CONDITION OF TITANIC KNOWN AT OFFICE MONDAY

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Timothy L. Woodruff Says Typewritten Statement That Giant Liner

Was Sinking Was Sent by Line's Officials

Special Dispatch to the Inter Ocean

New York, April 18---That the officers of the White Star company knew early Monday morning that the Titanic was sinking, if they did not know that she already had gone to the bottom, became apparent today. Timothy L. Woodruff and the other members of the board of directors of the Union Typewriter company were informed on Monday morning at 10:30 by a private message from the steamship company that the vessel was afloat, "but probably would sink in half an hour."

"I was attending a meeting of the board of directors of the Union Typewriter company on Monday morning," said Mr. Woodruff today. "It was about 9:30 o'clock I should say. As I entered the office I asked one of the secretaries to call the White Star and get the latest news. Along about 10:30 o'clock he sent in a typewritten statement setting forth that the White Star offices had told him that the Titanic had struck an iceberg, was still afloat, but that she probably would sink within half an hour.

"Among those present when we got this news were President J. Werle of the company, Barton Hepburn, C. W. Seaman and other directors.

"I supposed naturally that everybody on the ship had been rescued, as about ten hours had elapsed since she had struck the berg. I was reassured in this belief in the afternoon when the newspapers stated that the vessel was being towed back to Halifax."

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