Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-19
COL, GRACIE'S FIRST
ACCOUNT OF WRECK
TOLD AS HE LANDED

theprlnteu from last night s extra e0ltlOn
of The STAR.
NEW YORK. April I9.-Col. Archibald
Oracle Of Washington, D. c., was the last
person saved from the Titanic. Swallow
ed up in the whirlpool that closed on the
sinking Titanic as he stood awaiting
death on the deck Col. Oracle went down
with the rush OF waters at the base Of
one OF the tunnels. With the vigor of
strong man he chung to life. and was
thrown back to the surface by the ex-
plosion Of the giant boilers beneath him.
A strong swimmer. he saved himself by
striking out manfully until picked up by
one Of the small boats.
Col. Oracle was welcomed here last
night as one who had returned from the
grave by his wife. his daughter. Mrs.
Paul II. Fabricus, and Mr.. Fabricus.
OF Mai. Butt, Clarence Moore and F. d.
Millet. he said: .'All were lost, believe.
| saw them all at times before the dis
aster. but not one after the ship went
down.
Saws There Was No Panic.
Col. Oracle told a remarkable story OF
personal hardship, and denied emphatic
ally the reports that there had been any
panic on board. He praised in the high
est terms the behavior Of both the pas
sengers and crew, and paid high tribute
to the heroism Of the woman passengers.
Mrs Isidor Straus.'' he said. went
to her death because she would not desert
her husband Although he pleaded with
her to take her place in the boat sne
steadfas silly refused. and when the snip
he he
ed in the wave that swept her.
Col. Oracle told of how he was driven
to the topmost deck when the snip set
tied. and was the sole survivor AFTER the
wave that swept her just oefore ner hhal
plunge had passed.
II Jumped with the wave he SAID
lust as / often have jumped with the
breakers at the seashore. BY great good
fortune I managed to grasp the brass
railing on the deck above. and hung on
plunged down l was forced to let go. and
was swirled around and around for
what seemed to be an interminable time
Eventually 1 came to the surface to ma
the sea a mass Of tangled Wreckage.
Pulls Others on to Raft. .
Luckily, 1 was unhurt. and. casting
about, managed to seize wooden grating
floating nearby. When l had recovered
my breath 1 discovered a larger canvas
and cork life raft, which had noated up.
A man, whose name l did not learn, was
struggling toward 1t from some wreck
age to which he had chung. / cast on
and helped him to get onto the raft. and
we then began the work Of rescuing those
who had jumped into the sea and were
houndering in the water.
When dawn broke there were thirty OF
us on the raft. standing knee deep In the
icy water and afraid to move. lest the
cranky craft be overturned. Several
unfortunates, benumbed and half dead.
besought us to save them, and one or
had to warn them away. Had we made
any effort to save them, We all might
have persisted.
''The hours that elapsed before we were
picked up by the carpathia were the
spent Practically without any sensation
Of feeling, because OF the icy water. We
were almost dropping from fatigue. We
were afraid to turn around to look to
see whether we were seen by passing
ing astern passed the word that some
thing that looked like a steamer was
coming up. one of the men became hys-
terical under the strain. The rest Of u.s.
too, were nearing the breaking point"
Only One Shot Fired.
Col Oracle denied with emphasis that
any men were fired upon. and declared
that only once was a revolver discharged.
This was for the purpose of intimi-
dating some steerage passengers" he
said. who had tumbled into a boat be-
fore it was prepared for launching. This
shot was fired In the air. and when the
foreigners were told the next would be
directed at them they promptly returned
to the deck. There was no confusion and
no panic"
Contrary to the general expectati ton. there
was no Earring impact when the vessel
struck according TO Col Oracle. He was In
when the vessel smashed into the
submerged portion of the berg, and was
aroused by the jar; He looked at his
watch. he said, and found that 1t was
lust midnight The ship sank with him
at 2:22 am, for his watch stopped at
that hour.
Prophecy Of Mr.. Hays.
Before I retired" said Col. Oracle. Il
had a long chat with Charles NJ. Hays,
president Of the Grand Trunk Railroad.
One Of the last things Mr.. Hays said was