mbassy were
particularly interested in hearing about Major "Archie" Butt, who passed
through Berlin, less than a month before the disaster, en route from
Russia and the Far East. Vice-president John B. Thayer and family, of
Philadelphia, were also in Berlin a fortnight ago and were guests of the
American Consul General and Mrs. Thackara. A score of other lesser
known passengers had recently stayed in Berlin hotels, and it was local
friends or kinsmen of theirs who were in a state of distressing unrest
over their fate.

Their anxiety was aggravated by the old-fogey methods of the German
newspapers, which are invariably twelve or fifteen hours later than
journals elsewhere in Europe on world news events. Although New York,
London and Paris had the cruel truth with their morning papers on
Tuesday, it was not until the middle of the forenoon that "extras" made
the facts public in Berlin.

William T. Stead was well and favorably known in Germany, and his fate
was keenly and particularly mourned. Germans have also noted that many
Americans of direct Teutonic ancestry or origin were among the shining
marks in the death list. Colonel John Jacob Astor is claimed as of
German, extraction, as well as Isidor Straus, Benjamin Guggenheim,
Washington Roebling and Henry B. Harris. All of them had been in Germany
frequently and had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Only one well-known resident of Berlin was aboard the Titanic, Frau
Antoinette Flegenheim, whose name appears among the rescued.

CHAPTER XX. BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW

ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH--BRAVE TO THE
LAST--MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE--ACTS OF HEROISM--ENGINEERS
DIED AT POSTS--NOBLE-HEARTED BAND

IN the anxious hours of uncertainty, when the air cracked and flashed
with the story of disaster, there was never doubt in the minds of men
ashore about the master of the Titanic. Captain Smith would bring his
ship into port if human power could mend the damage the sea had wrought,
or if human power could not stay the disaster he would never come to
port. There is something Calvinistic about such men of the old-sea
breed. They go down with their ships, of their own choice.

Into the last life-boat that was launched from the ship Captain Smith
with his own hand lifted a small child into a seat beside its mother.
As the gallant, officer performed his simple act of humanity several who
were already in the boat tried to force