Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-04-25
SPEED CAUSED
|. # THE DISASTER
Investigation Shows Great Liner Was
After Record.
MEMBERS OF CREW ARE SILENT
Two Hundred Were Rescued and win
be Questioned Before Returning
to Ensland-No Blame for
Captain.

cared for, the dead beyond recall.
survivors of the Titanic disaster were
able for the first time today to see
in calmer retrospect Mondays tragedy
! OF the North Atlantic. From their
more normal utterances there Is
! slowly unfolding the fall story OF how
the great White Star liner, her band
playing to the last, sank of the Grand
Banks with more than 1900 souls
aboard.
From the Countess of Roths, now
quartered> luxuriously in New York
hotel, to the six Chinese coolies who
escaped by hiding under the lifeboat
seats. all of the 7o5 have been pro-
vided with food and clothing, and
some immigrants and millionaires are
on their way home-to England, the
continent, or distant parts OF the
United States.
Many in Hospitals.
Many, however. and of these the
hospitals, shelter scores, still remain
In New York where the Cunard liner
OdTpdluld UIOu6hl lhSAhs
Even after all has been told OF the
disaster the death list remains APP
qroximately correct. The White Star
Line has issued statement placing
the loss of life at 1885.
Exactly how many died will never
be known. 1t has been established
oficially, however, that the Titanic
was travelling twenty-one knots an
hour when it hit the iceberg. Not
withstanding that, however, none OF
the survivors from steerage to saloon,
has as yet condemned Captain Smith,
who went down with his ship.
The Titanic's rate of speed, which
was approximately twenty-six and
one-half land miles, was brought out
from the lips of ]. Bruce Ismay, presl-
dent OF the International Mercantile
Marine and managing director of the
White star Line, who appeared as a
witness before the United States
senate committee which is Investigate
ing the disaster.
4 stda. All Watching lsmay.
Interest, second only to that In the
tales of survivors,, centered upon Mr..
Ismays recital in Washington, Sena-
tor Bayner Of Maryland bitterly ar
raigned him before the senate, and
expressed the hope that this country
might rely upon British justice ITO
bring to bay the guilty directors OF
this company"
From Washington also came the
opinion of expert naval photographers
that no blame should attach to Cap
tain Smith, because, as they contend
ed, analysis of ocean charts has shown
that the skipper, warned Of the pres
ence OF icebergs, had steered the II
tanic fully sixty miles southwark from
the regular course.
In spite OF this caution the mass
of ice was struck and as preventive
Of similar disasters, the photographic
Office In New York issued an order
shifting the lanes of transatlantic
'ners 1870 miles Southward from the
path which the Titanic followed. Az
ter giving his testimony before the
senate committee Captain Rostron Of
the Carpathia took charge Of his ship,
which departed late in the afternoon
for the Mediterranean.
CarpathIa's Captain Wept.
The vessel had been hurriedly reno
waited and cleared of the disorder
caused by the presence OF the Titanic |
survivors, and she left with cabins
full Captain Rostron wept as ne
told how the Carpathia had picked up
the unfortunate set adrift from the
Titanic, and before he left on his ship |
admiring passengers presented him
with loving cup,
Although several consistent ac- !
counts Of what happened aboard the |
Titanic have been obtained from sur
vivors, 1t was manifestly impossible
for any one to take account Of all that
occurred on her great decks, four city
blocks long in length. Thus there
we're those who maintain that there
was one or more suicides among the
officers.
Captain Smith, 1t would appear from
the concensus of narratives, went
down with his ship, but several pas
ysengers still contend that First Of
ficer Murdock shot himself through
the head before she sank. Among
others who hold this view 10 Mrs.
George D. Widener Of Philadelphia.
whose husband and son were drowHed.
Crew Is silent ~
The 200 rescued members 1T The
Titenic's crew are still in New Ygrh,
sheltered on the Red Star liner Lap
land. with few excsplt0ns they are
silent as to what happened aboard
the sinking liner. The win be re.
turned to England, bsTtnot until they
have been held Ions enough to per
NIT some Of them TO testify before
the senate COMMITTEES.
The rreateat problem confronting