STORY OF THE TITANIC

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1931, Page 3

STORY OF THE TITANIC

CARP ATM IA TO PE SC Ul

REM A R KARLE IX 01D EX TS. HUSBAND AXD WIFE RFUXITED. "My race to the Sinking Titanic” is the title to the- lirst of a series of articles written for the Sunday Express by Captain Sir Arthur Rostron, late commodore of the Canard Line, who in 1912 commanded the Carpathia. It was th:s vessel that early in the morning of April 15 of that year received the dramatic wireless call from the White Star liner Titanic: “S.O.S. Titanic calling. We have struck ice and require immediate assistance.” The Titanic making her maiden voyage from England to America, had struck an iceberg shortly before midnight on April 14, Sir Arthur, after describing the race of 60 miles to the doomed vessel.

Our passengers saw the survivors required dry and worm clothing, so off they took them to their own cabins to fit them out with everything they could. All our men passengers gave up their cabins, and many of the women doubled up with others so as to leave their own quarters free for the distressed. Every officer, of course, yielded his accommodation.

In any cabin were three women, each of whom was bereaved. Their husbands, nil millionaires, had perished, and, in addition, one woman had lost a son. On the other hand, one had her son vi h her whose saving had that touch of the .dramatic that was in evidence time and again that night. ROW THE TITANIC WE XT DOWN.

This boy hod been separated from his mother, but later on had found a place in a collapsible boat. These th ugs are like ordinary boats, as to the hull, except they are fiat-bottomed and their sides jure canvas and can be folded down. The sides of the one this hoy was in collapsed for some reason, and he, with others, was kneeling on the hull. The boy’s position was even more precarious than it sounds, for since they were helpless to propel it in any way, the boat was floating in the near vicinity of the liner and could not move away, ft was right under her stern, and from this boy I heard a graphic account, of

how the Titanic upended herself and remained poised, like some colossal nightmare of a fish, her tail high in '.the air, her nose deep in the water, until she dived finally .from human sight. That collapsible boat was fortunate not to have been sucked down with the ship. Probably the suction was lessened hv reason of the pause, and then the sliding movement she took ; at all events, the helpless boat merely bobbed a little dangerously and remained afloat. In a little while a ship's bout came near. Tt was hailed, and the boy was taken into her. And the first person whom lie saw in. this rescuing boat was his own mother. Imagine the joy of that meeting. But it was more than matched by another, rather similar, episode oi that night. “HER OWX HU SB AXIL”

In this case I am recounting a boat’s gunwale was seized forward by a swimmer. It was well before dawn. Xo one could see who it was, but many voices were raised, protesting against him being hauled in. "We arc full ; we are full !" they cried. "Don’t let him come in !” One woman in the stern sheets, however, nursing her sorrow of a husband left behind in the sunken ship, begged, for the swimmer to be taken in. The pity in her pleading prevailed, and she knew the .swimmer had been saved before she sank back into the frozen coma that great tragedy engenders. Hours passed. At length dawn lit the haggard faces of those who huddled shivering in the boat. Only then did the woman see the features of the drenched man she had been chiefly instrumental in dragging from death by drowning.

]t. was her own husband. It stirred the heart to see the fortitude ot the bereri'ved. ’fu.st; as" it sent a glow of pride to l’steiijto some of the tales that were gradually revealed by the survivors, ot the sights that had been witnessed during those last hours in the sinking ship. YOUXG GIRL’S SACRIFICE. Tab's of bravery and self-sacrifice shown by every class add lustre to the human story. In those hours of trial, facing death, men were equal in heroism, whether they were' the. humblest or such as had much of this world’s possessions And one wondered, looking into the troubled and sometimes vacant faces ot those who were saved, whether they oi tli USD- left behind had the harder part to play. We heard then and later of tales of the famous tales, too, ol the unknown.

•Of them all, one remains warm iiT my memory. It concerned a young girl. A boat full of women was ready for lowering from the stricken ship. It was found to be too full; and the order was given for someone to get out. What a moment! But it had to be done, for the overfull boat endangered the lives of all. , A girl got up to leave the boat. At once some of the others protested, pleading that- -she should stay. I "Xo,” she said, "you are married and I have families. I’m not; it doesn’t matter about me.”

The girl stepped out of the boat and returned to the deck. She went down with the ship. She gave her life that others might iive. Xo words of mine can add to the beauty of that action. But that night it was duplicated a hundred times as the boats went off —until there were no more to go, and those who remained knew all. hope of safety was dissipated. The night and the morning were crowded with incidents. Here is one that shows how truth can indeed be stranger than fiction. It also throws a light -on the amazing quietness and smoothness with which the crew of the. Carpathia went abopt their task of preparation and rescue. MOST DRAMATIC REUNION.

We had sailed from Xew York on April 11. It had been a pleasant and smooth passage, save for the intense cold, upon which we all remarked. On the Sunday—three days out—-we were in reach by wireless of the Titanic. At dinner that night a message was received from that ship—a private communication. It came from two girls who were aboard her, and was addressed to their uncle and aunt—Mr and Mrs o'"shall—-who were in the Carpatliia. Tiro Marshalls knew nothing of the wreck. They retired to their state cabin ; then they went to sleep. The night was calm, the sea smooth. They slept- on all through the preparations that were going on aboard. But amongst the first of the survivors from tile Titanic who came up one of the gangways were the two nieces who a few hours before had been wirelessing from the Titanic, to the Marshalls. While the latter had been sleeping, these girls had been through all the agony of the night. It- was about half-past 6 when the Marshalls awoke. A steward knocking on their door aroused them. “What is it?” asked Mr Marshall. “Your nieces wish to see you, sir,” replied the steward. No wonder Mr Marshall was dumbfounded, hardly believing his eyes when lie opened the. cloor and looked upon the girls. He could scarcely credit his senses as he listened to their story.