Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1912 — CARPATHIA ARRIVES; 745 SURVIVORS ON BOARD. [ARTICLE]

CARPATHIA ARRIVES; 745 SURVIVORS ON BOARD.

News of Tragedy Given Public; Report of Panic on Ship Denied; Death Score Stands at 1601. The Carpathla began discharging passengers ~at 9:30 last night .and pathetic scenes were, enacted at the pier. Hundreds of people had gath ered there in hopes that some of their dear ones who were reported drowned, had not In some miraculous way been rescued, only to learn the bitter truth of the report. The most salient facts that can be compiled from the chaos of the wreck are as follows: The death list has been increased rather than decreased. Six persons died after being rescued. Practically every woman and child, excepting those who refused to their husbands, were saved. Mrs. Iradore Straus was among those who perished with their husbands. The survivors on the life boats saw the lights on the stricken vessel glimmer to the last, heard its band playiDg, and saw the doomed hunderds on deck and Ireard their groans and cried when the vessel sank. It w r as somewhat difficult for some of the survivors to talk of the disaster, but some spoke reluctantly o I the men who strove and struggled and fought against women for life R ... . f boats and officers shooting them down. • The Titanic’s officers and crew acted calmly and coolly in the face of certain floundering and the rescued have nothing but praise for them. ~ The Titanic was"speeding at 21 knotts an hour when the collision occurred which' ripped its sides. It did not jar the vessel greatly as the blow was a glancing one along Its side. Unconfirmed stories were current that Capt. E. J. Smith shot- himself before the ship sank, but, most; of those rescued were inclined to believe that some of the firing was done to warn Lack steerage passengers. Many male survivors managed to escape by jumping into the water as the liner went down and seizing floating wreckage, to which they clung until picked up by. ' - .. ■;

The heroism of John Jacob Astor, the New York millionaire, is being greatly praised. After savjag his young bride, he in getting other women to safety. Mr. Bruce Ismay, .chairman of the International Mercantile Marine, In a statement last night, s«dd that reflation prescHbed by the British Board of Trade

had beeh”¥fflcfTy“compTred~wrtß;"au3 that he heartily welcomed the most complete and exhaustive inquiry by either the United States or *the British governments. Mr. Ismay, being a chibf member of the White Star Line, has been severely criticized for leaving the ship and crowding into a life boat as he did. In his defense of his action Mr. Ismay said that he waited for the Inst boat to be lowered. The following statement, in part, issued by a committee of the surviving Titania passengers, was given to the press on the arrival of the Carpathla: “We feel it our duty to call the attention of the public to what we consider the Inadequate supply of life saving apparatus provided for on modern passenger steamships, and recom mend that immediate steps be taken to compel passenger steajnsr to carry sufficient boats to accommodate the maximum number of people carried on board. The following facts were observed and should be considered in this connection: “The insufficiency of life boats, rafts, etc.; lack of trained seamen to mhn same; not enough officers to carry out emergency orders on the bridge and superintend the launching and control of life boats; absence of seachlights. “The board of trade rules allow for entirely too many people in each boat to permit the same to be properly handled. On the Titanic the boat deck *was about seventy-five feet above the water and consequently the passengers were required to embark before lowering boats, thus endangering the operation and prevently the taking on of the maximum number the boats would hold. Boats at all times to be properly equipped with provisions, water, lamps, compasses, lights, etc. Life saving boat drills should be more thoroughly carried out, and officers should be armed at boat drills. Greater reduction in speed In fog and Ice, as damage if collision actually occurs is liable ta be less. In conclusion, we suggest that an international conference be called to reeommend the passage of identical laws providing for the safety of all at sea and we ur|a the United States government to take the initiative as soon as possible.”