110 years ago tonight... (4-14-12)

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The New York Times (April 15, 1912)

NEW LINER TITANIC HITS AN ICEBERG; SINKING BY THE BOW AT MIDNIGHT; WOMEN PUT OFF IN LIFEBOATS; LAST WIRELESS AT 12:27 A.M. BLURRED
Allan liner Virginian now speeding toward the big ship

Titanic-Cobh-Harbour-1912 (2)
White Star liner Titanic – largest steamship in the world, which has hit an iceberg on her first voyage here.

Latest news from the sinking ship

Cape Race, Newfoundland – (April 14)
At 10:25 tonight, the White Star Line steamship Titanic called “CQD” to the Marconi wireless station here, and reported having struck an iceberg. The steamer said that immediate assistance was required.

Half an hour afterward, another message came reporting that they were sinking by the head and that women were being put off in the lifeboats.

The weather was calm and clear, the Titanic’s wireless operator reported, and gave the position of the vessel as 41.46N 50.14W.

The Marconi station at Cape Race notified the Allan liner Virginian, the captain of which immediately advised that he was proceeding for the scene of the disaster.

The Virginian at midnight was about 170 miles distant from the Titanic and expected to reach that vessel about 10 a.m. Monday.

2 a.m., Monday –
The Olympic at an early hour this Monday morning was in 40.32N 61.18W. She was in direct communication with the Titanic, and is now making all haste toward her.

The steamship Baltic also reported herself as about 200 miles east of the Titanic, and was making all possible speed toward her.

The last signals from the Titanic were heard by the Virginian at 12:27 a.m. The wireless operator on the Virginian says these signals were blurred and ended abruptly.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada – (April 14)
A wireless dispatch received tonight by the Allan Line officials here from Capt. Gambell of the steamer Virginian, states that the White Star liner Titanic struck an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast and flashed out wireless calls for immediate assistance.

The Virginian put on full speed and headed for the Titanic.

No particulars have been received as to the extent of the damage sustained by Titanic.

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The Pittsburgh Press (April 15, 1912)

TAKING PASSENGERS FROM TITANIC
Aid reaches damaged ship just in time

Latest wireless dispatch tells of transferring passengers to other vessels; hope to save big liner
By the United Press

Great liner Titanic, which hit iceberg

Titanic_under_construction
This photograph shows the largest ship ever built in drydock shortly before she left for New York on her maiden voyage.

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Palatial dining room on Titanic.

Titanic's_1st_Class_Restaurant_Reception
Restaurant reception room of the disabled liner.

New York –
Wireless dispatches from Capt. H. J. Haddock, of the White Star liner Olympic, says that 20 boatloads of passengers have been taken from the sinking Titanic by the Parisian, of the Allan Line, and that others have been taken off by the Cunard liner Carpathia.

The Parisian and Carpathia are standing by the Titanic and the Baltic was reported as approaching by the Olympic’s captain.

This information came direct to the local offices of the White Star Line, and vice president Franklin, in making it public, declared that he personally had no doubt but that the Titanic would be safely towed to port. He declared that she has plenty of watertight compartments and that, while she may sink several feet because of the weight of the water in the forward compartments, and the necessity of trimming ship, she will not go down.

The boats of the Titanic are very large and they took care of 35 passengers each trip. In accordance with the custom of the sea, women and children were transferred first. About 80 had been taken off when the Olympic’s captain sent his wireless, according to Franklin’s estimates. A second dispatch stated that the Virginian had passed a line to the Titanic and will tow her to Halifax.

The White Star Line officials, after a conference lasting more than an hour today, issued an official statement in which they state that the great liner Titanic was unsinkable, and that there was no reason to believe that she either had or could founder. They declared the interruption to the wireless communication was not significant of danger.

The statement was signed by vice president P. A. S. Franklin and was as follows:

While we are not in direct communication with the Titanic, we are perfectly satisfied that the ship is unsinkable. That no more wireless messages are coming from the ship is not a sign of danger, and may be due to atmospheric conditions or something like that.

The ship is reported to have gone down several feet by the head. This may be due to water filling the forward compartment, and the ship may go down many feet by the head, and still keep afloat for an indefinite period.

We cannot state too strongly our belief that the ship is unsinkable, and the passengers perfectly safe.

We figure that the ship is 1,080 miles from New York and 600 miles from Halifax. The Virginian is due to reach her at 10 o’clock this morning, the Olympic at 3 this afternoon, and the Baltic at 4.

Throughout the morning, the White Star offices here were besieged by friends of passengers on the big liner, who wanted definite information. The telephones were kept busy with inquiries. To all, the White Star officials extended assurances that the vessel was afloat and that the passengers were not in danger.

The Titanic was scheduled to sail from New York on her return trip next Saturday, and so great was the desire to travel on the new vessel that 600 bookings had been made in the first cabin.


Montréal, Québec, Canada –
At 10:10, the local agents of the White Star Line announced that they had received a relayed wireless which confirmed the earlier reports that the Titanic was not only afloat, but that her engines are working. She is heading toward Halifax, the agents say, and her passengers are safe.

The line agents did not know whether the Virginian was then with the Titanic, but they believe she is standing by, and may have already transferred the women and children.

The weather this morning was clear and calm. The pumps of the Titanic were being worked to their utmost, it was stated, and while the forward holds were full of water, the watertight compartments were holding, and if they can stand the strain, there is hope that the leviathan will yet make port.

There is no doubt of the grave danger. The great steel prow of the Titanic crumbled before the impact with the enormous iceberg. At the smash, however, the watertight compartment doors closed automatically. Immediately, the wireless appeals for aid were sent out and the response was immediate.

It was believed here at 9:30 after every known bit of information had been considered, that all on board will be saved, and that there is a fair chance of the Titanic reaching port.

As soon as the passengers can be transshipped, it is believed Capt. Smith will try to have the Titanic towed to port. It is likely he will have her drawn stern foremost to lighten as much as possible the terrible strain on the collision bulkheads.

The position of the Titanic when she was last heard from was 41.46N 50.14W.

The first news of the accident was received by the wireless operator at Cape Race. It said:

Have struck an iceberg; we are badly damaged; rush aid.

Within half an hour, the Virginian, of the Allan Line, had been communicated with, and her captain was headed directly to the scene.

Calls for help

Shortly afterward, the Virginian sent the following to her local agent:

TITANIC says she is badly damaged as result of striking an iceberg. She demands immediate assistance, and we are rushing to her help.

From time to time, wireless advices were received. In each, it was stated that the Titanic was still in touch and it was not until 12:27 that the Virginian reported she had lost the Titanic. The last report was that the women and children were in the lifeboats ready to be lowered into the Atlantic should it be necessary.

It was believed here that the Titanic’s wireless was working badly, instead of that she had gone down, and this was confirmed later when an unsigned message was received reporting that the Titanic was afloat at 8:30 this morning.

The Virginian was then less than two hours’ sail from the crippled liner, and it seemed certain here that within five hours at the very most, all of the passengers would be transferred to safety, although this will be a most gigantic task.

The Virginian is the fastest of the Allan Line Fleet. She can make better than 20 knots an hour and at last advices, every ounce of speed was being gotten out of her.


Cape Race, Newfoundland –
Wireless advices from the Allan liner Virginian, which was rushing to the aid of the disabled White Star liner Titanic, stated that the last word received from the wireless operator of the Titanic was at 3:05 this morning. In that message, he reported the women and children were being taken off in a calm sea. This message, however, was questioned, but the Virginian’s operator insisted it was as he received it. The message, he said, was interrupted in the middle which is believed to mean either that the engines had been put out of commission, or that the Titanic’s wireless had failed from some local cause. Soon afterward, the Virginian quit responding to messages from the shore station.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada –
Wireless messages received by the nearest wireless station at 4:30 said that most of the passengers aboard the great liner Titanic, which struck an iceberg off Cape Race, “have been put to sea in lifeboats.” The message read:

Most passengers TITANIC in lifeboats. Sea quiet.

It was unsigned. It is thought to have come from one of the boats hurrying to the stricken liner.

A wireless from the steamer Parisian of Glasgow, received here at 8:46, says that although observations taken at 8 o’clock last night showed her 330 miles off Sable Island, she had failed to receive any appeals for help from the Titanic which was in that neighborhood.


Siasconset, Massachusetts –
The wireless station here was in communication early today with the White Star liner Olympic, which is rushing to the assistance of her sister vessel, Titanic, reported to be sinking in 41.46N 50.14W. The Olympic stated that latest advices showed that the damage to the Titanic was very great, and Capt. Smith had reported that he would transship his passengers to the first ship that would arrive, which was expected to be the Virginian of the Allan Line.

The Olympic refused to say what the latest information regarding the extent of the Titanic’s damage was.


Boston, Massachusetts –
The White Star and Allan Line officials here have received no direct news from the liner Titanic.

Indirect messages received from points along the north coast at 9:40 said the Titanic is struggling slowly but surely toward Cape Race. At 9:55, the following telegram was received by the United Press from the Marconi station at Saint John, New Brunswick:

TITANIC, according to messages from Cape Race, St. John’s, Newfoundland, and other nearby points, nearing vicinity of Cape Race.

MARCONI STATION

General Manager J. H. Thomas of the White Star offices here made the following statement to the United Press today:

We have no word from the Titanic. I cannot understand why wireless communication with the Titanic should be stopped. She is not too far distant to speak Cape Race unless her condition prevents. If everything were normal, she should have spoken points along the north coast via the Olympic and other vessels long ere this.


Washington –
Following an interchange of wireless messages with revenue cutters off the New England coast, the service headquarters here today announced that it would not send aid to the disabled liner Titanic.

An official said:

The only revenue cutters now anywhere near the Titanic are at least three days’ run away from the disabled liner. Manifestly, it would be too late to do any good.


London, England –
Lloyd’s agents here today were ensuring the cargo of the disabled Titanic, but in doing so, indicated their belief in the gravity of the situation by demanding and receiving a premium of 50%.

At 12:40 this afternoon, officials of the White Star Line stated that they had received no information whatsoever from the Titanic. They said that they were certain there would be no loss of life.

It was officially announced that the passenger list shows 330 first-cabin passengers, 300 second-class, 755 steerage and a crew of 800.

According to information here, the Titanic carried abut $5,000,000 in bonds and diamonds.


St. John’s, Newfoundland –
The wireless station has been unable for more than two hours to get into touch with any of the ships rushing to the aid of the Titanic. It cannot be determined whether this is due to atmospheric conditions or to the desire of the captains of the various vessels to stand off messages from the shore.

Great marine disasters of the past 100 years

  • St George, Defence and Hero stranded near Jutland; Dec. 24, 1811 – 2,000 lost.
  • Lady Sherbrooke sinks off Cape Ray, Aug. 19, 1831 – 273 lost.
  • Phoenix burns on Lake Michigan, Nov. 21, 1847 – 240 lost.
  • Royal Adelaide, wrecked off Margate, March 30, 1850 – 400 lost.
  • G. P. Griffith, Erie to Cleveland, burns June 17, 1850 – 300 lost.
  • San Francisco, in Pacific, sinks Dec. 23, 1853 – 240 lost.
  • Powhattan, Havre to New York, sinks off Long Island Beach, April 16, 1854 – 311 lost.
  • Arctic, collides with Vesta, off Newfoundland, Sept. 27, 1854 – 350 lost.
  • Lyonnais, sinks off Nantucket, Nov. 2, 1856 – 260 lost.
  • Central America, Havana to New York, sinks with passing steamer, Sept. 12, 1857 – 400 lost.
  • Lady Elgin, sinks on Lake Michigan, Sept. 8, 1860 – 287 lost.
  • Rhone and Wye, sinks Oct. 29, 1867 – 1,000 lost.
  • Atlantic, sinks off Nova Scotia, April 1, 1873 – 547 lost.
  • Kapunda, London to Australia, sinks off Brazil, Jan. 20, 1887 – 300 lost.
  • Utopia, sinks off Gibraltar, March 17, 1891 – 511 lost.
  • Namchow, sinks in China Sea, Jan. 13, 1892 – 414 lost.
  • General Slocum, burns in East River, New York, June 15, 1904 – 1,000 lost.
  • Sardinia, burns Nov. 25, 1908 – 100 lost.
  • Onda, sinks near Java, Nov. 14, 1909 – 100 lost.
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The Pittsburgh Press (April 16, 1912)

NO HOPE FOR MORE SURVIVORS
Death list is now placed at 1,492 persons

Carpathia carries all of the survivors of the Titanic disaster; being taken to New York
By the United Press

Screenshot 2022-04-16 060523
Drawn by Press staff artist from telegraphic descriptions.

New York –
The last faint hope that more of the passengers and crew of the Titanic might have been saved went glimmering today when Capt. Gambell of the Virginian reported to his agents in Montréal that his rescue ship had been fruitless.

Gambell says:

We arrived too late to rescue anyone and we are proceeding to Liverpool.

Because of the variance between the official and the unofficial reports, it was almost impossible to say definitely just what the number of saved and lost was. The latest word received from the Carpathia places the number on her at 866. If all of the others are lost, the death list will number 1,492, as the manifest of the Titanic, telegraphed from London this morning, said there were 2,358 persons on board when the liner started. These were the latest definite figures. E. J. Berwind, a director of the White Star Line, has confirmed the report that there were at least 800 survivors from the Titanic on the Carpathia which is en route to New York. Vice president Franklin, of the White Star Line, locked himself in his office at 10:45 and announced that he would see no one. When an inquiry was shouted through the door to him asking whether he had any news of the reported rescue of more than 400 additional survivors from the Titanic, he answered back in a shaking voice:

I hope that it is true, but we have no such information.

The following wireless dispatches were given out at the offices of the Cunard Line:

7:55 a.m. New York Time. 41.45N 50.20W. I am proceeding to New York, unless otherwise ordered, with about 800. After having consulted with Mr. Ismay and considering the circumstances with so much ice about, consider New York best. Large number icebergs, and 20 miles filled with ice, with bergs amongst.

ROSTRON, commanding CARPATHIA

This message came via Cape Race and was followed by another which apparently had preceded it, and read as follows:

7:20 a.m., April 16. TITANIC struck iceberg, sunk Monday, 3 a.m., 41.46N 50.14W. CARPATHIA picked up many passengers in boats. Will wire further particulars later. Proceeding back to New York.

The Sable Island wireless reports:

We are now in communication with the PARISIAN. She has no TITANIC passengers on board.

NAVSTA Charlestown (QU):

Six hundred and fifty, mostly women and children, on board the liner CARPATHIA are the only ones saved from the TITANIC. Others went down with ship and wreckage. Other rescue ships failed to find any more of TITANIC’s passengers!

The Marconi message relayed by at least two ships, which caught it some distance east and north of Cape Cod and sent it within speaking distance of the U.S. wireless station here, was picked up by Navy wireless operators shortly before 5 o’clock this morning. The message was perfectly clear, according to wireless operator Charles Kemper. It was twice repeated, and it is thought to be from an authoritative source, although it was unsigned.

Heroic scenes

Cape Race, Newfoundland –
Unparalleled in history, the scenes that accompanied the foundering of the Titanic on the ice-strewn banks of Newfoundland, were marked by intense suffering and rare heroism according to the few disjointed and fragmentary messages that have been picked up by wireless operators along the coast.

It was a night of black terror. Sunday had been cloudy and foggy, but the great liner had been steadily held on her course. Precautions were taken to guard against accident, but it seemed certain today that it was necessary to keep considerable headway on the giant vessel so that she would remain manageable.

The smash came at 10:25 Sunday night. Many of the passengers were undoubtedly in their beds at the time, but all must have been routed out immediately, as Capt. Smith was too experienced a navigator to overlook any precaution or to fail to realize that the force of the collision had inflicted a mortal wound, despite the confident assertions he had made many times that the Titanic was unsinkable.

Horrors of darkness

It was black night, the thick muggy atmosphere so peculiar to the banks, and the darkness redoubled the horrors of the occasion. The ship’s company, assembled on the great decks of the floating hotel which was so soon to become the grave of many of their number, could have had little time to make their escape.

Many of the passengers must have been garbed as they came from slumber, carrying only the wraps hastily caught up in the moments that followed the horrible, grinding of steel upon ice.

Coston signals were burned, rockets sent up, as the wireless snapped out its frantic appeal for help, while the stalwart seamen, told off by their commander to man the lifeboats, began the work to getting the big boats overside, and filled with their precious human freight.

It appeared today that there was no need for the order “women and children first,” but that the men stood aside and pushed their womenfolk to the boat decks, where the lifeboats were being filled as quickly as possible. Wives and sisters in tears, with the last kisses of husbands and brothers on their lips, were marshalled to their places while the wounded giant staggered and sunk lower with every lurch of the sea.

No hope from first

It must have been apparent from the outset that there was little hope for many of that company. Although she carried the maximum of life rafts and lifeboats, they were cruelly insufficient for that great company which a few hours previously had been so cheerful and happy at the prospect of soon reaching their journey’s end. The staggering of the wounded monster and the gradual sinking by the head must have indicated to all that the end was certain. Passengers were buoyed up by the hope that assistance was coming as fast as ships that had picked up the urgent appeal for aid could be sent through the water. But the officers could have entertained no such delusions. They knew from the messages received that no vessel could reach them before daylight and with the water making in the holds faster than it could be checked by the pumps, they must have realized that only floating wreckage and the filled lifeboats and rafts would greet the rescuers.

So, they carefully filled the boats, lowered them into the water and ordered them to row far enough away so that the whirlpool suction that would follow the final plunge of the Titanic would not swamp them. The 3,455 lifebelts were delt out and the 48 lifebuoys placed where they could be used, but it was realized that in the final analysis these would be of no use, and those on board when the great plunge came were certain of death.

Ship goes down alone

The small boats, bobbing like corks on the water amidst the field of ice, it was now believed, witnessed the final plunge of the vessel to her grave, two miles below the surface. It seemed certain today that they had rowed in company as far off as possible, but the swirling waters must have brought home at least to the crew that the vessel had gone down.

The waiting in the dark and cold may have cost the reason of many of the women. It was believed today that the fact that the Carpathia, which was the first on the scene, started direct to New York as soon as she had taken the unfortunates from the lifeboats, indicated that many of the survivors were in a very bad way. She carried only one doctor and his best efforts were needed to save the reason of the women who realized that many of them were now alone in the world.

About the only well-known man whose name is contained in the list of survivors of the Titanic wreck, picked up by the local wireless station, was Bruce Ismay, managing director of the line. Efforts to communicate with the Carpathia have failed and the Olympic refuses to reply to urgent appeals from shore with any details of who are lost.

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Disaster confirmed for local agents

The J. J. McCormick Steamship Agency here received the following telegram dated New York, April 15, this morning:

TITANIC sunk at 2:20 a.m.; far number of lives lost; about 700 saved; CARPATHIA proceeding to New York. Hope others on PARISIAN; will wire other details later.

WHITE STAR LINE

10,000,000 pieces of mail aboard Titanic

New York –
In a statement issued today, Postmaster Edward M. Morgan estimated the amount of mail carried by the Titanic at 3,500 bags. This would be about 10,000,000 pieces of mail, destined to all points in the United States.


Morgan not aboard ship

New York –
Because of a rumor that J. P. Morgan was a passenger unbooked on the ill-fated Titanic, his office issued an official denial and stated that he is now in Aix-les-Bains, France.

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WHITE STAR LINE OFFICES STORMED
Hysterical men and women plead for news of missing relatives who were aboard ill-fated leviathan

Company officials deny report of news censoring

New York –
Utterly stunned by the weight of the terrible disaster that followed the loss of the giant liner Titanic on her maiden voyage, New York halted today. It was hard to realize that the latest creation of marine architecture, the great steamship which only yesterday, when news that she had been in collision was received, was proudly branded by her owners as “unsinkable,” now lay below the waters of the Atlantic off the banks of Newfoundland, and had carried with her much of the flower of American and British manhood.

Not since the ill-fated French liner Bourgogne was rammed and sent to the bottom with all of her company by the great iron freighter Cromartyshire on July 4, 1898, have such scenes been witnessed as were enacted at the offices of the White Star Line on lower Broadway throughout the night and today. Men, women and children, many hysterical and weeping, stormed the offices and vainly begged for some word of comfort regarding the fate of their loved ones.

Few got any satisfaction. For the great majority, all that the company would say was that there had been a loss of life, but they were hoping for the best. To relatives of the noted passengers, a private audience was granted, and it was quietly whispered that the outlook was most serious. But even they did not get all of the facts which the company had in its possession. For some inexplicable reason, the White Star Line has steadily refrained from making public facts in its possession, and apparently it was able to muzzle the wireless as messages sent direct to ships on the scene were held up while not a single word was permitted to penetrate from the fog-bound banks of Newfoundland, where the worst tragedy of recent years was being enacted.

Charges were frequently made by relatives of the missing that the company not alone withheld news of the disaster, but that it was responsible for the messages of comfort received yesterday saying all of the passengers had been rescued and the disabled liner was being towed to port.

Refuse to explain

But the officials refused explanation. They admitted they had known for some hours before they made public announcements that the Titanic had foundered, but they defended their action by saying that until Capt. Haddock of the Olympic confirmed the reports, they had not felt justified in alarming the nation.

When the first announcement was made last night that the Titanic had sunk and there “was probable loss of life,” the offices of the line were immediately besieged by anxious men and women, all waiting for a word of assurance. To all, the statement was made that the Titanic had foundered, and that there was loss of life, but that no names were then available.

The words reached many while they were in the theaters and the restaurants and soon great automobiles and vehicles of all descriptions were rolling up to the offices and discharging their freight of anxious humanity. Soon the offices were crowded and the line had extended far out into the street.

Among the first to reach the offices of the lines was Vincent Astor, only son of Col. John Jacob Astor. He was worried, but hopeful, when he arrived, and was admitted to the office of vice president Franklin. He was accompanied by A. J. Biddle and the representative of the Astor estate. Half an hour later, the young man emerged weeping bitterly, was assisted into his auto and taken home.

Sylvester Byrnes, private secretary of Isidor Straus, another victim, remained at the offices of the line all night hoping against hope that Straus might have been saved. He went home at 8:30, saying that there was no doubt that his employer and all of the other noted men had perished.

Survivors list complete

Other relatives of the missing continued to arrive, and all were told that the list of survivors would be made public as soon as possible. This came to the White Star Line by wireless, but the work of compiling it was slow, as it had to be sent from the Carpathia to the Olympic and by it relayed to another ship, which sent it into the wireless station at Siasconset, Massachusetts, and from there it came into this city over land lines. But before they would give the list out, the line officials verified it.

It was seen at once that there had been no class distinction, but that the women of steerage had been cared for in the same manner as their more fortunate sisters of the first and second class. The women had been taken off, and the men remained to die, and even in their deep sorrow it was plain that most of those that heard the sad news were proud to know this fact.

The officers of the line were seemingly stupefied by the news. Only once did vice president Franklin flash and flare up, and that was when he was told that it was reported the company had withheld news of the disaster and muzzled the wireless so that reinsurance might be secured. He said:

That is an absolute lie, and those that make the statement know they lie. We did not admit the Titanic was sunk until we were absolutely assured that it was a fact. We are now doing all we can to find out who were saved and who were lost.

When Franklin was asked why the company gave out the wireless which it said that it had received from the Olympic yesterday saying that all the Titanic’s passengers were safely on board the Carpathia, he failed to reply.

Besides the personal appeals for news, the offices were deluged with frantic appeals by long distance telephone and telegraph. To all the same reply was made that as soon as the actual facts were known, the news would be made public.

It was accepted everywhere from the start that Capt. E. J. Smith, admiral of the White Star Fleet, went down with his ship. For 40 years he had been a navigator, and for more than 20 years a master of ocean ships. His first accident came last fall when as master of the Olympic, he was on the bridge when that sister ship of the Titanic was smashed by the British cruiser Hawke. Then at the outset of his work as commander of the Titanic, he had encountered an accident when he just missed destroying the steamer New York by failing to shut off his engines when passing her berth at the Southampton docks.

His friends said there could be nothing for the veteran to live for after losing the Titanic. The very fact that he had failed to “sense” the icebergs would have already been held against him, and the men who knew him said he would hardly have lived to come to port, even though he had saved his passengers.

Alfred G. Vanderbilt, at first supposed to have been lost, cabled his relatives here that he did not sail.

Crowds mob London offices of White Star Line for news

Tearful, excited men and women fight with police for entrance to company’s quarters
By the United Press

London, England –
A tearful, excited crowd stormed the London offices of the White Star Line today, begging, pleading, demanding definite news of the hundreds lost when the huge liner Titanic sank in the icy seas off Cape Race.

London went to bed last night secure in the belief that every passenger on the ill-fated vessel had been saved. The White Star officials with an air of confidence had smiled down all reports of loss of life. But London awoke to confront a terrible death list.

Dignified businessmen, gentlemen of ease and idleness, hardy workmen and weeping women, rubbed elbows before the offices of the White Star Line, where they had rushed at the first report of many deaths, to seek definite news of wives, sweethearts, brothers or sisters, parents, children or friends, who had started for America on the doomed liner.

But nothing in the way of information was forthcoming from the offices of the steamship line, where officials, clerks and office boys, moved in a cloud of gloom about their routine work. Mechanically, every now and then, an official would step outside to the crowd, and announce that there was no news. The crowd was excited. The police had difficulty in holding them out of the offices.

A frantic workman shouted:

You told us yesterday all were saved. Why did you lie to us? All can’t be dead now?

And the crowd behind surged forward in an effort to drag from the offices the information that they felt they must have. Every steamship office, and all the shipping lowered their flags to half-mast today for the victims of the Titanic disaster.

The story of the Titanic newsboy:

The Pittsburgh Press (April 17, 1912)

Marconi message says ‘over 2,000’ lives were lost

Steamer Franconia said to have been in wireless communication with the Carpathia
By the United Press

New York –
The Marconi wireless offices here today said that they had received a wireless from the Cunard liner Franconia saying that she had been in communication with the Carpathia and that the latter vessel had reported as follows:

Have on board 700 saved from TITANIC; more than 2,000 were lost.

This report was at variance with any of the other stories received here, and the telegraph officials are inclined to believe that the figures received had been misread.

A relayed private message from the Carpathia received here today announced that “all the women are safe.”

The message was received by Mrs. G. W. Wick, of Youngstown, at the Waldorf, from Henry Wick, her brother-in-law, who is aboard the Olympic.

Renewed apprehension that the number saved was not as large as the White Star officials have insisted, came today when the Marconi Company issued what it termed an official statement that it had reached the Carpathia through the Franconia and that there were only 700 survivors of the disaster, while “over 2,000 were lost.” It seemed certain that until the scout cruisers now on the way reach the Carpathia and report the real figures of lost and saved will not be available.

The first report credited to the captain of the Carpathia fixed the number saved at 675. Later, the White Star people here said that there had been 868 saved, but failed to reveal their source of information. As the day wore on, it became almost a certainty that someone had been maintaining a censorship over the wireless.

Capt. Rostron of the Carpathia sent a wireless dispatch to his owners here as soon as he reached the scene and found the Titanic had sunk. That message was held up for nearly 24 hours. At the Cunard Line offices today, it was suggested that this message had to be relayed through the Olympic to the land station, but the officials refused to say whether they believed that it was held up on the Titanic’s sister ship.

Suggestions that powerful influences prevented the news of the disaster reaching the world, while the stock market was open on Monday, were being made in several places today, and it was even estimated that the misleading impression that the Titanic was safe would be upheld during the hours the European and American markets were open.

Suggestions of a government inquiry to decide how much truth there was in these stories were being made today, but when the Cunard Line officials were asked if they intended to investigate whether their reports from Capt. Rostron were withheld, they said “probably not.”

Charges against officials

The peculiar secretive tactics adopted by the White Star Line since the accident to the Titanic, continued today when after giving out a supplementary list of the rescued with the announcement that it had been received by wireless, the company denied that it had so been received.

The general passenger agent said it was compiled by checking up the data that was received yesterday and which had been relayed by the Olympic. This followed a demand that information be made public regarding the condition of the survivors on the Carpathia, all of whom are known to have suffered greatly from exposure before being rescued.

The line’s officials said:

We are not in communication with the Carpathia and have not been since yesterday.

The result has been bitter criticism, especially in view of the knowledge that among the men saved is J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the line. His presence on the Carpathia was believed by many to be responsible for the failure of the Carpathia to send the details of the wreck. There was also much criticism among relatives who had lost loved ones because Ismay had not remained with the ship, but the officers of the line claimed that he had gone with the boats because it was deemed necessary to have someone in authority in charge.

There were not as many inquiries at the offices of the line today so far as the first- and second-cabin passengers were concerned, but many thronged the third-class offices. There were young couples who were expecting aged patents for whose passage money they had toiled long and laboriously. Then there were stalwart workers who were expecting the sweethearts who were to make homes for them in the “promised land.”

There was little information for any of them, because the officials had not yet completed the comparisons of the list of the saved with the steerage list just received.

Some of the inquirers could not make themselves understood by the clerks and their grief was great. At times, men or women would break from the line almost fainting and with tears running down their cheeks. Many sustained themselves with hope because the entire list of the survivors was not yet available and forced themselves to believe that eventually their loved ones would be saved.

Friends give up hope

Friends of Isidor Straus and his wife announced today they had abandoned hope that either had been saved. They said they did not believe that Mrs. Straus would have left her husband, to whom she was devoted, unless he could accompany her into the boat.

Numerous wild rumors that some passengers had been picked up by liners and were being carried to Europe were circulated, but in every case they failed to stand confirmation and it seemed certain that details must wait the arrival of the Carpathia.

Henry W. Taft, brother of the President, called at the White Star offices at 10 o’clock. He told the officials that the President had especially commissioned him to find out whether Maj. Archibald Butt, his military aide, went down with the Titanic. The President, he also said, was very anxious to learn the fate of Francis Millet and H. K. Behr. The line officials told him that they had no further news, but Mr. Taft lingered in the hope of getting some word.

The Cunard Line announced that they had received a wireless dispatch from the Carpathia stating that at 11 o’clock last night, she was 596 miles east of the Ambrose Channel Light and would be off the Hook about 9 o’clock Thursday night. She will probably anchor down the bay and come up to her dock Friday morning. The company said that the wireless stated all on board were well.

Fate of ship kept secret

That the fate of the Titanic was known in New York on Monday morning, was the statement made unofficially about the offices of the Cunard Line today. It was said that on Monday morning, a prominent New Yorker appeared at the Cunard offices and declared that a “person in authority” had received a message telling of the sinking of the great liner. He was urged to make the news public, but declared that news “must be suppressed,” according to this story.

It was gathered that the man who asserted that the news had been received was not an officer of the White Star Line, but a very prominent Wall St. man.

Montréal, Québec, Canada –
Investigation here today indicated that the sinking of the liner Titanic was known to the officials of the White Star Line long before it was made public, and at the very time that reassuring reports, asserting that all on board had been saved, were being given out.

Many of the messages sent out on Monday declaring that the passengers and crew of the Titanic were safe, it was ascertained, originated in the New York offices of the White Star Line. It is known that the news of the disaster was sent to Montréal Monday afternoon, was confirmed by a telephone message from New York, and was kept absolutely quiet for hours. Meanwhile, the White Star reassuring bulletins continued.

The dispatch received in Montréal saying that the Virginian was towing the Titanic to port, came from the wireless operator at Cape Race, who was in a position to furnish the most authentic news of the disaster. His message was addressed to the press of Canada and the United States, and was accepted here and transmitted elsewhere as authentic. No explanation has been received from the operator, but it is believed he received a wireless from the sea, which in his judgment warranted the message.

Both the public and marine circles here were bitter today at the apparent suppression on Monday of the all-important news of the great loss of life by the White Star officials.

Bodies of disaster victims found long after Titanic sank

By Roy W. Howard, general news manager, United Press Association

On board the steamship Olympic, eastbound – (by wireless to Cape Race and landlines to New York)

The bodies of some, at least, of the victims of the lost Titanic will be brought probably to Boston, on the Leyland liner Californian. Wireless advices reaching us from the scene of the disaster say that some have already been recovered. They will be tenderly cared for, and we understand that they will be taken to port as soon as the Californian resumes her interrupted voyage, just when, we do not know.

The Olympic is proceeding. She could do nothing. The realization of the tragedy, followed by the knowledge that the younger sister of the Olympic went to the bottom while this great vessel was rushing to her aid at top speed and hoping against hope that she would get there on time, has stunned all on board.

The captain’s seat in the dining saloon, his cabin, everything about the Olympic is a reminder of Capt. Smith, first commander of the Olympic, who lost his life on the bridge of the sister ship. There is little talking among the passengers. In hushed whispers, passengers and sailors alike discuss the tragedy which is brought squarely home to everyone here.

Since the word was received that the Titanic had struck a berg the apprehension has been very great. As soon as Capt. Haddock received the first wireless word of the disaster, he turned the Olympic’s prow toward the scene and sent her ahead at full speed.

There was hope that we might arrive in time. That hope was shattered when we got into wireless reach of the Carpathia, and the full news of the tragedy was received.

The word of the tragedy shocked and appalled everyone. The Olympic’s orchestra was hushed. The instruments were put into their cases and will not be heard again on this voyage at least.

The helplessness of all was apparent. This was best shown by the heavy contribution made to the fund for the sailors and their dependents which was immediately raised. After remaining almost stationary most of Tuesday relaying with melancholy exactitude the list of survivors from the Carpathia, Capt. Haddock was ordered to proceed on his voyage. Not until then was the use of the wireless permitted for any other purpose.

The above message received from Roy W. Howard, general news manager of the United Press, at the New York offices this morning, cleared up some of the missing details of the great ocean tragedy of the wrecked Titanic. It shows plainly that Capt. Haddock must have been certain from the moment he received the first appeal for aid that the emergency was great. It will also lessen the fears of many of the rear relatives of the victims of the tragedy that the bodies of their loved ones would be lost forever. If the recovery of the bodies had been left until the vessels that left Halifax today reached the scene, many must have sunk forever, while others must have been torn to pieces by the grinding ice floes that dot the scene.

Whether Capt. Haddock received the real story of the events that immediately preceded the terrible disaster and loss of the finest vessel afloat is known only to himself, his wireless operator and the officials of the White Star Line.

The striking feature of the whole affair is the admission of impotency on the part of the great Olympic, whose crown as the largest ship afloat was restored by the horrifying disaster. Like vice president Franklin, Capt. Haddock apparently believed at the outset that the great Titanic would keep afloat until help could come, and for several hours at least he must have rushed his steamer northward at top speed regardless of consequences that he might be able to rescue the splendid ship’s company.

Then, when they finally “picked up” the Carpathia, came the realization that it was all in vain; that the Titanic was no more and that the sea had claimed its toll. It is a striking coincidence that it should have been the sister ship of the dead giantess that brought woe to the many and joy to some by relaying to the land station the list of the saved and showed conclusively how many were missing.

Then, with her orchestra silent and her company stunned by their grief, the great Olympic’s prow was turned again toward the east. She had done all she could but it was very little.

Chicago Daily Tribune (April 18, 1912)

Wireless operator reports he was unable to get particulars of Titanic sinking

St. John’s, Newfoundland – (April 17)
The steamer Bruce, which arrived in St. John’s Harbor at noon on Monday and remained in port until 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, was off the coast Sunday night. The wireless operator on the Bruce closed his office at 11:45 pm. At 8 o’clock Monday morning, when he went on duty again, the Cape Race operator notified him that the Titanic had struck an iceberg. The Bruce had no details of the tragedy. This is the vessel to which a brief alleged account of what happened to the Titanic was credited in newspapers yesterday morning.

The Pittsburgh Press (April 18, 1912)

BATTLE FOR LIFE ON TITANIC TOLD IN MEAGER DETAIL – WIRELESS UNDER A CENSORSHIP
Gotham prepares for arrival of wreck survivors

City halts while Carpathia hurries to port carrying tragic ship’s company; blame Ismay for censorship
By the United Press

NAVSTA Newport (PK), Newport, Rhode Island –
Code messages sent from the Carpathia to the officials of the White Star Line were picked up here today. They are believed to have contained details of Sunday night’s tragedy and the fact that they were couched in private code shows how carefully managing director Ismay, of the White Star Line, is guarding the details of what happened after the Titanic struck the iceberg.

New York (UP) –
The Carpathia, with 705 survivors of the Titanic disaster aboard, docks here at 9 o’clock tonight.

Every wireless station along the coast is trying frantically to secure direct information from the rescue ship Carpathia. Radio-communication conditions are at their worst and messages are sent and received with the utmost difficulty. In addition to the enormous pressure of business, weather conditions are bad and heavy static currents in the air interfered with the operator of instruments.

After hours of unavailing efforts by the scout cruisers Salem and Chester to secure information from the Carpathia, they were prepared to give up in despair.

An arrangement has been made to eliminate the many land stations that were interfering with the communication. The government ordered all land stations not to attempt to talk to the Carpathia or the Salem, but to relay messages from the Chester. The first direct communication between the Carpathia and New York was shortly after 11 o’clock when the Marconi office picked up messages exchanged between the George Washington and the Carpathia. Up to that time, wireless operators had been calling the rescue ship repeatedly without securing an answer. The Washington ascertained that the captain of the Carpathia expected to have her at her dock at 9 o’clock tonight.

The Carpathia reported at 10 o’clock that she was then 75 miles east by south of Block Island and about 140 miles from the Ambrose Channel Light.

The Marconi wireless station here picked up a message from the Carpathia to the steamer George Washington, which left here at 10 o’clock this morning. The Carpathia informed the Washington that the rescue ship would reach her dock tonight.

Confirmation of the fact that some, at least, of the Titanic’s survivors are in a very bad way physically was seen when the White Star Line today accepted the offer of St. Luke’s Hospital to set aside for the use of those who may need it all of a new addition which was opened today. It will accommodate 60 patients and ambulances will be waiting at the Cunard dock tonight to convey the sick or injured women there immediately.

New York is in mourning. Flags on every building and on the steamers in the harbor are flying at half-mast.

Relief funds for the survivors and for the dependents of the crew who lost their lives have been started and within a few hours have totaled more than $5,000. The municipal lodging house has been set aside by order of Mayor Gaynor for the use of the steerage refugees should it be desired.

As the morning passes, apprehension increases. Vague stories of the condition of some of the saved on the Carpathia pass from person to person. None can be confirmed but persons familiar with the situation admit that there is reason to believe they are well-founded. These tender women and children, most of them insufficiently dressed, had been exposed to freezing temperatures in open boats for several hours. Then there was the shock of the awful realization that those they had loved best were gone from them forever and they would hardly have been human had they not collapsed.

It is known that Col. John Jacob Astor and his bride were returning to this country so that an expected heir might be born on American soil. The great Astor Townhouse on 5th Ave. had been put in readiness for the event. To it, the widow will be taken, and there was a vague rumor here today that she is now in the hospital on the Carpathia, very ill. Her father and mother said they had no knowledge that this was so, and that they were hoping for the best.

Among those who went down with the ship, one report today said, was “Doc” Owens, the most noted of ocean gamblers. Owens and five companions were reported to have booked on the Titanic in the hope of a big “cleanup” and are supposed to have gone to the bottom with the ship.

It was rumored at the offices of the White Star Line today that Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star Line, had sent a wireless to the captain of the Cedric, of that line, which sails at noon today, to wait in the lower bay until the Carpathia arrives, so that he can be transferred and return to England. Officials of the line said they could not confirm the report. The move by Ismay was said to have been planned to escape being interviewed on this side of the water, and the excuse offered by those who said they believed the story was that business required his presence on the other side.

Ismay holds up news

Because Bruce Ismay refuses permission, the story of the Titanic disaster is withheld from the world. Ismay, who was saved with the women and children, had plainly established a censorship over the Carpathia’s wireless. Today the commander of the scout cruiser Chester reported officially to Washington that when he asked the Carpathia for the story of the disaster, he was curtly refused. This, too, in the face of the fact that he explained that the President of the United States, whose personal friend and military aide, Maj. Archibald Butt, went to the bottom with the Titanic, wanted to know.

This has resulted in bitter criticism of Ismay, and a fear that when the real story does finally become known, it will show that the accident might have been avoided had the Titanic slowed down in the ice.

Navigators here are anxious to know what orders Capt. Smith received from the owner regarding the time he was expected to dock his charge on this side. The Titanic had been advertised as an “express train” boat, which would leave and arrive on schedule and with whose operation “nothing would interfere.”

Rumor is rife

The condition of the survivors is unknown. All messages sent by survivors were uniform indicating that they had been penned by the same hand and simply contained the information that the senders were safe.

There were various rumors, which could not be run down that some, at least, of the women who had lost their loved ones were on the verge of insanity as a result of the shock. It became evident as the Carpathia approached nearer and nearer to port that the story of horror to be told would eclipse anything ever known to history.

Docking arrangements

The White Star Line at 8 o’clock posted a bulletin announcing that the Carpathia will dock at 9 o’clock tonight. Every arrangement has been made to expedite the landing of the survivors. Gen. Nelson H. Henry, surveyor of the port, and Commissioner of Immigration Williams, with a large part of their office force, will be in personal charge on the deck.

The steamship company officials have reserved accommodations at several hotels for those survivors who want to go to them. They have also arranged that relatives shall be admitted to the dock, and grouped in alphabetical sections in hope that there will be no confusion to mar reunions.

Latest news of Titanic disaster at a glance

Details of disaster and news of survivors are being withheld from public by general manager Ismay, according to charges made in New York City by press and public.

Carpathia will dock at 9 o’clock tonight, according to White Star Line bulletin.

List of third-class passengers aboard rescue ship is made public.

Careful arrangement made by Manhattan municipal authorities for considerate treatment of disaster survivors upon their arrival.

Wireless operator on liner Parisian declares that Titanic was running at fast rate when she rammed iceberg and say vessel’s master had been warned of ice dangers.

Col. John J. Astor’s death in disaster now almost certain. Mrs. Astor reported as being seriously ill aboard Carpathia.

Partially-complete dispatches tell of death struggle of giant liner when she sank off the grant banks.

Liner was rent apart by iceberg

New York –
All doubt as to the wreck of the Titanic with an appalling loss of life was removed by wireless messages from the operator at Wellfleet, Massachusetts, who secured details of the catastrophe.

The report from Wellfleet, which is declared to have been received by wireless from the steamship Carpathia yesterday tells of the scene of indescribable panic which prevailed when the giant Titanic struck the iceberg last Sunday night. She was rent almost asunder by the terrific impact, and went to the bottom with almost the entire crew and nearly all of the male passengers.

Captain realizes peril

Capt. Smith was the first officer who realized his peril, but he did not believe that his ship, which he had expected to pilot to glory on this, her maiden trip, was in danger of going down. As a precaution, however, he instructed the wireless operator to send out the “SOS” call, the international signal of distress the sea, so that aid would be on hand if it came to the worst.

This was before the power failed and the terrifying signal was sent into the night asking for assistance. The operator had barely clicked his instrument for the final letter of his message when the water flooded the dynamo room. He turned to his accumulator set, which was weak, spluttering messages were sent out, but they were incapable of carrying a greater distance than 100 miles.

The first “SOS” call was picked up by the Carpathia, which headed at once for the scene of the disaster. The Titanic had gone down before the Carpathia reached the spot, but numerous pieces of wreckage told the story of what had happened. A number of bodies were seen floating about in the ice field. They were evidently those who had sought refuge on the floating cakes of ice or in clinging to the pieces of wreckage. The cold came over them and they perished while the Carpathia and a number of other liners were rushing to their aid. No attempt was made to recover the floating bodies.

With the final realization that this splendid craft was doomed, Capt. Smith ordered the lifeboats lowered. His orders were obeyed with alacrity, and the women and children were lowered into them. The lifeboats were rocked and swayed by the wind and the rolling of the boats and great difficulty was experienced in getting the women aboard without mishap.

There was an assemblage in the grand salon on Sunday night, attended by men and women of the first cabin in evening clothes. Many of the women were lowered into the boats in their evening gowns, which afforded but scant protection from the chill winds and water.

Women made insane

Guided only by the cries of the distressed survivors, the Carpathia cautiously made her way through the dangerous ice fields, picking up boatload after boatload of frenzied women and children. Many of the women were made temporarily insane by their harrowing experience and are still under the care of physicians in the Carpathia’s hospital.

The message from the Carpathia make certain that John Jacob Astor was carried to the bottom when the Titanic sank.

The Carpathia also reports that no trace was found of Maj. Archibald Butt.

Definite information has been received here that the Titanic was proceeding at a speed of about 10 knots. Ice abounded on all sides and Capt. Smith was cautiously feeling his way through the floating packs. There was a thin, low hanging haze, which added greatly to the danger.

The iceberg was not sighted until the Titanic was dead upon it.

Capt. Smith signaled for the engines to stop, but it was too late. Bow on, the queen of the seas sped to her fate. The gigantic mass of ice presented a practically immovable object.

The Titanic buckled up. Passengers who had retired were flung from their berths by the terrific force of the impact and several were killed. Windows were shattered and movable objects hurled about.

At least 150 members of the Titanic’s crew were instantly killed when the collision occurred, these men were quarters in the forecastle head.

The rush of the torrents of water could be plainly heard. Suddenly the lights went out as the water flooded the dynamo room and the sinking shop was plunged into darkness.


Reports of more survivors denied

New York –
The report that there were survivors on the Baltic, which has persisted for the last 24 hours, was denied at the White Star offices which pointed out that if it were true, the Baltic would have headed back to this city immediately.

Vice president Franklin said:

We do not know where the report originated, but it is untrue.

Both Straus and wife went down

By the United Press

New York –
It was definitely settled today that neither Isidor Straus nor his wife was saved from the sinking Titanic. The following message, received by Percy Straus here, was given out by the White Star Line:

Every boat watched. Father and mother not on CARPATHIA.

The message was signed “Badenoch.” A buyer for the R. H. Macy Company, of which Isidor Straus was the head, sailed on the Carpathia.

Titanic tragedy at a glance based on latest figures received

The rescued:

Cabin passengers whose names are known 384
Steerage passengers whose names are known 122
Reported on Carpathia, names unknown 33
Crew who manned boats 165
TOTAL 704

The missing, undoubtedly dead:

First-cabin passengers 172
Second-cabin passengers 189
Steerage passengers 453
Crew, including all but four officers 700
TOTAL 1,514

Editorial: Points for the Titanic investigators

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Department of Labor and Commerce in Washington have spent the last two days in considering the Titanic disaster, to the exclusion of all other subjects. Marine boards, marine insurance companies, and every other agency of foreign commerce is absorbed in the same subject, not only in this country but in Great Britain as well. It is certain that the two governments will cooperate in legislation which will assure, insofar as legislation can given such assurance, that there shall be no repetition of so great a horror.

Whether the enormous size of the boat was a factor in its destruction will have to be settled by the experts who alone are competent to pass upon problems of navigation and marine construction. There will also necessarily be an official inquiry to determine whether the Titanic was being driven through the icefields at a dangerous speed. Indeed, why the northern course which throws transatlantic travel into the iceberg zone should be used at all is a question which can no longer be put aside. If it is answered that it is shorter and saves the best part of a day in the voyage, the answer will be dismissed as irrelevant and insufficient in view of the dreadful fate of the Titanic – a fate which may overtake any other ship as long as the northern course is followed. The speed mania will have to be out under restraint in navigation as well as in other forms of transportation. But of all the questions which must be settled by a searching investigation, the most important is this:

Why is it considered sufficient to provide lifeboats for only one-third of an ocean steamship’s carrying capacity? Why should the law permit a liner to sail unless she carries enough lifeboats for every member of her crew and every passenger?

The law does not at present make the requirement in so many words. Our own law reads thus:

REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES § 4488
Every steamer navigating the ocean, or any lake, bay, or sound of the United States, shall be provided with such numbers of lifeboats, floats, rafts, life-preservers, line-carrying projectiles, and the means of propelling them, as will best secure the safety of all persons on board such vessel in case of disaster.

Of course, it may be argued that this means 60 lifeboats of say 40-capacity each for a ship with 2,400 persons on board. Very well, if that is what it means it should say it. As the act now stands, it makes the number which will secure the safety of all on board a matter of the steamship company’s judgment. The Titanic’s equipment of lifeboats was approved by the port authorities of Great Britain and doubtless would have been approved by the authorities in New York. The truth is probably that she was no more deficient in lifeboats than most of the other big liners. When the Oregon and the Republic sank, practically everybody was saved, but not by lifeboats. They were saved because other steamships coming to the rescue in response to wireless calls, arrived in time.

The steamship companies may as well make up their minds (and nobody with any sense of justice will blame the White Star Line more than any other) that if they do not increase their complements of lifeboats there is going to be a great falling off in their business. More boats will be demanded by the traveling public whether Congress and Parliament act or not. As a New York contemporary said yesterday:

There can be no question of the ability of a ship to carry boats enough, even when she takes 4,000 people to sea. If it is a matter of weight, then let the companies cut out the elevators, the swimming tanks, the gymnasiums, some of the other 101 luxuries. As a matter of fact, the development of the small boat has been practically neglected. The genius of ship constructors has been turned in the direction of providing comforts primarily. We do not know of a single large liner that carries a well-equipped gasoline launch; there is no reason why there should not be a dozen of them.

In short, in the competition of the steamship companies to supply the demand for speed and luxury, the demand which comes before all others – the demand for safety – has been overlooked. The 1,600 lives sacrificed on the Titanic cry aloud for the end of so terrible a folly.

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Curiosity……why would the Sultana disaster not be included in the list of disasters? The Slocum is in there and that was in the East River.

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Probably because the Sultana disaster was a wartime disaster (though the war was ending)?