Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-04-14
Anniversary Of HI.
TITANIC DISASTER
Great Liner Plunged to the
Oceans Bottom a Year
Ago Today.
THE IIEROISM OF MEN.
l,517 Souls We're Lost in Worlds
Greatest Marine Catastrophe
Many Suits Are Filed.

New York, April 14.-Just a year
ago-more than 1000 persons were
joyful that they had share in the
maiden voyage of the greatest boat
the world ever knew, playing tennis
on deck, floating in the tempered
waters of swimming pool, dining in
luxurious saloons, chatting in drawing
rooms more regal than a kings palace
and listening to the worlds finest mu-
sic. Then came a crash, darkness,
death, heroism, cowardice, the man.
ming of lifeboats, the escape of those
who could get away from the sinking
hulk-featured the last moments of
the Titanic aa she sank April IA, 1912,
and the most frightful sea tragedy of
all time was enacted.
It was late in the evening when the
craft ground into the iceberg off the
Newfoundland Grand Banks, four
days after she started on her first
"trip. The night was clear, the sea
smooth. 1t was 11:46 ships time, or
1913 New York time. The orchestra
was playing on the decks, the women
of the first cabin were lingering in the
Eighth and warmth and gaiety of the
dining rooms where there was music
and bubbling life. The men were
smoking their goodnight cigars. In
thesecond and third cabins, there was
like joy, with the prospect of "home"
or "new land but few hours
away.
And then came the towering berg,
the belated needing of repeated warn
ings that ice was in the vicinity, the
grinding crash and the icy sea. The
whole tale has been often told-how
brides were torn from husbands; how
children were put into boats by frenz-
led parents who hoped their little ones
might be saved even though the per-
ished themselves; how the men, save
for few shameful exceptions, stood
back and waited for death while the
women were given first place in the
life-boats; how the musicians struck
up Nearer, My, God to Thee" and
played it until the water smothered
their melody; how the Carpathia, rush
ing to the rescue, stood by and gather
ed up survivors; how relatives in New
York, in agony of anxiety, besieged
the Offices of the White Star line for
the news that was three days in reach
ing land. That disaster stands out
grim and awful today, though the
world has again been shocked by tales
of cyclone and flood shat have eXacted
great toll of life.
The Titanic launched May 81, 1911,
represented the best that marine arch
itects could build. She was built for
capacity, comfort and speed. She was
ss2.6 feet long, 92.6 feet beam, was
of 1926 tons register and cost ST.
100000. She carried 1928 persons in
Guiding the crew.
Of these, 1877 were lost and 7o6
were saved. Of the 800 first-class pas
senrers, 1919 were saved, or GO per
cent: of the 2S5 second-class passen-
gers. 119 were saved, or AZ per cent;
of he 10 third-class passengers, l64
or 25 per cent. we're saved; of the crew
"a per cent. were saved.
Among the Inflated passengers or
the ship that went down were some
of the prominent figures Of contempt,
rary life. There were Colonel Johr
Jacob Astor, Major Archibald W. Butt
Francis D. Millet, the artist; William
T. Stead, journalist and philosopher
Jacques Futrelle, novelist; Benjamin
Guggenheim, merchant; Charles Mel
Vile Hayes, railroad-president; lsldol
Straus, merchant and philanthroplst
John B. Thayer, railroad vice-presl
dent; George D. W'.dener, trac
ton magnate; Henry B. Harris, the
atrlcal manager; Clarence Moore
sportsman; Arthur Ryerson, lawyer
Frederick Sutton, merchant; and thu
gallant skipper, Captain E. J. Smith
These are butNe*few of the Industrious
I; names and the story of how each mai
I, died is a romance of itself.
One of the most thrilling experien
ces of the disaster was that of Colone
| Archibald Oracle, of Washington. VIII