STORY OF A GREAT TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 22 April 1912, Page 5

STORY OF A GREAT TRAGEDY.

MANY DEEDS OF GREAT HEROISM. SOBE MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. CAPTAIN SIITH'S SUICIDE DENIED. By Telegraph—Presß Association-Copyright (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) Neio York, April 20. The' White Star officials no stato that 1653 persons perished in the loss of the Titanic, and that 705 were saved. Of this number about a hundred are in the hospitals. Some of the survivors state that the Titanic was steaming at a speed of from 21 to 23 knots, according to instructions, to keep up her speed and break the record for a first voyage. One of the most connected accounts of the disaster is that which has been given by three French survivors. They state that they were playing cards on Sunday night, when they heard a violent noise, like that made by the scrcws racing. They went out on deck, and saw a mass of ice rubbing tho .vessel's side. The ship then took a tremendous list, and a momentary panic followed, but it speedily subsided, and confidence was restored. Tho captain said:' "Let everyone don a lifebelt. It is more prudent." The band played popular airs to reassure the passengers, none of whoin wanted_ to go into the boats, believing that there was no risk in remaining aboard. Hence some of the boats had but few passengers in them. The boat in which were these three survivors rowed half a mile away from the ship. Tho spectacle at first was fairy-like. The huge bulk of the Titanic stood out in the darkness illuminated and stationary, resembling a fantastic stage picture. Suddenly the lights on board wore extinguished, and an immense clamour rose up in the darkness. The air resounded with a supreme cry for help, and shrieks of anguish. The Titanic sank quietly, and the suction at the distance at which the boat was, was imperceptible, but there was a great backwash. After the life-boats left, a group of passengers was seen having some difficulty in launching the collapsible boats. They got into these boats eventually, but they gradually filled, and the majority of those in them were drowned, or perished of cold. The Titanic's crew acted with sublime self-sacrifice. Much useless sacrifice would _ have been avoided but for the blind faith of those on board in the vessel's unsinkableness. After the Titanic sank the sea was strewn with the bodies of the dead. Another account states that after the first shock many of the passengers retired to bed, convinced the ship would not sink. Others stood by the rail ridiculing as landlubbers those who were taking to the boats. ' There are rumours of atrocities by frenzied members of the crew, including the shooting of passengers in the boats, and the braining of swimmers who were trying to enter the boats, but the accounts of'the majority of the witnesses do not confirm x these. * The last scenes presented an agonising array of horrors. 'As the ship split the stern rose precipitously. Scores of those remaining then overboard, but others scrambled madly upwards. As the incline srteepened, hundreds lost their footing and tobogganed downwards, shrieking pitiably. Hundreds who escaped the vortex clung to wreckage and rafts. It is believed that eight hundred jumped as the vessel sank, but only the hardiest could stand the icy water. Most gave a few vigorous strokes, and then their stiffened forms floated away. A boat commanded by the purser was capsized by three women rushing to_ the Bide to cry farewells to relatives left ; \ behind. It is believed that none of the thirty women who were in the boat survived. As one of the boats was being lowered, a number of foreigners made an ugly rush, but Mr. Murdock, the first officer, who had a, revolver in his hand, said: "I will kill the first man that rushes the boat!" Three men persisted, and rushed _ it. One dropped Bhot through the head; another had his jaw blown away, and the quartermaster felled the third. 1