Titanic Survivor

Oskar Arvid Hedman

Third-class passenger

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Young Man Who Was Saved from a Grave in the Ocean Visits Argus-Leader Office

Tells Interesting Story, but Says True Story of the Disaster Will Never be Told

Sioux Falls is today entertaining one of the survivors of the Titanic disaster. The party is Oscar Hedman, a real estate man of Bowman, N. D. Mr. Hedman is spending a few days here visiting with the lady that he expects in the near future to make his wife. His fiancee is Miss Tillie Anderson of 414 West Seventh street.

Mr. Hedman has a most thrilling story of his experience on the Titanic. He was in charge of a large delegation of immigrants from Sweden who were coming to this country to establish homes. Of the sixty odd people in the party, but ten were rescued from the wreck.

Mr. Hedman is a young man, probably 27 or 28 years of age. However, he is a great observer as his general story of the wreck goes to show.

"I had retired and was sleeping at the time of the collision of the Titanic with the iceberg," remarked Mr. Hedman. "The jar was not severe and I would probably have remained in my berth and paid no attention to it, had it not been for the commotion which I heard a few minutes afterwards. I finally realized that something was wrong and I put on my clothes and went out into the passage way. I found men, women and children hurrying about, but no one seemed to know what the matter was. I worked my way to the deck where I learned that the Titanic had struck an iceberg. While there was considerable commotion, no one seemed to think there was any danger.

"Finally orders were given for all to return to their rooms and secure their life preservers. I did as directed, but in doing so had to go through water nearly up to my arm pits. I then realized that something was radically wrong. However, I got my life preserver and put it on, returning to the deck.

"Then I found considerable excitement as the passengers and crew had been notified of the danger and each was looking for themselves.

"I saw the different boats loaded and started from the ship. It is a sight that no man will care to witness a second time. Husband and wife were obliged to part; sister and brother, father and daughter were forced to leave each other, each realizing that it was doubtful that they would ever again see each other. Some of the partings were certainly heart rending.

"It was one of those situations where it was necessary to shut your eyes and pay no attention to family ties. The word was passed around that the women and children were to be first looked after. The way the men behaved themselves was wonderful. There were few instances of any cowardice on the part of the men. They stood back and made way for the women and children.

"I saw one boat after the other leave the ship. When the last of the lifeboats had left the ship and there remained nothing but the collapsible boats I realized that there was but a few minutes between me and eternity. The ship was rapidly sinking.

"As the last life boat was pulling from the side of the Titanic I thought that there might be one chance and I made a plunge into the ocean. I was picked up by the last boat that had left the ill-fated vessel. This boat contained forty-five women and but three men. There were not enough men to handle the boat. I was glad to take hold of an oar and work hard as I was drenched and chilled through and through.

"The collapsible boats so far as I saw did not prove a success. One was launched after I made my plunge, but as near as I could learn but few of those who embarked on it were saved.

"So far as the controversy regarding vessels not coming to the rescue is concerned I am not prepared to speak with any degree of knowledge. I do know that about 2 o'clock we saw lights that instead of coming our way faded. Whether they could have done any good or not I do not know.

"Finally about daylight the Carpathia came upon the scene. We had drifted considerable distance from the other boats and were the last to be picked up.

"Yes, we were a happy party when we found ourselves on the decks of the Carpathia.

"Little has been said regarding the conditions of the sea at the time the Carpathia hove in sight. It is true that when the Titanic went down there was practically a dead calm, but about the time the Carpathia put in an appearance the wind started up, and it is my belief that had not succor came several of the life boats would have gone down with their load.

"I know nothing about the Marconi signals or whether any vessel refused to come to our rescue. I know that I came out of the horrible affair with my life and I am thankful for it. The full history of this ocean disaster will never be told."

We would like to thank Wolfric Rogers for contributing this article to the Archive. If you would like to contribute a primary source to Titanic Archive, please contact us.