TITANIC OWNERS OFFER TO SETTLE FOR $664,000
Saturday 18 December 1915 

New York, Dec 17 – The White Star line has agreed to pay $664,000 in settlement of all claims arising for the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, when more than 1,5000 persons were drowned, the line announced here to-day.

Of this amount approximately $500,000 would be distributed among American claimants, $50,000 to British claimants and $114,000 would be required for interest and expenses in connection with the numerous suits.

Forty-four attorneys, representing that number of persons out of more than 60 who have filed claims against the line have signified their willingness to accept the settlement terms, according to George W Betts Jr., one of the lines attorneys.

The proposition grew out of the activities of the claimants committee appointed last summer, which carried on a long investigation and fixed the total claims at $2,500,000. 

As about $500,000 would be paid directly to American claimants, Mr Betts explained that each one would receive approximately twenty per cent of his claim.  Under no circumstances, he added, will the money be distributed pro rata among the claimants.

If all of the claimants, both in this country and Great Britain agree to the proposition, the White Star line will be released from all further liabilities growing out of the Titanic disaster. The offer, however, is not contingent upon its acceptance by all claimants. Mr Betts said that all who accept the proposition will receive their proper share. If any claimants do not accept, their cases will be carried on in the courts.

The agreement which calls for the money to be deposited in a New York bank is now being circulated among those having claims and must be acted upon by December 30, to become operative.

Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica

RESCUED WOMAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO HEROIC MEN ON TITANIC
Saturday 20 April 1912 

From the lips of the woman who was saved from the Titanic came today one of the most glowing tributes yet paid to the heroism and self-sacrifice of the brave men who gave their lives that women and children might be spared a watery grave.

Mrs William Coutts, of this city, described in graphic manner how she and her two sons, Neville and William 3 and 9 years old, respectively, were rescued through the bravery of men aboard the doomed vessel.

“My husband had sent me money to buy second-class passage for the children and myself.” Said Mrs Coutts, “but I went in the steerage. I wanted to save the difference in passage money to help build up our home.”

“I was asleep when the ship struck.  The crash was slight that I thought little of it.  I lay awake for fully fifteen minutes before I got up. I dressed myself slowly, and then went out on deck to see what the trouble was.”

“Every one was hurrying, but there was no disorder.  I heard some talk about lifeboats, and then I hurried back to the children. I tied life preservers on the boys and then looked around for one for myself. There was none in sight.”

“I rushed out on deck with the children following me.”

“Just when I had given up hope of finding my way a seaman came along and said “Hurry now; all women and children to the lifeboats.”

“He took us to the side of the ship but I wanted a life preserver. Just then an American gentleman who had heard me asking for a life preserver stepped up to me.  He raised his hat, and then slowly removed the life preserver he had strapped to himself.”

“Take my life preserver, madam,” he said. Then he reached over and put his hand on the children’s heads. “If I go down, please pray for me.” He said.

“There were other brave men on board the Titanic, for I saw them helping women into the lifeboats as our boat pulled away. After kissing those they helped into the boats the men stepped back and did everything they could to load the boats quickly.”

“I was in the first boat that was picked up by the Carpathia.  There were seventeen in our boat.  It was frightfully cold, but neither I nor the children suffered as much as the others, because we were fully dressed.”

“When we got on board the Carpathia every one did everything possible for us. There was no discrimination, the poorest women receiving as much attention as the wealthiest.”

Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica

Wife of Lutheran Missionary Returning Home with Three Children

All Saved in Midnight Transfer to Life Boats

Many Gettysburg people are keenly interested in the welfare of four passengers who were on the ill-fated “Titanic” which sank in mid-ocean Sunday night.  All four were saved and the news of their safety was received here with much gratification. They are Mrs A. O. Becker and children Ruth, Mary [sic] and Richard. 

Mrs Becker is the wife of Rev. A. O. Becker one of the missionaries at the Lutheran mission at Guntar India where the REV. and Mrs S. C. Burger of Gettysburg are located together a large number of other people well known in this place.  Rev. Mr Becker has been ill for some time and was not even able to go with his family to the boat.  Mrs Becker was returning to America on account of the ill health of one of their children. 

Neither Mr Becker or his wife is known personally to local people but their work at the India mission has been a matter of interest to the large number of Lutherans in this section and through this means they are widely known.  They were originally from Ohio and neither was educated here though Mrs Becker as well as her husband is a college graduate. 

When the work of rescue was begun Sunday night the woman and her three children were among those placed in the lifeboats.  They drifted about all night until they were picked up Monday by the “Carpathia” which came to the rescue following wireless summons for help from the “Titanic”. 
Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica

New York, Jan 12 – A flood of petitions for damages through the loss of the steamer Titanic, filed today; included one Mrs Irene Wallach Harris, who claims $1,000,000 for the loss of her husband, Henry B Harris the theatrical manager.  This is the heaviest of the 279 claims so far filed.

Mrs May Futrelle of Scituate, Mass., asks $300,000 as compensation for the loss of her husband, Jacques Futrelle, author.  The claim of Mrs Lily B Millet, widow of Francis D Millet, the artist, a Titanic victim is $100,000.

Mrs John Jacob Astor, the Wideners, and the Hayes family are not on the list of claimants.
United State Judge Hand yesterday extended the time for filing petitions on claims to February 11th.  The claims amount to more than $10,000,000, but the White Star Line contends that its liability is limited, under the United States statues, to less than $100,000, the value of recovered records and passage money. 

Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica
 

New York Times

$100,000 GIFT FROM ISMAY
Tuesday 14 May 1912

By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times

LIVERPOOL, May 13---The Liverpool Journal of Commerce states that J. Bruce Ismay has decided, as a memorial of the heroism displayed by all sections of the crew of the Titanic, and as something of a thanksgiving offering for the safety of himself and of the other surviving passengers, to found an endowment fund with a gift of probably £20,000, ($10,000,) to provide pensions for disabled White Star Line seamen of all classes, whether engaged above or below deck, or for the widows of such men.

It is understood that details of the scheme will shortly be made known by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica

Miss Elise Lurette, a French passenger who was Mrs Spencer's travelling companion (more than 'maid'), used to lose her way on the Titanic. She did not speak English and she had crossed her cabin on a plan she showed to other passengers when she did not find her way. On April 12, she scratched two luncheon items on her menu - they certainly were not available after all: 'Omer Pacha Egg' and 'Welsh Rabbit'. She saved this menu from the sinking. 

Found here: Encyclopedia Titanica