The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-14
HISTORIAN OF TITANIC
TELLS OF ITS HEROES
Col Grces Book About Be Published Vivid Narrative of
the Disaster That Shocked the World Just Year Ago.
Last Words Of Col Astor and Mr. and Mrs Staus
Given in Extracts Made Public for the First
Ime-lntimate Details of Disaster

strengthened for the terrible ordeal,
far better than had been forewarned
of it. ! regard as the first provision for
my safety.
Il was aroused by sudden shock
and noise. which seemed to be forward
on the starboard side, and | at once
concluded it must be caused by col
lision with another ship, a submerged
rock or other obstruction. The
thought of an iceberg did not enter
my mind. I jumped from bed. turned
on the electric light, glanced at my
watch, which had been set to agree
with the ships time, and which now
registered IL O'Clock.
Opening the door and looking into
the corridor I could neither see nor
hear anything unusual There was
no connection whatsoever, although
Immediately following the collision
came the kissing sound of escaping
steam. I listened intently. but could
hear no noise from the machinery;
but there was no MISLEADING the fact
that something was wrong, because
the ship had stopped and was blowing
off steam.
Intuition, as It Is called had never
been one of my mental attributes, but
call 1t what you may. some unforeseen
force prompted me to get into my
clothes. However, / saw no urgent
necessity for making a hurried toilet
and took the usual time in dressing.
[ give these details in order that some
conception may be had Of the time
which eiasped between my awakening
and when I left my stateroom.
''Tho distance from my cabin
through the corridor to the stairway
was short and / assembled by the ele-
vator TO the third deck above, COM
~I,r .o1 fn1 la 1Jara
found q young lad seemingly bent
upon the same quest as myself lie
Joined me and from the first cabin
quarter forward on the port side we
strained our eyes to discover what had
struck us. There were no lifeboats on
this deck TO obstruct our view and we
swept the horizon near and far for
sight of the object which might have
caused the disturbance, but in vain.
1T was beautiful night, cloudless,
the stars shining brightly The atmos-
phere was quite cold. but no. ice or
iceberg was In sight. If another ship
/ had struck US there was no trace OF
/ 1t and It did not occur TO me that 1t
! was an iceberg with which we had
collided. Not satisfied with this par
/ tial investigation. I made a com
plete tour of the deck, searching every
point of the compass with my eye
Going toward the stern vaulted over
the iron fence that divided the first
and second cabin passengers. I look
ed about me. toward the officers
quarters, in expectation of being
/ challenged for nom observance OF
rules In view of the collision I had
expected to see some OF the ships
/ officers on the boat deck. but there
/ was no sign OF one anywhere and
there was no one from whom / could
obtain any information
II had passed Mr. Psmay with 3
number OF the crew hurrytng to tho
/ stairway. He wore a day suit and was
/ hatless He seemed too much pre-.
occupied TO notice any one. Therefore
[ did not speak to him, hut regarded
his face very closely, perchance t
learn from his manner how serious
the accident might be. It occurred
TO me that he was putting on
brave face SO as to cause no alarm
among the passengers
AT the foot of the stairway were
a number of men passengers and nov
for the first time I discovered tina
others were aroused as we'll as my
self, among them my friend CllncH
Smith, from whom I first learned tina
an iceberg had struck us. Old sailors
tell us that not for fifty years had Sc
great a mass of icehergs been at thi