Evening star., 1926-11-28
TITANIC RESCUER
T HEIR TO S2,OlO,OlD
Fireman Who Carried Baby
to Safety Is Made Guard
Ian With Bequest.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

TORONTO, November 27-Heir to
$2,000,000 and guardian of girl IA
years old. who is an infant he saved
when the Titanic went down in 1912,
Is the happy fate which. according
TO his own story, has befallen John
James, fireman employed in one of
Toronto's pumping stations. A few
days ago James left for England for
the purpose. he said. of concluding
legal formalities.
Among John James associates his
story is accepted at it's face value, for
they have known him for many years
as trustworthy workman and a man
OF his word. Among others there is
skepticism pending his return from
England with his millions and his
ward.
John James story in any case
stands unriValed among romanceS of
the sea. Here it is in his own words:
I had shipped on the Titanic as a
seaman under the name of John
Jones. did not use my own name
because of a previous disagreement
With the company's employment
office.
Went to Station.
When the vessel struck the 'growl-
er' | took my station beside No. 8
boat.
1t was as the passengers were get
ting into the boat that [ received
charge Of the baby who has been re-
sponsible for the events which have
happened recently.
"A number of ladies had got into
the boat. / remember they included
Mrs. J. J. Astor and Lady Rothe,
when lady carrying a baby in her
arms came forward. Her husband
and two other little children were
with her. She first handed me the
child and then, on learning her hus-
nand could not accompany her, re-
fused to go herself. The other two
children stayed with their mother,
and ! was handed Il sum of money
and an address in London. with In
structions that should anything hap
pen ] was to deliver the child to that
address. I was told I WAS keeping
the baby for extra precaution. None
of us dreamed for a moment the
Titanic would sink
We lowered away and pulled off
from the doomed vessel.
Gave Passengers Rum.
Each hour | made each passenger
take a. teaSpoonful of rum and | took
some myself 1t kept us alive, for the
cold following the proximity of the
fcebergS was intense, and l was
dressed only in canvas breecheS and
Jersey. | had not even shoes on. /
had slowed the baby wrapped up in
my oilskins in the boats locker. Now
and again it would cry, and | moist
ened it's lips with a little rum and
water. That, in my opinion, kept 1t
alive.
1T was terrible when the passen-
gers in the boat realized the giant
vessel was gone. The tragedy has
been sufficiently written about and
1t Is enough for me to say that the
next morning we were picked up by
the Carpathia and baby was still safe
and sound.
"On the Carpathia they tried to
take the child from me, but / had
given my word to deliver it to it's
grandparents. and / meant to keep it.
The child was we'll cared for, of
course. and. after we reached New
York, | took it ashore with me and
then back to England. where | was
met by the grandparents at Liverpool
and handed her over to them. At the
time / was well compensated finan-
cially. and, after the Washington and
Southampton inquiries, at both of
which L gave evidence, / returned to
my calling on the sea.
Called on Grandparents.
THE grandparents would write me
and send me money on the Titanics
anniversary, but it was not until the
war that l saw them again. 1t was
about six years after the Titanic's
sinking that 1 was in hospital
wounded. When l was discharged I
was given a fortnisht's leave and |
went to spend it in London in the
Union Jack Club. | had nothing to
do there, SO | thought / would call
for the first time on the baby's grand
parents. for / had been often invited
when in London to do so.
Il went down By bus. and, of course,
| was wearing my sailors uniform
When l arrived at the address 1 was
surprised at the size and imposing
front of the house | had come to
visit. Mastering up my courage, |
rang the bell, and when the door was
opened by a butler asked to see the
lady of the house. He viewed me with
apparent doubt. and then remarked
that the lady of the house was not
at home.
Take her my name I said L
know she will see me-
He was about to close the door
when little girl walked from q room
to the left of the great hall across it.
She was dressed in white, and as she
crossed she saw me. She stopped and
looked at me for long moment
Gains Admittance.
What is your name? she asked
me. and | told her.
Martin she said, kindly let the
gentleman in. l know him and grand
mother will see him
II was taken inside. where an old
lady was sitting reading. l introduced
myself. and to my CONSERVATION she
kissed me-
Send for Mrs. Martin, she order
ed the butler. Mr.. James will stay
with me-
Il demurred. but she insisted, and
the whole of my fortnight's leave was
spent in that wonderful house. Each
day we would drive to the theater or
some entertainment or other. while /
met many people at her home. You
can guess l was not entirely COM
Portable. but | gradually got used to
the new luxury, and my leave expired
almost before it had begun, SO to
speak Then I went back to the sea
again. After the war. with $500 the
old lady gave me, l came to Canada
and started my new life here"
Now. according to James. the grand
mother is dead, and he has been noti-
fed that he must assume guardianship
of the child and is heir to an estate
that is valued at So 100000.
An embarrassing change in his mode
Of life is entailed. but James thinks
he can best bridge the gulf by becom-
ing a gentleman farmer. an old ambi-
ton with him.
In any case, he says. he will not
abandon Canada or his friends at the