DENIES THAT ANY MEN WERE FIRED UPON.
Colonel Gracie denied with emphasis that any men were fired upon, and declared that only once was a revolver discharged.
“This was for the purpose of intimidating some steerage passengers,” he said, “who had tumbled into a boat before it was prepared for launching. This shot was fired in the air, and when the foreigners were told that the next would be directed at them they promptly returned to the deck. There was no confusion and no panic.”
“Before I retired,” said Colonel Gracie, “I had a long chat with Charles H. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railroad. One of the last things Mr. Hays said was this: ‘The White Star, the Cunard and the Hamburg-American lines are devoting their attention and ingenuity in vieing with the other to attain the supremacy in luxurious ships and in making speed records. The time will soon come when this will be checked by some appalling disaster.’ Poor fellow, a few hours later he was dead.”
“The conduct of Colonel Jacob Astor was deserving of the highest praise,” Colonel Gracie declared. “The millionaire New Yorker,” he said, “devoted all his energies to saving his young bride, nee Miss Force, of New York, who was in delicate health.
“Colonel Astor helped us in our efforts to get her in the boat,” said Colonel Gracie. “I lifted her into the boat, and as she took her place Colonel Astor requested permission of the officer to go with her for her own protection.
“‘No, sir,’ replied the officer, ‘not a man shall go on a boat until the women are all off.’ Colonel Astor then inquired the number of the boat, which was being lowered away, and turned to the work of clearing the other boats and in reassuring the frightened and nervous women.
“By this time the ship began to list frightfully to port. This became so dangerous that the second officer ordered every one to rush to starboard. This we did, and we found the crew trying to get a boat off in that quarter. Here I saw that last of John B. Thayer and George B. Widener, of Philadelphia.”