PRIEST GIVES AWAY A LIFEBELT OFFERED HIM

Special Service of the NEWS

WHIPPANY, April 23---More about the heroism of Rev. Thomas R. Byles, of England, who lost his life on the Titanic, was told yesterday by his brother William, of Brooklyn, who was a guest of Father Clifford, of St. Mary’s Church here.

From several wreck survivors now in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Manhattan, Mr. Byles learned that his brother had declined the offer of a life belt in favor of another passenger.

It was then, as he has been told, that Father Byles stepped back into the cabin where he knelt down with a group of Irish immigrants, seamen and stokers, gave conditional absolution to all and recited the rosary.