Loss of the Titanic.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 458, 20 April 1912, Page 5

Loss of the Titanic.

STEAMER TO SEARCH FOR BODIES. TITANIC WARNED OF THE ICEFIELD. By Tole-jrai'h. l'res- Association.—C«>l»y right London, Wednesday. The usual bookings by the White Star line continue uninterrupted, and there have been no cancellations of passages. A steamer has been despatched to search for the bodies of (he victims.

The steamer Carpathia. which picked up the survivors, and which is still on the look-out, wired "All well" on Wednesday afternoon. Only 79 men were saved, and of these (i 8 were seamen who were required to man the boats. This leaves 11 maie passengers saved. The liner Tourain entered the icefield on Wednesday and left it on Thursday. She spoke? tho Titanic on Friday, and warned her of its existence, receiving the captain's thanks for doing so. SOME OF THE MISSING. Lady Cosmo Edmund Duff Gordon was rescued, but her husband, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon, was drowned. Mr C. M. {Jays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway, was also saved. The following are still missing:—■ Mr Isidor Strauss, Mr Geo. D. Widener, Mr Benjamin Gugenheim, millionaires. Mr Washington Roebbling, constructor of the Brooklyn Suspension Bridge. Mr and Mrs Daniel Marvin and Mr Clarence Moore, well-known New York society people. Mr Thomas Andrews, director of the Harland-Wolff Shipbuilding Company. Mr Ridgley Carter, United States Minister in Koumania. Mr Chas. Williams, the racquet champion. Mr Washington Dodge, a well-known banker. Mrs Levison, a New York hostess. Mr Clarence Jones, stockbroker. Mr Robert Chisholm, fibre manufacturer. Mr Jacques Frutelle, the celebrated novelist. Mr C. Head, ex-Mayor of Chelsea. Jonkheer Reuchlin, director of the Holland-America Steamship Line. Mr F. D. Millet, the world-famous artist. Mr Henry B. Harris, theatrical producer. The second, third, fourth, and fifth officers and the junior Marconi operator, were among those saved. TOTAL LOSS. It is estimated by the Financial Times that the total loss is £5,000, 000, including, besides the vessel, the cargo, mails, and life and other insurances. There were 3000 sacks of mail aboard the Titanic, incuding 1586 sacks from London. The Titanic's wireless ceased two hours after the collision. CARPATHIA ARRIVES. THE SURVIVORS' STORY. New York, Firday. The Carpathia arrived at 8.30 this evening. Never in its history has the city been so terribly impressed. Notwithstanding rain enormous crowds awaited the vessel. Ten thousand gathered at the Battery ami watched her pass in impressive silence. Thousands of relatives and friends, many weeping, were admitted to the pier. Docking was delayed while thirteen of the Titanic's lifeboats were lowered. The Survivors' Committee issued a statement in order to forestall sensational exaggerations. It says tho

Titanic struck an iceberg at 11. -S( 5 on Sunday night, which the look-out reported, but which there was no time to avoid. It was clear, cold and marlipht when the boats were lowered. CAPTAIN SHOOTS HIMSELF. CHIEF ENGINEER SUICIDES. Captain Smith shot himself on flu 1 bridge. The officers had previously wrested a revolver but the captain broke away, dashed to the bridge .".mi shot himself through the mouth. The chief engineer likewise suicided. STRUGGLE AT LIFEBOATS. Three, Italians were shot dead in the struggle for lifeboats. The Carpathia received a call and reached the scene at o'clock in the morning with everything ready for rescue work. THE DEATH-ROLL: ir>.jr>. 745 SURVIVORS. The Titanic had ;tOO first-class passengers, 320 second, 750 third, and ( J4O officers and crew. The Carpathia rescued 2!f> first, second, 200 third, four officers. :i seamen, i'iHi stewards and 71 firemen. WOMEN TORN FROM HUSBANDS. OTHERS DIE WITH THEM. Upon the. arrival of the Carpathia friends of many of the survivors who were suffering from shock were wheeled to the dock in invalid chairs. According to a statement, issued by the Survivors' Committee, orders were promptly given to put on life belts and launch lifeboats. Distress signals were sent out by wireless and rocket were fired. Tho vessel sank at 2.20 in the morning. Tho captain and officers of the Carpathia give most touching attention to the survivors. The Titanic carried fourteen life boats, two smaller boats, ami four collapsible boats.

Lifebelts sufficient for all were aboard, hut, the boata were entirely insullicient.

There was no panic while the women and children were leaving, everyone believing it a measure of precaution. Several Avomen were torn from their husbands when (he order was given to rescue the \v<>men only. A :iunilu r even then refused to leave and were drowned with their husbands.

One woman died in the lifeboat, and three other!? succumbed after reachin;! the ('arpathia. The Titanic seemed to break suddenly in two, and sank instantly. According <«> :! statement of one passender aboard after the survivors left it was impossible to say what occurred aboard alter the survivors left.

STORY OF THE WRECK. PASSENGER'S STATEMENT. Received April 20, 8.55 a.m. London, Friday. The survivors' statements point out the insufficiency of lifeboats and rafts; lack of trained seamen to man the boats; insufficient officers to carry out an emergency order on the bridge and superintend the launching and control of boats; also the absence of search lights; the necessity of taking in passengers before lowering to the water prevented the boats taking the maximum. The captain jumped overboard when the decks were awash. Revolver shots were heard prior to the vessel sinking. The evening papers published a rumour to the effect that officers had suicided, but the crew discredit the report. ' Members of the Stock Exchange brought twenty thousand dollars for distribution to the neediest. The unexpectedly early arrival prevented the Senate's Investigation Committee from boarding the Carpathia before she was docked. The chairman states he learned on arriving that the officers and crew contemplated boarding the Cedric immediately to proceed to England, thus placing themselves beyond the committee's jurisdiction. The chairman adds that he intends to tell Mr Ismay in order to avoid trouble the company and officers should assist the inquiry. The Department of Justice at Washington believe the erroneous messages concerning the vessel's fate was a deliberate attempt to postpone knowledge of the wreck thus giving time to reinsure the cargo of the Titanic. Mr L. Beesley, Science master of Bulwich College, Narraivsi. states tine weather and calm 'a-ss prevailed on Sunday when it was very cold. A slight jar was f■ ■ll for ten or fifteen second, then another somewhat greater, but insufficient to create anxiety. The onginer stopped and he thought the vessel had lest, a propeller. He went on :i.vk. There were only a few about, including some can! players in the smoking room. He noticed a jar ami !onl;sng saw vhe iceberg grazing the vessel's side. He went to his cabin and returned on deck later and tlie found the vessel umiiistakeably down at the head. When he went below ho he:ird :» cry "All passengers on deck 'with lifebelts on." The passengers merely regarded this jas a precaution. T1 <tr was no panic 1 or alarm ami r.<> visible signs of dis- | aster. The boats being swung out • awakened them io the danger. The | next order was for all men to stand | from the boats and women to retire to 1 the dec!; below. As 'be boat:* reached ! t!n> lower deck the women quietly en--1 tereu the boats with the exception of j some who refused to leave their hus- ! hand. In seme cases lhey were for- | cibiy lorn »rem {!u ir husband and ! pushed into the boat;;. As the bouts [ touched the water and slipped away in I tiie dnrknesis there was no hysterical ! sobbing; everything war. exlraordinI arilv calm. Three men were then | ordered to the Moats, lie saw a boat | ball' full of women on the pert side, j A sailor asked if there were any more I ladies on his deck. I!e was then in-

| viloci to jump in. N ; " oil'u'crs wcrn in I t|„. I!(■>:>( and :i" one .-comed hj» know } what, to do. Tlhv wu n g utnic- an- ! other descending 1 1 ont- and the prompj titude of a stoker in cutting the falls | prevented :>H I■ < mi;ir e; ushed. The stoker took charge. Other accounts- abego mild disorder and a maniacal struggle for boats. .Hysterical passengi■; s, who did nOt give names, declare the captain and engineer suicided. These stories owin;; to the con fusion of Sanding could not bo continued. A mass of ior ripped the Titanic's side like a gigantic can opener. Shortly before she sank the vessel broke in two abaft the engine room, carry in;; hundred!-; who were grouped on t lie. dec Hp. The crier, were pitiable. Other accounts by passengers say the captain wan standing alone. Once, a wave upset him; then as the vessel J sank another wave knocked him down ; and he di:-;iPge.n e.i. i Mr Keesley says the leviathan i loomed up again;-'!. the sky with every I porthole blar.ing. At 2 o'clock who j settled rapidiy. the bows and bridge j being under water. The lights I flickered and were ;iiin >■:■; languished i Escaping steam from all the machin- ' crv roared down through 'lie vessel i with a rattle audible for nsih-s around. ; ()ne hundred and u:'!y ha i o! the- stern | protruded [straight up and about iive j minutes, then mad.- a slanting dive, j This was followed by appalling cries ! for help from hundreds ot throats, i who were plunged into icy water. Mr Ismay welcomes the tillicit ini quirv. lie left, the Titanic it; the last | boat. j A deferred statement bv survivors j who, from a safe distance, witnessed i the plunge, says they heard the band ; playing. Colonel idraeie emphaficaUy denas the shooting. A revolver was one;' ! jired 1,0 intimidale some* steerage pas- | sengers. 5 "T" ' i~rv —

| Colonel Astor, after placing his wife in a boat, asked permission to accom- | pany her. The second officer said: "No, sir; no man can enter the boats till the women are off." Colonel ABtor then assisted in clearing the other boats and roaßSuring nerVous women.

Several survivors state the vessel was travelling at 23 knots an hour. Passengers describe Fifth Officer Lowe as saving many lives by warning the people not to jump and swamp the boats. When his collapsible boat, was launched ho hoisted a mast and sail, collected other collapsiblea and arranged an adequate crew for each and connected them by lines, all moving together. He later returned to the wreck and saved a collapsible containing thirty scantily clad passengers, who were on the point of sinking.

Some died from exposure whilst being transferred to the Carpathia. Colonel Grace Btates he was driven to the topmoßt deck. He saw no other survivor after the wave BWept the liner.' He grasped the brass railing desperately but was forced to release his hold when the ship plunged. He swirled round for what seemed an interminable time, but eventually came to the surface and seized a wood°n grating. When ho recovered broat.li he discovered a large canvas cork raft. He and another struggled to the raft and both were rescued with others who were floundering in the sea. ___________