Traction Magnate Kissed Wife Good-By, Then Went Back To Die

Rushed to Philadelphia in a special train that had been sidetracked at the Communipaw station of the Pennsylvania railroad, in Jersey City, were the survivors of the Widener family, comprised of Mrs. George D. Widener, Harry Elkins Widener, and the maid of the former. None of the survivors in this family were able to talk about the disaster, as the weight of their sorrow over the tragic death of George D. Widener had overwhelmed the latter’s widow and son. But to Robert P. Daniels, himself a Philadelphian, and a survivor, fell the lot of telling the heroic end of the traction magnate.

“Mrs. Widener,” said Daniels, “did not want to go, and asked to be allowed to stand by her husband. However, Mr. Widener told her to save herself and son, and forced her almost to seek the lifeboat. Mrs. Widener kissed her husband good-by. He told her not to worry, as it was possible that all would be saved, and the danger did not seem great. He stood by Colonel Astor and Major Butt, and was one of those who upheld Chief Officer Murdoch, when the latter at the point of a pistol drove back the foreigners who started the panic and stampede.

Daniels, himself, had a narrow escape. He jumped into the water, and was picked up by lifeboats that were in the vicinity of the wreck.