The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-05-26

"John Jacob Astor half-forces his wife
into the boat She submits. but much
against her will. He climbs over and
takes seat beside her in the lifeboat.
1t is ruse to get her in-he kisses her
tenderly-stands up, steps lightly out
and gives his place TO woman.
Lower away calls the off ser.
''Wait-here is a boy-his mother is
hereY'
Lower away calls the officer
''there is no room
Colonel Astor steps back. George
Widener tosses him woman's hat,
picked up from the deck. Colonel Astor
Jams the hat on the boys head. takes
the lad up IN his arms, runs TO the rail
all CALLS You won't leave this little
girl, will your
"Drop her into the boat" shouts the
officer The child drops into friendly
hands as the boat is lowered.
Astor turns to Widener and laughing
ly says, well, we put one over on 'em
that time.
'sl'll meet you in New York." calls
Colonel Astor to his wife as the boat
pulls off. He lights a cigarette and
and passes the silver case and a match
box along to the other men.
man runs back to his cabin tc
get a box of money and jewels. The
box is worth three hundred thousand
dollars. The man changes his mind
and gets three oranges, and gives one
orange each to three children as they
are lifted into safety.
AS lifeboat is being lowered, Mr..
and Mrs Isador Straus come running
with arms full of blankets, brought
from their stateroom. They throw the
bedding to the people in the boat.
"Help that woman ini'' shouts an
Office. Two sailors seize Mrs. Straus
She struggles, frees herself, and proud
ly says, Not II will not leave my
husband" Mr.. Straus insists, quietly
and gently, that she shall go. He viii
follow later.
But Mrs. Straus is firm. ''All these
years we have trave.ed together, anC
shall we part now? No, our fate is one.
She smiles quiet smile. and pushes
aside the hand of Major Butt, who ha:
ordered the sailors to leave her along
1--WE will help you-Mr. Straus and
come! 1t is the law of the sea
women and children irst-comel" salt
Major Butt.
No, Major: you do not understand
remain with my husband-we are one
no matter what comes-you do not un
derstandl'
.'See," she cried, as if to change the
subject there is a woman getting il
the lifeboat with her baby; she has NJ
wraps!'
Mrs. Straus tears off her fur lined rob
and places it tenderly around the wome
and innoeently sleeping babe.
William T. Stead, grim, hatless, will
furrowed face, stands with an iron ba
in hand as lifeboat is lowered " thos
men in the steerage, fear will make
rnsh-they will swamp the boats" !"
Major Butt draws his revolver. H
looks toward the crowded steerage
Then he puts his revolver back into hi
pocket mo. they know we will saw,
their women and children as quickly a
we will our own
Mr.. Stead tosses the iron bar into tn,
sea.
He goes to the people crowding th'
afterdeck They speak a polyglo
language. They cry, they pray, the,
supplicate, they kiss each other in fren
zied grief.
John B. Thayer, George Widene1
Henry Harris, Benjamine Gugger
helm. Charles NJ. Hays, Mr.. and Mr.
Staus, move among these people, tai
to them and try 10 reassure them.
There are other women besides Mr..
Straus who VIII not leave their hui
bands.
These women clasp each other!
hands. They smile-they understan'
Mr.. Guggenhiem and his secretar
they are in full dress. IF we are go
call on Neptune, We will go dressed a
gentlmen." they laughingly said.
Phe ship is slowly settling by tn
head
The forward deck is below the wate
The decks are at vicious angle.
The icy waters are full of struggle
people.
ATExAS WONDER