Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 249, 20 April 1912, Page 5

A Dramatic Story Details of Titanic Disaster Captain and Chief Engineer Suicide Shooting Down Italians Death Roll of 1595 By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Received 18, 31.30 p.m. © NEW YORK, April 18. The Carpathia arrived at New York at 8.30 this evening, bringing with her the passengers and crew who were saved from the wreck of the Titanic. The interest attaching to the arrival of the steamer was intense. Never in the history of the city has the population been so terribly impressed. Notwithstanding heavy rain, enormous crowds gathered to await the arrival of the vessel. Ten thousand people gathered at the Battery, and watched her pass in an impressive silence. Thousands of relatives and friends, many of them weeping bitterly, were admitted to the pier. The docking of the vessel was delayed while thirteen of the Titanic's lifeboats were lowered for the survivors. The committee has issued an official statement, in order to forestall sensational exaggerations. The statement is as follows: The Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40 on Sunday night, April 14, which the look-out man reported he had no time to avoid. The night was clear, cold and starlit. The boats were at once lowered. Captain Smith himself was on the bridge. His officers had previously wrested a revolver from him in the -library, but he broke away, rushed to the bridge and shot himself through the mouth. The chief engineer also committed suicide. Three Italians were shot dead in a struggle to reach the lifeboats. The Carpathia received a wireless call, and reached the scene of the disaster at 4 o'clock in the morning. She had everything in preparation for the work of rescue. The Titanic's complement of 2340 souls was made up as follows: First-class passengers 330 Second-class passengers 320 Third-class passengers 750 Officers and crew 940 Total 2340 The Carpathia rescued 210 first-class passengers, 125 second-class passengers, 200 third-class passengers, 4 officers, 39 seamen, 90 stewards and 71 firemen, leaving 1595 people unaccounted for. FURTHER DETAILS. THE BOAT ACCOMMODATION. WOMEN TORN FROM THEIR HUSBANDS. SEVERAL ELECT TO DIE.' Received 19, 11.35 p.m. NEW YORK, April 19. On the arrival of the Carpathia the friends of many of the survivors, who were suffering from shock, were wheeled to the dock in invalid chairs. According to the statement issued by the Survivors' Committee, orders were promptly given after the Titanic struck, for the passengers to put on lifebelts. The lifeboats were launched and distress signals sent out by wireless telegraphy. Rockets were also fired. The vessel sank at 2.20 in the morning, The captain and officers of the Carpathia gave the most touching attention to the survivors. The Titanic carried fourteen lifeboats, two smaller boats, four collapsable boats, and lifebelts sufficient for all on board. The boats were insufficient to carry everybody. There was no panic while the women and children were leaving, everyone believing that their disembarkation was simply a measure of precaution. Several women were torn from their husbands when the order was given to rescue the women only. Several even then refused to leave, and were drowned with their husbands. DEATH IN THE LIFEBOAT. DRAWING A VEIL. NEW YORK, April 18. One woman died in the lifeboat, and three others after reaching the Carpathia. The Titanic seemed to break suddenly in two, according to the statement of one passenger. It is impossible to say what occurred on board after the survivors left. THE DISEMBARKMENT. THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. HARROWING SCENES. BUTT AND ASTOR, DIE LIKE HEROES. KNEE-DEEP ON THE RAFTS. "NEAR, MY GOD, TO THEE." Received 20, 12.30 a.m. LONDON, April 19. The Carpathia sighted sixteen boats at three o'clock in the morning. The little children were hoisted on board in bags, and the adults by ropes. Some boats were crowded, and a few were not half full. There-were husbandless wives, and wives husbandless, and children parentless, but not a sob was heard. Five women died soon after their rescue, and were buried at soa. The list of missing prominent persons is unaltered. Mrs. Candee, of Washington, had both legs broken while getting into the lifeboat. She states that most of the men were picked up after they had plunged overboard. She declared that Mr. Butt and Mr. Astor died like heroes. Received 20, 1.10 a.m. The New York Herald says that Mr. Charles Stengel, a New Yorker, described the impact of the wreck as terrific. Tons of ice fell, killing the men. The bows of the vessel were torn asunder, and the wated poured in. Pandemonium reigned. He pays a tribute to the bravery of the sailors and officers. The majority of the narratives, however, testify that there was no panic or shooting, and the impact was light. The Gracie Denltown readied a raft on which thirty survivors were knee deep in water, and picked them up. It is alleged that Mr. Butt, while defending a boat against a rush, killed twelve and then shot himself. The story of the captain's and chief engineer's suicide is not in the official statement, but is part of a passenger's narrative. As the Titanic sank the ship's band played "Nearer, my God, to Thee."