BELFAST AND THE DISASTER

It is no exaggeration to say that the sad details of the loss of the Titanic, as published in our columns yesterday, created a profound impression in Belfast, and the disaster was the main topic of conversation throughout the day. Indeed it cast quite a gloom over the city, and on every side and amongst all classes of the community, one heard expressions of deep regret and genuine sympathy for those who have suffered through the sinking of the huge vessel.

There were few, if any, of the citizens who did not take a keen personal interest in the Titanic by reason of the fact that, like all the vessels of the White Star fleet, she was built at Queen's Island. The feeling of pride and admiration which she excited was heightened by the thought that she represented the very latest achievement in the mercantile shipbuilding world, embodying in herself the most recent improvements and ideas both in the matter of construction and equipment.

It was only a fortnight yesterday since, after long months expended on her building and fitting out, during which time she was a constant theme of discussion both in conversation and the Press, she left her birthplace to enter on the maiden voyage which has ended in such dire disaster; and it seems scarcely possible to believe that after an all too brief career, she now lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The conflicting nature of the earlier messages received regarding the vessel's collision with the iceberg led people to that, although she had suffered very severe damage the passengers had all been saved. Unfortunately, however, the reports published in our columns yesterday morning indicated all too clearly that there had been a great loss of life, and that the disaster had been converted into an appalling catastrophe. No language can describe the pity and horror of such a tragedy nor expresses all that one feels in its contemplation.

When the Titanic left Belfast everyone predicted a great future for her. There was no vessel afloat on which so much money had been spent, so much human ingenuity exercised, so much care taken to secure the comfort and safety of the passengers. So elaborate were precautions which had been adopted to guard against accident that it was thought to be practically impossible for her to sink. But all the hopes which were centred in her when she was launched in the presence of thousands of cheering spectators, who were proud of her because she was the product of one of our local shipbuilding yards and because she marked the beginning of a new era of naval architecture, have been violently shattered - shattered in a manner which has brought grief into hundreds of homes.

Whilst sympathy is extended to all who have been plunged into mourning by the disaster, local interest naturally centres in the Belfast or Ulster families who had relatives on board the ill-fated vessel. Mr Thomas Andrews, Jun., one of the managing directors of Messrs. Harland & Wolff Ltd., was on the Titanic on her maiden voyage as the representative of the builders, and his many friends in the city are now anxiously awaiting trustworthy intelligence concerning his fate. In addition to Mr. Andrews, there were on board eight men who were in the employment of Messrs. Harland & Wolff, and who had joined the Titanic on her maiden voyage in accordance with the usual practice, so that they might be available if any small defects revealed themselves in connection with the construction of the vessel. The names of these eight, as officially supplied by the builders are as follow: -

Mr. W. H. M. Parr, electrician
Mr. Chisholm, ship's draughtsman
Mr. Anthony Frost, foreman fitter
Mr. Wm. Campbell, apprentice joiner
Mr. Ennis A. Watson, apprentice fitter
Mr. Francis Parkes, apprentice plumber
Mr. Alfred Cunningham, apprentice fitter.

Mr. Andrews, who is the son of the Right Honourable Thomas Andrews, D. L., High Sheriff of County Down, has been with Messrs. Harland & Wolff Ltd., for a period of about twenty years. With the object of hitting him for the responsible position to which he has since attained, he passed through all the departments in turn, and there are few men who have such a thorough knowledge of the various branches of the shipbuilding industry as he possesses. He took a prominent part in the supervision of the work in connection with the building of the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympic, and his great practical experience and ability were of the utmost value in the designing and construction of the tow vessels. For some years he has been one of the managing directors of the firm, and in that capacity he has gained the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.

The office of the local agents of the White Star Line were yesterday besieged by anxious inquirers, and some pathetic scenes were witnessed as messages were posted in the windows tending to confirm the distressing news published in the morning as to the terrible loss of human life which had resulted from the catastrophe. About 10 a. m, a telegram was received by Messrs. Whiting & Tedford of Victoria Street, from the owners of the Titanic stating that only 675 people mostly women and children had been rescued. This message naturally caused much concern to those who had friends on the Titanic, and the news which came through later in the day added to rather than allayed their fears and anxieties. Wherever one went - in the train, the tram or in the street - one heard the disaster discussed, and in the hearts of all there appeared to be a feeling of sorrow too deep to express itself in words.

EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY

BELFAST HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS

At the monthly meeting yesterday of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Mr. G. S. Clark, D.I., who presided, said before they commenced their business he would like to suggest that their secretary be asked to write to Messrs. Harland & Wolff, and the managers of the White Star Line expressing the deep sympathy which that Board felt with them in the great disaster which had occurred in the loss of the Titanic. They earnestly trusted that the reports with regard to the loss of life were not correct. Their deep sympathy went out to the owners and the builders and to all concerned in the terrible disaster. He took it that the resolution would be passed without any seconder.

The resolution was accordingly passed.

REFERENCE BY THE RECORDER

At the sitting of the Belfast Recorder's Court yesterday morning his Honour Judge Walker Craig said before proceeding with that day's list he felt it was only it as only due that he should make reference to the great calamity which had befallen the Titanic. She had represented the greatest triumph of shipbuilding science and the art of shipbuilding, but now lay at the bottom of the Atlantic. They were all proud of her. The whole world, he might say, was proud of that great achievement in shipbuilding. They deplored the loss of the great ship, and they had also to regret the loss of perhaps more than one thousand persons, some of whom were probably Belfast residents. That was a great calamity which they must all feel, and their hearts went out in sympathy to the relatives of those who went down with the ship.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF IRELAND

The members of the Executive Committee of the above Union, at their meeting yesterday in Donegall Street Church, Belfast, passed a resolution of a sympathy with the friends and relatives of those who had perished in the disaster to the Titanic. They prayed that in the hour of shadow and bereavement the bruised hearts of their fellows might be divinely comforted, and that this great and sudden calamity, which rendered hearts and humans sorely desolate, might bring a sense of the loving presence of their gracious Heavenly Father to his heartbroken and sorrowing children.

JUNIOR INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS

Message to Lord Mayor of Belfast

The Lord Mayor of Belfast (Mr. R. J. McMordie M. P.) yesterday received the following telegram, addressed to him at the City Hall:

"Deeply grieved at terrible loss of Titanic. All members of Junior Institute of Engineers join in message of sympathy. - Trevett, Seaton, Devonshire".

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