From the Cleveland Plain Dealer,April 20, 1912:
(courtesy of Inger Sheil)
CAPTAIN WASHED AWAY
Titanic's Commander Didn't Commit Suicide
By Plain Dealer's Leased Wire
New York, April 19 - Just before going aboard the Carpathia to
resume his interrupted trip, Capt. Rostron paid a high tribute to
the courage and seamanship of the ill fated Titanic's commander,
Capt. E. J. Smith.
"I wish you would deny in as strong language as permissable this
persistent report send out by some press concern that Capt. Smith
killed himself when he realised that the Titanic was doomed," said
Capt. Rostron. "I have it from the lips of members of his crew who
tried to save his life that he did not commit suicide.
"He stuck to the ship until he was washed from the bridge. Then some
of his men caught him in the swirling waters and landed him safely
on the edge of a lifeboat, but he tumbled back into the ocean and
went down. He had been too weakened by hard knocks while being
tossed about the sinking Titanic to hold onto anything. The
buffeting he encountered on the wrecked ship undoubtedly had dazed
him and left him in no condition to exert even his remaining
strength.
"Smith was one of the coolest, bravest and most careful commanders I
have ever known. His seamanship was of the highest order. Too high a
tribute cannot be paid to him by anybody who knew him."