THE TITANIC DISATER

SWINDON PASSENGERS ON BOARD

RETIRED GWR FOREMAN AMONGST THE PASSENGERS

MR AND MRS BEN HOWARD TRAVELLED ON THE TITANIC

"THE AWFUL SUSPENSE"

A calamity which will affect many, if not most, of the towns in the kingdom, has not left Swindon untouched. We regret to learn that amongst the passengers on board the ill-fated vessel there were a Swindon ex-foreman and his wife, Mr and Mrs Benjamin Howard of 85 Cheltenham Street, Swindon.

Mr Howard was for many years foreman over the Bolt Shop of the Swindon G.W.R. Works and retired some years ago.

"He had been ailing for some time", his daughter told our reporter this morning, "and as he had two sons in America it was thought that a sea voyage to America would benefit his health, and so he and mother went. Yes, it is quite true they travelled on the Titanic.

"They left home by the 2.15 train to Southampton on Tuesday, and set sail on the Titanic on the Wednesday. I had been thinking of going to Southampton to see them off, but I did not do so.

"We had a post-card from Cherbourg; and only on Friday night a letter from Queenstown - a very nice letter, too. But we little thought," our informant added sadly, ìthat this was the last we should hear of them.

"This news coming so suddenly and unexpectedly, has been a terrible shock; but we hope for the best. But", she added, "it is terribly hard having to wait in uncertainty - with this awful suspense.

"We were more hopeful last night when we heard all the passengers were saved, but now 800 out of 2000 are not many."

Further conversation elicited the facts that Mr. Howard, who was widely known and respected in Swindon, was an Oldham man by birth, but had lived in Swindon a great many years. Sixty-Four years of age, Mr Howard supervised the Bolt Shop for many years, till his retirement some years ago. His family consisted of three sons and one daughter, two of whom - a son and daughter are married and live in Swindon. Two single sons reside in America, and to them Mr. and Mrs. Howard were on their way at the time of the disaster.