I got in the boat. which
was the last one TO leave, ana we
were slowly going father away
from the ship. I could hear distinct
" the voice Of the priest and tne
response of his prayers. Then they
became fainter and fainter until
could only hear the strains of
Nearer, My God, to Thee and the
screams of the people left behind.
We were told by the man who row
ed our boat that we were mis-
taken as to the screams and that
it was the people singing, but we
knew otherwise"
The wedding of Father Byles'
brother, w. E. Byles, to Miss Mabel
Katherine Russell was to have TAX
en- place in St Augustine's church.
More than 1000 people were ex-
pected to attend. Miss Russell ana
Mr.. Byles did not give up hope
that Father Byles had been saved
until every passenger had arrived