THE LAST OF THE TITANTIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1100, 22 May 1913, Page 4

THE LAST OF THE TITANTIC.

Captain Rostron narrates in Scribner’s the incidents connected with “the rescue of the Titanic survivors” by the Carpathia. The story is very modestly told and reveals the touch of kindness that makes the whole world kinUpon receiving the call from the sinking vessel Captain Rostron issued elaborate orders to ensure the utmost efficiency in the work of rescue. Then — About two-thirty-five the doctor came on the bridge and reported all my instructions carried out, and everything in readiness. I was talking to the doctor as to what we might expect, and keeping at the same time a sharp look out, when quite suddenly—and only for a couple of seconds—l saw a green flare about a point on port bow. I remarked, “There’s his light, he must be afloat still,” as at one-thirty or so the operator had reported to me that he had received a message saying, “Eugie-room filling.” So, of course, I knew, on hearing that, of the gravity of the situation.

All our men were quietly but busily making preparations. It was a beautiful, fine, clear night, very cold, and every star in the heavens shining’ bright, the sea quite calm, and no wind. We were racing along splendidly—attaining a maximum speed of about seventeen knots—our usual speed being fourteen. The chief engineer had been up to me about one-thirty and reported all hands were working below, and doing all they possibly could. It appears some of the stokers on being called and knowing the reason—had turned straight out of their bunks and rushed below, not even taking time to dress.

Rockets were sent up at frequent intervals during the anxious hours which elapsed before the Carpathia came up to the boats from the illfated ship. Now comes the heart-rending part when we know for a certainty that the Tjtautic had gone down ; I sent word to the gangway to ask the officer to come up to me on the bridge when he came aboard. On coming up to the bridge I shook hands and asked, “The Titantic has gone down, I suppose ?” “Yes,” he replied —but what a sad-hearted “Yes” it was —“she. went down about two-thirty.” Daylight was just setting in, and soon, in the early dawn, could be seen dozens and dozens of icebergs, large and small, all around us ; here and there dotted about the calm sea we could distinguish the other boats, the boats being within a radius of about tour to five miles.

From now on we were getting the remainder of the boats alongside, and one’s imagination fancied these people shivering for hours during that cold night in their confined space. We manoeuvred about to reach the boats, and by eight o’clock had all the boats alongside, and we were also in the immediate vicinity of the disaster, I had arranged to hold a short service whilst we were close to the spot—a short prayer of thankfulness for those saved, and a short service for those lost.

At eight o’clock we also saw a steamer coming towards us out of the ice-fields. This ice - field stretched as far as the eye could see from north-west to south-east, and we soon found her to be the California. We signalled her and told the news of trouble, and asked her to search round, as we were returning to New York. Captain Rostrou’s conduct throughout the trying ordeal was magnificent and worthy of the highest traditions of a service which has ever demanded and received the fullest sacrifice and devotion of which man is capable.