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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/781-h.zip b/781-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..79836f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/781-h.zip diff --git a/781-h/781-h.htm b/781-h/781-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..64b2e7a --- /dev/null +++ b/781-h/781-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11584 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Sinking of the Titanic, by Various + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sinking of the Titanic, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Sinking of the Titanic + and Great Sea Disasters + +Author: Various + +Editor: Logan Marshall + +Release Date: November 5, 2009 [EBook #781] +Last Updated: January 8, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SINKING OF THE TITANIC *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller, Mike Lough, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + SINKING OF THE TITANIC + </h1> + <h3> + AND GREAT SEA DISASTERS + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Various + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Edited by Logan Marshall + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Pre-Frontispiece Caption: THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + The largest and finest steamship in the world; on her maiden voyage, + loaded with a human freight of over 2,300 souls, she collided with a + huge iceberg 600 miles southeast of Halifax, at 11.40 P.M. Sunday April + 14, 1912, and sank two and a half hours later, carrying over 1,600 of + her passengers and crew with her. + </p> + <p> + Frontispiece Caption: CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH + </p> + <p> + Of the ill-fated giant of the sea; a brave and seasoned commander who + was carried to his death with his last and greatest ship. + </p> + <p> + Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters + </p> + <p> + A Detailed and Accurate Account of the Most Awful Marine Disaster in + History, Constructed from the Real Facts as Obtained from Those on Board + Who Survived.......... + </p> + <p> + ONLY AUTHORITATIVE BOOK + </p> + <p> + INCLUDING Records of Previous Great Disasters of the Sea, Descriptions + of the Developments of Safety and Life-saving Appliances, a Plain + Statement of the Causes of Such Catastrophes and How to Avoid Them, the + Marvelous Development of Shipbuilding, etc. + </p> + <p> + With a Message of Spiritual Consolation by REV. HENRY VAN DYKE, D.D. + </p> + <p> + EDITED BY LOGAN MARSHALL + </p> + <p> + Author of "Life of Theodore Roosevelt," etc. + </p> + <p> + ILLUSTRATED With Numerous Authentic Photographs and Drawings + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Dedication + </p> + <p> + To the 1635 souls who were lost with the ill-fated Titanic, and + especially to those heroic men, who, instead of trying to save + themselves, stood aside that women and children might have their chance; + of each of them let it be written, as it was written of a Greater One—"He + Died that Others might Live" + </p> + <p> + "I stood in unimaginable trance<br /> And agony that cannot be + remembered."—COLERIDGE + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Dr. Van Dyke's Spiritual Consolation to the Survivors of the Titanic + </p> + <p> + The Titanic, greatest of ships, has gone to her ocean grave. What has she + left behind her? Think clearly. + </p> + <p> + She has left debts. Vast sums of money have been lost. Some of them are + covered by insurance which will be paid. The rest is gone. All wealth is + insecure. + </p> + <p> + She has left lessons. The risk of running the northern course when it is + menaced by icebergs is revealed. The cruelty of sending a ship to sea + without enough life-boats and life-rafts to hold her company is exhibited + and underlined in black. + </p> + <p> + She has left sorrows. Hundreds of human hearts and homes are in mourning + for the loss of dear companions and friends. The universal sympathy which + is written in every face and heard in every voice proves that man is more + than the beasts that perish. It is an evidence of the divine in humanity. + Why should we care? There is no reason in the world, unless there is + something in us that is different from lime and carbon and phosphorus, + something that makes us mortals able to suffer together— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "For we have all of us an human heart." +</pre> + <p> + But there is more than this harvest of debts, and lessons, and sorrows, in + the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. There is a great ideal. It is + clearly outlined and set before the mind and heart of the modern world, to + approve and follow, or to despise and reject. + </p> + <p> + It is, "Women and children first!" + </p> + <p> + Whatever happened on that dreadful April night among the arctic ice, + certainly that was the order given by the brave and steadfast captain; + certainly that was the law obeyed by the men on the doomed ship. But why? + There is no statute or enactment of any nation to enforce such an order. + There is no trace of such a rule to be found in the history of ancient + civilizations. There is no authority for it among the heathen races + to-day. On a Chinese ship, if we may believe the report of an official + representative, the rule would have been "Men First, children next, and + women last." + </p> + <p> + There is certainly no argument against this barbaric rule on physical or + material grounds. On the average, a man is stronger than a woman, he is + worth more than a woman, he has a longer prospect of life than a woman. + There is no reason in all the range of physical and economic science, no + reason in all the philosophy of the Superman, why he should give his place + in the life-boat to a woman. + </p> + <p> + Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking Titanic come + from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth. + </p> + <p> + It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the strong ought + to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." It is the divine + revelation which is summed up in the words: "Greater love hath no man than + this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." + </p> + <p> + It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic to bring out + the absolute contradiction between this ideal and all the counsels of + materialism and selfish expediency. + </p> + <p> + I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found in other + religions. I do not say that they are against it. I do not ask any man to + accept my theology (which grows shorter and simpler as I grow older), + unless his heart leads him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the + strength of the strong is given them to protect and save the weak, the + ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," is in + essential harmony with the spirit of Christ. + </p> + <p> + If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this ideal is + supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find arguments for it. The + tragedy of facts sets the question clearly before us. Think about it. Is + this ideal to survive and prevail in our civilization or not? + </p> + <p> + Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and dominion. But what + a world to live in! + </p> + <p> + Only through the belief that the strong are bound to protect and save the + weak because God wills it so, can we hope to keep self-sacrifice, and + love, and heroism, and all the things that make us glad to live and not + afraid to die. + </p> + <p> + HENRY VAN DYKE. + </p> + <p> + PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_TOC"> DETAILIED CONTENTS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE + DISASTER IN HISTORY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. LEFT TO THEIR FATE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE + SUFFERERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_LIST"> LIST OF SURVIVORS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_LIST2"> LIST OF SURVIVORS—SECOND CABIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE + WRECK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC + WORK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. STORY OF THE STEWARD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_LIST3"> LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII. CRITICISM OF ISMAY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII. THE FINANCIAL LOSS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV. OPINIONS OF EXPERTS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV. OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI. DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII. SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII. TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORMS + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX. THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_TOC" id="link2H_TOC"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + DETAILED CONTENTS + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + CHAPTER I FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY <br /> + "The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"—Another triumph set + <br /> down to wireless telegraphy—The world goes to sleep + peacefully—The sad <br /> awakening <br /> CHAPTER II THE MOST + SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT <br /> Dimensions of the Titanic—Capacity—Provisions + for the comfort <br /> and entertainment of passengers—Mechanical + equipment—The army of <br /> attendants required <br /> CHAPTER III + THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC <br /> Preparations for the voyage—Scenes + of gayety—The boat sails—Incidents <br /> of the voyage—A + collision narrowly averted—The boat on fire—Warned of <br /> + icebergs <br /> CHAPTER IV SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS <br /> Sketches + of prominent men and women on board, including Major Archibald <br /> + Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, J. Bruce + <br /> Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d, Charles + M. <br /> Hays, W. T. Stead and others <br /> CHAPTER V THE TITANIC + STRIKES AN ICEBERG! <br /> Tardy attention to warning responsible for + accident—The danger not <br /> realized at first—An + interrupted card game—Passengers joke among <br /> themselves—The + real truth dawns—Panic on board—Wireless calls for <br /> + help. <br /> CHAPTER VI "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" <br /> Cool-headed + officers and crew bring order out of chaos—Filling the <br /> + life-boats—Heartrending scenes as families are parted—Four + life-boats <br /> lost—Incidents of bravery—"The boats are + all filled!" <br /> CHAPTER VII LEFT TO THEIR FATE <br /> Coolness and + heroism of those left to perish—Suicide of <br /> Murdock—Captain + Smith's end—The ship's band plays a noble hymn as the <br /> vessel + goes down. <br /> CHAPTER VIII THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD <br /> The value of + the wireless—Other ships alter their course—Rescuers on + <br /> the way. <br /> CHAPTER IX IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS <br /> Sorrow + and suffering—The survivors see the Titanic go down with their + <br /> loved ones on board—A night of agonizing suspense—Women + help to <br /> row—Help arrives—Picking up the life-boats. + <br /> CHAPTER X ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA <br /> Aid for the suffering and + hysterical—Burying the dead—Vote of <br /> thanks to Captain + Rostron of the Carpathia—Identifying those <br /> saved—Communicating + with land—The passage to New York. <br /> CHAPTER XI PREPARATIONS + ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS <br /> Police arrangements—Donations + of money and supplies—Hospital and <br /> ambulances made ready—Private + houses thrown open—Waiting for the <br /> Carpathia to arrive—The + ship sighted! <br /> CHAPTER XII THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING <br /> The + Carpathia reaches New York—An intense and dramatic <br /> moment—Hysterical + reunions and crushing disappointments at the <br /> dock—Caring for + the sufferers—Final realization that all hope for <br /> others is + futile—List of survivors—Roll of the dead. <br /> CHAPTER + XIII THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD <br /> How the Titanic sank—Water + strewn with dead bodies—Victims met death <br /> with hymn on their + lips. <br /> CHAPTER XIV THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY <br /> Collision + only a slight jar—Passengers could not believe the vessel <br /> + doomed—Narrow escape of life-boats—Picked up by the + Carpathia. <br /> CHAPTER XV JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK <br /> + Seventeen-year-old son of Pennsylvania Railroad official tells <br /> + moving story of his rescue—Told mother to be brave—Separated + from <br /> parents—Jumped when vessel sank—Drifted on + overturned boat—Picked up <br /> by Carpathia. <br /> CHAPTER XVI + INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH <br /> Women forced into the + life-boats—Why some men were saved before <br /> women—Asked + to man life-boats. <br /> CHAPTER XVII WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC + WORK <br /> Story of Harold Bride, the surviving wireless operator of the + Titanic, <br /> who was washed overboard and rescued by life-boat—Band + played ragtime <br /> and "Autumn". <br /> CHAPTER XVIII STORY OF THE + STEWARD <br /> Passengers and crew dying when taken aboard Carpathia—One + woman saved <br /> a dog—English colonel swam for hours when boat + with mother aboard <br /> capsized. <br /> CHAPTER XIX HOW THE WORLD + RECEIVED THE NEWS <br /> Nations prostrate with grief—Messages from + kings and <br /> cardinals—Disaster stirs world to necessity of + stricter regulations. <br /> CHAPTER XX BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + <br /> Illustrious career of Captain E. J. Smith—Brave to the <br /> + last—Maintenance of order and discipline—Acts of heroism—Engineers + <br /> died at posts—Noble-hearted band. <br /> CHAPTER XXI + SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD <br /> Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia—Bremen + passengers see <br /> bodies—Identifying bodies—Confusion in + names—Recoveries. <br /> CHAPTER XXII CRITICISM OF ISMAY <br /> + Criminal and cowardly conduct charged—Proper caution not exercised + when <br /> presence of icebergs was known—Should have stayed on + board to help <br /> in work of rescue—Selfish and unsympathetic + actions on board the <br /> Carpathia—Ismay's defense—William + E. Carter's statement. <br /> CHAPTER XXIII THE FINANCIAL LOSS <br /> + Titanic not fully insured—Valuable cargo and mail—No chance + for <br /> salvage—Life insurance loss—Loss to the Carpathia. + <br /> CHAPTER XXIV OPINIONS OF EXPERTS <br /> Captain E. K. Roden, Lewis + Nixon, General Greely and Robert H. Kirk <br /> point out lessons taught + by Titanic disaster and needed changes in <br /> construction. <br /> + CHAPTER XXV OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS. <br /> Deadly danger of + icebergs—Dozens of ships perish in collision—Other <br /> + disasters. <br /> CHAPTER XXVI DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING <br /> + Evolution of water travel—Increases in size of vessels—Is + there any <br /> limit?—Achievements in speed—Titanic not the + last word. <br /> CHAPTER XXVII SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES <br /> + Wireless telegraphy—Water-tight bulkheads—Submarine <br /> + signals—Life-boats and rafts—Nixon's pontoon—Life-preservers + and <br /> buoys—Rockets. <br /> CHAPTER XXVIII TIME FOR REFLECTION + AND REFORM <br /> Speed and luxury overemphasized—Space needed for + life-boats devoted to <br /> swimming pools and squash-courts—Mania + for speed records compels use of <br /> dangerous routes and prevents + proper caution in foggy weather—Life <br /> more valuable than + luxury—Safety more important than speed—An aroused <br /> + public opinion necessary—International conference recommended—Adequate + <br /> life-saving equipment should be compulsory—Speed regulations + in bad <br /> weather—Co-operation in arranging schedules to keep + vessels within <br /> reach of each other—Legal regulations. <br /> + CHAPTER XXIX THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION <br /> Prompt action of the + Government—Senate committee probes disaster and <br /> brings out + details—Testimony of Ismay, officers, crew passengers and <br /> + other witnesses. <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC + </h2> + <p> + NUMBER of persons aboard, 2340. Number of life-boats and rafts, 20. + Capacity of each life-boat, 50 passengers and crew of 8. Utmost capacity + of life-boats and rafts, about 1100. Number of life-boats wrecked in + launching, 4. Capacity of life-boats safely launched, 928. Total number of + persons taken in life-boats, 711. Number who died in life-boats, 6. Total + number saved, 705. Total number of Titanic's company lost, 1635. + </p> + <p> + The cause of the disaster was a collision with an iceberg in latitude + 41.46 north, longitude 50.14 west. The Titanic had had repeated warnings + of the presence of ice in that part of the course. Two official warnings + had been received defining the position of the ice fields. It had been + calculated on the Titanic that she would reach the ice fields about 11 + o'clock Sunday night. The collision occurred at 11.40. At that time the + ship was driving at a speed of 21 to 23 knots, or about 26 miles, an hour. + </p> + <p> + There had been no details of seamen assigned to each boat. + </p> + <p> + Some of the boats left the ship without seamen enough to man the oars. + </p> + <p> + Some of the boats were not more than half full of passengers. + </p> + <p> + The boats had no provisions, some of them had no water stored, some were + without sail equipment or compasses. + </p> + <p> + In some boats, which carried sails wrapped and bound, there was not a + person with a knife to cut the ropes. In some boats the plugs in the + bottom had been pulled out and the women passengers were compelled to + thrust their hands into the holes to keep the boats from filling and + sinking. + </p> + <p> + The captain, E. J. Smith, admiral of the White Star fleet, went down with + his ship. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY + </h2> + <p> + "THE TITANIC IN COLLISION, BUT EVERYBODY SAFE"—ANOTHER TRIUMPH SET + DOWN TO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY—THE WORLD GOES TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY—THE + SAD AWAKENING. + </p> + <p> + LIKE a bolt out of a clear sky came the wireless message on Monday, April + 15, 1912, that on Sunday night the great Titanic, on her maiden voyage + across the Atlantic, had struck a gigantic iceberg, but that all the + passengers were saved. The ship had signaled her distress and another + victory was set down to wireless. Twenty-one hundred lives saved! + </p> + <p> + Additional news was soon received that the ship had collided with a + mountain of ice in the North Atlantic, off Cape Race, Newfoundland, at + 10.25 Sunday evening, April 14th. At 4.15 Monday morning the Canadian + Government Marine Agency received a wireless message that the Titanic was + sinking and that the steamers towing her were trying to get her into shoal + water near Cape Race, for the purpose of beaching her. + </p> + <p> + Wireless despatches up to noon Monday showed that the passengers of the + Titanic were being transferred aboard the steamer Carpathia, a Cunarder, + which left New York, April 13th, for Naples. Twenty boat-loads of the + Titanic's passengers were said to have been transferred to the Carpathia + then, and allowing forty to sixty persons as the capacity of each + life-boat, some 800 or 1200 persons had already been transferred from the + damaged liner to the Carpathia. They were reported as being taken to + Halifax, whence they would be sent by train to New York. + </p> + <p> + Another liner, the Parisian, of the Allan Company, which sailed from + Glasgow for Halifax on April 6th, was said to be close at hand and + assisting in the work of rescue. The Baltic, Virginian and Olympic were + also near the scene, according to the information received by wireless. + </p> + <p> + While badly damaged, the giant vessel was reported as still afloat, but + whether she could reach port or shoal water was uncertain. The White Star + officials declared that the Titanic was in no immediate danger of sinking, + because of her numerous water-tight compartments. + </p> + <p> + "While we are still lacking definite information," Mr. Franklin, + vice-president of the White Star Line, said later in the afternoon, "we + believe the Titanic's passengers will reach Halifax, Wednesday evening. We + have received no further word from Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, or + from any of the ships in the vicinity, but are confident that there will + be no loss of life." + </p> + <p> + With the understanding that the survivors would be taken to Halifax the + line arranged to have thirty Pullman cars, two diners and many passenger + coaches leave Boston Monday night for Halifax to get the passengers after + they were landed. Mr. Franklin made a guess that the Titanic's passengers + would get into Halifax on Wednesday. The Department of Commerce and Labor + notified the White Star Line that customs and immigration inspectors would + be sent from Montreal to Halifax in order that there would be as little + delay as possible in getting the passengers on trains. + </p> + <p> + Monday night the world slept in peace and assurance. A wireless message + had finally been received, reading: + </p> + <p> + "All Titanic's passengers safe." + </p> + <p> + It was not until nearly a week later that the fact was discovered that + this message had been wrongly received in the confusion of messages + flashing through the air, and that in reality the message should have + read: + </p> + <p> + "Are all Titanic's passengers safe?" + </p> + <p> + With the dawning of Tuesday morning came the awful news of the true fate + of the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + </h2> + <p> + DIMENSIONS OF THE TITANIC—CAPACITY—PROVISIONS FOR THE COMFORT + AND ENTERTAINMENT OF PASSENGERS—MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT THE ARMY OF + ATTENDANTS REQUIRED. + </p> + <p> + THE statistical record of the great ship has news value at this time. + </p> + <p> + Early in 1908 officials of the White Star Company announced that they + would eclipse all previous records in shipbuilding with a vessel of + staggering dimensions. The Titanic resulted. + </p> + <p> + The keel of the ill-fated ship was laid in the summer of 1909 at the + Harland & Wolff yards, Belfast. Lord Pirrie, considered one of the + best authorities on shipbuilding in the world, was the designer. The + leviathan was launched on May 31, 1911, and was completed in February, + 1912, at a cost of $10,000,000. + </p> + <p> + SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC + </p> + <p> + The Titanic, largest liner in commission, was a sister ship of the + Olympic. The registered tonnage of each vessel is estimated as 45,000, but + officers of the White Star Line say that the Titanic measured 45,328 tons. + The Titanic was commanded by Captain E. J. Smith, the White Star admiral, + who had previously been on the Olympic. + </p> + <p> + She was 882 1/2 long, or about four city blocks, and was 5000 tons bigger + than a battleship twice as large as the dreadnought Delaware. + </p> + <p> + Like her sister ship, the Olympic, the Titanic was a four-funneled vessel, + and had eleven decks. The distance from the keel to the top of the funnels + was 175 feet. She had an average speed of twenty-one knots. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic could accommodate 2500 passengers. The steamship was divided + into numerous compartments, separated by fifteen bulkheads. She was + equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool, hospital with operating room, + and a grill and palm garden. + </p> + <p> + CARRIED CREW OF 860 + </p> + <p> + The registered tonnage was 45,000, and the displacement tonnage 66,000. + She was capable of carrying 2500 passengers and the crew numbered 860. + </p> + <p> + The largest plates employed in the hull were 36 feet long, weighing 43 1/2 + tons each, and the largest steel beam used was 92 feet long, the weight of + this double beam being 4 tons. The rudder, which was operated + electrically, weighed 100 tons, the anchors 15 1/2 tons each, the center + (turbine) propeller 22 tons, and each of the two "wing" propellers 38 tons + each. The after "boss-arms," from which were sus-pended the three + propeller shafts, tipped the scales at 73 1/2 tons, and the forward + "boss-arms" at 45 tons. Each link in the anchor-chains weighed 175 pounds. + There were more than 2000 side-lights and windows to light the public + rooms and passenger cabins. + </p> + <p> + Nothing was left to chance in the construction of the Titanic. Three + million rivets (weighing 1200 tons) held the solid plates of steel + together. To insure stability in binding the heavy plates in the double + bottom, half a million rivets, weighing about 270 tons, were used. + </p> + <p> + All the plating of the hulls was riveted by hydraulic power, driving + seven-ton riveting machines, suspended from traveling cranes. The double + bottom extended the full length of the vessel, varying from 5 feet 3 + inches to 6 feet 3 inches in depth, and lent added strength to the hull. + </p> + <p> + MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP + </p> + <p> + Not only was the Titanic the largest steamship afloat but it was the most + luxurious. Elaborately furnished cabins opened onto her eleven decks, and + some of these decks were reserved as private promenades that were engaged + with the best suites. One of these suites was sold for $4350 for the + boat's maiden and only voyage. Suites similar, but which were without the + private promenade decks, sold for $2300. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic differed in some respects from her sister ship. The Olympic + has a lower promenade deck, but in the Titanic's case the staterooms were + brought out flush with the outside of the superstructure, and the rooms + themselves made much larger. The sitting rooms of some of the suites on + this deck were 15 x 15 feet. + </p> + <p> + The restaurant was much larger than that of the Olympic and it had a + novelty in the shape of a private promenade deck on the starboard side, to + be used exclusively by its patrons. Adjoining it was a reception room, + where hosts and hostesses could meet their guests. + </p> + <p> + Two private promenades were connected with the two most luxurious suites + on the ship. The suites were situated about amidships, one on either side + of the vessel, and each was about fifty feet long. One of the suites + comprised a sitting room, two bedrooms and a bath. + </p> + <p> + These private promenades were expensive luxuries. The cost figured out + something like forty dollars a front foot for a six days' voyage. They, + with the suites to which they are attached, were the most expensive + transatlantic accommodations yet offered. + </p> + <p> + THE ENGINE ROOM + </p> + <p> + The engine room was divided into two sections, one given to the + reciprocating engines and the other to the turbines. There were two sets + of the reciprocating kind, one working each of the wing propellers through + a four-cylinder triple expansion, direct acting inverted engine. Each set + could generate 15,000 indicated horse-power at seventy-five revolutions a + minute. The Parsons type turbine takes steam from the reciprocating + engines, and by developing a horse-power of 16,000 at 165 revolutions a + minute works the third of the ship's propellers, the one directly under + the rudder. Of the four funnels of the vessel three were connected with + the engine room, and the fourth or after funnel for ventilating the ship + including the gallery. + </p> + <p> + Practically all of the space on the Titanic below the upper deck was + occupied by steam-generating plant, coal bunkers and propelling machinery. + Eight of the fifteen water-tight compartments contained the mechanical + part of the vessel. There were, for instance, twenty-four double end and + five single end boilers, each 16 feet 9 inches in diameter, the larger 20 + feet long and the smaller 11 feet 9 inches long. The larger boilers had + six fires under each of them and the smaller three furnaces. Coal was + stored in bunker space along the side of the ship between the lower and + middle decks, and was first shipped from there into bunkers running all + the way across the vessel in the lowest part. From there the stokers + handed it into the furnaces. + </p> + <p> + One of the most interesting features of the vessel was the refrigerating + plant, which comprised a huge ice-making and refrigerating machine and a + number of provision rooms on the after part of the lower and orlop decks. + There were separate cold rooms for beef, mutton, poultry, game, fish, + vegetables, fruit, butter, bacon, cheese, flowers, mineral water, wine, + spirits and champagne, all maintained at different temperatures most + suitable to each. Perishable freight had a compartment of its own, also + chilled by the plant. + </p> + <p> + COMFORT AND STABILITY + </p> + <p> + Two main ideas were carried out in the Titanic. One was comfort and the + other stability. The vessel was planned to be an ocean ferry. She was to + have only a speed of twenty-one knots, far below that of some other modern + vessels, but she was planned to make that speed, blow high or blow low, so + that if she left one side of the ocean at a given time she could be relied + on to reach the other side at almost a certain minute of a certain hour. + </p> + <p> + One who has looked into modern methods for safeguarding + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = LIFE-BOAT AND DAVITS ON THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + This diagram shows very clearly the arrangement of the life-boats and the + manner in which they were launched.} + </p> + <p> + a vessel of the Titanic type can hardly imagine an accident that could + cause her to founder. No collision such as has been the fate of any ship + in recent years, it has been thought up to this time, could send her down, + nor could running against an iceberg do it unless such an accident were + coupled with the remotely possible blowing out of a boiler. She would sink + at once, probably, if she were to run over a submerged rock or derelict in + such manner that both her keel plates and her double bottom were torn away + for more than half her length; but such a catastrophe was so remotely + possible that it did not even enter the field of conjecture. + </p> + <p> + The reason for all this is found in the modern arrangement of water-tight + steel compartments into which all ships now are divided and of which the + Titanic had fifteen so disposed that half of them, including the largest, + could be flooded without impairing the safety of the vessel. Probably it + was the working of these bulkheads and the water-tight doors between them + as they are supposed to work that saved the Titanic from foundering when + she struck the iceberg. + </p> + <p> + These bulkheads were of heavy sheet steel and started at the very bottom + of the ship and extended right up to the top side. The openings in the + bulkheads were just about the size of the ordinary doorway, but the doors + did not swing as in a house, but fitted into water-tight grooves above the + opening. They could be released instantly in several ways, and once closed + formed a barrier to the water as solid as the bulkhead itself. + </p> + <p> + In the Titanic, as in other great modern ships, these doors were held in + place above the openings by friction clutches. On the bridge was a switch + which connected with an electric magnet at the side of the bulkhead + opening. The turning of this switch caused the magnet to draw down a heavy + weight, which instantly released the friction clutch, and allowed the door + to fall or slide down over the opening in a second. If, however, through + accident the bridge switch was rendered useless the doors would close + automatically in a few seconds. This was arranged by means of large metal + floats at the side of the doorways, which rested just above the level of + the double bottom, and as the water entered the compartments these floats + would rise to it and directly release the clutch holding the door open. + These clutches could also be released by hand. + </p> + <p> + It was said of the Titanic that liner compartments could be flooded as far + back or as far forward as the engine room and she would float, though she + might take on a heavy list, or settle considerably at one end. To provide + against just such an accident as she is said to have encountered she had + set back a good distance from the bows an extra heavy cross partition + known as the collision bulkhead, which would prevent water getting in + amidships, even though a good part of her bow should be torn away. What a + ship can stand and still float was shown a few years ago when the Suevic + of the White Star Line went on the rocks on the British coast. The + wreckers could not move the forward part of her, so they separated her + into two sections by the use of dynamite, and after putting in a temporary + bulkhead floated off the after half of the ship, put it in dry dock and + built a new forward part for her. More recently the battleship Maine, or + what was left of her, was floated out to sea, and kept on top of the water + by her water-tight compartments only. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + </h2> + <p> + PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE—SCENES OF GAYETY—THE BOAT SAILS—INCIDENTS + OF THE VOYAGE—-A COLLISION NARROWLY AVERTED—THE BOAT ON FIRE—WARNED + OF ICEBERGS. + </p> + <p> + EVER was ill-starred voyage more auspiciously begun than when the Titanic, + newly crowned empress of the seas, steamed majestically out of the port of + Southampton at noon on Wednesday, April 10th, bound for New York. + </p> + <p> + Elaborate preparations had been made for the maiden voyage. Crowds of + eager watchers gathered to witness the departure, all the more interested + because of the notable people who were to travel aboard her. Friends and + relatives of many of the passengers were at the dock to bid Godspeed to + their departing loved ones. The passengers themselves were unusually gay + and happy. + </p> + <p> + Majestic and beautiful the ship rested on the water, marvel of + shipbuilding, worthy of any sea. As this new queen of the ocean moved + slowly from her dock, no one questioned her construction: she was fitted + with an elaborate system of + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = STEAMER "TITANIC" COMPARED WITH THE LARGEST STRUCTURES + IN THE WORLD 1. Bunker Hill Monument. Boston, 221 feet high. 2. Public + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = J. BRUCE ISMAY + </p> + <p> + Managing director of the International Mercantile Marine, and managing + director of the White....} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = CHARLES M. HAYS + </p> + <p> + President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, numbered among the heroic + men....} + </p> + <p> + water-tight compartments, calculated to make her unsinkable; she had been + pronounced the safest as well as the most sumptuous Atlantic liner afloat. + </p> + <p> + There was silence just before the boat pulled out—the silence that + usually precedes the leave-taking. The heavy whistles sounded and the + splendid Titanic, her flags flying and her band playing, churned the water + and plowed heavily away. + </p> + <p> + Then the Titanic, with the people on board waving handkerchiefs and + shouting good-byes that could be heard only as a buzzing murmur on shore, + rode away on the ocean, proudly, majestically, her head up and, so it + seemed, her shoulders thrown back. If ever a vessel seemed to throb with + proud life, if ever a monster of the sea seemed to "feel its oats" and + strain at the leash, if ever a ship seemed to have breeding and blue blood + that would keep it going until its heart broke, that ship was the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + And so it was only her due that as the Titanic steamed out of the harbor + bound on her maiden voyage a thousand "God-speeds" were wafted after her, + while every other vessel that she passed, the greatest of them dwarfed by + her colossal proportions, paid homage to the new queen regnant with the + blasts of their whistles and the shrieking of steam sirens. + </p> + <p> + THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN + </p> + <p> + In command of the Titanic was Captain E. J. Smith, a veteran of the seas, + and admiral of the White Star Line fleet. The next six officers, in the + order of their rank, were Murdock, Lightollder,{sic} Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe + and Moody. Dan Phillips was chief wireless operator, with Harold Bride as + assistant. + </p> + <p> + From the forward bridge, fully ninety feet above the sea, peered out the + benign face of the ship's master, cool of aspect, deliberate of action, + impressive in that quality of confidence that is bred only of long + experience in command. + </p> + <p> + From far below the bridge sounded the strains of the ship's orchestra, + playing blithely a favorite air from "The Chocolate Soldier." All went as + merry as a wedding bell. Indeed, among that gay ship's company were two + score or more at least for whom the wedding bells had sounded in truth not + many days before. Some were on their honeymoon tours, others were + returning to their motherland after having passed the weeks of the + honeymoon, like Colonel John Jacob Astor and his young bride, amid the + diversions of Egypt or other Old World countries. + </p> + <p> + What daring flight of imagination would have ventured the prediction that + within the span of six days that stately ship, humbled, shattered and torn + asunder, would lie two thousand fathoms deep at the bottom of the + Atlantic, that the benign face that peered from the bridge would be set in + the rigor of death and that the happy bevy of voyaging brides would be + sorrowing widows? + </p> + <p> + ALMOST IN A COLLISION + </p> + <p> + The big vessel had, however, a touch of evil fortune before she cleared + the harbor of Southampton. As she passed down stream her immense bulk—she + displaced 66,000 tons—drew the waters after her with an irresistible + suction that tore the American liner New York from her moorings; seven + steel hawsers were snapped like twine. The New York floated toward the + White Star ship, and would have rammed the new ship had not the tugs + Vulcan and Neptune stopped her and towed her back to the quay. + </p> + <p> + When the mammoth ship touched at Cherbourg and later at Queenstown she was + again the object of a port ovation, the smaller craft doing obeisance + while thousands gazed in wonder at her stupendous proportions. After + taking aboard some additional passengers at each port, the Titanic headed + her towering bow toward the open sea and the race for a record on her + maiden voyage was begun. + </p> + <p> + NEW BURST OF SPEED EACH DAY + </p> + <p> + The Titanic made 484 miles as her first day's run, her powerful new + engines turning over at the rate of seventy revolutions. On the second day + out the speed was hit up to seventy-three revolutions and the run for the + day was bulletined as 519 miles. Still further increasing the speed, the + rate of revolution of the engines was raised to seventy-five and the day's + run was 549 miles, the best yet scheduled. + </p> + <p> + But the ship had not yet been speeded to her capacity she was capable of + turning over about seventy-eight revolutions. Had the weather conditions + been propitious, it was intended to press the great racer to the full + limit of her speed on Monday. But for the Titanic Monday never came. FIRE + IN THE COAL BUNKERS + </p> + <p> + Unknown to the passengers, the Titanic was on fire from the day she sailed + from Southampton. Her officers and crew knew it, for they had fought the + fire for days. + </p> + <p> + This story, told for the first time by the survivors of the crew, was only + one of the many thrilling tales of the fateful first voyage. + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic sailed from Southampton on Wednesday, April 10th, at noon," + said J. Dilley, fireman on the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + "I was assigned to the Titanic from the Oceanic, where I had served as a + fireman. From the day we sailed the Titanic was on fire, and my sole duty, + together with eleven other men, had been to fight that fire. We had made + no headway against it." + </p> + <p> + PASSENGERS IN IGNORANCE + </p> + <p> + "Of course," he went on, "the passengers knew nothing of the fire. Do you + think we'd have let them know about it? No, sir. + </p> + <p> + "The fire started in bunker No. 6. There were hundreds of tons of coal + stored there. The coal on top of the bunker was wet, as all the coal + should have been, but down at the bottom of the bunker the coal had been + permitted to get dry. + </p> + <p> + "The dry coal at the bottom of the pile took fire, and smoldered for days. + The wet coal on top kept the flames from coming through, but down in the + bottom of the bunkers the flames were raging. + </p> + <p> + "Two men from each watch of stokers were tolled off, to fight that fire. + The stokers worked four hours at a time, so twelve of us were fighting + flames from the day we put out of Southampton until we hit the iceberg. + </p> + <p> + "No, we didn't get that fire out, and among the stokers there was talk + that we'd have to empty the big coal bunkers after we'd put our passengers + off in New York, and then call on the fire-boats there to help us put out + the fire. + </p> + <p> + "The stokers were alarmed over it, but the officers told us to keep our + mouths shut—they didn't want to alarm the passengers." + </p> + <p> + USUAL DIVERSION + </p> + <p> + Until Sunday, April 14th, then, the voyage had apparently been a + delightful but uneventful one. The passengers had passed the time in the + usual diversions of ocean travelers, amusing themselves in the luxurious + saloons, promenading on the boat deck, lolling at their ease in steamer + chairs and making pools on the daily runs of the steamship. The smoking + rooms and card rooms had been as well patronized as usual, and a party of + several notorious professional gamblers had begun reaping their usual easy + harvest. + </p> + <p> + As early as Sunday afternoon the officers of the Titanic must have known + that they were approaching dangerous ice fields of the kind that are a + perennial menace to the safety of steamships following the regular + transatlantic lanes off the Great Banks of Newfoundland. + </p> + <p> + AN UNHEEDED WARNING + </p> + <p> + On Sunday afternoon the Titanic's wireless operator forwarded to the + Hydrographic office in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and elsewhere + the following dispatch: + </p> + <p> + "April 14.—The German steamship Amerika (Hamburg-American Line) + reports by radio-telegraph passing two large icebergs in latitude 41.27, + longitude 50.08.—Titanic, Br. S. S." + </p> + <p> + Despite this warning, the Titanic forged ahead Sunday night at her usual + speed—from twenty-one to twenty-five knots. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS + </h2> + <p> + SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD, INCLUDING MAJOR ARCHIBALD + BUTT, JOHN JACOB ASTOR, BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM, ISIDOR STRAWS, J. BRUCE + ISMAY, GEORGE D. WIDENER, COLONEL WASHINGTON ROEBLING, 2D, CHARLES M. + HAYS, W. T. STEAD AND OTHERS + </p> + <p> + THE ship's company was of a character befitting the greatest of all + vessels and worthy of the occasion of her maiden voyage. Though the major + part of her passengers were Americans returning from abroad, there were + enrolled upon her cabin lists some of the most distinguished names of + England, as well as of the younger nation. Many of these had purposely + delayed sailing, or had hastened their departure, that they might be among + the first passengers on the great vessel. + </p> + <p> + There were aboard six men whose fortunes ran into tens of millions, + besides many other persons of international note. Among the men were + leaders in the world of commerce, finance, literature, art and the learned + professions. Many of the women were socially prominent in two hemispheres. + </p> + <p> + Wealth and fame, unfortunately, are not proof against fate, and most of + these notable personages perished as pitiably as the more humble steerage + passengers. + </p> + <p> + The list of notables included Colonel John Jacob Astor, head of the Astor + family, whose fortune is estimated at $150,000,000; Isidor Straus, + merchant and banker ($50,000,000); J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of + the International Mercantile Marine ($40,000,000); Benjamin Guggenheim, + head of the Guggenheim family ($95,000,000): George D. Widener, son of P. + A. B. Widener, traction magnate and financier ($5,000,000); Colonel + Washington Roebling, builder of the great Brooklyn Bridge; Charles M. + Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway; W. T. Stead. famous publicist; + Jacques Futrelle, journalist; Henry S. Harper, of the firm of Harper & + Bros.; Henry B. Harris, theatrical manager; Major Archibald Butt, military + aide to President Taft; and Francis D. Millet, one of the best-known + American painters. + </p> + <p> + MAJOR BUTT + </p> + <p> + Major Archibald Butt, whose bravery on the sinking vessel will not soon be + forgotten, was military aide to President Taft and was known wherever the + President traveled. His recent European mission was apparently to call on + the Pope in behalf of President Taft; for on March 21st he was received at + the Vatican, and presented to the Pope a letter from Mr. Taft thanking the + Pontiff for the creation of three new American Cardinals. + </p> + <p> + Major Butt had a reputation as a horseman, and it is said he was able to + keep up with President Roosevelt, be the ride ever so far or fast. He was + promoted to the rank of major in 1911. He sailed for the Mediterranean on + March 2d with his friend Francis D. Millet, the artist, who also perished + on the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + COLONEL ASTOR + </p> + <p> + John Jacob Astor was returning from a trip to Egypt with his + nineteen-year-old bride, formerly Miss Madeline Force, to whom he was + married in Providence, September 9, 1911. He was head of the family whose + name he bore and one of the world's wealthiest men. He was not, however, + one of the world's "idle rich," for his life of forty-seven years was a + well-filled one. He had managed the family estates since 1891; built the + Astor Hotel, New York; was colonel on the staff of Governor Levi P. + Morton, and in May, 1898, was commissioned colonel of the United States + volunteers. After assisting Major-General Breckinridge, inspector-general + of the United States army, he was assigned to duty on the staff of + Major-General Shafter and served in Cuba during the operations ending in + the surrender of Santiago. He was also the inventor of a bicycle brake, a + pneumatic road-improver, and an improved turbine engine. + </p> + <p> + BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM + </p> + <p> + Next to Colonel Astor in financial importance was Benjamin Guggenheim, + whose father founded the famous house of M. Guggenheim and Sons. When the + various Guggen-heim interests were consolidated into the American Smelting + and Refining Company he retired from active business, although he later + became interested in the Power and Mining Machinery Company of Milwaukee. + In 1894 he married Miss Floretta Seligman, daughter of James Seligman, the + New York banker. + </p> + <p> + ISIDOR STRAUS + </p> + <p> + Isidor Straus, whose wife elected to perish with him in the ship, was a + brother of Nathan and Oscar Straus, a partner with Nathan Straus in R. H. + Macy & Co. and L. Straus & Sons, a member of the firm of Abraham + & Straus in Brooklyn, and has been well known in politics and + charitable work. He was a member of the Fifty-third Congress from 1893 to + 1895, and as a friend of William L. Wilson was in constant consultation in + the matter of the former Wilson tariff bill. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Straus was conspicuous for his works of charity and was an ardent + supporter of every enterprise to improve the condition of the Hebrew + immigrants. He was president of the Educational Alliance, vice-president + of the J. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital, a member of the Chamber of + Commerce, on one of the visiting committees of Harvard University, and was + besides a trustee of many financial and philanthropic institutions. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Straus never enjoyed a college education. He was, however, one of the + best informed men of the day, his information having been derived from + extensive reading. His library, said to be one of the finest and most + extensive in New York, was his pride and his place of special recreation. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ICEBERG THAT SUNK THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + Lady Duff Gordon, a prominent English woman who was aboard the...} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = HEART-BREAKING FAREWELLS + </p> + <p> + Both men and women were loaded into the first boats, but soon the cry of + "Women first" was raised. Then came the real note of tragedy. Husbands and + wives clung to each other in farewell; some refused to be separated.} + </p> + <p> + GEORGE D. WIDENER + </p> + <p> + The best known of Philadelphia passengers aboard the Titanic were Mr. and + Mrs. George D. Widener. Mr. Widener was a son of Peter A. B. Widener and, + like his father, was recognized as one of the foremost financiers of + Philadelphia as well as a leader in society there. Mr. Widener married + Miss Eleanor Elkins, a daughter of the late William L. Elkins. They made + their home with his father at the latter's fine place at Eastbourne, ten + miles from Philadelphia. Mr. Widener was keenly interested in horses and + was a constant exhibitor at horse shows. In business he was recognized as + his father's chief adviser in managing the latter's extensive traction + interests. P. A. B. Widener is a director of the International Mercantile + Marine. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Widener is said to be the possessor of one of the finest collections + of jewels in the world, the gift of her husband. One string of pearls in + this collection was reported to be worth $250,000. + </p> + <p> + The Wideners went abroad two months previous to the disaster, Mr. Widener + desiring to inspect some of his business interests on the other side. At + the opening of the London Museum by King George on March 21st last it was + announced that Mrs. Widener had presented to the museum thirty silver + plates once the property of Nell Gwyn. Mr. Widener is survived by a + daughter, Eleanor, and a son, George D. Widener, Jr. Harry Elkins Widener + was with his parents and went down on the ship. + </p> + <p> + COLONEL ROEBLING + </p> + <p> + Colonel Washington Augustus Roebling was president of the John A. Roebling + Sons' Company, manufacturers of iron and steel wire rope. He served in the + Union Army from 1861 to 1865, resigning to assist his father in the + construction of the Cincinnati and Covington suspension bridge. At the + death of his father in 1869 he took entire charge of the construction of + the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is to his genius that the success of that + great work may be said to be due. + </p> + <p> + WILLIAM T. STEAD + </p> + <p> + One of the most notable of the foreign passengers was William T. Stead. + Few names are more widely known to the world of contemporary literature + and journalism than that of the brilliant editor of the Review of Reviews. + Matthew Arnold called him "the inventor of the new journalism in England." + He was on his way to America to take part in the Men and Religion Forward + Movement and was to have delivered an address in Union Square on the + Thursday after the disaster, with William Jennings Bryan as his chief + associate. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Stead was an earnest advocate of peace and had written many books. His + commentary "If Christ Came to Chicago" raised a storm twenty years ago. + When he was in this country in 1907 he addressed a session of Methodist + clergymen, and at one juncture of the meeting remarked that unless the + Methodists did something about the peace movement besides shouting "amen" + nobody "would care a damn about their amens!" + </p> + <p> + OTHER ENGLISHMEN ABOARD + </p> + <p> + Other distinguished Englishmen on the Titanic were Norman C. Craig, M.P., + Thomas Andrews, a representative of the firm of Harland & Wolff, of + Belfast, the ship's builders, and J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the + White Star Line. + </p> + <p> + J. BRUCE ISMAY + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ismay is president and one of the founders of the International + Mercantile Marine. He has made it a custom to be a passenger on the maiden + voyage of every new ship built by the White Star Line. It was Mr. Ismay + who, with J. P. Morgan, consolidated the British steamship lines under the + International Mercantile Marine's control; and it is largely due to his + imagination that such gigantic ships as the Titanic and Olympic were made + possible + </p> + <p> + JACQUES FUTRELLE + </p> + <p> + Jacques Futrelle was an author of short stories, some of which have + appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, and of many novels of the same + general type as "The Thinking Machine," with which he first gained a wide + popularity. Newspaper work, chiefly in Richmond, Va., engaged his + attention from 1890 to 1909, in which year he entered the theatrical + business as a manager. In 1904 he returned to his journalistic career. + </p> + <p> + HENRY B. HARRIS + </p> + <p> + Henry B. Harris, the theater manager, had been manager of May Irwin, Peter + Dailey, Lily Langtry, Amelia Bingham, and launched Robert Edeson as star. + He became the manager of the Hudson Theater in 1903 and the Hackett + Theater in 1906. Among his best known productions are "The Lion and the + Mouse," "The Traveling Salesman" and "The Third Degree." He was president + of the Henry B. Harris Company controlling the Harris Theater. + </p> + <p> + Young Harris had a liking for the theatrical business from a boy. Twelve + years ago Mr. Harris married Miss Rene Wallach of Washington. He was said + to have a fortune of between $1,000,000 and $3,000,000. He owned outright + the Hudson and the Harris theaters and had an interest in two other show + houses in New York. He owned three theaters in Chicago, one in Syracuse + and one in Philadelphia. + </p> + <p> + HENRY S. HARPER + </p> + <p> + Henry Sleeper Harper, who was among the survivors, is a grandson of John + Wesley Harper, one of the founders of the Harper publishing business. H. + Sleeper Harper was himself an incorporator of Harper & Brothers when + the firm became a corporation in 1896. He had a desk in the offices of the + publishers, but his hand of late years in the management of the business + has been very slight. He has been active in the work of keeping the + Adirondack forests free from aggression. He was in the habit of spending + about half of his time in foreign travel. His friends in New York recalled + that he had a narrow escape about ten years ago when a ship in which he + was traveling ran into an iceberg on the Grand Banks. + </p> + <p> + FRANCIS DAVID MILLET + </p> + <p> + Millet was one of the best-known American painters and many of his + canvasses are found in the leading galleries of the world. He served as a + drummer boy with the Sixtieth Massachusetts volunteers in the Civil War, + and from early manhood took a prominent part in public affairs. He was + director of the decorations for the Chicago Exposition and was, at the + time of the disaster, secretary of the American Academy in Rome. He was a + wide traveler and the author of many books, besides translations of + Tolstoi. + </p> + <p> + CHARLES M. HAYS + </p> + <p> + Another person of prominence was Charles Melville Hays, president of the + Grand Trunk and the Grand Trunk Pacific railways. He was described by Sir + Wilfrid Laurier at a dinner of the Canadian Club of New York, at the Hotel + Astor last year, as "beyond question the greatest railroad genius in + Canada, as an executive genius ranking second only to the late Edward H. + Harriman." He was returning aboard the Titanic with his wife and + son-in-law and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Davidson, of Montreal. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! + </h2> + <p> + TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT—THE DANGER NOT + REALIZED AT FIRST—AN INTERRUPTED CARD GAME—PASSENGERS JOKE + AMONG THEMSELVES—THE REAL TRUTH DAWNS—PANIC ON BOARD—WIRELESS + CALLS FOR HELP + </p> + <p> + SUNDAY night the magnificent ocean liner was plunging through a + comparatively placid sea, on the surface of which there was much mushy ice + and here and there a number of comparatively harmless-looking floes. The + night was clear and stars visible. First Officer William T. Murdock was in + charge of the bridge The first intimation of the presence of the iceberg + that he received was from the lookout in the crow's nest. + </p> + <p> + Three warnings were transmitted from the crow's nest of the Titanic to the + officer on the doomed steamship's bridge 15 minutes before she struck, + according to Thomas Whiteley, a first saloon steward. + </p> + <p> + Whiteley, who was whipped overboard from the ship by a rope while helping + to lower a life-boat, finally reported on the Carpathia aboard one of the + boats that contained, he said, both the crow's nest lookouts. He heard a + conversation between them, he asserted, in which they discussed the + warnings given to the Titanic's bridge of the presence of the iceberg. + </p> + <p> + Whiteley did not know the names of either of the lookout men and believed + that they returned to England with the majority of the surviving members + of the crew. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = A GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE FORCE WITH WHICH A VESSEL + STRIKES AN ICEBERG} + </p> + <p> + "I heard one of them say that at 11.15 o'clock, 15 minutes before the + Titanic struck, he had reported to First Officer Murdock, on the bridge, + that he fancied he saw an iceberg!" said Whiteley. "Twice after that, the + lookout said, he warned Murdock that a berg was ahead. They were very + indignant that no attention was paid to their warnings." + </p> + <p> + TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT + </p> + <p> + Murdock's tardy answering of a telephone call from the crow's nest is + assigned by Whiteley as the cause of the disaster. + </p> + <p> + When Murdock answered the call he received the information that the + iceberg was due ahead. This information was imparted just a few seconds + before the crash, and had the officer promptly answered the ring of the + bell it is probable that the accident could have been avoided, or at + least, been reduced by the lowered speed. + </p> + <p> + The lookout saw a towering "blue berg" looming up in the sea path of the + Titanic, and called the bridge on the ship's telephone. When, after the + passing of those two or three fateful minutes an officer on the bridge + lifted the telephone receiver from its hook to answer the lookout, it was + too late. The speeding liner, cleaving a calm sea under a star-studded + sky, had reached the floating mountain of ice, which the theoretically + "unsinkable" ship struck a crashing, if glancing, blow with her starboard + bow. + </p> + <p> + MURDOCK PAID WITH LIFE + </p> + <p> + Had Murdock, according to the account of the tragedy given by two of the + Titanic's seamen, known how imperative was that call from the lookout man, + the men at the wheel of the liner might have swerved the great ship + sufficiently to avoid the berg altogether. At the worst the vessel would + probably have struck the mass of ice with her stern. + </p> + <p> + Murdock, if the tale of the Titanic sailor be true, expiated his + negligence by shooting himself within sight of all alleged victims huddled + in life-boats or struggling in the icy seas. + </p> + <p> + When at last the danger was realized, the great ship was so close upon the + berg that it was practically impossible to avoid collision with it + </p> + <p> + VAIN TRIAL TO CLEAR BERG + </p> + <p> + The first officer did what other startled and alert commanders would have + done under similar circumstances, that is + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = THE LOCATION OF THE DISASTER} + </p> + <p> + he made an effort by going full speed ahead on the starboard propeller and + reversing his port propeller, simultaneously throwing his helm over, to + make a rapid turn and clear the berg. The maneuver was not successful. He + succeeded in saving his bows from crashing into the ice-cliff, but nearly + the entire length of the underbody of the great ship on the starboard side + was ripped. The speed of the Titanic, estimated to be at least twenty-one + knots, was so terrific that the knife-like edge of the iceberg's spur + protruding under the sea cut through her like a can-opener. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic was in 41.46 north latitude and 50.14 west longitude when she + was struck, very near the spot on the wide Atlantic where the Carmania + encountered a field of ice, studded with great bergs, on her voyage to New + York which ended on April 14th. It was really an ice pack, due to an + unusually severe winter in the north Atlantic. No less than twenty-five + bergs, some of great height, were counted. + </p> + <p> + The shock was almost imperceptible. The first officer did not apparently + realize that the great ship had received her death wound, and none of the + passengers had the slightest suspicion that anything more than a usual + minor sea accident had happened. Hundreds who had gone to their berths and + were asleep were unawakened by the vibration. + </p> + <p> + BRIDGE GAME NOT DISTURBED + </p> + <p> + To illustrate the placidity with which practically all the men regarded + the accident it is related that Pierre Marechal, son of the vice-admiral + of the French navy, Lucien Smith, Paul Chevre, a French sculptor, and A. + F. Ormont, a cotton broker, were in the Cafe Parisien playing bridge. + </p> + <p> + The four calmly got up from the table and after walking on deck and + looking over the rail returned to their game. One of them had left his + cigar on the card table, and while the three others were gazing out on the + sea he remarked that he couldn't afford to lose his smoke, returned for + his cigar and came out again. + </p> + <p> + They remained only for a few moments on deck, and then resumed their game + under the impression that the ship had stopped for reasons best known to + the captain and not involving any danger to her. Later, in describing the + scene that took place, M. Marechal, who was among the survivors, said: + "When three-quarters of a mile away we stopped, the spectacle before our + eyes was in its way magnificent. In a very calm sea, beneath a sky + moonless but sown with millions of stars, the enormous Titanic lay on the + water, illuminated from the water line to the boat deck. The bow was + slowly sinking into the black water." + </p> + <p> + The tendency of the whole ship's company except the men in the engine + department, who were made aware of the danger by the inrushing water, was + to make light of and in some instances even to ridicule the thought of + danger to so substantial a fabric. + </p> + <p> + THE CAPTAIN ON DECK + </p> + <p> + When Captain Smith came from the chart room onto the bridge, his first + words were, "Close the emergency doors." + </p> + <p> + "They're already closed, sir," Mr. Murdock replied. + </p> + <p> + "Send to the carpenter and tell him to sound the ship," was the next + order. The message was sent to the carpenter, but the carpenter never came + up to report. He was probably the first man on the ship to lose his life. + </p> + <p> + The captain then looked at the communicator, which shows in what direction + the ship is listing. He saw that she carried five degrees list to + starboard. + </p> + <p> + The ship was then rapidly settling forward. All the steam sirens were + blowing. By the captain's orders, given in the next few minutes, the + engines were put to work at pumping out the ship, distress signals were + sent by the Marconi, and rockets were sent up from the bridge by + Quartermaster Rowe. All hands were ordered on deck. + </p> + <p> + PASSENGERS NOT ALARMED + </p> + <p> + The blasting shriek of the sirens had not alarmed the great company of the + Titanic, because such steam calls are an incident of travel in seas where + fogs roll. Many had gone to bed, but the hour, 11.40 P. M., was not too + late for the friendly contact of saloons and smoking rooms. It was Sunday + night and the ship's concert had ended, but there were many hundreds up + and moving among the gay lights, and many on deck with their eyes strained + toward the mysterious west, where home lay. And in one jarring, + breath-sweeping moment all of these, asleep or awake, were at the mercy of + chance. Few among the more than 2000 aboard could have had a thought of + danger. The man who had stood up in the smoking room to say that the + Titanic was vulnerable or that in a few minutes two-thirds of her people + would be face to face with death, would have been considered a fool or a + lunatic. No ship ever sailed the seas that gave her passengers more + confidence, more cool security. + </p> + <p> + Within a few minutes stewards and other members of the crew were sent + round to arouse the people. Some utterly refused to get up. The stewards + had almost to force the doors of the staterooms to make the somnolent + appreciate their peril, and many of them, it is believed, were drowned + like rats in a trap. + </p> + <p> + ASTOR AND WIFE STROLLED ON DECK + </p> + <p> + Colonel and Mrs. Astor were in their room and saw the ice vision flash by. + They had not appreciably felt the gentle shock and supposed that nothing + out of the ordinary had happened. They were both dressed and came on deck + leisurely. William T. Stead, the London journalist, wandered on deck for a + few minutes, stopping to talk to Frank Millet. "What do they say is the + trouble?" he asked. "Icebergs," was the brief reply. "Well," said Stead, + "I guess it is nothing serious. I'm going back to my cabin to read." + </p> + <p> + From end to end on the mighty boat officers were rushing about without + much noise or confusion, but giving orders sharply. Captain Smith told the + third officer to rush downstairs and see whether the water was coming in + very fast. "And," he added, "take some armed guards along to see that the + stokers and engineers stay at their posts." + </p> + <p> + In two minutes the officer returned. "It looks pretty bad, sir," he said. + "The water is rushing in and filling the bottom. The locks of the + water-tight compartments have been sprung by the shock." + </p> + <p> + "Give the command for all passengers to be on deck with life-belts on." + </p> + <p> + Through the length and breadth of the boat, upstairs and downstairs, on + all decks, the cry rang out: "All passengers on deck with + life-preservers." + </p> + <p> + A SUDDEN TREMOR OF FEAR + </p> + <p> + For the first time, there was a feeling of panic. Husbands sought for + wives and children. Families gathered together. Many who were asleep + hastily caught up their clothing and rushed on deck. A moment before the + men had been joking about the life-belts, according to the story told by + Mrs. Vera Dick, of Calgary, Canada. "Try this one," one man said to her, + "they are the very latest thing this season. Everybody's wearing them + now." + </p> + <p> + Another man suggested to a woman friend, who had a fox terrier in her + arms, that she should put a life-saver on the dog. "It won't fit," the + woman replied, laughing. "Make him carry it in his mouth," said the + friend. + </p> + <p> + CONFUSION AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS + </p> + <p> + Below, on the steerage deck, there was intense confusion. About the time + the officers on the first deck gave the order that all men should stand to + one side and all women should go below to deck B, taking the children with + them, a similar order was given to the steerage passengers. The women were + ordered to the front, the men to the rear. Half a dozen healthy, husky + immigrants pushed their way forward and tried to crowd into the first + boat. + </p> + <p> + "Stand back," shouted the officers who were manning the boat. "The women + come first." + </p> + <p> + Shouting curses in various foreign languages, the immigrant men continued + their pushing and tugging to climb into the boats. Shots rang out. One big + fellow fell over the railing into the water. Another dropped to the deck, + moaning. His jaw had been shot away. This was the story told by the + bystanders afterwards on the pier. One husky Italian told the writer on + the pier that the way in which the men were shot down was horrible. His + sympathy was with the men who were shot. + </p> + <p> + "They were only trying to save their lives," he said. + </p> + <p> + WIRELESS OPERATOR DIED AT HIS POST + </p> + <p> + On board the Titanic, the wireless operator, with a life-belt about his + waist, was hitting the instrument that was sending out C. Q. D., messages, + "Struck on iceberg, C. Q. D." + </p> + <p> + "Shall I tell captain to turn back and help?" flashed a reply from the + Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, old man," the Titanic wireless operator responded. "Guess we're + sinking." + </p> + <p> + An hour later, when the second wireless man came into the boxlike room to + tell his companion what the situation was, he found a negro stoker + creeping up behind the operator and saw him raise a knife over his head. + He said afterwards—he was among those rescued—that he realized + at once that the negro intended to kill the operator in order to take his + life-belt from him. The second operator pulled out his revolver and shot + the negro dead. + </p> + <p> + "What was the trouble?" asked the operator. + </p> + <p> + "That negro was going to kill you and steal your life-belt," the second + man replied. + </p> + <p> + "Thanks, old man," said the operator. The second man went on deck to get + some more information. He was just in time to jump overboard before the + Titanic went down. The wireless operator and the body of the negro who + tried to steal his belt went down together. + </p> + <p> + On the deck where the first class passengers were quartered, known as deck + A, there was none of the confusion that was taking place on the lower + decks. The Titanic was standing without much rocking. The captain had + given an order and the band was playing. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = WAITING FOR THE NEWS + </p> + <p> + A Bird's eye view of the great crowds...} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = WIRELESS STATION AT CAPE RACE + </p> + <p> + Where the first news of the Titanic disaster was received.} + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!" + </h2> + <p> + COOL-HEADED OFFICERS AND CREW BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS—FILLING THE + LIFE-BOATS—HEARTRENDING SCENES AS FAMILIES ARE PARTED—FOUR + LIFE-BOATS LOST—INCIDENTS OF BRAVERY—"THE BOATS ARE ALL + FILLED!" + </p> + <p> + ONCE on the deck, many hesitated to enter the swinging life-boats. Tho + glassy sea, the starlit sky, the absence, in the first few moments, of + intense excitement, gave them the feeling that there was only some slight + mishap; that those who got into the boats would have a chilly half hour + below and might, later, be laughed at. + </p> + <p> + It was such a feeling as this, from all accounts, which caused John Jacob + Astor and his wife to refuse the places offered them in the first boat, + and to retire to the gymnasium. In the same way H. J. Allison, a Montreal + banker, laughed at the warning, and his wife, reassured by him, took her + time dressing. They and their daughter did not reach the Carpathia. Their + son, less than two years old, was carried into a life-boat by his nurse, + and was taken in charge by Major Arthur Peuchen. + </p> + <p> + THE LIFE-BOATS LOWERED + </p> + <p> + The admiration felt by the passengers and crew for the matchlessly + appointed vessel was translated, in those first few moments, into a + confidence which for some proved deadly. The pulsing of the engines had + ceased, and the steamship lay just as though she were awaiting the order + to go on again after some trifling matter had been adjusted. But in a few + minutes the canvas covers were lifted from the life-boats and the crews + allotted to each standing by, ready to lower them to the water. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all the boats that were lowered on the port side of the ship + touched the water without capsizing. Four of the others lowered to + starboard, including one collapsible, were capsized. All, however, who + were in the collapsible boats that practically went to pieces, were + rescued by the other boats. + </p> + <p> + Presently the order was heard: "All men stand back and all women retire to + the deck below." That was the smoking-room deck, or the B deck. The men + stood away and remained in absolute silence, leaning against the rail or + pacing up and down the deck slowly. Many of them lighted cigars or + cigarettes and began to smoke. + </p> + <p> + LOADING THE BOATS + </p> + <p> + The boats were swung out and lowered from the A deck above. The women were + marshaled quietly in lines along the B deck, and when the boats were + lowered down to the level of the latter the women were assisted to climb + into them. + </p> + <p> + As each of the boats was filled with its quota of passengers the word was + given and it was carefully lowered down to the dark surface of the water. + </p> + <p> + Nobody seemed to know how Mr. Ismay got into a boat, but it was assumed + that he wished to make a presentation of the case of the Titanic to his + company. He was among those who apparently realized that the splendid ship + was doomed. All hands in the life-boats, under instructions from officers + and men in charge, were rowed a considerable distance from the ship + herself in order to get far away from the possible suction that would + follow her foundering. + </p> + <p> + COOLEST MEN ON BOARD + </p> + <p> + Captain Smith and Major Archibald Butt, military aide to the President of + the United States, were among the coolest men on board. A number of + steerage passengers were yelling and screaming and fighting to get to the + boats. Officers drew guns and told them that if they moved towards the + boats they would be shot dead. Major Butt had a gun in his hand and + covered the men who tried to get to the boats. + </p> + <p> + The following story of his bravery was told by Mrs. Henry B. Harris, wife + of the theatrical manager: + </p> + <p> + "The world should rise in praise of Major Butt. That man's conduct will + remain in my memory forever. The American army is honored by him and the + way he taught some of the other men how to behave when women and children + were suffering that awful mental fear of death. Major Butt was near me and + I noticed everything that he did. + </p> + <p> + "When the order to man the boats came, the captain whispered something to + Major Butt. The two of them had become friends. The major immediately + became as one in supreme command. You would have thought he was at a White + House reception. A dozen or more women became hysterical all at once, as + something connected with a life-boat went wrong. Major Butt stepped over + to them and said: + </p> + <p> + "'Really, you must not act like that; we are all going to see you through + this thing.' He helped the sailors rearrange the rope or chain that had + gone wrong and lifted some of the women in with a touch of gallantry. Not + only was there a complete lack of any fear in his manner, but there was + the action of an aristocrat. + </p> + <p> + "When the time came he was a man to be feared. In one of the earlier boats + fifty women, it seemed, were about to be lowered, when a man, suddenly + panic-stricken, ran to the stern of it. Major Butt shot one arm out, + caught him by the back of the neck and jerked him backward like a pillow. + His head cracked against a rail and he was stunned. + </p> + <p> + "'Sorry,' said Major Butt, 'women will be attended to first or I'll break + every damned bone in your body.' + </p> + <p> + FORCED MEN USURPING PLACES TO VACATE + </p> + <p> + "The boats were lowered one by one, and as I stood by, my husband said to + me, 'Thank God, for Archie Butt.' Perhaps Major Butt heard it, for he + turned his face towards us for a second and smiled. Just at that moment, a + young man was arguing to get into a life-boat, and Major Butt had a hold + of the lad by the arm, like a big brother, and was telling him to keep his + head and be a man. + </p> + <p> + "Major Butt helped those poor frightened steerage people so wonderfully, + so tenderly and yet with such cool and manly firmness that he prevented + the loss of many lives from panic. He was a soldier to the last. He was + one of God's greatest noblemen, and I think I can say he was an example of + bravery even to men on the ship." + </p> + <p> + LAST WORDS OF MAJOR BUTT + </p> + <p> + Miss Marie Young, who was a music instructor to President Roosevelt's + children and had known Major Butt during the Roosevelt occupancy of the + White House, told this story of his heroism. + </p> + <p> + "Archie himself put me into the boat, wrapped blankets about me and tucked + me in as carefully as if we were starting on a motor ride. He, himself, + entered the boat with me, performing the little courtesies as calmly and + with as smiling a face as if death were far away, instead of being but a + few moments removed from him. + </p> + <p> + "When he had carefully wrapped me up he stepped upon the gunwale of the + boat, and lifting his hat, smiled down at me. 'Good-bye, Miss Young,' he + said. 'Good luck to you, and don't forget to remember me to the folks back + home.' Then he stepped back and waved his hand to me as the boat was + lowered. I think I was the last woman he had a chance to help, for the + boat went down shortly after we cleared the suction zone." + </p> + <p> + COLONEL ASTOR ANOTHER HERO + </p> + <p> + Colonel Astor was another of the heroes of the awful night. Effort was + made to persuade him to take a place in one of the life-boats, but he + emphatically refused to do so until every woman and child on board had + been provided for, not excepting the women members of the ship's company. + </p> + <p> + One of the passengers describing the consummate courage of Colonel Astor + said: + </p> + <p> + "He led Mrs. Astor to the side of the ship and helped her to the life-boat + to which she had been assigned. I saw that she was prostrated and said she + would remain and take her chances with him, but Colonel Astor quietly + insisted and tried to reassure her in a few words. As she took her place + in the boat her eyes were fixed upon him. Colonel Astor smiled, touched + his cap, and when the boat moved safely away from the ship's side he + turned back to his place among the men." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ida S. Hippach and her daughter Jean, survivors of the Titanic, said + they were saved by Colonel John Jacob Astor, who forced the crew of the + last life-boat to wait for them. + </p> + <p> + "We saw Colonel Astor place Mrs. Astor in a boat and assure her that he + would follow later," said Mrs. Hippach. + </p> + <p> + "He turned to us with a smile and said, 'Ladies, you are next.' The + officer in charge of the boat protested that the craft was full, and the + seamen started to lower it. + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Astor exclaimed, 'Hold that boat,' in the voice of a man + accustomed to be obeyed, and they did as he ordered. The boat had been + lowered past the upper deck and the colonel took us to the deck below and + put us in the boat, one after the other, through a port-hole." + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = LOADING THE LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + Here occurred the heart-rending separation of husbands and wives, as the + women were given precedence in the boats.} + </p> + <p> + HEART-BREAKING SCENES + </p> + <p> + There were some terrible scenes. Fathers were parting from their children + and giving them an encouraging pat on the shoulders; men were kissing + their wives and telling them that they would be with them shortly. One man + said there was absolutely no danger, that the boat was the finest ever + built, with water-tight compartments, and that it could not sink. That + seemed to be the general impression. + </p> + <p> + A few of the men, however, were panic-stricken even when the first of the + fifty-six foot life-boats was being filled. Fully ten men threw themselves + into the boats already crowded with women and children. These men were + dragged back and hurled sprawling across the deck. Six of them, screamed + with fear, struggled to their feet and made a second attempt to rush to + the boats. + </p> + <p> + About ten shots sounded in quick succession. The six cowardly men were + stopped in their tracks, staggered and collapsed one after another. At + least two of them vainly attempted to creep toward the boats again. The + others lay quite still. This scene of bloodshed served its purpose. In + that particular section of the deck there was no further attempt to + violate the rule of "women and children first." + </p> + <p> + "I helped fill the boats with women," said Thomas Whiteley, who was a + waiter on the Titanic. "Collapsible boat No. 2 on the starboard jammed. + The second officer was hacking at the ropes with a knife and I was being + dragged around the deck by that rope when I looked up and saw the boat, + with all aboard, turn turtle. In some way I got overboard myself and clung + to an oak dresser. I wasn't more than sixty feet from the Titanic when she + went down. Her big stern rose up in the air and she went down bow first. I + saw all the machinery drop out of her." + </p> + <p> + HENRY B. HARRIS + </p> + <p> + Henry B. Harris, of New York, a theatrical manager, was one of the men who + showed superb courage in the crisis. When the life-boats were first being + filled, and before there was any panic, Mr. Harris went to the side of his + wife before the boat was lowered away. + </p> + <p> + "Women first," shouted one of the ship's officers. Mr. Harris glanced up + and saw that the remark was addressed to him. + </p> + <p> + "All right," he replied coolly. "Good-bye, my dear," he said, as he kissed + his wife, pressed her a moment to his breast, and then climbed back to the + Titanic's deck. + </p> + <p> + THREE EXPLOSIONS + </p> + <p> + Up to this time there had been no panic; but about one hour before the + ship plunged to the bottom there were three separate explosions of + bulkheads as the vessel filled. These were at intervals of about fifteen + minutes. From that time there was a different scene. The rush for the + remaining boats became a stampede. + </p> + <p> + The stokers rushed up from below and tried to beat a path through the + steerage men and women and through the sailors and officers, to get into + the boats. They had their iron bars and shovels, and they struck down all + who stood in their way. + </p> + <p> + The first to come up from the depths of the ship was an engineer. From + what he is reported to have said it is probable that the steam fittings + were broken and many were scalded to death when the Titanic lifted. He + said he had to dash through a narrow place beside a broken pipe and his + back was frightfully scalded. + </p> + <p> + Right at his heels came the stokers. The officers had pistols, but they + could not use them at first for fear of killing the women and children. + The sailors fought with their fists and many of them took the stoke bars + and shovels from the stokers and used them to beat back the others. + </p> + <p> + Many of the coal-passers and stokers who had been driven back from the + boats went to the rail, and whenever a boat was filled and lowered several + of them jumped overboard and swam toward it trying to climb aboard. + Several of the survivors said that men who swam to the sides of their + boats were pulled in or climbed in. + </p> + <p> + Dozens of the cabin passengers were witnesses of some of the frightful + scenes on the steerage deck. The steerage survivors said that ten women + from the upper decks were the only cool passengers in the life-boat, and + they tried to quiet the steerage women, who were nearly all crazed with + fear and grief. + </p> + <p> + OTHER HEROES + </p> + <p> + Among the chivalrous young heroes of the Titanic disaster were Washington + A. Roebling, 2d, and Howard Case, London representative of the Vacuum Oil + Company. Both were urged repeatedly to take places in life-boats, but + scorned the opportunity, while working against time to save the women + aboard the ill-fated ship. They went to their death, it is said by + survivors, with smiles on their faces. + </p> + <p> + Both of these young men aided in the saving of Mrs. William T. Graham, + wife of the president of the American Can Company, and Mrs. Graham's + nineteen-year-old daughter, Margaret. + </p> + <p> + Afterwards relating some of her experiences Mrs. Graham said: + </p> + <p> + "There was a rap at the door. It was a passenger whom we had met shortly + after the ship left Liverpool, and his name was Roebling—Washington + A. Roebling, 2d. He was a gentleman and a brave man. He warned us of the + danger and told us that it would be best to be prepared for an emergency. + We heeded his warning, and I looked out of my window and saw a great big + iceberg facing us. Immediately I knew what had happened and we lost no + time after that to get out into the saloon. + </p> + <p> + "In one of the gangways I met an officer of the ship. + </p> + <p> + "'What is the matter?' I asked him. + </p> + <p> + "'We've only burst two pipes,' he said. 'Everything is all right, don't + worry.' + </p> + <p> + "'But what makes the ship list so?' I asked. + </p> + <p> + "'Oh, that's nothing,' he replied, and walked away. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Case advised us to get into a boat. + </p> + <p> + "'And what are you going to do?' we asked him. + </p> + <p> + "'Oh,' he replied, 'I'll take a chance and stay here.' + </p> + <p> + "Just at that time they were filling up the third life-boat on the port + side of the ship. I thought at the time that it was the third boat which + had been lowered, but I found out later that they had lowered other boats + on the other side, where the people were more excited because they were + sinking on that side. + </p> + <p> + "Just then Mr. Roebling came up, too, and told us to hurry and get into + the third boat. Mr. Roebling and Mr. Case bustled our party of three into + that boat in less time than it takes to tell it. They were both working + hard to help the women and children. The boat was fairly crowded when we + three were pushed into it, and a few men jumped in at the last moment, but + Mr. Roebling and Mr. Case stood at the rail and made no attempt to get + into the boat. + </p> + <p> + "They shouted good-bye to us. What do you think Mr. Case did then? He just + calmly lighted a cigarette and waved us good-bye with his hand. Mr. + Roebling stood there, too—I can see him now. I am sure that he knew + that the ship would go to the bottom. But both just stood there." + </p> + <p> + IN THE FACE OF DEATH + </p> + <p> + Scenes on the sinking vessel grew more tragic as the remaining passengers + faced the awful certainty that death must be the portion of the majority, + death in the darkness of a wintry sea studded with its ice monuments like + the marble shafts in some vast cemetery. + </p> + <p> + In that hour, when cherished illusions of possible safety had all but + vanished, manhood and womanhood aboard the Titanic rose to their sublimest + heights. It was in that crisis of the direst extremity that many brave + women deliberately rejected life and chose rather to remain and die with + the men whom they loved. + </p> + <p> + DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS + </p> + <p> + "I will not leave my husband," said Mrs. Isidor Straus. "We are old; we + can best die together," and she turned from those who would have forced + her into one of the boats and clung to the man who had been the partner of + her joys and sorrows. Thus they stood hand in hand and heart to heart, + comforting each other until the sea claimed them, united in death as they + had been through a long life. + </p> + <p> + "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his + friends." + </p> + <p> + Miss Elizabeth Evans fulfilled this final test of affection laid down by + the Divine Master. The girl was the niece of the wife of Magistrate + Cornell, of New York. She was placed in the same boat with many other + women. As it was about to be lowered away it was found that the craft + contained one more than its full quota of passengers. + </p> + <p> + The grim question arose as to which of them should surrender her place and + her chance of safety. Beside Miss Evans sat Mrs. J. J. Brown, of Denver, + the mother of several children. Miss Evans was the first to volunteer to + yield to another. + </p> + <p> + GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM + </p> + <p> + "Your need is greater than mine," said she to Mrs. Brown. "You have + children who need you, and I have none." + </p> + <p> + So saying she arose from the boat and stepped back upon the deck. The girl + found no later refuge and was one of those who went down with the ship. + She was twenty-five years old and was beloved by all who knew her. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brown thereafter showed the spirit which had made her also volunteer + to leave the boat. There were only three men in the boat and but one of + them rowed. Mrs. Brown, who was raised on the water, immediately picked up + one of the heavy sweeps and began to pull. + </p> + <p> + In the boat which carried Mrs. Cornell and Mrs. Appleton there were places + for seventeen more than were carried. This too was undermanned and the two + women at once took their places at the oars. + </p> + <p> + The Countess of Rothes was pulling at the oars of her boat, likewise + undermanned because the crew preferred to stay behind. + </p> + <p> + Miss Bentham, of Rochester, showed splendid courage. She happened to be in + a life-boat which was very much crowded—so much so that one sailor + had to sit with his feet dangling in the icy cold water, and as time went + on the sufferings of the man from the cold were apparent. Miss Bentham + arose from her place and had the man turn around while she took her place + with her feet in the water. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely any of the life-boats were properly manned. Two, filled with + women and children, capsized immediately, while the collapsible boats were + only temporarily useful. They soon filled with water. In one boat eighteen + or twenty persons sat in water above their knees for six hours. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = + </p> + <p> + In the darkness and confusion, punctuated by screams, sobs and curses, the + boats were lowered after being filled with women, children and a few men. + The sketch, drawn from description of eye-witnesses, shows the lofty side + of the stricken vessel and the laden boats descending. + </p> + <p> + THE LIFE-BOATS BEING LOWERED} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. + LIFE-BOATS, AS SEEN FROM THE CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + Photographs taken from the rescue ship as she reached the first boats + carrying the Titanic's sufferers.} + </p> + <p> + heard it, but have forgotten it. But I saw an order for five pounds which + this man gave to each of the crew of his boat after they got aboard the + Carpathia. It was on a piece of ordinary paper addressed to the Coutts + Bank of England. + </p> + <p> + "We called that boat the 'money boat.' It was lowered from the starboard + side and was one of the first off. Our orders were to load the life-boats + beginning forward on the port side, working aft and then back on the + starboard. This man paid the firemen to lower a starboard boat before the + officers had given the order." + </p> + <p> + Whiteley's own experience was a hard one. When the uncoiling rope, which + entangled his feet, threw him into the sea, it furrowed the flesh of his + leg, but he did not feel the pain until he was safe aboard the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "I floated on my life-preserver for several hours," he said, "then I came + across a big oak dresser with two men clinging to it. I hung on to this + till daybreak and the two men dropped off. When the sun came up I saw the + collapsible raft in the distance, just black with men. They were all + standing up, and I swam to it—almost a mile, it seemed to me—and + they would not let me aboard. Mr. Lightoller, the second officer, was one + of them. + </p> + <p> + "'It's thirty-one lives against yours,, he said, 'you can't come aboard. + There's not room.'" + </p> + <p> + "I pleaded with him in vain, and then I confess I prayed that somebody + might die, so I could take his place. It was only human. And then some one + did die, and they let me aboard. + </p> + <p> + "By and by, we saw seven life-boats lashed together, and we were taken + into them." + </p> + <p> + MEN SHOT DOWN + </p> + <p> + The officers had to assert their authority by force, and three foreigners + from the steerage who tried to force their way in among the women and + children were shot down without mercy. + </p> + <p> + Robert Daniel, a Philadelphia passenger, told of terrible scenes at this + period of the disaster. He said men fought and bit and struck one another + like madmen, and exhibited wounds upon his face to prove the assertion. + Mr. Daniel said that he was picked up naked from the ice-cold water and + almost perished from exposure before he was rescued. He and others told + how the Titanic's bow was completely torn away by the impact with the + berg. + </p> + <p> + K. Whiteman, of Palmyra, N. J., the Titanic's barber, was lowering boats + on deck after the collision, and declared the officers on the bridge, one + of them First Officer Murdock, promptly worked the electrical apparatus + for closing the water-tight compartments. He believed the machinery was in + some way so damaged by the crash that the front compartments failed to + close tightly, although the rear ones were secure. + </p> + <p> + Whiteman's manner of escape was unique. He was blown off the deck by the + second of the two explosions of the boilers, and was in the water more + than two hours before he was picked up by a raft. + </p> + <p> + "The explosions," Whiteman said; "were caused by the rushing in of the icy + water on the boilers. A bundle of deck chairs, roped together, was blown + off the deck with me, and I struck my back, injuring my spine, but it + served as a temporary raft. + </p> + <p> + "The crew and passengers had faith in the bulkhead system to save the ship + and we were lowering a collapsible boat, all confident the ship would get + through, when she took a terrific dip forward and the water swept over the + deck and into the engine rooms. + </p> + <p> + "The bow went clean down, and I caught the pile of chairs as I was washed + up against the rim. Then came the explosions which blew me fifteen feet. + </p> + <p> + "After the water had filled the forward compartments, the ones at the + stern could not save her, although they did delay the ship's going down. + If it wasn't for the compartments hardly anyone could have got away." + </p> + <p> + A SAD MESSAGE + </p> + <p> + One of the Titanic's stewards, Johnson by name, carried this message to + the sorrowing widow of Benjamin Guggenheim: + </p> + <p> + "When Mr. Guggenheim realized that there was grave danger," said the room + steward, "he advised his secretary, who also died, to dress fully and he + himself did the same. Mr. Guggenheim, who was cool and collected as he was + pulling on his outer garments, said to the steward:— + </p> + <p> + PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY + </p> + <p> + "'I think there is grave doubt that the men will get off safely. I am + willing to remain and play the man's game, if there are not enough boats + for more than the women and children. I won't die here like a beast. I'll + meet my end as man.' + </p> + <p> + "There was a pause and then Mr. Guggenheim continued: + </p> + <p> + "'Tell my wife, Johnson, if it should happen that my secretary and I both + go down and you are saved, tell her I played the game out straight and to + the end. No woman shall be left aboard this ship because Ben Guggenheim + was a coward. + </p> + <p> + "'Tell her that my last thoughts will be of her and of our girls, but that + my duty now is to these unfortunate women and children on this ship. Tell + her I will meet whatever fate is in store for me, knowing she will approve + of what I do.'" + </p> + <p> + In telling the story the room steward said the last he saw of Mr. + Guggenheim was when he stood fully dressed upon the upper deck talking + calmly with Colonel Astor and Major Butt. + </p> + <p> + Before the last of the boats got away, according to some of the + passengers' narratives, there were more than fifty shots fired upon the + decks by officers or others in the effort to maintain the discipline that + until then had been well preserved. + </p> + <p> + THE SINKING VESSEL + </p> + <p> + Richard Norris Williams, Jr., one of the survivors of the Titanic, saw his + father killed by being crushed by one of the tremendous funnels of the + sinking vessel. + </p> + <p> + "We stood on deck watching the life-boats of the Titanic being filled and + lowered into the water," said Mr. Williams. "The water was nearly up to + our waists and the ship was about at her last. Suddenly one of the great + funnels fell. I sprang aside, endeavoring to pull father with me. A moment + later the funnel was swept overboard and the body of father went with it. + </p> + <p> + "I sprang overboard and swam through the ice to a life-raft, and was + pulled aboard. There were five men and one woman on the raft. Occasionally + we were swept off into the sea, but always managed to crawl back. + </p> + <p> + "A sailor lighted a cigarette and flung the match carelessly among the + women. Several screamed, fearing they would be set on fire. The sailor + replied: 'We are going to hell anyway and we might as well be cremated now + as then.'" + </p> + <p> + A huge cake of ice was the means of aiding Emile Portaleppi, of Italy, in + his hairbreadth escape from death when the Titanic went down. Portaleppi, + a second class passenger, was awakened by the explosion of one of the + bulkheads of the ship. He hurried to the deck, strapped a life-preserver + around him and leaped into the sea. With the aid of the preserver and by + holding to a cake of ice he managed to keep afloat until one of the + life-boats picked him up. There were thirty-five other people in the boat, + he said, when he was hauled aboard. + </p> + <p> + THE COWARD + </p> + <p> + Somewhere in the shadow of the appalling Titanic disaster slinks—still + living by the inexplicable grace of God—a cur in human shape, to-day + the most despicable human being in all the world. + </p> + <p> + In that grim midnight hour, already great in history, he found himself + hemmed in by the band of heroes whose watchword and countersign rang out + across the deep—"Women and children first!" + </p> + <p> + What did he do? He scuttled to the stateroom deck, put on a woman's skirt, + a woman's hat and a woman's veil, and picking his crafty way back among + the brave and chivalric men who guarded the rail of the doomed ship, he + filched a seat in one of the life-boats and saved his skin. + </p> + <p> + His name is on that list of branded rescued men who were neither picked up + from the sea when the ship went down nor were in the boats under orders to + help get them safe away. His identity is not yet known, though it will be + in good time. So foul an act as that will out like murder. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of strong men who have read this crowded record of golden deeds, + who have read and re-read that deathless roll of honor of the dead, are + still wet with tears of pity and of pride. This man still lives. Surely he + was born and saved to set for men a new standard by which to measure + infamy and shame. + </p> + <p> + It is well that there was sufficient heroism on board the Titanic to + neutralize the horrors of the cowardice. When the first order was given + for the men to stand back, there were a dozen or more who pushed forward + and said that men would be needed to row the life-boats and that they + would volunteer for the work. + </p> + <p> + The officers tried to pick out the ones that volunteered merely for + service and to eliminate those who volunteered merely to save their own + lives. This elimination process however, was not wholly successful. + </p> + <p> + THE DOOMED MEN + </p> + <p> + As the ship began to settle to starboard, heeling at an angle of nearly + forty-five degrees, those who had believed it was all right to stick by + the ship began to have doubts, and a few jumped into the sea. They were + followed immediately by others, and in a few minutes there were scores + swimming around. Nearly all of them wore life-preservers. One man, who had + a Pomeranian dog, leaped overboard with it and striking a piece of + wreckage was badly stunned. He recovered after a few minutes and swam + toward one of the life-boats and was taken aboard. + </p> + <p> + Said one survivor, speaking of the men who remained on the ship. "There + they stood—Major Butt, Colonel Astor waving a farewell to his wife, + Mr. Thayer, Mr. Case, Mr. Clarence Moore, Mr. Widener, all + multimillionaires, and hundreds of other men, bravely smiling at us all. + Never have I seen such chivalry and fortitude. Such courage in the face of + fate horrible to contemplate filled us even then with wonder and + admiration." + </p> + <p> + Why were men saved? ask: others who seek to make the occasional male + survivor a hissing scorn; and yet the testimony makes it clear that for a + long time during that ordeal the more frightful position seemed to many to + be in the frail boats in the vast relentless sea, and that some men had to + be tumbled into the boats under orders from the officers. Others express + the deepest indignation that 210 sailors were rescued, the testimony shows + that most of these sailors were in the welter of ice and water into which + they had been thrown from the ship's deck when she sank; they were human + beings and so were picked up and saved. + </p> + <p> + "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" + </p> + <p> + The one alleviating circumstance in the otherwise immitigable tragedy is + the fact that so many of the men stood aside really with out the necessity + for the order, "Women and children first," and insisted that the weaker + sex should first have places in the boats. + </p> + <p> + There were men whose word of command swayed boards of directors, governed + institutions, disposed of millions. They were accustomed merely to + pronounce a wish to have it gratified. Thousands "posted at their + bidding"; the complexion of the market altered hue when they nodded; they + bought what they wanted, and for one of the humblest fishing smacks or a + dory they could have given the price that was paid to build and launch the + ship that has become the most imposing mausoleum that ever housed the + bones of men since the Pyramids rose from the desert sands. + </p> + <p> + But these men stood aside—one can see them!—and gave place not + merely to the delicate and the refined, but to the scared Czech woman from + the steerage, with her baby at her breast; the Croatian with a toddler by + her side, coming through the very gate of Death and out of the mouth of + Hell to the imagined Eden of America. + </p> + <p> + To many of those who went it was harder to go than to stay there on the + vessel gaping with its mortal wounds and ready to go down. It meant that + tossing on the waters they must wait in suspense, hour after hour even + after the lights of the ship were engulfed in appalling darkness, hoping + against hope for the miracle of a rescue dearer to them than their own + lives. + </p> + <p> + It was the tradition of Anglo-Saxon heroism that was fulfilled in the + frozen seas during the black hours of Sunday night. The heroism was that + of the women who went, as well as of the men who remained! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. LEFT TO THEIR FATE + </h2> + <p> + COOLNESS AND HEROISM OF THOSE LEFT TO PERISH—SUICIDE OF MURDOCK—CAPTAIN + SMITH'S END—THE SHIP'S BAND PLAYS A NOBLE HYMN AS THE VESSEL GOES + DOWN + </p> + <p> + THE general feeling aboard the ship after the boats had left her sides was + that she would not survive her wound, but the passengers who remained + aboard displayed the utmost heroism. + </p> + <p> + William T. Stead, the famous English journalist, was so litt{l}e alarmed + that he calmly discussed with one of the passengers the probable height of + the iceberg after the Titanic had shot into it. + </p> + <p> + Confidence in the ability of the Titanic to remain afloat doubtlessly led + many of the passengers to death. The theory that the great ship was + unsinkable remained with hundreds who had entrusted themselves to the + gigantic hulk, long after the officers knew that the vessel could not + survive. + </p> + <p> + The captain and officers behaved with superb gallantry, and there was + perfect order and discipline among those who were aboard, even after all + hope had been abandoned for the salvation of the ship. + </p> + <p> + Many women went down, steerage women who were unable to get to the upper + decks where the boats were launched, maids who were overlooked in the + confusion, cabin passengers who refused to desert their husbands or who + reached the decks after the last of the life-boats was gone and the ship + was settling for her final plunge to the bottom of the Atlantic. + </p> + <p> + Narratives of survivors do not bear out the supposition that the final + hours upon the vessel's decks were passed in darkness. They say the + electric lighting plant held out until the last, and that even as they + watched the ship sink, from their places in the floating life-boats, her + lights were gleaming in long rows as she plunged under by the head. Just + before she sank, some of the refugees say, the ship broke in two abaft the + engine room after the bulkhead explosions had occurred. + </p> + <p> + COLONEL ASTOR'S DEATH + </p> + <p> + To Colonel Astor's death Philip Mock bears this testimony. + </p> + <p> + "Many men were hanging on to rafts in the sea. William T. Stead and + Colonel Astor were among them. Their feet and hands froze and they had to + let go. Both were drowned." + </p> + <p> + The last man among the survivors to speak to Colonel Astor was K. + Whiteman, the ship's barber. + </p> + <p> + "I shaved Colonel Astor Sunday afternoon," said Whiteman. "He was a + pleasant, affable man, and that awful night when I found myself standing + beside him on the passenger deck, helping to put the women into the boats, + I spoke to him. + </p> + <p> + "'Where is your life-belt?' I asked him. + </p> + <p> + "'I didn't think there would be any need of it,' he said. + </p> + <p> + "'Get one while there is time,' I told him. 'The last boat is gone, and we + are done for.' + </p> + <p> + "'No,' he said, 'I think there are some life-boats to be launched, and we + may get on one of them.' + </p> + <p> + "'There are no life-rafts,' I told him, 'and the ship is going to sink. I + am going to jump overboard and take a chance on swimming out and being + picked up by one of the boats. Better come along.' + </p> + <p> + "'No, thank you,' he said, calmly, 'I think I'll have to stick.' + </p> + <p> + "I asked him if he would mind shaking hands with me. He said, 'With + pleasure,' gave me a hearty grip, and then I climbed up on the rail and + jumped overboard. I was in the water nearly four hours before one of the + boats picked me up." + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD + </p> + <p> + Murdock's last orders were to Quartermaster Moody and a few other petty + officers who had taken their places in the rigid discipline of the ship + and were lowering the boats. Captain Smith came up to him on the bridge + several times and then rushed down again. They spoke to one another only + in monosyllables. + </p> + <p> + There were stories that Captain Smith, when he saw the ship actually going + down, had committed suicide. There is no basis for such tales. The + captain, according to the testimony of those who were near him almost + until the last, was admirably cool. He carried a revolver in his hand, + ready to use it on anyone who disobeyed orders. + </p> + <p> + "I want every man to act like a man for manhood's sake," he said, "and if + they don't, a bullet awaits the coward." + </p> + <p> + With the revolver in his hand—a fact that undoubtedly gave rise to + the suicide theory—the captain moved up and down the deck. He gave + the order for each life-boat to make off and he remained until every boat + was gone. Standing on the bridge he finally called out the order: "Each + man save himself." At that moment all discipline fled. It was the last + call of death. If there had been any hope among those on board before, the + hope now had fled. + </p> + <p> + The bearded admiral of the White Star Line fleet, with every life-saving + device launched from the decks, was returning to the deck to perform the + sacred office of going down with his ship when a wave dashed over the side + and tore him from the ladder. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic was sinking rapidly by the head, with the twisting sidelong + motion that was soon to aim her on her course two miles down. Murdock saw + the skipper swept out; but did not move. Captain Smith was but one of a + multitude of lost at that moment. Murdock may have known that the last + desperate thought of the gray mariner was to get upon his bridge and die + in command. That the old man could not have done this may have had + something to do with Murdock's suicidal inspiration. Of that no man may + say or safely guess. + </p> + <p> + The wave that swept the skipper out bore him almost to the thwart of a + crowded life-boat. Hands reached out, but he wrenched himself away, turned + and swam back toward the ship. + </p> + <p> + Some say that he said, "Good-bye, I'm going back to the ship." + </p> + <p> + He disappeared for a moment, then reappeared where a rail was slipping + under water. Cool and courageous to the end, loyal to his duty under the + most difficult circumstances, he showed himself a noble captain, and he + died a noble death. + </p> + <p> + SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH + </p> + <p> + Quartermaster Moody saw all this, watched the skipper scramble aboard + again onto the submerged decks, and then vanish altogether in a great + billow. + </p> + <p> + As Moody's eye lost sight of the skipper in this confusion of waters it + again shifted to the bridge, and just in time to see Murdock take his + life. The man's face was turned toward him, Moody said, and he could not + mistake it. There were still many gleaming lights on the ship, flickering + out like little groups of vanishing stars, and with the clear starshine on + the waters there was nothing to cloud or break the quartermaster's vision. + </p> + <p> + "I saw Murdock die by his own hand," said Moody, "saw the flash from his + gun, heard the crack that followed the flash and then saw him plunge over + on his face." + </p> + <p> + Others report hearing several pistol shots on the decks below the bridge, + but amid the groans and shrieks and cries, shouted orders and all that + vast orchestra of sounds that broke upon the air they must have been faint + periods of punctuation + </p> + <p> + BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE + </p> + <p> + The band had broken out in the strains of "Nearer, My God, to Thee," some + minutes before Murdock lifted the revolver to his head, fired and toppled + over on his face. Moody saw all this in a vision that filled his brain, + while his ears drank in the tragic strain of the beautiful hymn that the + band played as their own dirge, even to the moment when the waters sucked + them down. + </p> + <p> + Wherever Murdock's eye swept the water in that instant, before he drew his + revolver, it looked upon veritable seas of drowning men and women. From + the decks there came to him the shrieks and groans of the caged and + drowning, for whom all hope of escape was utterly vanished. He evidently + never gave a thought to the possibility of saving himself, his mind + freezing with the horrors he beheld and having room for just one central + idea—swift extinction. + </p> + <p> + The strains of the hymn and the frantic cries of the dying blended in a + symphony of sorrow. + </p> + <p> + Led by the green light, under the light of stars, the boats drew away, and + the bow, then the quarter, then the stacks and last the stern of the + marvel ship of a few days before passed beneath the waters. The great + force of the ship's sinking was unaided by any violence of the elements, + and the suction, not so great as had been feared, rocked but mildly the + group of boats now a quarter of a mile distant from it. + </p> + <p> + Just before the Titanic disappeared from view men and women leaped from + the stern. More than a hundred men, according to Colonel Gracie, jumped at + the last. Gracie was among the number and he and the second officer were + of the very few who were saved. + </p> + <p> + As the vessel disappeared, the waves drowned the majestic + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = DEPTH OF OCEAN WHERE THE TITANIC WENT DOWN + </p> + <p> + The above etching shows a diagram of the ocean depths between the shore of + Newfoundland (shown at the top to the left, by the heavily shaded part) to + 800 miles out, where the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. Over the + Great Bank of Newfoundland the greatest depth is about 35 fathoms, or 210 + feet. Then there is a sudden drop to 105 fathoms, or 630 feet, and then + there is a falling away to 1650 fathoms or 9900 feet, then 2000 fathoms or + 12,000 feet, and about where the Titanic sank 2760 fathoms or 16,560 + feet.} + </p> + <p> + hymn which the musicians played as they went to their watery grave. The + most authentic accounts agree that this hymn was not "Nearer, My God, to + Thee," which it seems had been + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + The Cunard liner which brought the survivors of the Titanic to New York.} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = THE HERO WIRELESS OPERATOR OF THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + Photograph of Harold...} + </p> + <p> + played shortly before, but "Autumn," which is found in the Episcopal + hymnal and which fits appropriately the situation on the Titanic in the + last moments of pain and darkness there. One line, "Hold me up in mighty + waters," particularly may have suggested the hymn to some minister aboard + the doomed vessel, who, it has been thought, thereupon asked the remaining + passengers to join in singing the hymn, in a last service aboard the + sinking ship, soon to be ended by death itself. + </p> + <p> + Following is the hymn: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + God of mercy and compassion! + Look with pity on my pain: + Hear a mournful, broken spirit + Prostrate at Thy feet complain; + Many are my foes, and mighty; + Strength to conquer I have none; + Nothing can uphold my goings + But Thy blessed Self alone. + + Saviour, look on Thy beloved; + Triumph over all my foes; + Turn to heavenly joy my mourning, + Turn to gladness all my woes; + Live or die, or work or suffer, + Let my weary soul abide, + In all changes whatsoever + Sure and steadfast by Thy side. + When temptations fierce assault me, + When my enemies I find, + Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, + All against my soul combined, + Hold me up in mighty waters, + Keep my eyes on things above, + Righteousness, divine Atonement, + Peace, and everlasting Love. +</pre> + <p> + It was a little lame schoolmaster, Tyrtaeus, who aroused the Spartans by + his poetry and led them to victory against the foe. + </p> + <p> + It was the musicians of the band of the Titanic—poor men, paid a few + dollars a week—who played the music to keep up the courage of the + souls aboard the sinking ship. + </p> + <p> + "The way the band kept playing was a noble thing," says the wireless + operator. "I heard it first while we were working the wireless, when there + was a rag-time tune for us, and the last I saw of the band, when I was + floating, struggling in the icy water, it was still on deck, playing + 'Autumn.' How those brave fellows ever did it I cannot imagine." + </p> + <p> + Perhaps that music, made in the face of death, would not have satisfied + the exacting critical sense. It may be that the chilled fingers faltered + on the pistons of the cornet or at the valves of the French horn, that the + time was irregular and that by an organ in a church, with a decorous + congregation, the hymns they chose would have been better played and sung. + But surely that music went up to God from the souls of drowning men, and + was not less acceptable than the song of songs no mortal ear may hear, the + harps of the seraphs and the choiring cherubim. Under the sea the + music-makers lie, still in their fingers clutching the broken and battered + means of melody; but over the strident voice of warring winds and the + sound of many waters there rises their chant eternally; and though the + musicians lie hushed and cold at the sea's heart, their music is heard + forevermore. + </p> + <p> + LAST MOMENTS + </p> + <p> + That great ship, which started out as proudly, went down to her death like + some grime silent juggernaut, drunk with carnage and anxious to stop the + throbbing of her own heart at the bottom of the sea. Charles H. + Lightoller, second officer of the Titanic, tells the story this way: + </p> + <p> + "I stuck to the ship until the water came up to my ankles. There had been + no lamentations, no demonstrations either from the men passengers as they + saw the last life-boat go, and there was no wailing or crying, no outburst + from the men who lined the ship's rail as the Titanic disappeared from + sight. + </p> + <p> + "The men stood quietly as if they were in church. They knew that they were + in the sight of God; that in a moment judgment would be passed upon them. + Finally, the ship took a dive, reeling for a moment, then plunging. I was + sucked to the side of the ship against the grating over the blower for the + exhaust. There was an explosion. It blew me to the surface again, only to + be sucked back again by the water rushing into the ship + </p> + <p> + "This time I landed against the grating over the pipes, which furnish a + draught for the funnels, and stuck there. There was another explosion, and + I came to the surface. The ship seemed to be heaving tremendous sighs as + she went down. I found myself not many feet from the ship, but on the + other side of it. The ship had turned around while I was under the water. + </p> + <p> + "I came up near a collapsible life-boat and grabbed it. Many men were in + the water near me. They had jumped at the last minute. A funnel fell + within four inches of me and killed one of the swimmers. Thirty clung to + the capsized boat, and a life-boat, with forty survivors in it already, + finally took them off. + </p> + <p> + "George D. Widener and Harry Elkins Widener were among those who jumped at + the last minute. So did Robert Williams Daniel. The three of them went + down together. Daniel struck out, lashing the water with his arms until he + had made a point far distant from the sinking monster of the sea. Later he + was picked up by one of the passing life-boats. + </p> + <p> + "The Wideners were not seen again, nor was John B. Thayer, who went down + on the boat. 'Jack' Thayer, who was literally thrown off the Titanic by an + explosion, after he had refused to leave the men to go with his mother, + floated around on a raft for an hour before he was picked up." + </p> + <p> + AFLOAT WITH JACK THAYER + </p> + <p> + Graphic accounts of the final plunge of the Titanic were related by two + Englishmen, survivors by the merest chance. One of them struggled for + hours to hold himself afloat on an overturned collapsible life-boat, to + one end of which John B. Thayer, Jr., of Philadelphia, whose father + perished, hung until rescued. + </p> + <p> + The men gave their names as A. H. Barkworth, justice of the peace of East + Riding, Yorkshire, England, and W. J. Mellers, of Christ Church Terrace, + Chelsea, London. The latter, a young man, had started for this country + with his savings to seek his fortune, and lost all but his life. + </p> + <p> + Mellers, like Quartermaster Moody, said Captain Smith did not commit + suicide. The captain jumped from the bridge, Mellers declares, and he + heard him say to his officers and crew: "You have done your duty, boys. + Now every man for himself." Mellers and Barkworth, who say their names + have been spelled incorrectly in most of the lists of survivors, both + declare there were three distinct explosions before the Titanic broke in + two, and bow section first, and stern part last, settled with her human + cargo into the sea. + </p> + <p> + Her four whistles kept up a deafening blast until the explosions, declare + the men. The death cries from the shrill throats of the blatant steam + screechers beside the smokestacks so rent the air that conversation among + the passengers was possible only when one yelled into the ear of a + fellow-unfortunate. + </p> + <p> + "I did not know the Thayer family well," declared Mr. Barkworth, "but I + had met young Thayer, a clear-cut chap, and his father on the trip. The + lad and I struggled in the water for several hours endeavoring to hold + afloat by grabbing to the sides and end of an overturned life-boat. Now + and again we lost our grip and fell back into the water. I did not + recognize young Thayer in the darkness, as we struggled for our lives, but + I did recall having met him before when we were picked up by a life-boat. + We were saved by the merest chance, because the survivors on a life-boat + that rescued us hesitated in doing so, it seemed, fearing perhaps that + additional burdens would swamp the frail craft. + </p> + <p> + "I considered my fur overcoat helped to keep me afloat. I had a life + preserver over it, under my arms, but it would not have held me up so well + out of the water but for the coat. The fur of the coat seemed not to get + wet through, and retained a certain amount of air that added to buoyance. + I shall never part with it. + </p> + <p> + "The testimony of J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star + Line, that he had not heard explosions before the Titanic settled, + indicates that he must have gotten some distance from her in his + life-boat. There were three distinct explosions and the ship broke in the + center. The bow settled headlong first, and the stern last. I was looking + toward her from the raft to which young Thayer and I had clung." + </p> + <p> + HOW CAPTAIN SMITH DIED + </p> + <p> + Barkworth jumped, just before the Titanic went down. He said there were + enough life-preservers for all the passengers, but in the confusion many + may not have known where to look for them. Mellers, who had donned a + life-preserver, was hurled into the air, from the bow of the ship by the + force of the explosion, which he believed caused the Titanic to part in + the center. + </p> + <p> + "I was not far from where Captain Smith stood on the bridge, giving full + orders to his men," said Mellers. "The brave old seaman was crying, but he + had stuck heroically to the last. He did not shoot himself. He jumped from + the bridge when he had done all he could. I heard his final instructions + to his crew, and recall that his last words were: 'You have done your + duty, boys. Now every man for himself.' + </p> + <p> + "I thought I was doomed to go down with the rest. I stood on the deck, + awaiting my fate, fearing to jump from the ship. Then came a grinding + noise, followed by two others, and I was hurled into the deep. Great waves + engulfed me, but I was not drawn toward the ship, so that I believe there + was little suction. I swam about for more than one hour before I was + picked up by a boat." + </p> + <p> + A FAITHFUL OFFICER + </p> + <p> + Charles Herbert Lightoller, previously mentioned, stood by the ship until + the last, working to get the passengers away, and when it appeared that he + had made his last trip he went up high on the officers' quarters and made + the best dive he knew how to make just as the ship plunged down to the + depths. This is an excerpt from his testimony before the Senate + investigating committee: + </p> + <p> + "What time did you leave the ship?" + </p> + <p> + "I didn't leave it." + </p> + <p> + "Did it leave you?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir." + </p> + <p> + Children shall hear that episode sung in after years and his own + descendants shall recite it to their bairns. Mr. Lightoller acted as an + officer and gentleman should, and he was not the only one. + </p> + <p> + A MESSAGE FROM A NOTORIOUS GAMBLER + </p> + <p> + That Jay Yates, gambler, confidence man and fugitive from justice, known + to the police and in sporting circles as J. H. Rogers, went down with the + Titanic after assisting many women aboard life-boats, became known when a + note, written on a blank page torn from a diary: was delivered to his + sister. Here is a fac-simile of the note: + </p> + <p> + {illust.} + </p> + <p> + This note was given by Rogers to a woman he was helping into a life-boat. + The woman, who signed herself "Survivor," inclosed the note with the + following letter. + </p> + <p> + "You will find note that was handed to me as I was leaving the Titanic. Am + stranger to this man, but think he was a card player. He helped me aboard + a life-boat and I saw him help others. Before we were lowered I saw him + jump into the sea. If picked up I did not recognize him on the Carpathia. + I don't think he was registered on the ship under his right name." + </p> + <p> + Rogers' mother, Mrs. Mary A. Yates, an old woman, broke down when she + learned son had perished. + </p> + <p> + "Thank God I know where he is now," she sobbed. "I have not heard from him + for two years. The last news I had from him he was in London." + </p> + <p> + FIFTY LADS MET DEATH + </p> + <p> + Among the many hundreds of heroic souls who went bravely and quietly to + their end were fifty happy-go-lucky youngsters shipped as bell boys or + messengers to serve the first cabin passengers. James Humphreys, a + quartermaster, who commanded life-boat No. 11, told a li{t}tle story that + shows how these fifty lads met death. + </p> + <p> + Humphreys said the boys were called to their regular posts in the main + cabin entry and taken in charge by their captain, a steward. They were + ordered to remain in the cabin and not get in the way. Throughout the + first hour of confusion and terror these lads sat quietly on their benches + in various parts of the first cabin. + </p> + <p> + Then, just toward the end when the order was passed around that the ship + was going down and every man was free to save himself, if he kept away + from the life-boats in which the women + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = "WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS + HAND."—Isaiah XL:xii} + </p> + <p> + were being taken, the bell boys scattered to all parts of the ship. + </p> + <p> + Humphreys said he saw numbers of them smoking cigarettes and joking with + the passengers. They seemed to think that their violation of the rule + against smoking while on duty was a sufficient breach of discipline. + </p> + <p> + Not one of them attempted to enter a life-boat. Not one of them was saved. + </p> + <p> + THE HEROES WHO REMAINED + </p> + <p> + The women who left the ship; the men who remained—there is little to + choose between them for heroism. Many of the women compelled to take to + the boats would have stayed, had it been possible, to share the fate of + their nearest and dearest, without whom their lives are crippled, broken + and disconsolate. + </p> + <p> + The heroes who remained would have said, with Grenville. "We have only + done our duty, as a man is bound to do." They sought no palms or crowns of + martyrdom. "They also serve who only stand and wait," and their first + action was merely to step aside and give places in the boats to women and + children, some of whom were too young to comprehend or to remember. + </p> + <p> + There was no debate as to whether the life of a financier, a master of + business, was rated higher in the scale of values than that of an ignorant + peasant mother. A woman was a woman, whether she wore rags or pearls. A + life was given for a life, with no assertion that one was priceless and + the other comparatively valueless. + </p> + <p> + Many of those who elected to remain might have escaped. "Chivalry" is a + mild appellation for their conduct. Some of the vaunted knights of old + were desperate cowards by comparison. A fight in the open field, or + jousting in the tournament, did not call out the manhood in a man as did + the waiting till the great ship took the final plunge, in the knowledge + that the seas round about were covered with loving and yearning witnesses + whose own salvation was not assured. + </p> + <p> + When the roll is called hereafter of those who are "purged of pride + because they died, who know the worth of their days," let the names of the + men who went down with the Titanic be found written there in the sight of + God and men. + </p> + <p> + THE OBVIOUS LESSON + </p> + <p> + And, whatever view of the accident be taken, whether the moralist shall + use it to point the text of a solemn or denunciatory warning, or whether + the materialist, swinging to the other extreme, scouts any other theory + than that of the "fortuitous concurrence of atoms," there is scarcely a + thinking mortal who has heard of what happened who has not been deeply + stirred, in the sense of a personal bereavement, to a profound humility + and the conviction of his own insignificance in the greater universal + scheme. + </p> + <p> + Many there are whom the influences of religion do not move, and upon whose + hearts most generous sentiments knock in vain, who still are overawed and + bowed by the magnitude of this catastrophe. No matter what they believe + about it, the effect is the same. The effect is to reduce a man from the + swaggering braggart—the vainglorious lord of what he sees—the + self-made master of fate, of nature, of time, of space, of everything—to + his true microscopic stature in the cosmos. He goes in tears to put + together again the fragments of the few, small, pitiful things that + belonged to him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Though Love may pine, and Reason chafe, + There came a Voice without reply." +</pre> + <p> + The only comfort, all that can bring surcease of sorrow, is that men + fashioned in the image of their Maker rose to the emergency like heroes, + and went to their grave as bravely as any who have given their lives at + any time in war. The hearts of those who waited on the land, and agonized, + and were impotent to save, have been laid upon the same altars of + sacrifice. The mourning of those who will not be comforted rises from + alien lands together with our own in a common broken intercession. How + little is the 882 feet of the "monster" that we launched compared with the + arc of the rainbow we can see even in our grief spanning the frozen boreal + mist! + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The best of what we do and are, + Just God, forgive!" +</pre> + <p> + THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +And still our work must go on. It is the business of men and women +neither to give way to unavailing grief nor to yield to the crushing +incubus of despair, but to find hope that is at the bottom of +everything, even at the bottom of the sea where that glorious virgin of +the ocean is dying. "And when she took unto herself a mate + She must espouse the everlasting sea." +</pre> + <p> + Even so, for any progress of the race, there must be the ancient sacrifice + of man's own stubborn heart, and all his pride. He must forever "lay in + dust life's glory dead." He cannot rise to the height it was intended he + should reach till he has plumbed the depths, till he has devoured the + bread of the bitterest affliction, till he has known the ache of hopes + deferred, of anxious expectation disappointed, of dreams that are not to + be fulfilled this side of the river that waters the meads of Paradise. + There still must be a reason why it is not an unhappy thing to be taken + from "the world we know to one a wonder still," and so that we go bravely, + what does it matter, the mode of our going? It was not only those who + stood back, who let the women and children go to the boats, that died. + There died among us on the shore something of the fierce greed of + bitterness, something of the sharp hatred of passion, something of the mad + lust of revenge and of knife-edge competition. Though we are not aware of + it, perhaps, we are not quite the people that we were before out of the + mystery an awful hand was laid upon us all, and what we had thought the + colossal power of wealth was in a twinkling shown to be no more than the + strength of an infant's little finger, or the twining tendril of a plant. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Lest we forget; lest we forget!" +</pre> + <p> + {"illustration", really "music" Lyrics = + </p> + <p> + God of mercy and compassion, Look with pity on my pain; Hear a mournful, + broken spirit Prostrate at Thy feet complain; Many are my foes and mighty; + Strength to conquer I have none; Nothing can uphold my goings But they + blessed Self alone. AMEN + </p> + <p> + {2nd Stanza} Saviour, look on Thy beloved, Triumph over all my foes, Turn + to heavenly joy my mourning, Turn to gladness all my woes; Live or die, or + work or suffer Let my weary soul abide, In all changes whatsoever, Sure + and steadfast by Thy side: + </p> + <p> + {3rd Stanza} When temptations fierce assault me, When my enemies I find, + Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, All against my soul combined, Hold me + up in mighty waters, Keep my eyes on things above—Rightousness,{sic} + divine atonement Peace and everlasting love,} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = LATITUDE 41.46 NORTH, LONGITUDE 50.14 WEST WHERE + MANHOOD PERISHED NOT} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = LOWERING OF THE LIFE-BOATS FROM THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + It is easy to understand why...} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = PASSENGERS LEAVING THE TITANIC IN THE LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + The agony and despair which possessed the occupants of these boats as they + were carried away from the doomed giant, leaving husbands and brothers + behind, is almost beyond description. It is little wonder that the strain + of these moments, with the physical and mental suffering which followed + during the early morning hours, left many of the women still hysterical + when they reached New York.} + </p> + <p> + WHERE MANHOOD PERISHED NOT + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Where cross the lines of forty north + And fifty-fourteen west + There rolls a wild and greedy sea + With death upon its crest. + No stone or wreath from human hands + Will ever mark the spot + Where fifteen hundred men went down, + But Manhood perished not. + + Old Ocean takes but little heed + Of human tears or woe. + No shafts adorn the ocean graves, + Nor weeping willows grow. + Nor is there need of marble slab + To keep in mind the spot + Where noble men went down to death, + But manhood perished not! + + Those men who looked on death and smiled, + And trod the crumbling deck, + Have saved much more than precious lives + From out that awful wreck. + Though countless joys and hopes and fears + Were shattered at a breath, + 'Tis something that the name of Man + Did not go down to death. + + 'Tis not an easy thing to die, + E'en in the open air, + Twelve hundred miles from home and friends, + In a shroud of black despair. + A wreath to crown the brow of man, + And hide a former blot + Will ever blossom o'er the waves + Where Manhood perished not. + + HARVEY P. THEW + {spelling uncertain due to poor printing} +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD + </h2> + <p> + THE VALUE OF THE WIRELESS—OTHER SHIPS ALTER THEIR COURSE—RESCUERS + ON THE WAY + </p> + <p> + "WE have struck an iceberg. Badly damaged. Rush aid." + </p> + <p> + Seaward and landward, J. G. Phillips, the Titanic's wireless man, had + hurled the appeal for help. By fits and starts—for the wireless was + working unevenly and blurringly—Phillips reached out to the world, + crying the Titanic's peril. A word or two, scattered phrases, now and then + a connected sentence, made up the message that sent a thrill of + apprehension for a thousand miles east, west and south of the doomed + liner. + </p> + <p> + The early despatches from St. John's, Cape Race, and Montreal, told + graphic tales of the race to reach the Titanic, the wireless appeals for + help, the interruption of the calls, then what appeared to be a successful + conclusion of the race when the Virginian was reported as having reached + the giant liner. + </p> + <p> + MANY LINES HEAR THE CALL + </p> + <p> + Other rushing liners besides the Virginian heard the call and became on + the instant something more than cargo carriers and passenger greyhounds. + The big Baltic, 200 miles to the eastward and westbound, turned again to + save life, as she did when her sister of the White Star fleet, the + Republic, was cut down in a fog in January, 1909. The Titanic's mate, the + Olympic, the mightiest of the seagoers save the Titanic herself, turned in + her tracks. All along the northern lane the miracle of the wireless worked + for the distressed and sinking White Star ship. The Hamburg-American + Cincinnati, the Parisian from Glasgow, the North German Lloyd Prinz + Friedrich Wilhelm, the Hamburg-American liners Prinz Adelbert and Amerika, + all heard the C. Q. D. and the rapid, condensed explanation of what had + happened. + </p> + <p> + VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE + </p> + <p> + But the Virginian was nearest, barely 170 miles away, and was the first to + know of the Titanic's danger. She went about and headed under forced + draught for the spot indicated in one of the last of Phillips' messages—latitude + 41.46 N. and longitude 50.14 W. She is a fast ship, the Allan liner, and + her wireless has told the story of how she stretched through the night to + get up to the Titanic in time. There was need for all the power of her + engines and all the experience and skill of her captain. The final + fluttering Marconigrams that were released from the Titanic made it + certain that the great ship with 2340 souls aboard was filling and in + desperate peril. + </p> + <p> + Further out at sea was the Cunarder, Carpathia, which left New York for + the Mediterranean on April 13th. Round she went and plunged back westward + to take a hand in saving life. And the third steamship within short + sailing of the Titanic was the Allan liner Parisian away to the eastward, + on her way from Glasgow to Halifax. + </p> + <p> + While they sped in the night with all the drive that steam could give + them, the Titanic's call reached to Cape Race and the startled operator + there heard at midnight a message which quickly reached New York: + </p> + <p> + "Have struck an iceberg. We are badly damaged. Titanic latitude 41.46 N., + 50.14 W." + </p> + <p> + Cape Race threw the appeal broadcast wherever his apparatus could carry. + </p> + <p> + Then for hours, while the world waited for a crumb of news as to the + safety of the great ship's people, not one thing more was known save that + she was drifting, broken and helpless and alone in the midst of a waste of + ice. And it was not until seventeen hours after the Titanic had sunk that + the words came out of the air as to her fate. There was a confusion and + tangle of messages—a jumble of rumors. Good tidings were trodden + upon by evil. And no man knew clearly what was taking place in that + stretch of waters where the giant icebergs were making a mock of all that + the world knew best in ship-building. + </p> + <p> + TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS + </p> + <p> + It was at 12.17 A. M., while the Virginian was still plunging eastward, + that all communication from the Titanic ceased. The Virginian's operator, + with the Virginian's captain at his elbow, fed the air with blue flashes + in a desperate effort to know what was happening to the crippled liner, + but no message came back. The last word from the Titanic was that she was + sinking. Then the sparking became fainter. The call was dying to nothing. + The Virginian's operator labored over a blur of signals. It was hopeless. + So the Allan ship strove on, fearing that the worst had happened. + </p> + <p> + It was this ominous silence that so alarmed the other vessels hurrying to + the Titanic and that caused so much suspense here. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS + </h2> + <p> + SORROW AND SUFFERING—THE SURVIVORS SEE THE TITANIC GO DOWN WITH + THEIR LOVED ONES ON BOARD—A NIGHT OF AGONIZING SUSPENSE—WOMEN + HELP TO ROW—HELP ARRIVES—PICKING UP THE LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + SIXTEEN boats were in the procession which entered on the terrible hours + of rowing, drifting and suspense. Women wept for lost husbands and sons, + sailors sobbed for the ship which had been their pride. Men choked back + tears and sought to comfort the widowed. Perhaps, they said, other boats + might have put off in another direction. They strove, though none too sure + themselves, to convince the women of the certainty that a rescue ship + would appear. + </p> + <p> + In the distance the Titanic looked an enormous length, her great bulk + outlined in black against the starry sky, every port-hole and saloon + blazing with light. It was impossible to think anything could be wrong + with such a leviathan, were it not for that ominous tilt downwards in the + bows, where the water was now up to the lowest row of port-holes. + Presently, about 2 A. M., as near as can be determined, those in the + life-boats observed her settling very rapidly with the bows and the bridge + completely under water, and concluded it was now only a question of + minutes before she went. So it proved She slowly tilted straight on end + with the stern vertically upwards, and as she did, the lights in the + cabins and saloons, which until then had not flickered for a moment, died + out, came on again for a single flash, and finally went altogether. At the + same time the machinery roared down through the vessel with a rattle and a + groaning that could be heard for miles, the weirdest sound surely that + could be heard in the middle of the ocean, a thousand miles away from + land. But this was not yet quite the end. + </p> + <p> + TITANIC STOOD UPRIGHT + </p> + <p> + To the amazement of the awed watchers in the life-boats, the doomed vessel + remained in that upright position for a time estimated at five minutes; + some in the boat say less, but it was certainly some minutes that at least + 150 feet of the Titanic towered up above the level of the sea and loomed + black against the sky. + </p> + <p> + SAW LAST OF BIG SHIP + </p> + <p> + Then with a quiet, slanting dive she disappeared beneath the waters, and + the eyes of the helpless spectators had looked for the last time upon the + gigantic vessel on which they had set out from Southampton. And there was + left to the survivors only the gently heaving sea, the life-boats filled + with men and women in every conceivable condition of dress and undress, + above the perfect sky of brilliant stars with not a cloud, all tempered + with a bitter cold that made each man and woman long to be one of the crew + who toiled away with the oars and kept themselves warm thereby—a + curious, deadening; bitter cold unlike anything they had felt before. + </p> + <p> + "ONE LONG MOAN" + </p> + <p> + And then with all these there fell on the ear the most appalling noise + that human being has ever listened to—the cries of hundreds of + fellow-beings struggling in the icy cold water, crying for help with a cry + that could not be answered. + </p> + <p> + Third Officer Herbert John Pitman, in charge of one of the boats, + described this cry of agony in his testimony before the Senatorial + Investigating Committee, under the questioning of Senator Smith: + </p> + <p> + "I heard no cries of distress until after the ship went down," he said. + </p> + <p> + "How far away were the cries from your life-boat?" + </p> + <p> + "Several hundred yards, probably, some of them." + </p> + <p> + "Describe the screams." + </p> + <p> + "Don't, sir, please! I'd rather not talk about it." + </p> + <p> + "I'm sorry to press it, but what was it like? Were the screams spasmodic?" + </p> + <p> + "It was one long continuous moan." + </p> + <p> + The witness said the moans and cries continued an hour. + </p> + <p> + Those in the life-boats longed to return and pick up some of the poor + drowning souls, but they feared this would mean swamping the boats and a + further loss of life. + </p> + <p> + Some of the men tried to sing to keep the women from hearing the cries, + and rowed hard to get away from the scene of the wreck, but the memory of + those sounds will be one of the things the rescued will find it difficult + to forget. + </p> + <p> + The waiting sufferers kept a lookout for lights, and several times it was + shouted that steamers' lights were seen, but they turned out to be either + a light from another boat or a star low down on the horizon. It was hard + to keep up hope. + </p> + <p> + WOMEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE + </p> + <p> + "Let me go back—I want to go back to my husband—I'll jump from + the boat if you don't," cried an agonized voice in one life-boat. + </p> + <p> + "You can do no good by going back—other lives will be lost if you + try to do it. Try to calm yourself for the sake of the living. It may be + that your husband will be picked up somewhere by one of the fishing + boats." + </p> + <p> + The woman who pleaded to go back, according to Mrs. Vera Dick, of Calgary, + Canada, later tried to throw herself from the life-boat. Mrs. Dick, + describing the scenes in the life-boats, said there were half a dozen + women in that one boat who tried to commit suicide when they realized that + the Titanic had gone down. + </p> + <p> + "Even in Canada, where we have such clear nights," said Mrs. Dick, "I have + never seen such a clear sky. The stars were very bright and we could see + the Titanic plainly, like a great hotel on the water. Floor after floor of + the lights went out as we watched. It was horrible, horrible. I can't bear + to think about it. From the distance, as we rowed away, we could hear the + band playing 'Nearer, My God to Thee.' + </p> + <p> + "Among the life-boats themselves, however, there were scenes just as + terrible, perhaps, but to me nothing could outdo the tragic grandeur with + which the Titanic went to its death. To realize it, you would have to see + the Titanic as I saw it the day we set sail—with the flags flying + and the bands playing. Everybody on board was laughing and talking about + the Titanic being the biggest and most luxurious boat on the ocean and + being unsinkable. To think of it then and to think of it standing out + there in the night, wounded to death and gasping for life, is almost too + big for the imagination. + </p> + <p> + SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN IN LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + "The women on our boat were in nightgowns and bare feet—some of them—and + the wealthiest women mingled with the poorest immigrants. One immigrant + woman kept shouting: 'My God, my poor father! He put me in this boat and + would not save himself. Oh, why didn't I die, why didn't I die? Why can't + I die now?' + </p> + <p> + "We had to restrain her, else she would have jumped over-board. It was + simply awful. Some of the men apparently had said they could row just to + get into the boats. We paid no attention to cowardice, however. We were + all busy with our own troubles. My heart simply bled for the women who + were separated from their husbands. + </p> + <p> + "The night was frightfully cold, although clear. We had to huddle together + to keep warm. Everybody drank sparingly of the water and ate sparingly of + the bread. We did not know when we would be saved. Everybody tried to + remain cool, except the poor creatures who could think of nothing but + their own great loss. Those with the most brains seemed to control + themselves best." + </p> + <p> + PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HEROINES + </p> + <p> + How Mrs. George D. Widener, whose husband and son perished after kissing + her good-bye and helping her into one of the boats, rowed when exhausted + seamen were on the verge of collapse, was told by Emily Geiger, maid of + Mrs. Widener, who was saved with her. + </p> + <p> + The girl said Mrs. Widener bravely toiled throughout the night and + consoled other women who had broken down under the strain. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. William E. Carter and Mrs. John B. Thayer were in the same life-boat + and worked heroically to keep it free from the icy menace. Although Mrs. + Thayer's husband remained aboard the Titanic and sank with it, and + although she had no knowledge of the safety of her son until they met, + hours later, aboard the Carpathia, Mrs. Thayer bravely labored at the oars + throughout the night. + </p> + <p> + In telling of her experience Mrs. Carter said: + </p> + <p> + "When I went over the side with my children and got in the boat there were + no seamen in it. Then came a few men, but there were oars with no one to + use them. The boat had been filled with passengers, and there was nothing + else for me to do but to take an oar. + </p> + <p> + "We could see now that the time of the ship had come. She was sinking, and + we were warned by cries from the men above to pull away from the ship + quickly. Mrs. Thayer, wife of the vice-president of the Pennsylvania + Railroad, was in my boat, and she, too, took an oar. + </p> + <p> + "It was cold and we had no time to clothe ourselves with warm overcoats. + The rowing warmed me. We started to pull away from the ship. We could see + the dim outlines of the decks above, but we could not recognize anybody." + </p> + <p> + MANY WOMEN ROWING + </p> + <p> + Mrs. William R. Bucknell's account of the part women played in the rowing + is as follows: + </p> + <p> + "There were thirty-five persons in the boat in which the captain placed + me. Three of these were ordinary seamen, supposed to manage the boat, and + a steward. + </p> + <p> + "One of these men seemed to think that we should not start away from the + sinking ship until it could be learned whether the other boats would + accommodate the rest of the women. He seemed to think that; more could be + crowded into ours, if necessary. + </p> + <p> + "'I would rather go back and go down with the ship than leave under these + circumstances.' he cried. + </p> + <p> + "The captain shouted to him to obey orders and to pull for a little light + that could just be discerned miles in the distance. I do not know what + this little light was. It may have been a passing fishing vessel, which, + of course could not know our predicament. Anyway, we never reached it. + </p> + <p> + "We rowed all night, I took an oar and sat beside the Countess de Rothes. + Her maid had an our and so did mine. The air was freezing cold, and it was + not long before the only man that appeared to know anything about rowing + commenced to complain that his hands were freezing: A woman back of him + handed him a shawl from about her shoulders. + </p> + <p> + "As we rowed we looked back at the lights of the Titanic. There was not a + sound from her, only the lights began to get lower and lower, and finally + she sank. Then we heard a muffled explosion and a dull roar caused by the + great suction of water. + </p> + <p> + "There was not a drop of water on our boat. The last minute before our + boat was launched Captain Smith threw aboard a bag of bread. I took the + precaution of taking a good drink of water before we started, so I + suffered no inconvenience from thirst." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Lucien Smith, whose young husband perished, was another heroine. It + is related by survivors that she took turns at the oars, and then, when + the boat was in danger of sinking, stood ready to plug a hole with her + finger if the cork stopper became loose. + </p> + <p> + In another boat Mrs. Cornell and her sister, who had a slight knowledge of + rowing, took turns at the oars, as did other women. + </p> + <p> + The boat in which Mrs. J. J. Brown, of Denver, Col., was saved contained + only three men in all, and only one rowed. He was a half-frozen seaman who + was tumbled into the boat at the last minute. The woman wrapped him in + blankets and set him at an oar to start his blood. The second man was too + old to be of any use. The third was a coward. + </p> + <p> + Strange to say, there was room in this boat for ten other people. Ten + brave men would have received the warmest welcome of their lives if they + had been there. The coward, being a quartermaster and the assigned head of + the boat, sat in the stern and steered. He was terrified, and the women + had to fight against his pessimism while they tugged at the oars. + </p> + <p> + The women sat two at each oar. One held the oar in place, the other did + the pulling. Mrs. Brown coached them and cheered them on. She told them + that the exercise would keep the chill out of their veins, and she spoke + hopefully of the likelihood that some vessel would answer the wireless + calls. Over the frightful danger of the situation the spirit of this woman + soared. + </p> + <p> + THE PESSIMIST + </p> + <p> + And the coward sat in his stern seat, terrified, his tongue loosened with + fright. He assured them there was no chance in the world. He had had + fourteen years' experience, and he knew. First, they would have to row one + and a half miles at least to get out of the sphere of the suction, if they + did not want to go down. They would be lost, and nobody would ever find + them. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, we shall be picked up sooner or later," said some of the braver ones. + No, said the man, there was no bread in the boat, no water; they would + starve—all that big boatload wandering the high seas with nothing to + eat, perhaps for days. + </p> + <p> + "Don't," cried Mrs. Brown. "Keep that to yourself, if you feel that way. + For the sake of these women and chil-dren, be a man. We have a smooth sea + and a fighting chance. Be a man." + </p> + <p> + But the coward only knew that there was no compass and no chart aboard. + They sighted what they thought was a fishing smack on the horizon, showing + dimly in the early dawn. The man at the rudder steered toward it, and the + women bent to their oars again. They covered several miles in this way—but + the smack faded into the distance. They could not see it any longer. And + the coward said that everything was over. + </p> + <p> + They rowed back nine weary miles. Then the coward thought they must stop + rowing, and lie in the trough of the waves until the Carpathia should + appear. The women tried it for a few moments, and felt the cold creeping + into their bodies. Though exhausted from the hard physical labor they + thought work was better than freezing. + </p> + <p> + "Row again!" commanded Mrs. Brown. + </p> + <p> + "No, no, don't," said the coward. + </p> + <p> + "We shall freeze," cried several of the women together. "We must row. We + have rowed all this time. We must keep on or freeze." + </p> + <p> + When the coward still demurred, they told him plainly and once for all + that if he persisted in wanting them to stop rowing, they were going to + throw him overboard and be done with him for good. Something about the + look in the eye of that Mississippi-bred oarswoman, who seemed such a + force among her fellows, told him that he had better capitulate. And he + did. + </p> + <p> + COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN + </p> + <p> + Miss Alice Farnam Leader, a New York physician, escaped from the Titanic + on the same boat which carried the Countess Rothes. "The countess is an + expert oarswoman," said Doctor Leader, "and thoroughly at home on the + water. She practically took command of our boat when it was found that the + seaman who had been placed at the oars could not row skilfully. Several of + the women took their place with the countess at the oars and rowed in + turns, while the weak and unskilled stewards sat quietly in one end of the + boat." + </p> + <p> + MEN COULD NOT ROW + </p> + <p> + "With nothing on but a nightgown I helped row one of the boats for three + hours," said Mrs. Florence Ware, of Bristol, England. + </p> + <p> + "In our boat there were a lot of women, a steward and a fireman. None of + the men knew anything about managing a small boat, so some of the women + who were used to boats took charge. + </p> + <p> + "It was cold and I worked as hard as I could at an oar until we were + picked up. There was nothing to eat or drink on our boat." + </p> + <p> + DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + "The temperature must have been below freezing," testified another + survivor, "and neither men nor women in my boat were warmly clothed. + Several of them died. The officer in charge of the life-boat decided it + was better to bury the + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = SURVIVORS OF THE GREAT MARINE DISASTER + </p> + <p> + The first authentic photograph,...} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright by Campbell Studio. N. Y. + </p> + <p> + COLONEL AND MRS. JOHN JACOB ASTOR + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Astor, nee Miss Madeline Force, was rescued. Colonel Astor who + bravely refused to take a place in the life-boats, went down with the + Titanic.} + </p> + <p> + bodies. Soon they were weighted so they would sink and were put overboard. + We could also see similar burials taking place from other life-boats that + were all around us." + </p> + <p> + GAMBLERS WERE POLITE + </p> + <p> + In one boat were two card sharps. With the same cleverness that enabled + them to win money on board they obtained places in the boats with the + women. + </p> + <p> + In the boat with the gamblers were women in their night-gowns and women in + evening dress. None of the boats were properly equipped with food, but all + had enough bread and water to keep the rescued from starving until the + expected arrival of help. + </p> + <p> + To the credit of the gamblers who managed to escape, it should be said + that they were polite and showed the women every courtesy. All they wanted + was to be sure of getting in a boat. That once accomplished, they reverted + to their habitual practice of politeness and suavity. They were even + willing; to do a little manual labor, refusing to let women do any rowing. + </p> + <p> + The people on that particular boat were a sad group. Fathers had kissed + their daughters good-bye and husbands had parted from their wives. The + card sharps, however philosophized wonderfully about the will of the + Almighty and how strange His ways. They said that one must be prepared for + anything; that good always came from evil, and that every cloud had a + silvery lining{.} + </p> + <p> + "Who knows?" said one. "It may be that everybody on board will be saved." + Another added: "Our duty is to the living. You women owe it to your + relatives and friends not to allow this thing to wreck your reason or + undermine your health." And they took pains to see that all the women who + were on the life-boat had plenty of covering to keep them from the icy + blasts of the night. + </p> + <p> + HELP IN SIGHT + </p> + <p> + The survivors were in the life-boats until about 5.30 A. M. About 3 A. M. + faint lights appeared in the sky and all rejoiced to see what was supposed + to be the coming dawn, but after watching for half an hour and seeing no + change in the intensity of the light, the disappointed sufferers realized + it was the Northern Lights. Presently low down on the horizon they saw a + light which slowly resolved itself into a double light, and they watched + eagerly to see if the two lights would separate and so prove to be only + two of the boats, or whether these lights would remain together, in which + case they should expect them to be the lights of a rescuing steamer. + </p> + <p> + To the inexpressible joy of all, they moved as one! Immediately the boats + were swung around and headed for the lights. Someone shouted: "Now, boys, + sing!" and everyone not too weak broke into song with "Row for the shore, + boys." Tears came to the eyes of all as they realized that safety was at + hand. The song was sung, but it was a very poor imitation of the real + thing, for quavering voices make poor songs. A cheer was given next, and + that was better—you can keep in tune for a cheer. + </p> + <p> + THE "LUCKY THIRTEEN" + </p> + <p> + "Our rescuer showed up rapidly, and as she swung round we saw her cabins + all alight, and knew she must be a large steamer. She was now motionless + and we had to row to her. Just then day broke, a beautiful quiet dawn with + faint pink clouds just above the horizon, and a new moon whose crescent + just touched the horizon. 'Turn your money over, boys,' said our cheery + steersman, 'that is, if you have any with you,' he added. + </p> + <p> + "We laughed at him for his superstition at such a time, but he countered + very neatly by adding: 'Well, I shall never say again that 13 is an + unlucky number; boat 13 has been the best friend we ever had.' Certainly + the 13 superstition is killed forever in the minds of those who escaped + from the Titanic in boat 13. + </p> + <p> + "As we neared the Carpathia we saw in the dawning light what we thought + was a full-rigged schooner standing up near her, and presently behind her + another, all sails set, and we said: 'They are fisher boats from the + Newfoundland bank and have seen the steamer lying to and are standing by + to help.' But in another five minutes the light shone pink on them and we + saw they were icebergs towering many feet in the air, huge, glistening + masses, deadly white, still, and peaked in a way that had easily suggested + a schooner. We glanced round the horizon and there were others wherever + the eye could reach. The steamer we had to reach was surrounded by them + and we had to make a detour to reach her, for between her and us lay + another huge berg." + </p> + <p> + A WONDERFUL DAWN + </p> + <p> + Speaking of the moment when the Carpathia was sighted. Mrs. J. J. Brown, + who had cowed the driveling quartermaster, said: + </p> + <p> + "Then, knowing that we were safe at last, I looked about me. The most + wonderful dawn I have ever seen came upon us. I have just returned from + Egypt. I have been all over the world, but I have never seen anything like + this. First the gray and then the flood of light. Then the sun came up in + a ball of red fire. For the first time we saw where we were. Near us was + open water, but on every side was ice. Ice ten feet high was everywhere, + and to the right and left and back and front were icebergs. Some of them + were mountain high. This sea of ice was forty miles wide, they told me. We + did not wait for the Carpathia to come to us, we rowed to it. We were + lifted up in a sort of nice little sling that was lowered to us. After + that it was all over. The passengers of the Carpathia were so afraid that + we would not have room enough that they gave us practically the whole ship + to ourselves." + </p> + <p> + It had been learned that some of the passengers, in fact all of the women + passengers of the Titanic who were rescued, refer to "Lady Margaret," as + they called Mrs. Brown as the strength of them all. + </p> + <p> + TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED + </p> + <p> + Officers of the Carpathia report that when they reached the scene of the + Titanic's wreck there were fifty bodies or more floating in the sea. Only + one mishap attended the transfer of the rescued from the life-boats. One + large collapsible life-boat, in which thirteen persons were seated, turned + turtle just as they were about to save it, and all in it were lost. + </p> + <p> + THE DOG HERO + </p> + <p> + Not the least among the heroes of the Titanic disaster was Rigel, a big + black Newfoundland dog, belonging to the first officer, who went down with + the ship. But for Rigel the fourth boat picked up might have been run down + by the Carpathia. For three hours he swam in the icy water where the + Titanic went down, evidently looking for his master, and was instrumental + in guiding the boatload of survivors to the gangway of the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + Jonas Briggs, a seaman abroad the Carpathia, now has Rigel and told the + story of the dog's heroism. The Carpathia was moving slowly about, looking + for boats, rafts or anything which might be afloat. Exhausted with their + efforts, weak from lack of food and exposure to the cutting wind and + terror-stricken, the men and women in the fourth boat had drifted under + the Carpathia's starboard bow. They were dangerously close to the + steamship, but too weak to shout a warning loud enough to reach the + bridge. + </p> + <p> + The boat might not have been seen were it not for the sharp barking of + Rigel, who was swimming ahead of the craft, and valiantly announcing his + position. The barks attracted the attention of Captain Rostron; and he + went to the starboard end of the bridge to see where they came from and + saw the boat. He immediately ordered the engines stopped, and the boat + came alongside the starboard gangway. + </p> + <p> + Care was taken to get Rigel aboard, but he appeared little affected by his + long trip through the ice-cold water. He stood by the rail and barked + until Captain Rostron called Briggs and had him take the dog below. + </p> + <p> + A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE + </p> + <p> + Mr. Wallace Bradford, of San Francisco, a passenger aboard the Carpathia, + gave the following thrilling account of the rescue of the Titanic's + passengers. + </p> + <p> + "Since half-past four this morning I have experienced one of those + never-to-be-forgotten circumstances that weighs heavy on my soul and which + shows most awfully what poor things we mortals are. Long before this + reaches you the news will be flashed that the Titanic has gone down and + that our steamer, the Carpathia, caught the wireless message when + seventy-five miles away, and so far we have picked up twenty boats + estimated to contain about 750 people. + </p> + <p> + "None of us can tell just how many, as they have been hustled to various + staterooms and to the dining saloons to be warmed up. I was awakened by + unusual noises and imagined that I smelled smoke. I jumped up and looked + out of my port-hole, and saw a huge iceberg looming up like a rock off + shore. It was not white, and I was positive that it was a rock, and the + thought flashed through my mind, how in the world can we be near a rock + when we are four days out from New York in a southerly direction and in + mid-ocean. + </p> + <p> + "When I got out on deck the first man I encountered told me that the + Titanic had gone down and we were rescuing the passengers. The first two + boats from the doomed vessel were in sight making toward us. Neither of + them was crowded. This was accounted for later by the fact that it was + impossible to get many to leave the steamer, as they would not believe + that she was going down. It was a glorious, clear morning and a quiet sea. + Off to the starboard was a white area of ice plain, from whose even + surface rose mammoth forts, castles and pyramids of solid ice almost as + real as though they had been placed there by the hand of man. + </p> + <p> + "Our steamer was hove to about two and a half miles from the edge of this + huge iceberg. The Titanic struck about 11.20 P. M. and did not go down + until two o'clock. Many of the passengers were in evening dress when they + came aboard our ship, and most of these were in a most bedraggled + condition. Near me as I write is a girl about eighteen years old in a + fancy dress costume of bright colors, while in another seat near by is a + women in a white dress trimmed with lace and covered with jaunty blue + flowers. + </p> + <p> + "As the boats came alongside after the first two all of them contained a + very large proportion of women. In fact, one of the boats had women at the + oars, one in particular containing, as near as I could estimate, about + forty-five women and only about six men. In this boat two women were + handling one of the oars. All of the engineers went down with the steamer. + Four bodies have been brought aboard. One is that of a fireman, who is + said to have been shot by one of the officers because he refused to obey + orders. Soon after I got on deck I could, with the aid of my glasses, + count seven boats headed our way, and they continued to come up to half + past eight o'clock. Some were in sight for a long time and moved very + slowly, showing plainly that the oars were being handled by amateurs or by + women. + </p> + <p> + "No baggage of any kind was brought by the survivors. In fact, the only + piece of baggage that reached the Carpathia from the Titanic is a small + closed trunk about twenty-four inches square, evidently the property of an + Irish female immigrant. While some seemed fully dressed, many of the men + having their overcoats and the women sealskin and other coats, others came + just as they had jumped from their berths, clothed in their pajamas and + bath robes." + </p> + <p> + THE SORROW OF THE LIVING + </p> + <p> + Of the survivors in general it may be said that they escaped death and + they gained life. Life is probably sweet to them as it is to everyone, but + what physical and mental torture has been the price of life to those who + were brought back to land on the Carpathia—the hours in life-boats, + amid the crashing of ice, the days of anguish that have succeeded, the + horrors of body and mind still experienced and never to be entirely absent + until death affords them its relief. + </p> + <p> + The thought of the nation to-day is for the living. They need our + sympathy, our consolation more than do the dead, and, perhaps, in the + majority of the cases they need our protecting care as well. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA + </h2> + <p> + AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL—BURYING THE DEAD—VOTE OF + THANKS TO CAPTAIN ROSTRON OF THE CARPATHIA—IDENTIFYING THOSE SAVED—COMMUNICATING + WITH LAND—THE PASSAGE TO NEW YORK. + </p> + <p> + IF the scenes in the life-boats were tear-bringing, hardly less so was the + arrival of the boats at the Carpathia with their bands of terror-stricken, + grief-ridden survivors, many of them too exhausted to know that safety was + at hand. Watchers on the Carpathia were moved to tears. + </p> + <p> + "The first life-boat reached the Carpathia about half-past five o'clock in + the morning," recorded one of the passengers on the Carpathia. "And the + last of the sixteen boats was unloaded before nine o'clock. Some of the + life-boats were only half filled, the first one having but two men and + eleven women, when it had accommodations for at least forty. There were + few men in the boats. The women were the gamest lot I have ever seen. Some + of the men and women were in evening clothes, and others among those saved + had nothing on but night clothes and raincoats." + </p> + <p> + After the Carpathia had made certain that there were no more passengers of + the Titanic to be picked up, she threaded her way out of the ice fields + for fifty miles. It was dangerous work, but it was managed without + trouble. + </p> + <p> + AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL + </p> + <p> + The shrieks and cries of the women and men picked up in life-boats by the + Carpathia were horrible. The women were clothed only in night robes and + wrappers. The men were in their night garments. One was lifted on board + entirely nude. All the passengers who could bear nourishment were taken + into the dining rooms and cabins by Captain Rostron and given food and + stimulants. Passengers of the Carpathia gave up their berths and + staterooms to the survivors. + </p> + <p> + As soon as they were landed on the Carpathia many of the women became + hysterical, but on the whole they behaved splendidly. Men and women + appeared to be stunned all day Monday, the full force of the disaster not + reaching them until Tuesday night. After being wrapped up in blankets and + filled with brandy and hot coffee, the first thoughts were for their + husbands and those at home. Most of them imagined that their husbands had + been picked up by other vessels, and they began flooding the wireless + rooms with messages. It was almost certain that those who were not on + board the Carpathia had gone down to death. + </p> + <p> + One of the most seriously injured was a woman who had lost both her + children. Her limbs had been severely torn; but she was very patient. + </p> + <p> + WOMEN SEEKING NEWS + </p> + <p> + In the first cabin library women of wealth and refinement mingled their + grief and asked eagerly for news of the possible arrival of a belated + boat, or a message from other steamers telling of the safety of their + husbands. Mrs. Henry B. Harris, wife of a New York theatrical manager, + checked her tears long enough to beg that some message of hope be sent to + her father-in-law. Mrs. G. Thorne, Miss Marie Young, Mrs Emil Taussig and + her daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Martin Rothschild, Mrs. William Augustus Spencer, + Mrs. J. Stewart White and Mrs. Walter M. Clark were a few of those who lay + back, exhausted, on the leather cushions and told in shuddering sentences + of their experiences. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. John Jacob Astor and the Countess of Rothes had been taken to + staterooms soon after their arrival on shipboard. + </p> + <p> + Before noon, at the captain's request, the first cabin passengers of the + Titanic gathered in the saloon and the passengers of other classes in + corresponding places on the rescue ship. Then the collecting of names was + begun by the purser and the stewards. A second table was served in both + cabins for the new guests, and the Carpathia's second cabin, being better + filled than its first, the second class arrivals had to be sent to the + steerage. + </p> + <p> + TEARS THEIR ONLY RELIEF + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jacques Futrelle, wife of the novelist, herself a writer of note, sat + dry eyed in the saloon, telling her friends that she had given up hope for + her husband. She joined with the rest in inquiries as to the chances of + rescue by another ship, and no one told her what soon came to be the fixed + opinion of the men—that all those saved were on the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "I feel better," Mrs. Futrelle said hours afterward, "for I can cry now." + </p> + <p> + Among the men conversation centered on the accident and the responsibility + for it. Many expressed the belief that the Titanic, in common with other + vessels, had had warning of the ice packs, but that in the effort to + establish a record on the maiden run sufficient heed had not been paid to + the warnings. + </p> + <p> + "God knows I'm not proud to be here," said a rich New York man. "I got on + a boat when they were about to lower it and when, from delays below, there + was no woman to take the vacant place. I don't think any man who was saved + is deserving of censure, but I realize that, in contrast with those who + went down, we may be viewed unfavorably." He showed a picture of his baby + boy as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + PITIFUL SCENES OF GRIEF + </p> + <p> + As the day passed the fore part of the ship assumed some degree of order + and comfort, but the crowded second sabin and rear decks gave forth the + incessant sound of lamentation. A bride of two months sat on the floor and + moaned her widowhood. An Italian mother shrieked the name of her lost son. + </p> + <p> + A girl of seven wept over the loss of her Teddy bear and two dolls, while + her mother, with streaming eyes, dared not tell the child that her father + was lost too, and that the money for which their home in England had been + sold had gone down with him. Other children clung to the necks of the + fathers who, because carrying them, had been permitted to take the boats. + </p> + <p> + In the hospital and the public rooms lay, in blankets, several others who + had been benumbed by the water. Mrs. Rosa Abbott, who was in the water for + hours, was restored during the day. K. Whiteman, the Titanic's barber, who + declared he was blown off the ship by the second of the two explosions + after the crash, was treated for bruises. A passenger, who was thoroughly + ducked before being picked up, caused much amusement on this ship, soon + after the doctors were through with him, by demanding a bath. + </p> + <p> + SURVIVORS AID THE DESTITUTE + </p> + <p> + Storekeeper Prentice, the last man off the Titanic to reach this ship, was + also soon over the effects of his long swim in the icy waters into which + he leaped from the poop deck. + </p> + <p> + The physicians of the Carpathia were praised, as was Chief Steward Hughes, + for work done in making the arrivals comfortable and averting serious + illness. + </p> + <p> + Monday night on the Carpathia was one of rest. The wailing and sobbing of + the day were hushed as widows and orphans slept. Tuesday, save for the + crowded condition of the ship, matters took somewhat their normal + appearance. + </p> + <p> + The second cabin dining room had been turned into a hospital to care for + the injured, and the first, second and third class dining rooms were used + for sleeping rooms at night for women, while the smoking rooms were set + aside for men. All available space was used, some sleeping in chairs and + some on the floor, while a few found rest in the bathrooms. + </p> + <p> + Every cabin had been filled, and women and children were sleeping on the + floors in the dining saloon, library and smoking rooms. The passengers of + the Carpathia had divided their clothes with the shipwrecked ones until + they had at least kept warm. It is true that many women had to appear on + deck in kimonos and some in underclothes with a coat thrown over them, but + their lives had been spared and they had not thought of dress. Some + children in the second cabin were entirely without clothes, but the women + had joined together, and with needles and thread they could pick up from + passenger to passenger, had made warm clothes out of the blankets + belonging to the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + WOMEN BEFRIENDED ONE ANOTHER + </p> + <p> + The women aboard the Carpathia did what they could by word and act to + relieve the sufferings of the rescued. Most of the survivors were in great + need of clothing, and this the women of the Carpathia supplied to them as + long as their surplus stock held out. + </p> + <p> + J. A. Shuttleworth, of Louisville, Ky., befriended Mrs. Lucien Smith, + whose husband went down with the Titanic. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss + Eloise Hughes, daughter of Representative and Mrs. James A. Hughes, of + Huntington, W. Va., and was on her wedding trip. Mr. Shuttleworth asked + her if there wasn't something he could do for her. She said that all the + money she had was lost on the Titanic, so Mr. Shuttleworth gave her $500 + </p> + <p> + DEATHS ON THE CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + Two of the rescued from the Titanic died from shock and exposure before + they reached the Carpathia, and another died a few minutes after being + taken on board. The dead were W. H. Hoyte, first cabin; Abraham Hormer, + third class, and S. C. Sirbert, steward, and they were buried at sea the + morning of April 15th, latitude 41.14 north, longitude 51.24 west. P. + Lyon, able seaman, died and was buried at sea the following morning. + </p> + <p> + An assistant steward lost his mind upon seeing one of the Titanic's + rescued firemen expire after being lifted to the deck of the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + An Episcopal bishop and a Catholic priest from Montreal read services of + their respective churches over the dead. + </p> + <p> + The bodies were sewed up in sacks, heavily weighted at the feet, and taken + to an opening in the side of the ship on the lower deck not far above the + water line. A long plank tilted at one end served as the incline down + which the weighted sacks slid into the sea. + </p> + <p> + "After we got the Titanic's passengers on board our ship," said one of the + Carpathia's officers, "it was a question as to where we should take them. + Some said the Olympic would come out and meet us and take them on to New + York, but others said they would die if they had to be lowered again into + small boats to be taken up by another, so we finally turned toward New + York, delaying the Carpathia's passengers eight days in reaching + Gibraltar." + </p> + <p> + SURVIVORS WATCH NEW BOATS + </p> + <p> + There were several children on board, who had lost their parents—one + baby of eleven months with a nurse who, coming on board the Carpathia with + the first boat, watched with eagerness and sorrow for each incoming boat, + but to no avail. The parents had gone down. + </p> + <p> + There was a woman in the second cabin who lost seven children out of ten, + and there were many other losses quite as horrible. + </p> + <p> + MR. ISMY "PITIABLE SIGHT" + </p> + <p> + Among the rescued ones who came on board the Carpathia was the president + of the White Star Line. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the tenth life-boat," said an + officer. "I didn't know who he was, but afterward heard the others of the + crew discussing his desire to get something to eat the minute he put his + foot on deck. The steward who waited on him, McGuire, from London, says + Mr. Ismay came dashing into the dining room, and throwing himself in a + chair, said: 'Hurry, for God's sake, and get me something to eat; I'm + starved. I don't care what it costs or what it is; bring it to me.' + </p> + <p> + "McGuire brought Mr. Ismay a load of stuff and when he had finished it, he + handed McGuire a two dollar bill. 'Your money is no good on this ship,' + McGuire told him. 'Take it.' + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = DIAGRAM OF THE TITANIC'S ARRANGEMENT AND EQUIPMENT + </p> + <p> + The Titanic was far and away the largest and finest vessel ever built, + excepting only her sister-ship, the Olympic. Her dimensions were: Length, + 882 1/2 feet; Beam, 92 feet, Depth (from keel to tops of funnels), 175 + feet Tonnage, 45,000. Her huge hull, divided into thirty watertight + compartments, contained nine steel decks, and provided accommodation for + 2,500 passengers, besides a crew of 890.} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = UPPER DECK OF THE TITANIC, LOOKING FORWARD} + </p> + <p> + insisted Mr. Ismay, shoving the bill in McGuire's hand. I am well able to + afford it. I will see to it that the boys of the Carpathia are well + rewarded for this night's work.' This promise started McGuire making + inquiries as to the identity of the man he had waited on. Then we learned + that he was Mr. Ismay. I did not see Mr. Ismay after the first few hours. + He must have kept to his cabin." + </p> + <p> + A passenger on the Carpathia said there was no wonder that none of the + wireless telegrams addressed to Mr. Ismay were answered until the one that + he sent yesterday afternoon to his line, the White Star. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Ismay was beside himself," said this woman passenger, "and on most of + the voyage after we had picked him up he was being quieted with opiates on + orders of the ship's doctor. + </p> + <p> + FIVE DOGS AND ONE PIG SAVED + </p> + <p> + "Five women saved their pet dogs, carrying them in their arms. Another + woman saved a little pig, which she said was her mascot. Though her + husband is an Englishman and she lives in England she is an American and + was on her way to visit her folks here. How she cared for the pig aboard + ship I do not know, but she carried it up the side of the ship in a big + bag. I did not mind the dogs so much, but it seemed to me to be too much + when a pig was saved and human beings went to death. + </p> + <p> + "It was not until noon on Monday that we cleared the last of the ice, and + Monday night a dense fog came up and continued until the following + morning, then a strong wind, a heavy sea, a thunderstorm and a dense fog + Tuesday night, caused some uneasiness among the more unnerved, the fog + continuing all of Tuesday. + </p> + <p> + "A number of whales were sighted as the Carpathia was clearing the last of + the ice, one large one being close by, and all were spouting like + geysers." + </p> + <p> + VOTE OF THANKS TO CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + "On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the uninjured survivors was called in + the main saloon for the purpose of devising means of assisting the more + unfortunate, many of whom had lost relatives and all their personal + belongings, and thanking Divine Providence for their deliverance. The + meeting was called to order and Mr. Samuel Goldenberg was elected + chairman. Resolutions were then passed thanking the officers, surgeons, + passengers and crew of the Carpathia for their splendid services in aiding + the rescued and like resolutions for the admirable work done by the + officers, surgeons and crew of the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + "A committee was then appointed to raise funds on board the Carpathia to + relieve the immediate wants of the destitute and assist them in reaching + their destinations and also to present a loving cup to the officers of the + Carpathia and also a loving cup to the surviving officers of the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. T. G. Frauenthal, of New York, was made chairman of the Committee on + Subscriptions. + </p> + <p> + "A committee, consisting of Mrs. J. J. Brown, Mrs William Bucknell and + Mrs. George Stone, was appointed to look after the destitute. There was a + subscription taken up and up to Wednesday the amount contributed totaled + $15,000. + </p> + <p> + "The work of the crew on board the Carpathia in rescuing was most noble + and remarkable, and these four days that the ship has been overcrowded + with its 710 extra passengers could not have been better handled. The + stewards have worked with undying strength—although one was overcome + with so much work and died and was put to his grave at sea. + </p> + <p> + "I have never seen or felt the benefits of such royal treatment. I have + heard the captain criticised because he did not answer telegrams, but all + that I can say is that he showed us every possible courtesy, and if we had + been on our own boats, having paid our fares there, we could not have had + better food or better accommodations. + </p> + <p> + "Men who had paid for the best staterooms on the Carpathia left their + rooms so that we might have them. They fixed up beds in the smoking rooms, + and mattresses everywhere. All the women who were rescued were given the + best staterooms, which were surrendered by the regular passengers. None of + the regular passengers grumbled because their trip to Europe was + interrupted, nor did they complain that they were put to the inconvenience + of receiving hundreds of strangers. + </p> + <p> + "The women on board the Carpathia were particularly kind. It shows that + for every cruelty of nature there is a kindness, for every misfortune + there is some goodness. The men and women took up collections on board for + the rescued steerage passengers. Mrs. Astor, I believe, contributed $2000, + her check being cashed by the Carpathia. Altogether something like $15,000 + was collected and all the women were provided with sufficient money to + reach their destination after they were landed in New York." + </p> + <p> + Under any other circumstances the suffering would have been intolerable. + But the Good Samaritans on the Carpathia gave many women heart's-ease. + </p> + <p> + The spectacle on board the Carpathia on the return trip to New York at + times was heartrending, while at other times those on board were quite + cheerful. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS + </h2> + <p> + POLICE ARRANGEMENTS—DONATIONS OF MONEY AND SUPPLIES—HOSPITALS + AND AMBULANCES MADE READY—PRIVATE HOUSES THROWN OPEN—WAITING + FOR THE CARPATHIA TO ARRIVE—THE SHIP SIGHTED! + </p> + <p> + NEW YORK CITY, touched to the heart by the great ocean calamity and + desiring to do what it could to lighten the woes and relieve the + sufferings of the pitiful little band of men and women rescued from the + Titanic, opened both its heart and its purse. + </p> + <p> + The most careful and systematic plans were made for the reception and + transfer to homes, hotels or institutions of the Titanic's survivors. + Mayor Gaynor, with Police Commissioner Waldo, arranged to go down the bay + on the police boat Patrol, to come up with the Carpathia and take charge + of the police arrangements at the pier. + </p> + <p> + In anticipation of the enormous number that would, for a variety of + reasons, creditable or otherwise, surge about the Cunard pier at the + coming of the Carpathia, Mayor Gaynor and the police commissioner had seen + to it that the streets should be rigidly sentineled by continuous lines of + policemen Under Inspector George McClusky, the man of most experience, + perhaps, in handling large crowds, there were 200 men, including twelve + mounted men and a number in citizens' clothes. For two blocks to the + north, south and east of the docks lines were established through which + none save those bearing passes from the Government and the Cunard Line + could penetrate. + </p> + <p> + With all arrangements made that experience or information could suggest, + the authorities settled down to await the docking of the Carpathia. No + word had come to either the White Star Line or the Cunard Line, they said, + that any of the Titanic's people had died on that ship or that bodies had + been recovered from the sea, but in the afternoon Mayor Gaynor sent word + to the Board of Coroners that it might be well for some of that body to + meet the incoming ship. Coroners Feinberg and Holtzhauser with Coroner's + Physician Weston arranged to go down the bay on the Patrol, while Coroner + Hellenstein waited at the pier. An undertaker was notified to be ready if + needed. Fortunately there was no such need. + </p> + <p> + EVERY POSSIBLE MEASURE THOUGHT OF + </p> + <p> + Every possible measure of relief for the survivors that could be thought + of by officials of the city, of the Federal Government, by the heads of + hospitals and the Red Cross and relief societies was arranged for. The + Municipal Lodging House, which has accommodations for 700 persons, agreed + to throw open its doors and furnish lodging and food to any of the + survivors as long as they should need it. Commissioner of Charities + Drummond did not know, of course, just how great the call would be for the + services of his department. He went to the Cunard pier to direct his part + of the work in person. Meanwhile he had twenty ambulances ready for + instant movement on the city's pier at the foot of East Twenty-sixth + Street. They were ready to take patients to the reception hospital + connected with Bellevue or the Metropolitan Hospital on Blackwell's + Island. Ambulances from the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn were also + there to do their share. All the other hospitals in the city stood ready + to take the Titanic's people and those that had ambulances promised to + send them. The Charities ferryboat, Thomas S. Brennan, equipped as a + hospital craft, lay off the department pier with nurses and physicians + ready to be called to the Cunard pier on the other side of the city. St. + Vincent's Hospital had 120 beds ready, New York Hospital twelve, Bellevue + and the reception hospital 120 and Flower Hospital twelve. + </p> + <p> + The House of Shelter maintained by the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid + Society announced that it was able to care for at least fifty persons as + long as might be necessary. The German Society of New York, the Irish + Immigrant Society, the Italian Society, the Swedish Immigrant Society and + the Young Men's Christian Association were among the organizations that + also offered to see that no needy survivor would go without shelter. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. W. A. Bastede, whose husband is a member of the staff of St. Luke's + Hospital, offered to the White Star Line the use of the newly opened ward + at St. Luke's, which will accommodate from thirty to sixty persons. She + said the hospital would send four ambulances with nurses and doctors and + that she had collected clothing enough for fifty persons. The line + accepted her offer and said that the hospital would be kept informed as to + what was needed. A trustee of Bellevue also called at the White Star + offices to offer ambulances. He said that five or six, with two or three + doctors and nurses on each, would be sent to the pier if required. + </p> + <p> + Many other hospitals as well as individuals called at the mayor's office, + expressing willingness to take in anybody that should be sent to them. A + woman living in Fiftieth Street just off Fifth Avenue wished to put her + home at the disposal of the survivors. D. H. Knott, of 102 Waverley Place, + told the mayor that he could take care of 100 and give them both food and + lodging at the Arlington, Holly and Earl Hotels. Commissioner Drummond + visited the City Hall and arranged with the mayor the plans for the relief + to be extended directly by the city. Mr. Drummond said that omnibuses + would be provided to transfer passengers from the ship to the Municipal + Lodging House. + </p> + <p> + MRS. VANDERBILT'S EFFORTS + </p> + <p> + Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., spent the day telephoning to her friends, + asking them to let their automobiles be used to meet the Carpathia and + take away those who needed surgical care. It was announced that as a + result of Mrs. Vanderbilt's efforts 100 limousine automobiles and all the + Fifth Avenue and Riverside Drive automobile buses would be at the Cunard + pier. + </p> + <p> + Immigration Commissioner Williams said that he would be at the pier when + the Carpathia came in. There was to be no inspection of immigrants at + Ellis Island. Instead, the commissioner sent seven or eight inspectors to + the pier to do their work there and he asked them to do it with the + greatest possible speed and the least possible bother to the shipwrecked + aliens. The immigrants who had no friends to meet them were to be provided + for until their cases could be disposed of. Mr. Williams thought that some + of them who had lost everything might have to be sent back to their homes. + Those who were to be admitted to the United States were to be cared for by + the Women's Relief Committee. + </p> + <p> + RED CROSS RELIEF + </p> + <p> + Robert W. de Forest, chairman of the Red Cross Relief Committee of the + Charity Organization Society, after conferring with Mayor Gaynor, said + that in addition to an arrangement that all funds received by the mayor + should be paid to Jacob H. Schiff, the New York treasurer of the American + Red Cross, the committee had decided that it could turn over all the + immediate relief work to the Women's Relief Committee. + </p> + <p> + The Red Cross Committee announced that careful plans had been made to + provide for every possible emergency. + </p> + <p> + The emergency committee received a telegram that Ernest P. Bicknell, + director of the American Red Cross, was coming from Washington. The Red + Cross Emergency Relief Committee was to have several representatives at + the pier to look out for the passengers on the Carpathia. Mr. Persons and + Dr. Devine were to be there and it was planned to have others. + </p> + <p> + The Salvation Army offered, through the mayor's office, accommodation for + thirty single men at the Industrial Home, 533 West Forty-eighth Street, + and for twenty others at its hotel, 18 Chatham Square. The army's training + school at 124 West Fourteenth Street was ready to take twenty or thirty + survivors. R. H. Farley, head of the White Star Line's third class + department, said that the line would give all the steerage passengers + railroad tickets to their destination. + </p> + <p> + Mayor Gaynor estimated that more than 5000 persons could be accommodated + in quarters offered through his orders. Most of these offers of course + would have to be rejected. The mayor also said that Colonel Conley of the + Sixty-ninth Regiment offered to turn out his regiment to police the pier, + but it was thought that such service would be unnecessary. + </p> + <p> + CROWDS AT THE DOCKS + </p> + <p> + Long before dark on Thursday night a few people passed the police lines + and with a yellow card were allowed to go on the dock; but reports had + been published that the Carpathia would not be in till midnight, and by 8 + o'clock there were not more than two hundred people on the pier. In the + next hour the crowd with passes trebled in number. By 9 o'clock the pier + held half as many as it could comfortably contain. The early crowd did not + contain many women relatives of the survivors. Few nervous people could be + seen, but here and there was a woman, usually supported by two male + escorts, weeping softly to herself. + </p> + <p> + On the whole it was a frantic, grief-crazed crowd. Laborers rubbed + shoulders with millionaires. + </p> + <p> + The relatives of the rich had taxicabs waiting outside the docks. The + relatives of the poor went there on foot in the rain, ready to take their + loved ones. + </p> + <p> + A special train was awaiting Mrs. Charles M. Hays, widow of the president + of the Grand Trunk Railroad. A private car also waited Mrs. George D. + Widener. + </p> + <p> + EARLY ARRIVALS AT PIER + </p> + <p> + Among the first to arrive at the pier was a committee from the Stock + Exchange, headed by R. H. Thomas, and composed of Charles Knoblauch, B. M. + W. Baruch, Charles Holzderber and J. Carlisle. Mr. Thomas carried a long + black box which contained $5000 in small bills, which was to be handed out + to the needy steerage survivors of the Titanic as they disembarked. + </p> + <p> + With the early arrivals at the pier were the relatives of Frederick White, + who was not reported among the survivors, though Mrs. White was; Harry + Mock, who came to look for a brother and sister; and Vincent Astor, who + arrived in a limousine with William A. Dobbyn, Colonel Astor's secretary, + and two doctors. The limousine was kept waiting outside to take Mrs. Astor + to the Astor home on Fifth Avenue. + </p> + <p> + EIGHT LIMOUSINE CARS + </p> + <p> + The Waldorf-Astoria had sent over eight limousine car to convey to the + hotel these survivors: + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Mark Fortune and three daughters, Mrs. Lucien P. Smith, Mrs. J. + Stewart White, Mrs. Thornton Davidson, Mrs. George C. Douglass, Mrs. + George D. Widener and maid, Mrs. George Wick, Miss Bonnell, Miss E. + Ryerson, Mrs. Susan P. Ryerson, Mrs. Arthur Ryerson, Miss Mary Wick, the + Misses Howell, Mrs. John P. Snyder and Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Bishop. + </p> + <p> + THIRTY-FIVE AMBULANCES AT THE PIER + </p> + <p> + At one time there were thirty-five ambulances drawn up; outside the Cunard + pier. Every hospital in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx was represented. + Several of the ambulances came from as far north as the Lebanon Hospital, + in the Bronx, and the Brooklyn Hospital, in Brooklyn. + </p> + <p> + Accompanying them were seventy internes and surgeons from the staffs of + the hospitals, and more than 125 male and female nurses. + </p> + <p> + St. Vincent's sent the greatest number of ambulances, at one time, eight + of them from this hospital being in line at the pier. + </p> + <p> + Miss Eva Booth, direct head of the Salvation Army, was at the pier, + accompanied by Miss Elizabeth Nye and a corps of her officers, ready to + aid as much as possible. The Sheltering Society and various other similar + organizations also were represented, all ready to take care of those who + needed them. + </p> + <p> + An officer of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, N. G. N. Y., offered the White + Star Line officials, the use of the regiment's armory for any of the + survivors. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Thomas Hughes, Mrs. August Belmont and Mgrs. Lavelle and McMahon, of + St. Patrick's Cathedral, together with a score of black-robed Sisters of + Charity, representing the Association of Catholic Churches, were on the + pier long before the Carpathia was made fast, and worked industriously in + aiding the injured and ill. + </p> + <p> + The Rev. Dr. William Carter, pastor of the Madison Avenue Reformed Church, + was one of those at the pier with a private ambulance awaiting Miss Sylvia + Caldwell, one of the survivors, who is known in church circles as a + mission worker in foreign fields + </p> + <p> + FREE RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION + </p> + <p> + The Pennsylvania Railroad sent representatives to the pier, who said that + the railroad had a special train of nine cars in which it would carry free + any passenger who wanted to go immediately to Philadelphia or points west. + The Pennsylvania also had eight taxicabs at the pier for conveyance of the + rescued to the Pennsylvania Station, in Thirty-third Street. + </p> + <p> + Among those who later arrived at the pier before the Carpathia docked were + P. A. B. Widener, of Philadelphia, two women relatives of J. B. Thayer, + William Harris, Jr., the theatrical man, who was accompanied by Dr + Dinkelspiel, and Henry Arthur Jones, the playwright. + </p> + <p> + RELATIVES OF SAVED AND LOST + </p> + <p> + Commander Booth, of the Salvation Army, was there especially to meet Mrs. + Elizabeth Nye and Mrs. Rogers Abbott, both Titanic survivors. Mrs. + Abbott's two sons were supposed to be among the lost. Miss Booth had + received a cablegram from London saying that other Salvation Army people + were on the Titanic. She was eager to get news of them. + </p> + <p> + Also on the pier was Major Blanton, U. S. A., stationed at Washington, who + was waiting for tidings of Major Butt, supposedly at the instance of + President Taft. + </p> + <p> + Senator William A. Clark and Mrs. Clark were also in the company. Dr. John + R. MacKenty was waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Harper. Ferdinand W. + Roebling and Carl G. Roebling, cousins of Washington A. Roebling, Jr., + whose name is among the list of dead, went to the pier to see what they + could learn of his fate. + </p> + <p> + J. P. Morgan, Jr., arrived at the pier about half an hour before the + Carpathia docked. He said he had many friends on the Titanic and was + eagerly awaiting news of all of them. + </p> + <p> + Fire Commissioner Johnson was there with John Peel, of Atlanta, Gal, a + brother of Mrs. Jacques Futrelle. Mrs. Futrelle has a son twelve years old + in Atlanta, and a daughter Virginia, who has been in school in the North + and is at present with friends in this city, ignorant of her father's + death. + </p> + <p> + A MAN IN HYSTERICS + </p> + <p> + There was one man in that sad waiting company who startled those near him + about 9 o'clock by dancing across the pier and back. He seemed to be + laughing, but when he was stopped it was found that he was sobbing. He + said that he had a relative on the Titanic and had lost control of his + nerves. + </p> + <p> + H. H. Brunt, of Chicago, was at the gangplank waiting for A. Saalfeld, + head of the wholesale drug firm of Sparks, White & Co., of London, who + was coming to this country on the Titanic on a business trip and whose + life was saved. + </p> + <p> + WAITING FOR CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + During the afternoon and evening tugboats, motor boats and even sailing + craft, had been waiting off the Ambrose Light for the appearance of the + Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + Some of the waiting craft contained friends and anxious relatives of the + survivors and those reported as missing. + </p> + <p> + The sea was rough and choppy, and a strong east wind was blowing. There + was a light fog, so that it was possible to see at a distance of only a + few hundred yards. This lifted later in the evening. + </p> + <p> + First to discover the incoming liner with her pitiful cargo was one of the + tugboats. From out of the mist there loomed far out at sea the incoming + steamer. + </p> + <p> + RESCUE BOAT SIGHTED + </p> + <p> + "Liner ahead!" cried the lookout on the tug to the captain. + </p> + <p> + "She must be the Carpathia," said the captain, and then he turned the nose + of his boat toward the spot on t he horizon. + </p> + <p> + Then the huge black hull and one smokestack could be distinguished. + </p> + <p> + "It's the Carpathia," said the captain. "I can tell her by the stack." + </p> + <p> + The announcement sent a thrill through those who heard it. Here, at the + gate of New York, was a ship whose record for bravery and heroic work + would be a famuliar{sic} name in history. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright by G. V. Buck. MRS. LUCIEN P. SMITH + </p> + <p> + Formerly Miss Eloise Hughes, daughter of Representative and Mrs. James A. + Hughes, of West Virginia. Mrs. Smith and her husband were passengers on + the Titanic. Mrs. Smith was saved, but her husband went to a watery grave. + Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married only a few months ago.} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = MAJOR ARCHIBALD BUTT + </p> + <p> + Military Aide to President Taft. Of Major Butt, who was one of the victims + of the Titanic, one of the survivors said: "Major Butt was the real leader + in all of that rescue work. He made the men stand back and helped the + women and children into the boats. He was surely one of God's noblemen."} + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING + </h2> + <p> + THE CARPATHIA REACHES NEW YORK—AN INTENSE AND DRAMATIC MOMENT—HYSTERICAL + REUNIONS AND CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENTS AT THE DOCK—CARING FOR THE + SUFFERERS—FINAL REALIZATION THAT ALL HOPE FOR OTHERS IS FUTILE—LIST + OF SURVIVORS—ROLL OF THE DEAD + </p> + <p> + IT was a solemn moment when the Carpathia heaved in sight. There she + rested on the water, a blur of black—huge, mysterious, awe-inspiring—and + yet withal a thing to send thrills of pity and then of admiration through + the beholder. + </p> + <p> + It was a few minutes after seven o'clock when she arrived at the entrance + to Ambrose Channel. She was coming fast steaming at better than fifteen + knots an hour, and she was sighted long before she was expected. Except + for the usual side and masthead lights she was almost dark, only the upper + cabins showing a glimmer here and there. + </p> + <p> + Then began a period of waiting, the suspense of which proved almost too + much for the hundreds gathered there to greet friends and relatives or to + learn with certainty at last that those for whom they watched would never + come ashore. + </p> + <p> + There was almost complete silence on the pier. Doctors and nurses, members + of the Women's Relief Committee, city and government officials, as well as + officials of the line, moved nervously about. + </p> + <p> + Seated where they had been assigned beneath the big customs letters + corresponding to the initials of the names of the survivors they came to + meet, sat the mass of 2000 on the pier. + </p> + <p> + Women wept, but they wept quietly, not hysterically, and the sound of the + sobs made many times less noise than the hum and bustle which is usual on + the pier among those awaiting an incoming liner. + </p> + <p> + Slowly and majestically the ship slid through the water, still bearing the + details of that secret of what happened and who perished when the Titanic + met her fate. + </p> + <p> + Convoying the Carpathia was a fleet of tugs bearing men and women anxious + to learn the latest news. The Cunarder had been as silent for days as + though it, too, were a ship of the dead. A list of survivors had been + given out from its wireless station and that was all. Even the approximate + time of its arrival had been kept a secret. + </p> + <p> + NEARING PORT + </p> + <p> + There was no response to the hail from one tug, and as others closed in, + the steamship quickened her speed a little and left them behind as she + swung up the channel. + </p> + <p> + There was an exploding of flashlights from some of the tugs, answered + seemingly by sharp stabs of lightning in the northwest that served to + accentuate the silence and absence of light aboard the rescue ship. Five + or six persons, apparently members of the crew or the ship's officers, + were seen along the rail; but otherwise the boat appeared to be deserted. + </p> + <p> + Off quarantine the Carpathia slowed down and, hailing the immigration + inspection boat, asked if the health officer wished to board. She was told + that he did, and came to a stop while Dr. O'Connell and two assistants + climbed on board. Again the newspaper men asked for some word of the + catastrophe to the Titanic, but there was no answer, and the Carpathia + continued toward her pier. + </p> + <p> + As she passed the revenue cutter Mohawk and the derelict destroyer Seneca + anchored off Tompkinsville the wireless on the Government vessels was seen + to flash, but there was no answering spark from the Carpathia. Entering + the North River she laid her course close to the New Jersey side in order + to have room to swing into her pier. + </p> + <p> + By this time the rails were lined with men and women. They were very + silent. There were a few requests for news from those on board and a few + answers to questions shouted from the tugs. + </p> + <p> + The liner began to slacken her speed, and the tugboat soon was alongside. + Up above the inky blackness of the hull figures could be made out, leaning + over the port railing, as though peering eagerly at the little craft which + was bearing down on the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + Some of them, perhaps, had passed through that inferno of the deep sea + which sprang up to destroy the mightiest steamship afloat. + </p> + <p> + "Carpathia, ahoy!" was shouted through a megaphone. + </p> + <p> + There was an interval of a few seconds, and then, "Aye, aye," came the + reply. + </p> + <p> + "Is there any assistance that can be rendered?" was the next question. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, no," was the answer in a tone that carried emotion with it. + Meantime the tugboat was getting nearer and nearer to the Carpathia, and + soon the faces of those leaning over the railing could be distinguished. + </p> + <p> + TALK WITH SURVIVORS + </p> + <p> + More faces appeared, and still more. + </p> + <p> + A woman who called to a man on the tugboat was asked? "Are you one the + Titanic survivors?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the voice, hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + "Do you need help?" + </p> + <p> + "No," after a pause. + </p> + <p> + "If there is anything you want done it will be attended to." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. I have been informed that my relatives will meet me at the + pier." + </p> + <p> + "Is it true that some of the life-boats sank with the Titanic?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. There was some trouble in manning them. They were not far enough + away from her." + </p> + <p> + All of this questioning and receiving replies was carried on with the + greatest difficulty. The pounding of the liner's engines, the washing of + the sea, the tugboat's engines, made it hard to understand the woman's + replies. + </p> + <p> + ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD + </p> + <p> + "Were the women properly cared for after the crash?" she was asked. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes," came the shrill reply. "The men were brave—very brave." + Here her voice broke and she turned and left the railing, to reappear a + few moments later and cry: + </p> + <p> + "Please report me as saved." + </p> + <p> + "What name?" was asked. She shouted a name that could not be understood, + and, apparently believing that it had been, turned away again and + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + "Nearly all of us are very ill," cried another woman. Here several other + tugboats appeared, and those standing at the railing were besieged with + questions. + </p> + <p> + "Did the crash come without warning?" a voice on one of the smaller boats + megaphoned. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," a woman answered. "Most of us had retired. We saved a few of our + belongings." + </p> + <p> + "How long did it take the boat to sink?" asked the voice. + </p> + <p> + TITANIC CREW HEROES + </p> + <p> + "Not long," came the reply? "The crew and the men were very brave. Oh, it + is dreadful—dreadful to think of!" + </p> + <p> + "Is Mr. John Jacob Astor on board?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Did he remain on the Titanic after the collision?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not know." + </p> + <p> + Questions of this kind were showered at the few survivors who stood at the + railing, but they seemed too confused to answer them intelligibly, and + after replying evasively to some they would disappear. + </p> + <p> + RUSHES ON TO DOCK + </p> + <p> + "Are you going to anchor for the night?" Captain Rostron was asked by + megaphone as his boat approached Ambrose Light. It was then raining + heavily. + </p> + <p> + "No," came the reply. "I am going into port. There are sick people on + board." + </p> + <p> + "We tried to learn when she would dock," said Dr. Walter Kennedy, head of + the big ambulance corps on the mist-shrouded pier, "and we were told it + would not be before midnight and that most probably it would not be before + dawn to-morrow. The childish deception that has been practiced for days by + the people who are responsible for the Titanic has been carried up to the + very moment of the landing of the survivors." + </p> + <p> + She proceeded past the Cunard pier, where 2000 persons were waiting her, + and steamed to a spot opposite the White Star piers at Twenty-first + Street. + </p> + <p> + The ports in the big inclosed pier of the Cunard Line were opened, and + through them the waiting hundreds, almost frantic with anxiety over what + the Carpathia might reveal, watched her as with nerve-destroying leisure + she swung about in the river, dropping over the life-boats of the Titanic + that they might be taken to the piers of the White Star Line. + </p> + <p> + THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + It was dark in the river, but the lowering away of the life-boats could be + seen from the Carpathia's pier, and a deep sigh arose from the multitude + there as they caught this first glance of anything associated with the + Titanic. + </p> + <p> + Then the Carpathia started for her own pier. As she approached it the + ports on the north side of pier 54 were closed that the Carpathia might + land there, but through the two left open to accommodate the forward and + after gangplanks of the big liner the watchers could see her looming + larger and larger in the darkness till finally she was directly alongside + the pier. + </p> + <p> + As the boats were towed away the picture taking and shouting of questions + began again. John Badenoch, a buyer for Macy & Co., called down to a + representative of the firm that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Isidor Straus were + among the rescued on board the Carpathia. An officer of the Carpathia + called down that 710 of the Titanic's passengers were on board, but + refused to reply to other questions. + </p> + <p> + The heavy hawsers were made fast without the customary shouting of ship's + officers and pier hands. From the crowd on the pier came a long, + shuddering murmur. In it were blended sighs and hundreds of whispers. The + burden of it all was: "Here they come." + </p> + <p> + ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN + </p> + <p> + About each gangplank a portable fence had been put in place, marking off + some fifty feet of the pier, within which stood one hundred or more + customs officials. Next to the fence, crowded close against it, were + anxious men and women, their gaze strained for a glance of the first from + the ship, their mouths opened to draw their breaths in spasmodic, + quivering gasps, their very bodies shaking with suppressed excitement, + excitement which only the suspense itself was keeping in subjection. + </p> + <p> + These were the husbands and wives, children, parents, sweethearts and + friends of those who had sailed upon the Titanic on its maiden voyage. + </p> + <p> + They pressed to the head of the pier, marking the boats of the wrecked + ship as they dangled at the side of the Carpathia and were revealed in the + sudden flashes of the photographers upon the tugs. They spoke in whispers, + each group intent upon its own sad business. Newspaper writers, with pier + passes showing in their hat bands, were everywhere. + </p> + <p> + A sailor hurried outside the fence and disappeared, apparently on a + mission for his company. There was a deep-drawn sigh as he walked away, + shaking his head toward those who peered eagerly at him. Then came a man + and woman of the Carpathia's own passengers, as their orderly dress showed + them to be. + </p> + <p> + Again a sigh like a sob swept over the crowd, and again they turned back + to the canopied gangplank. + </p> + <p> + THE FIRST SURVIVORS + </p> + <p> + Several minutes passed and then out of the first cabin gangway; tunneled + by a somber awning, streamed the first survivors. A young woman, hatless, + her light brown hair disordered and the leaden weight of crushing sorrow + heavy upon eyes and sensitive mouth, was in the van. She stopped, + perplexed, almost ready to drop with terror and exhaustion, and was caught + by a customs official. + </p> + <p> + "A survivor?" he questioned rapidly, and a nod of the head answering him, + he demanded: + </p> + <p> + "Your name." + </p> + <p> + The answer given, he started to lead her toward that section of the pier + where her friends would be waiting. + </p> + <p> + When she stepped from the gangplank there was quiet on the pier. The + answers of the woman could almost be heard by those fifty feet away, but + as she staggered, rather than walked, toward the waiting throng outside + the fence, a low wailing sound arose from the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Dorothy, Dorothy!" cried a man from the number. He broke through the + double line of customs inspectors as though it was composed of wooden toys + and caught the woman to his breast. She opened her lips inarticulately, + weakly raised her arms and would have pitched forward upon her face had + she not been supported. Her fair head fell weakly to one side as the man + picked her up in his arms, and, with tears streaming down his face, + stalked down the long avenue of the pier and down the long stairway to a + waiting taxicab. + </p> + <p> + The wailing of the crowd—its cadences, wild and weird—grew + steadily louder and louder till they culminated in a mighty shriek, which + swept the whole big pier as though at the direction of some master hand. + </p> + <p> + RUMORS AFLOAT + </p> + <p> + The arrival of the Carpathia was the signal for the most sensational + rumors to circulate through the crowd on the pier. + </p> + <p> + First, Mrs. John Jacob Astor was reported to have died at 8.06 o'clock, + when the Carpathia was on her way up the harbor. + </p> + <p> + Captain Smith and the first engineer were reported to have shot themselves + when they found that the Titanic was doomed to sink. Afterward it was + learned that Captain Smith and the engineer went down with their ship in + perfect courage and coolness. + </p> + <p> + Major Archibald Butt, President Taft's military aide, was said to have + entered into an agreement with George D. Widener, Colonel John Jacob Astor + and Isidor Straus to kill them first and then shoot himself before the + boat sank. It was said that this agreement had been carried out. Later it + was shown that, like many other men on the ship, they had gone down + without the exhibition of a sign of fear. + </p> + <p> + MRS. CORNELL SAFE + </p> + <p> + Magistrate Cornell's wife and her two sisters were among the first to + leave the ship. They were met at the first cabin pier entrance by + Magistrate Cornell and a party of friends. None of the three women had + hats. One of those who met them was Magistrate Cornell's son. One of Mrs. + Cornell's sisters was overheard to remark that "it would be a dreadful + thing when the ship began really to unload." + </p> + <p> + The three women appeared to be in a very nervous state. Their hair was + more or less dishevelled. They were apparently fully dressed save for + their hats. Clothing had been supplied them in their need and everything + had been done to make them comfortable. One of the party said that the + collision occurred at 9.45. + </p> + <p> + Following closely the Cornell party was H. J. Allison of Montreal, who + came to meet his family. One of the party, who was weeping bitterly as he + left the pier, explained that the only one of the family that was rescued + was the young brother. + </p> + <p> + MRS. ASTOR APPEARED + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes young Mrs. Astor with her maid appeared. She came down + the gangplank unassisted. She was wearing a white sweater. Vincent Astor + and William Dobbyn, Colonel Astor's secretary, greeted her and hurried her + to a waiting limousine which contained clothing and other necessaries of + which it was thought she might be in need. The young woman was white-faced + and silent. Nobody cared to intrude upon her thoughts. Her stepson said + little to her. He did not feel like questioning her at such a time, he + said. + </p> + <p> + LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR + </p> + <p> + Walter M. Clark, a nephew of the senator, said that he had seen Colonel + Astor put his wife in a boat, after assuring her that he would soon follow + her in another. Mr. Clark and others said that Colonel and Mrs. Astor were + in their suite when the crash came, and that they appeared quietly on deck + a few minutes afterward. + </p> + <p> + Here and there among the passengers of the Carpathia and from the + survivors of the Titanic the story was gleaned of the rescue. Nothing in + life will ever approach the joy felt by the hundreds who were waiting in + little boats on the spot where the Titanic foundered when the lights of + the Carpathia were first distinguished. That was at 4 o'clock on Monday + morning. + </p> + <p> + DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED + </p> + <p> + Efforts were made to learn from Dr. Henry Franenthal{sic} something about + the details of how he was rescued. Just then, or as he was leaving the + pier, beaming with evident delight, he was surrounded by a big crowd of + his friends. + </p> + <p> + "There's Harry! There he is!" they yelled and made a rush for him. + </p> + <p> + All the doctor's face that wasn't covered with red beard was aglow with + smiles as his friends hugged him and slapped him on the back. They rushed + him off bodily through the crowd and he too was whirled home. + </p> + <p> + A SAD STORY + </p> + <p> + How others followed—how heartrending stories of partings and of + thrilling rescues were poured out in an amazing stream—this has all + been told over and over again in the news that for days amazed, saddened + and angered the entire world. It is the story of a disaster that nations, + it is hoped, will make impossible in the years to come. + </p> + <p> + In the stream of survivors were a peer of the realm, Sir Cosmo Duff + Gordon, and his secretary, side by side with plain Jack Jones, of + Birmingham, able seaman, millionaires and paupers, women with bags of + jewels and others with nightgowns their only property. + </p> + <p> + MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS + </p> + <p> + More than seventy widows were in the weeping company. The only large + family that was saved in its entirety was that of the Carters, of + Philadelphia. Contrasting with this remarkable salvage of wealthy + Pennsylvanians was the sleeping eleven-months-old baby of the Allisons, + whose father, mother and sister went down to death after it and its nurse + had been placed in a life-boat. + </p> + <p> + Millionaire and pauper, titled grandee and weeping immigrant, Ismay, the + head of the White Star Company, and Jack Jones from the stoke hole were + surrounded instantly. Some would gladly have escaped observation. Every + man among the survivors acted as though it were first necessary to explain + how he came to be in a life-boat. Some of the stories smacked of + Munchausen. Others were as plain and unvarnished as a pike staff. Those + that were most sincere and trustworthy had to be fairly pulled from those + who gave their sad testimony. + </p> + <p> + Far into the night the recitals were made. They were told in the rooms of + hotels, in the wards of hospitals and upon trains that sped toward + saddened homes. It was a symposium of horror and heroism, the like of + which has not been known in the civilized world since man established his + dominion over the sea. + </p> + <p> + STEERAGE PASSENGERS + </p> + <p> + The two hundred and more steerage passengers did not leave the ship until + 11 o'clock. They were in a sad condition. The women were without wraps and + the few men there were wore very little clothing. A poor Syrian woman who + said she was Mrs. Habush, bound for Youngstown, Ohio, carried in her arms + a six-year-old baby girl. This woman had lost her husband and three + brothers. "I lost four of my men folks," she cried. + </p> + <p> + TWO LITTLE BOYS + </p> + <p> + Among the survivors who elicited a large measure of sympathy were two + little French boys who were dropped, almost naked, from the deck of the + sinking Titanic into a life-boat. From what place in France did they come + and to what place in the New World were they bound? There was not one iota + of information to be had as to the identity of the waifs of the deep, the + orphans of the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + The two baby boys, two and four years old, respectively, were in charge of + Miss Margaret Hays, who is a fluent speaker of French, and she had tried + vainly to get from the lisping lips of the two little ones some + information that would lead to the finding of their relatives. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hays, also a survivor of the Titanic, took charge of the almost naked + waifs on the Carpathia. She became warmly attached to the two boys, who + unconcernedly played about, not understanding the great tragedy that had + come into their lives. + </p> + <p> + The two little curly-heads did not understand it all. Had not their pretty + nineteen-year-old foster mother provided them with pretty suits and little + white shoes and playthings a-plenty? Then, too, Miss Hays had a Pom dog + that she brought with her from Paris and which she carried in her arms + when she left the Titanic and held to her bosom through the long night in + the life-boat, and to which the children became warmly attached. All three + became aliens on an alien shore. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hays, unable to learn the names of the little fellows, had dubbed the + older Louis and the younger "Lump." "Lump" was all that his name implies, + for he weighed almost as much as his brother. They were dark-eyed and + brown curly-haired children, who knew how to smile as only French children + can. + </p> + <p> + On the fateful night of the Titanic disaster and just as the last boats + were pulling away with their human freight, a man rushed to the rail + holding the babes under his arms. He cried to the passengers in one of the + boats and held the children aloft. Three or four sailors and passengers + held up their arms. The father dropped the older boy. He was safely + caught. Then he dropped the little fellow and saw him folded in the arms + of a sailor. Then the boat pulled away. + </p> + <p> + The last seen of the father, whose last living act was to save his babes, + he was waving his hand in a final parting. Then the Titanic plunged to the + ocean's bed. + </p> + <p> + BABY TRAVERS + </p> + <p> + Still more pitiable in one way was the lot of the baby survivor, + eleven-months-old Travers Allison, the only member of a family of four to + survive the wreck. His father, H. J. Allison, and mother and Lorraine, a + child of three, were victims of the catastrophe. Baby Travers, in the + excitement following the crash, was separated from the rest of the family + just before the Titanic went down. With the party were two nurses and a + maid. + </p> + <p> + Major Arthur Peuchen, of Montreal, one of the survivors, standing near the + little fellow, who, swathed in blankets, lay blinking at his nurse, + described the death of Mrs. Allison. She had gone to the deck without her + husband, and, frantically seeking him, was directed by an officer to the + other side of the ship. + </p> + <p> + She failed to find Mr. Allison and was quickly hustled into one of the + collapsible life-boats, and when last seen by Major Peuchen she was + toppling out of the half-swamped boat. J. W. Allison, a cousin of H. J. + Allison, was at the pier to care for Baby Travers and his nurse. They were + taken to the Manhattan Hotel. + </p> + <p> + Describing the details of the perishing of the Allison family, the rescued + nurse said they were all in bed when the Titanic hit the berg. + </p> + <p> + "We did not get up immediately," said she, "for we had + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = WHITE STAR STEAMER TITANIC GYMNASIUM} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright, 1912, Underwood & Underwood. CAPTAIN A. + H. ROSTROM + </p> + <p> + Commander of the Carpathia, which rescued the survivors of the Titanic + from the life-boats in the open sea and brought them to New York. After + the Senatorial Investigating Committee had examined Captain Rostrom, at + which time this specially posed photograph was taken, Senator William + Alden Smith, chairman of the committee, said of Captain Rostrom: "His + conduct of the rescue shows that he is not only an efficient seaman, but + one of nature's noblemen."} + </p> + <p> + not thought of danger. Later we were told to get up, and I hurriedly + dressed the baby. We hastened up on deck, and confusion was all about. + With other women and children we clambered to the life-boats, just as a + matter of precaution, believing that there was no immediate danger. In + about an hour there was an explosion and the ship appeared to fall apart. + We were in the life-boat about six hours before we were picked up." + </p> + <p> + THE RYERSON FAMILY + </p> + <p> + Probably few deaths have caused more tears than Arthur Ryerson's, in view + of the sad circumstances which called him home from a lengthy tour in + Europe. Mr. Ryerson's eldest son, Arthur Larned Ryerson, a Yale student, + was killed in an automobile accident Easter Monday, 1912. + </p> + <p> + A cablegram announcing the death plunged the Ryerson family into mourning + and they boarded the first steamship for this country. If{sic} happened to + be the Titanic, and the death note came near being the cause of the + blotting out of the entire family. + </p> + <p> + The children who accompanied them were Miss Susan P. Ryerson, Miss Emily + B. Ryerson and John Ryerson. The latter is 12 years old. + </p> + <p> + They did not know their son intended to spend the Easter holidays at their + home at Haverford, Pa. until they were informed of his death. John Lewis + Hoffman, also of Haverford and a student of Yale, was killed with young + Ryerson. + </p> + <p> + The two were hurrying to Philadelphia to escort a fellow-student to his + train. In turning out of the road to pass a cart the motor car crashed + into a pole in front of the entrance to the estate of Mrs. B. Frank Clyde. + The college men were picked up unconscious and died in the Bryn Mawr + Hospital. + </p> + <p> + G. Heide Norris of Philadelphia, who went to New York to meet the + surviving members of the Ryerson family, told of a happy incident at the + last moment as the Carpathia swung close to the pier. There had been no + positive information that young "Jack" Ryerson was among those saved—indeed, + it was feared that he had gone down with the Titanic, like his father, + Arthur Ryerson. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Norris spoke of the feeling of relief that came over him as, watching + from the pier, he saw "Jack" Ryerson come from a cabin and stand at the + railing. The name of the boy was missing from some of the lists and for + two days it was reported that he had perished. + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S REPORT + </p> + <p> + Less than 24 hours after the Cunard Line steamship Carpathia came in as a + rescue ship with survivors of the Titanic disaster, she sailed again for + the Mediterranean cruise which she originally started upon last week. Just + before the liner sailed, H. S. Bride, the second Marconi wireless operator + of the Titanic, who had both of his legs crushed on a life-boat, was + carried off on the shoulders of the ship's officers to St. Vincent's + Hospital. + </p> + <p> + Captain A. H. Rostron, of the Carpathia, addressed an official report, + giving his account of the Carpathia's rescue work, to the general manager + of the Cunard Line, Liverpool. The report read: "I beg to report that at + 12.35 A. M. Monday 18th inst. I was informed of urgent message from + Titanic with her position. I immediately ordered ship turned around and + put her in course for that position, we being then 58 miles S. 52—E. + 'T' from her; had heads of all departments called and issued what I + considered the necessary orders, to be in preparation for any emergency. + </p> + <p> + "At 2.40 A. M. saw flare half a point on port bow. Taking this for granted + to be ship, shortly after we sighted our first iceberg. I had previously + had lookouts doubled, knowing that Titanic had struck ice, and so took + every care and precaution. We soon found ourselves in a field of bergs, + and had to alter course several times to clear bergs; weather fine, and + clear, light air on sea, beautifully clear night, though dark. + </p> + <p> + "We stopped at 4 A. M., thus doing distance in three hours and a half, + picking up the first boat at 4.10 A. M.; boat in charge of officer, and he + reported that Titanic had foundered. At 8.30 A. M. last boat picked up. + All survivors aboard and all boats accounted for, viz., fifteen + life-boats, one boat abandoned, two Berthon boats alongside (saw one + floating upwards among wreckage), and according to second officer (senior + officer saved) one Berthon boat had not been launched, it having got + jammed, making sixteen life-boats and four Berthon boats accounted for. By + the time we had cleared first boat it was breaking day, and I could see + all within area of four miles. We also saw that we were surrounded by + icebergs, large and small, huge field of drift ice with large and small + bergs in it, the ice field trending from N. W. round W. and S. to S. E., + as far as we could see either way. + </p> + <p> + "At 8 A. M. the Leyland S. S. California came up. I gave him the principal + news and asked him to search and I would proceed to New York; at 8.50 + proceeded full speed while researching over vicinity of disaster, and + while we were getting people aboard I gave orders to get spare hands along + and swing in all our boats, disconnect the fall and hoist up as many + Titanic boats as possible in our davits; also get some on forecastle heads + by derricks. We got thirteen lifeboats, six on forward deck and seven in + davits. After getting all survivors aboard and while searching I got a + clergyman to offer a short prayer of thankfulness for those saved, and + also a short burial service for their loss, in saloon. + </p> + <p> + "Before deciding definitely where to make for, I conferred with Mr. Ismay, + and as he told me to do what I thought best, I informed him, I considered + New York best. I knew we should require clean blankets, provisions and + clean linen, even if we went to the Azores, as most of the + passsengers{sic} saved were women and children, and they hysterical, not + knowing what medical attention they might require. I thought it best to go + to New York. I also thought it would be better for Mr. Ismay to go to New + York or England as soon as possible, and knowing I should be out of + wireless communication very soon if I proceeded to Azores, it left + Halifax, Boston and New York, so I chose the latter. + </p> + <p> + "Again, the passengers were all hysterical about ice, and I pointed out to + Mr. Ismay the possibilities of seeing ice if I went to Halifax. Then I + knew it would be best to keep in touch with land stations as best I could. + We have experienced great difficulty in transmitting news, also names of + survivors. Our wireless is very poor, and again we have had so many + interruptions from other ships and also messages from shore (principally + press, which we ignored). I gave instructions to send first all official + messages, then names of passengers, then survivors' private messages. We + had haze early Tuesday morning for several hours; again more or less all + Wednesday from 5.30 A. M. to 5 P. M.; strong south-southwesterly winds and + clear weather Thursday, with moderate rough sea. + </p> + <p> + "I am pleased to say that all survivors have been very plucky. The + majority of women, first, second and third class, lost their husbands, + and, considering all, have been wonderfully well. Tuesday our doctor + reported all survivors physically well. Our first class passengers have + behaved splendidly, given up their cabins voluntarily and supplied the + ladies with clothes, etc. We all turned out of our cabins and gave them to + survivors—saloon, smoking room, library, etc., also being used for + sleeping accommodation. Our crew, also turned out to let the crew of the + Titanic take their quarters. I am pleased to state that owing to + preparations made for the comfort of survivors, none were the worse for + exposure, etc. I beg to specially mention how willing and cheerful the + whole of the ship's company behaved, receiving the highest praise from + everybody. And I can assure you I am very proud to have such a company + under my command. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "A. H. ROSTRON." +</pre> + <p> + The following list of the survivors and dead contains the latest revisions + and corrections of the White Star Line officials, and was furnished by + them exclusively for this book. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_LIST" id="link2H_LIST"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LIST OF SURVIVORS + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + FIRST CABIN + + ANDERSON, HARRY. + ANTOINETTE, MISS. + APPIERANELT, MISS. + APPLETON. MRS. E. D. + ABBOTT, MRS. ROSE. + ALLISON, MASTER, and nurse. + ANDREWS, MISS CORNELIA I. + ALLEN, MISS. E. W. + ASTOR, MRS. JOHN JACOB, and maid. + AUBEART, MME. N., and maid. + + BARRATT, KARL B. + BESETTE, MISS. + BARKWORTH, A. H. + BUCKNELL, MRS. W. + BOWERMAN, MISS E. + BROWN, MRS. J. J. + BURNS, MISS C. M. + BISHOP, MR. AND MRS. D. H. + BLANK, H. + BESSINA, MISS A. + BAXTER, MRS. JAMES. + BRAYTON, GEORGE. + BONNELL, MISS LILY. + BROWN, MRS. J. M. + BOWEN, MISS G. C. + BECKWITH, MR. AND MRS. R. L. + BISLEY, MR. AND MRS. + BONNELL, MISS C. + + CASSEBEER, MRS. H. A. + CARDEZA, MRS. J. W. + CANDELL, MRS. CHURCHILL. + CASE, HOWARD B. + CAMARION, KENARD. + CASSEBORO, MISS D. D. + CLARK, MRS. W. M. + + CHIBINACE, MRS. B. C. + CHARLTON, W. M. + CROSBY, MRS E. G. + CARTER, MISS LUCILLE. + CALDERHEAD, E. P. + CHANDANSON, MISS VICTOTRINE. + CAVENDISH, MRS. TURRELL, and maid. + CHAFEE, MRS. H. I. + CARDEZA, MR. THOMAS. + CUMMINGS, MRS. J. + CHEVRE, PAUL. + CHERRY, MISS GLADYS. + CHAMBERS, MR. AND MRS. N. C. + CARTER, MR. AND MRS. W. E. + CARTER, MASTER WILLIAM. + COMPTON, MRS. A. T. + COMPTON, MISS S. R. + CROSBY, MRS. E. G. + CROSBY, MISS HARRIET. + CORNELL, MRS. R. C. + CHIBNALL, MRS. E. + + DOUGLAS, MRS. FRED. + DE VILLIERS, MME. + DANIEL, MISS SARAH. + DANIEL, ROBERT W. + DAVIDSON, MR. AND MRS. THORNTON, + and family. + DOUGLAS, MRS. WALTER, and maid. + DODGE, MISS SARAH. + DODGE, MRS. WASHINGTON, and son. + DICK, MR. AND MRS. A. A. + DANIELL, H. HAREN. + DRACHENSTED, A. + DALY, PETER D. + + ENDRES, MISS CAROLINE. + ELLIS, MISS +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + LIST OF SURVIVORS—FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + EARNSHAW, MRS. BOULTON. + EUSTIS, MISS E. + EMMOCK, PHILIP E. + + FLAGENHEIM, MRS. ANTOINETTE. + FRANICATELLI, MISY. + FYNN, J. I. + FORTUNE, MISS ALICE + FORTUNE, MISS ETHEL. + FORTUNE, MRS. MARK. + FORTUNE, MISS MABEL. + FRAUENTHAL, DR. AND MRS. H. W. + FRAUENTHAL, MR. AND MRS. T. G + FROLICHER, MISS MARGARET. + FROLICHER, MAY AND MRS. + FROLICHER, MISS N. + FUTRELLE, MRS. JACQUES. + + GRACIE, COLONEL ARCHIBALD. + GRAHAM, MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM. + GRAHAM, MISS M. + GORDON, SIR COSMO DUFF. + GORDON, LADY. + GIBSON, MISS DOROTHY. + GOLDENBERG, MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL. + GOLDENBERG, MISS ELLA. + GREENFIELD, MRS. L. P. + GREENFIELD, G. B. + GREENFIELD, WILLIAM. + GIBSON, MRS. LEONARD. + GOOGHT, JAMES. + + HAVEN, MR. HENRY B. + HARRIS, MRS. H. B. + HOLVERSON, MRS. ALEX. + HOGEBOOM, MRS. J. C. + HAWKSFORD, W. J. + HARPER, HENRY, and man servant. + HARPER, MRS. H. S. + HOLD, MISS J. A. + HOPE, NINA. + HOYT, MR. AND Mrs. FRED. + HORNER, HENRY R. + HARDER, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. + HAYS, MRS. CHARLES M., and daughter. + HIPPACH, MISS JEAN. + HIPPACH, MRS. IDA S. + + ISMAY, J. BRUCE. + + JENASCO, MRS. J. + + KIMBALL, MR. AND MRS. ED. N. + KENNYMAN, F. A. + KENCHEN, MISS EMILE. + + LONGLEY, MISS G. F. + LEADER, MRS. A. F. + LEAHY, MISS NORA. + LAVORY, MISS BERTHA. + LINES, MRS. ERNEST. + LINES, MISS MARY. + LINDSTROM, MRS. SINGIRD. + LESNEUR, GUSTAVE, JR. + + MADILL, MISS GEORGETTE A. + MAHAN, MRS. + MELICARD, MME. + MENDERSON, MISS LETTA. + MAIAIMY, MISS ROBERTA. + MARVIN, MRS. D. W. + MARECHELL, PIERRE. + MARONEY, MRS. R. + MEYER, MRS. E. I. + MOCK, MR. P. E. + MIDDLE, MME. M. OLIVE. + MINAHAN, MISS DAISY. + MINAHAN, MRS. W. E. + MCGOUGH, JAMES. + + NEWELL, MISS ALICE. + NEWELL, MISS MADELINE. + NEWELL, WASHINGTON. + NEWSON, MISS HELEN. + + O'CONNELL, MISS R. + OSTBY, E. C. + + LIST OF SURVIVORS—FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + OSTBY, MISS HELEN. + OMUND, FIEUNAM. + + PANHART, MISS NINETTE. + PEARS, MRS. E. + POMROY, MISS ELLEN. + POTTER, MRS. THOMAS, JR. + PEUCHEN, MAJOR ARTHUR. + PEERCAULT, MISS A. + + RYERSON, JOHN. + RENAGO, MRS. MAMAM. + RANELT, MISS APPIE. + ROTHSCHILD, MRS. LORD MARTIN. + ROSENBAHM, MISS EDITH. + RHEIMS, MR. AND MRS GEORGE. + ROSIBLE, MISS H. + ROTHES, COUNTESS. + ROBERT, MRS. EDNA. + ROLMANE, C. + RYERSON, ALISS SUSAN P. + RYERSON, MISS EMILY. + RYERSON, MRS. ARTHUR, and maid. + + STONE, MRS. GEORGE M. + SKELLER, MRS. WILLIAM. + SEGESSER, MISS EMMA. + SEWARD, FRED. K. + SHUTTER, MISS. + SLOPER, WILLIAM T. + SWIFT, MRS. F. JOEL. + SCHABERT, MRS. PAUL. + SHEDDEL, ROBERT DOUGLASS. + SNYDER, MR. AND MRS. JOHN. + SEREPECA, ALISS AUGHSTA. + SILVERTHORN, R. SPENCER. + SAALFELD, ADOLF. + STAHELIN, MAX. + SIMOINUS, ALFONSIUS. + SMITH, MRS. LUCIEN P. + STEPHENSON, MRS. WALTER. + SOLOMON, ABRAHAM. + SILVEY, MRS. WILLIAM B + STENMEL, MR. AND MRS. HELEERY + SPENCER, MRS. W. A., and maid. + SLAYTER, MISS HILDA. + SPEDDEN, MR. AND MRS. F. O., and child. + STEFFANSON, H. B. + STRAUS, MRS., maid of. + SCHABERT, MRS. EMMA. + SLINTER, MRS. E. + SIMMONS, A. + + TAYLOR, MISS. + TUCKER, MRS., and maid. + THAYER, MRS. J. B. + THAYER, J. B., JR. + TAUSSIG, MISS RUTH. + TAUSSIG. MRS. E. + THOR, MISS ELLA. + THORNE, MRS. G. + TAYLOR, MR. AND MRS. E. Z + TROUT, MISS JESSIE. + TUCKER, GILBERT. + + WOOLNER, HUGH. + WARD, MISS ANNA. + WILLIAMS, RICHARD M., JR. + WARREN, MRS. P. + WILSON, MISS HELEN A. + WILLIARD, MISS C. + WICK, MISS MARY. + WICK, GEO. + WIDENER, valet of. + WIDENER, MRS. GEORGE D., and maid. + WHITE, MRS. J. STUART. + + YOUNG, MISS MARIE. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_LIST2" id="link2H_LIST2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LIST OF SURVIVORS—SECOND CABIN + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ABESSON, MRS. MANNA. + ABBOTT, MRS. R. + ARGENIA, MRS., and two children. + ANGEL, F. + ANGLE, WILLIAM. + + BAUMTHORPE, MRS. L. + BALLS, MRS. ADA E. + BUSS, MISS KATE. + BECKER, MRS. A. O., and three children + BEANE, EDWARD. + BEANE, MRS. ETHEL, + BRYHI, MISS D. + BEESLEY, MR. L. + BROWN, MR. T. W. S. + BROWN, MISS E. + BROWN, MRS. + BENTHAN, LILLIAN W. + BYSTRON, KAROLINA + BRIGHT, DAGMAR. + BRIGHT, DAISY. + + CLARKE, MRS. ADA. + CAMERON, MISS. C. + CALDWELL, ALBERT F. + CALDWELL, MRS. SYLVAN + CALDWELL, ALDEN, infant. + CRISTY, MR. AND MRS. + COLLYER, MRS. CHARLOTTE. + COLLYER, MISS MARJORIE + CHRISTY, MRS. ALICE. + COLLET, STITART. + CHRISTA, MISS DIJCIA. + CHARLES, WILLIAM. + CROFT, MILLIE MALL. + + DOLING, MRS. ELSIE. + DREW, MRS. LULU. + DAVIS, MRS. AGNES. + DAVIS, MISS MARY. + DAVIS, JOHN M. + DUVAN, FLORENTINE. + DUVAN, MRS. A. + DAVIDSON, MISS MARY. + DOLING, MISS ADA. + DRISCOLL, MRS. B. + DEYSTROM, CAROLINE. + + EMCARMACION, MRS. RINALDO. + + FAUNTHORPE, MRS. LIZZIE + FORMERY, MISS ELLEN. + + GARSIDE, ETHEL. + GERRECAI, MRS. MARCY. + GENOVESE, ANGERE. + + HART, MRS. ESTHER. + HART, EVA. + HARRIS, GEORGE. + HEWLETT, MRS. MARY. + HEBBER, MISS S. + HOFFMAN, LOLA. + HOFFMAN, LOUIS. + HARPER, NINA. + HOLD, STEPHEN. + HOLD, MRS. ANNA. + HOSONO, MASABTJMI. + HOCKING, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. + HOCKING, MISS NELLIE. + HERMAN, MRS. JANE, 2 daughters + HEALY, NORA. + HANSON, JENNIE. + HAMATAINEN, W. + HAMATAINEN, ANNA. + HARNLIN, ANNA, and Child + + ILETT, BERTHA. + + JACKSON, MRS. AMY. + JULIET, LUVCHE. + JERWAN, MARY. + JUHON, PODRO. + JACOBSON, MRS. + + KEANE, MISS NORA H. + KELLY, MRS. F. + KANTAR, MRS. S. + + LEITCH, JESSIE. + LAROCHE, MRS. AND MISS SIMMONE. + + LIST OF SURVIVORS—SECOND CABIN (CONTINITED) + + LAROCHE, MISS LOUISE. + LEHMAN, BERTHA. + LAUCH, MRS. ALEX. + LANIORE, AMELIA. + LYSTROM, MRS. C. + + MELLINGER, ELIZABETH. + MELLINGER, child. + MARSHALL, MRS. KATE. + MALLETT, A. + MALLETT, MRS. and child. + MANGE, PAULA. + MARE, MRS. FLORENCE. + MELLOR, W. J. + McDEARMONT, MISS LELA. + McGOWAN, ANNA. + + NYE, ELIZABETH. + NASSER, MRS. DELIA. + NUSSA, MRS. A. + + OXENHAM, PERCY J. + + PHILLIPS, ALICE. + PALLAS, EMILIO. + PADRO, JITLIAN. + PRINSKY, ROSA. + PORTALTTPPI, EMILIO. + PARSH, MRS. L. + PLETT, B. + + QUICK, MRS. JANE. + QUICK, MRS. VERA W. + QUICK, MISS PHYLLIS. + + REINARDO, MISS E. + RIDSDALE, LUCY. + RENOUF, MRS. LILY. + RUGG, MISS EMILY. + RICHARDS, M. + ROGERS, MISS SELINA. + RICHARDS, MRS. EMILIA, two boys, and + MR. RICHARDS, JR. + + SIMPSON, MISS. + SINCOCK, MISS MAUDE. + SINKKONNEN, ANNA. + SMITH, MISS MARION. + SILVEN, LYLLE. + + TRANT, MRS J. + TOOMEY, MISS. E. + TROUTT, MISS E. + TROUTT, MISS CECELIA. + + WARE, MISS H. + WATTER, MISS N. + WILHELM, C. + WAT, MRS. A., and two children. + WILLIAMS, RICHARD M., JR. + WEISZ, MATHILDE. + WEBBER, MISS SIJSDD. + WRIGHT, MISS MARION. + WATT, MISS BESSIE. + WATT, MISS BERTHA. + WEST, MRS. E. A. + WEST, MISS CONSTANCE. + WEST, MISS BARBARA. + WELLS, ADDIE. + WELLS, MASTER. +</pre> + <p> + A list of surviving third cabin passengers and crew is omitted owing to + the impossibility of obtaining the correct names of many. + </p> + <p> + ROLL OF THE DEAD + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + FIRST CABIN + + ALLISON, H. J. + ALLISON, MRS., and maid. + ALLISON, MISS. + ANDREWS, THOMAS. + ARTAGAVEYTIA, MR. RAMON. + ASTOR, COL. J. J., and servant. + ANDERSON, WALKER. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD—FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + BEATTIE, T. + BRANDEIS, E. + BUCKNELL, MRS. WILLIAM, maid of. + BAHMANN, J. + BAXTER, MR. AND MRS. QUIGG. + BJORNSTROM, H. + BIRNBAHM, JACOB. + BLACKWELL, S. W. + BOREBANK, J. J. + BOWEN, MISS. + BRADY, JOHN B. + BREWE, ARLBLIR J. + BUTT, MAJOR A. + + CLARK, WALTER M. + CLIFFORD, GEORGE Q. + COLLEY, E. P. + CARDEZA, T. D. M., servant of. + CARDEZA, MRS. J. W., maid of. + CARLSON, FRANK. + CORRAN, F. M. + CORRAN, J. P. + CHAFEE, MR. H. I. + CHISHOLM, ROBERT. + COMPTON, A. T. + CRAFTON, JOHN B. + CROSBY, EDWARD G. + CUMMINGS, JOHN BRADLEY. + + DULLES, WILLIAM C. + DOUGLAS, W. D. + DOUGLAS, MASTER R., nurse of. + + EVANS, MISS E. + + FORTUNE, MARK. + FOREMAN, B. L. + FORTUNE, CHARLES. + FRANKLIN, T. P. + FUTRELLE, J. + + GEE, ARTHUR. + GOLDENBERG, E. L. + GOLDSCHMIDT, G. B. + GIGLIO, VICTOR. + GUGGENHEIM, BENJAMIN. + + HAYS, CHARLES M. + HAYS, MRS. CHARLES, maid of. + HEAD, CHRISTOPHER. + HILLIARD, H. H. + HIPKINS, W. E. + HOGENHEIM, MRS. A. + HARRIS, HENRY B. + HARP, MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. + HARP, MISS MARGARET, and maid. + HOLVERSON, A. M. + + ISLAM, MISS A. E. + ISMAY, J. BRUCE, servant of. + + JULIAN, H. F. + JONES, C. C. + + KENT, EDWARD A. + KENYON, MR. AND MRS. F. R. + KLABER, HERMAN. + + LAMBERTH, WILLIAM, F. F. + LAWRENCE, ARTHUR. + LONG, MILTON. + LEWY, E. G. + LOPING, J. H. + LINGREY, EDWARD. + + MAGUIRE, J. E. + McCAFFRY, T. + McCAFFRY, T., JR. + McCARTHY, T. + MIDDLETON, J. C. + MILLET, FRANK D. + MINAHAN, DR. + MEYER, EDGAR J. + MOLSON, H. M. + MOORE, C., servant. + + NATSCH, CHARLES. + NEWALL, MISS T. + NICHOLSON, A. S. + + OVIES, S. + OBNOUT, ALFRED T. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD—FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + PARR, M. H. W. + PEARS, MR. AND MRS. THOMAS. + PENASCO, MR. AND MRS. VICTOR. + PARTNER, M. A. + PAYNE, Y. + POND, FLORENCE, and maid. + PORTER, WALTER. + PUFFER, C. C. + + REUCHLIN, J. + ROBERT, MRS. E., maid of. + ROEBLING, WASHINGTON A., 2d. + ROOD, HUGH R. + ROES, J. HUGO. + ROTHES, COUNTESS, maid of. + ROTHSCHILD, M. + ROWE, ARTHUR. + RYERSON, A. + + SILVEY, WILLIAM B. + SPEDDEN, MRS. F. O., maid of + SPENCER, W. A. + STEAD, W. T. + STEHLI, MR. AND MRS. MAX FROLICHER. + STONE, MRS. GEORGE, maid of. + STRAUS, MR. AND MRS. ISIDOR. + SUTTON, FREDERICK. + SMART, JOHN M. + SMITH, CLINCH. + SMITET, R. W. + SMITH, L. P. + + TAUSSIC, EMIL. + THAYER, MRS., maid of. + THAYER, JOHN B. + THORNE, G. + + VANDERHOOF, WYCKOFF. + + WALKER, W. A. + WARREN, F. M. + WHITE, PERCIVAL A. + WHITE, RICHARD F. + WIDENER, G. D. + WIDENER, HARRY. + WOOD, MR. AND MRS. FRANK P. + WEIR, J. + WILLIAMS, DUANE. + WRIGHT, GEORGE. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + SECOND CABIN + + ABELSON, SAMSON. + ANDREW, FRANK. + ASHBY, JOHN. + ALDWORTH, C. + ANDREW, EDGAR. + + BRACKEN, JAMES H. + BROWN, MRS. + BANFIELD, FRED. + BRIGHT, NARL. + BRAILY, bandsman. + BREICOUX, bandsman. + BAILEY, PERCY. + BAINBRIDGE, C. R. + BYLES, THE REV. THOMAS. + BEAUCHAMP, H. J. + BERG, MISS E. + BENTHAN, I. + BATEMAN, ROBERT J. + BUTLER, REGINALD. + BOTSFORD, HULL. + BOWEENER, SOLOMON. + BERRIMAN, WILLIAM. + + CLARKE, CHARLES. + CLARK, bandsman. + COREY, MRS. C. P. + CARTER, THE REV. ERNEST. + CARTER, MRS. + COLERIDGE, REGINALD, + CHAPMAN, CHARLES. + CUNNINGHAM, ALFRED. + CAMPBELL, WILLIAM. + COLLYER, HARVEY. + CORBETT, MRS. IRENE. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD—SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + + CHAPMAN, JOHN E. + CHAPMAN, MRS. E. + COLANDER, ERIC. + COTTERILL, HARBY. + + DEACON, PERCY. + DAVIS, CHARLES. + DIBBEN, WILLIAM. + DE BRITO, JOSE. + DENBORNY, H. + DREW, JAMES. + DREW, MASTER M. + DAVID, MASTER J. W. + DOUNTON, W. J. + DEL VARLO, S. + DEL VARLO, MRS. + + ENANDER, INGVAR. + EITEMILLER, G. F. + + FROST, A. + FYNNERY, MR. + FAUNTHORPE, H. + FILLBROOK, C. + FUNK, ANNIE. + FAHLSTROM, A. + FOX, STANLEY W. + + GREENBERG, S. + GILES, RALPH. + GASKELL, ALFRED. + GILLESPIE, WILLIAM. + GILBERT, WILLIAM. + GALL, S. + GILL, JOHN. + GILES, EDGAR. + GILES, FRED. + GALE, HARRY. + GALE, PHADRUCH. + GARVEY, LAWRENCE. + + HICKMAN, LEONARD. + HICKMAN, LENVIS. + HUME, bandsman. + HICKMAN, STANLEY. + HOOD, AMBROSE, + HODGES, HENRY P. + HART, BENJAMIN. + HARRIS, WALTER. + HARPER, JOHN. + HARBECK, W. H. + HOFFMAN, MR. + HERMAN, MRS. S. + HOWARD, B. + HOWARD, MRS. E. T. + HALE, REGINALD. + HILTUNEN, M. + HUNT, GEORGE. + + JACOBSON, MR. + JACOBSON, SYDNEY. + JEFFERY, CLIFFORD. + JEFFERY, ERNEST. + JENKIN, STEPHEN. + JARVIS, JOHN D. + + KEANE, DANIEL. + KIRKLAND, REV. C. + KARNES, MRS. F. G. + KEYNALDO, MISS. + KRILLNER, J. H. + KRINS, bandsman. + KARINES, MRS. + KANTAR, SELNA. + KNIGHT, R. + + LENGAM, JOHN. + LEVY, R. J. + LAHTIMAN, WILLIAM. + LAUCH, CHARLES. + LEYSON, R. W. N. + LAROCHE, JOSEPH. + LAMB, J. J + + McKANE, PETER. + MILLING, JACOB. + MANTOILA, JOSEPEI, + MALACHARD, NOLL. + MORAWECK, DR. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD—SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + + MANGIOVACCHI, E. + McCRAE, ARTHUR G. + McCRIE, JAMES M. + McKANE, PETER D. + MUDD, THOMAS. + MACK, MRS. MARY. + MARSHALL, HENRY. + MAYBERG, FRANK H. + MEYER, AUGUST. + MYLES, THOMAS. + MITCHELL, HENRY. + MATTHEWS, W. J. + + NESSEN, ISRAEL. + NICHOLLS, JOSEPH C. + NORMAN, ROBERT D. + + OTTER, RICHARD. + + PHILLIPS, ROBERT. + PONESELL, MARTIN. + PAIN, DR. ALFRED. + PARKES, FRANK. + PENGELLY, F. + PERNOT, RENE. + PERUSCHITZ, REV. + PARKER, CLIFFORD. + PULBAUM, FRANK + + RENOUF, PETER H. + ROGERS, HARRY. + REEVES, DAVID. + + SLEMEN, R. J. + SOBEY, HAYDEN. + SLATTER, MISS H. M. + STANTON, WARD. + SWORD, HANS K. + STOKES, PHILIP J. + SHARP, PERCIVAL. + SEDGWICK, MR. F. W. + SMITH, AUGUSTUS. + SWEET, GEORGE. + SJOSTEDT, ERNST. + + TAYLOR, bandsman. + TURPIN, WILLIAM J. + TURPIN, MRS. DOROTHY. + TURNER, JOHN H. + TROUPIANSKY, M. + TIRVAN, MRS. A. + + VEALE, JAMES. + + WATSON, E. + WOODWARD, bandsman. + WARE, WILLIAM J. + WEISZ, LEOPOLD. + WHEADON, EDWARD. + WARE, JOHN J. + WEST, E. ARTHUR. + WHEELER, EDWIN. + WERMAN, SAMUEL. +</pre> + <p> + The total death list was 1635. Third cabin passengers and crew are not + included in the list here given owing to the impossibility of obtaining + the exact names of many. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD + </h2> + <p> + HOW THE TITANIC SANK—WATER STREWN WITH DEAD BODIES—VICTIMS MET + DEATH WITH HYMN ON THEIR LIPS + </p> + <p> + THE Story of how the Titanic sank is told by Charles F. Hurd, who was a + passenger on the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + He praised highly the courage of the crew, hundreds of whom gave their + lives with a heroism which equaled but could not exceed that of John Jacob + Astor, Henry B. Harris, Jacques Futrelle and others in the long list of + first-cabin passengers. The account continues: + </p> + <p> + "The crash against the iceberg, which had been sighted at only a quarter + mile distance, came almost simultaneously with the click of the levers + operated from the bridge, which stopped the engines and closed the + water-tight doors. Captain Smith was on the bridge a moment later, + summoning all on board to put on life preservers and ordering the + life-boats lowered. + </p> + <p> + "The first boats had more male passengers, as the men were the first to + reach the deck. When the rush of frightened men and women and crying + children to the decks began, the 'women first' rule was rigidly enforced. + </p> + <p> + "Officers drew revolvers, but in most cases there was no use for them. + Revolver shots heard shortly before the Titanic went down caused many + rumors, one that Captain Smith had shot himself, another that First + Officer Murdock had ended his life, but members of the crew discredit + these rumors. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Smith was last seen on the bridge just before the ship sank, + leaping only after the decks had been washed away. + </p> + <p> + "What became of the men with the life-preservers was a question asked by + many since the disaster. Many of these with life-preservers were seen to + go down despite the preservers, and dead bodies floated on the surface as + the boats moved away. + </p> + <p> + "Facts which I have established by inquiries on the Carpathia, as + positively as they could be established in view of the silence of the few + surviving officers, are: + </p> + <p> + "That the Titanic's officers knew, several hours before the crash, of the + possible nearness of the icebergs. + </p> + <p> + "That the Titanic's speed, nearly 23 knots an hour, was not slackened. + </p> + <p> + "That the number of life-boats on the Titanic was insufficient to + accommodate more than one-third of the passengers, to say nothing of the + crew. Most members of the crew say there were sixteen life-boats and two + collapsibles; none say there were more than twenty boats in all. The 700 + escaped filled most of the sixteen life-boats and the one collapsible + which got away, to the limit of their capacity. + </p> + <p> + "Had the ship struck the iceberg head on at whatever + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = MRS. GEORGE D. WIDENER + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Widener was saved,....} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = George D. WIDENER + </p> + <p> + Who with his son....} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. WILLIAM + T. STEAD + </p> + <p> + The great English writer, who was a passenger on board the ill-fated White + Star Line Steamer Titanic.} + </p> + <p> + speed and with whatever resulting shock, the bulkhead system of + water-tight compartments would probably have saved the vessel. As one man + expressed it, it was the impossible that happened when, with a shock + unbelievably mild, the ship's side was torn for a length which made the + bulkhead system ineffective." + </p> + <p> + After telling of the shock and the lowering of the boats the account + continues: + </p> + <p> + "Some of the boats, crowded too full to give rowers a chance, drifted for + a time. Few had provisions or water, there was lack of covering from the + icy air, and the only lights were the still undimmed arcs and + incandescents of the settling ship, save for one of the first boats. There + a steward, who explained to the passengers that he had been shipwrecked + twice before, appeared carrying three oranges and a green light. + </p> + <p> + "That green light, many of the survivors say, was to the shipwrecked + hundreds as the pillar of fire by night. Long after the ship had + disappeared, and while confusing false lights danced about the boats, the + green lantern kept them together on the course which led them to the + Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "As the end of the Titanic became manifestly but a matter of moments, the + oarsmen pulled their boats away, and the chilling waters began to echo + splash after splash as passengers and sailors in life-preservers leaped + over and started swimming away to escape the expected suction. + </p> + <p> + "Only the hardiest of constitutions could endure for more than a few + moments such a numbing bath. The first vigorous strokes gave way to + heart-breaking cries of 'Help! Help!' and stiffened forms were seen + floating on the water all around us. + </p> + <p> + "Led by the green light, under the light of the stars, the boats drew + away, and the bow, then the quarter, then the stacks and at last the stern + of the marvel-ship of a few days before, passed beneath the waters. The + great force of the ship's sinking was unaided by any violence of the + elements, and the suction, not so great as had been feared, rocked but + mildly the group of boats now a quarter of a mile distant from it. + </p> + <p> + "Early dawn brought no ship, but not long after 5 A. M. the Carpathia, far + out of her path and making eighteen knots, instead of her wonted fifteen, + showed her single red and black smokestack upon the horizon. In the joy of + that moment, the heaviest griefs were forgotten. + </p> + <p> + "Soon afterward Captain Rostron and Chief Steward Hughes were welcoming + the chilled and bedraggled arrivals over the Carpathia's side. + </p> + <p> + "Terrible as were the San Francisco, Slocum and Iroquois disasters, they + shrink to local events in comparison with this world-catastrophe. + </p> + <p> + "True, there were others of greater qualifications and longer experience + than I nearer the tragedy—but they, by every token of likelihood, + have become a part of the tragedy. The honored—must I say the + lamented—Stead, the adroit Jacques Futrelle, what might they not + tell were their hands able to hold pencil? + </p> + <p> + "The silence of the Carpathia's engines, the piercing cold, the clamor of + many voices in the companionways, caused me to dress hurriedly and awaken + my wife, at 5.40 A. M. Monday. Our stewardess, meeting me outside, pointed + to a wailing host in the rear dining room and said. 'From the Titanic. + She's at the bottom of the ocean.' + </p> + <p> + "At the ship's side, a moment later, I saw the last of the line of boats + discharge their loads, and saw women, some with cheap shawls about their + heads, some with the costliest of fur cloaks, ascending the ship's side. + And such joy as the first sight of our ship may have given them had + disappeared from their faces, and there were tears and signs of faltering + as the women were helped up the ladders or hoisted aboard in swings. For + lack of room to put them, several of the Titanic's boats, after unloading, + were set adrift. + </p> + <p> + "At our north was a broad ice field, the length of hundreds of Carpathias. + Around us on other sides were sharp and glistening peaks. One black berg, + seen about 10 A. M., was said to be that which sunk the Titanic." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + </h2> + <p> + COLLISION ONLY A SLIGHT JAR—PASSENGERS COULD NOT BELIEVE THE VESSEL + DOOMED—NARROW ESCAPE OF LIFE-BOATS—PICKED UP BY THE CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + AMONG the most connected and interesting stories related by the survivors + was the one told by L. Beasley, of Cambridge, England. He said: + </p> + <p> + "The voyage from Queenstown had been quite uneventful; very fine weather + was experienced, and the sea was quite calm. The wind had been westerly to + southwesterly the whole way, but very cold, particularly the last day; in + fact after dinner on Saturday evening it was almost too cold to be out on + deck at all. + </p> + <p> + ONLY A SLIGHT JAR + </p> + <p> + "I had been in my berth for about ten minutes, when, at about 11.15 P. M., + I felt a slight jar, and then soon after a second one, but not + sufficiently violent to cause any anxiety to anyone, however nervous they + may have been. However, the engines stopped immediately afterward, and my + first, thought was, 'She has lost a propeller.' + </p> + <p> + "I went up on the top (boat) deck in a dressing gown, and found only a few + persons there, who had come up similarly to inquire why we had stopped, + but there was no sort of anxiety in the minds of anyone. + </p> + <p> + "We saw through the smoking room window a game of cards going on, and went + in to inquire if they knew anything; it seems they felt more of the jar, + and, looking through the window, had seen a huge iceberg go by close to + the side of the boat. They thought we had just grazed it with a glancing + blow, and that the engines had been stopped to see if any damage had been + done. No one, of course, had any conception that the vessel had been + pierced below by part of the submerged iceberg. + </p> + <p> + "The game went on without any thought of disaster and I retired to my + cabin, to read until we went on again. I never saw any of the players or + the onlookers again. + </p> + <p> + SOME WERE AWAKENED + </p> + <p> + "A little later, hearing people going upstairs, I went out again and found + everyone wanting to know why the engines had stopped. No doubt many were + awakened from sleep by the sudden stopping of a vibration to which they + had become accustomed during the four days we had been on board. + Naturally, with such powerful engines as the Titanic carried, the + vibration was very noticeable all the time, and the sudden stopping had + something the same effect as the stopping of a loud-ticking grandfather's + clock in a room. + </p> + <p> + "On going on deck again I saw that there was an undoubted list downward + from stern to bows, but, knowing nothing of what had happened, concluded + some of the front compartments had filled and weighed her down. I went + down again to put on warmer clothing, and as I dressed heard an order + shouted, 'All passengers on deck with life-belts on.' + </p> + <p> + "We all walked slowly up, with the belts tied on over our clothing, but + even then presumed this was only a wise precaution the captain was taking, + and that we should return in a short time and retire to bed. + </p> + <p> + "There was a total absence of any panic or any expressions of alarm, and I + suppose this can be accounted for by the exceedingly calm night and the + absence of any signs of the accident. + </p> + <p> + "The ship was absolutely still, and except for a gentle tilt downward, + which I don't think one person in ten would have noticed at that time, no + signs of the approaching disaster were visible. She lay just as if she + were waiting the order to go on again when some trifling matter had been + adjusted. + </p> + <p> + "But in a few moments we saw the covers lifted from the boats and the + crews allotted to them standing by and coiling up the ropes which were to + lower them by the pulley blocks into the water. + </p> + <p> + "We then began to realize it was more serious than had been supposed, and + my first thought was to go down and get some more clothing and some money, + but, seeing people pouring up the stairs, decided it was better to cause + no confusion to people coming up. Presently we heard the order: + </p> + <p> + "'All men stand back away from the boats, and all ladies retire to next + deck below'—the smoking-room deck or B deck. + </p> + <p> + MEN STOOD BACK + </p> + <p> + "The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence leaning against + the end railings of the deck or pacing slowly up and down. + </p> + <p> + "The boats were swung out and lowered from A deck. When they were to the + level of B deck, where all the women were collected, they got in quietly, + with the exception of some who refused to leave their husbands. + </p> + <p> + "In some cases they were torn from them and pushed into the boats, but in + many instances they were allowed to remain because there was no one to + insist they should go. + </p> + <p> + "Looking over the side, one saw boats from aft already in the water, + slipping quietly away into the darkness, and presently the boats near me + were lowered, and with much creaking as the new ropes slipped through the + pulley blocks down the ninety feet which separated them from the water. An + officer in uniform came up as one boat went down and shouted, "When you + are afloat row round to the companion ladder and stand by with the other + boats for orders.' + </p> + <p> + "'Aye, aye, sir,' came up the reply; but I don't think any boat was able + to obey the order. When they were afloat and had the oars at work, the + condition of the rapidly settling boat was so much more a sight for alarm + for those in the boats than those on board, that in common prudence the + sailors saw they could do nothing but row from the sinking ship to save at + any rate some lives. They no doubt anticipated that suction from such an + enormous vessel would be more dangerous than usual to a crowded boat + mostly filled with women. + </p> + <p> + "All this time there was no trace of any disorder; no panic or rush to the + boats and no scenes of women sobbing hysterically, such as one generally + pictures as happening at such times everyone seemed to realize so slowly + that there was imminent danger. When it was realized that we might all be + presently in the sea with nothing but our life-belts to support us until + we were picked up by passing steamers, it was extraordinary how calm + everyone was and how completely self-controlled. + </p> + <p> + "One by one, the boats were filled with women and children, lowered and + rowed away into the night. Presently the word went round among the men, + 'the men are to be put in boats on the starboard side.' + </p> + <p> + "I was on the port side, and most of the men walked across the deck to see + if this was so I remained where I was and soon heard the call: + </p> + <p> + "'Any more ladies?' + </p> + <p> + "Looking over the side of the ship, I saw the boat, No. 13, swinging level + with B deck, half full of ladies. Again the call was repeated, 'Any more + ladies?' + </p> + <p> + "I saw none come on, and then one of the crew, looking up, said: + </p> + <p> + "'Any more ladies on your deck, sir?' + </p> + <p> + "'No,' I replied. + </p> + <p> + "'Then you had better jump.' + </p> + <p> + "I dropped in, and fell in the bottom, as they cried 'lower away.' As the + boat began to descend two ladies were pushed hurriedly through the crowd + on B deck and heaved over into the boat, and a baby of ten months passed + down after them. Down we went, the crew calling to those lowering each end + to 'keep her level,' until we were some ten feet from the water, and here + occurred the only anxious moment we had during the whole of our experience + from leaving the deck to reaching the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "Immediately below our boat was the exhaust of the condensers, a huge + stream of water pouring all the time from the ship's side just above the + water line. It was plain we ought to be quickly away from this, not to be + swamped by it when we touched water. + </p> + <p> + NO OFFICER ABOARD + </p> + <p> + "We had no officer aboard, nor petty officer or member of the crew to take + charge. So one of the stokers shouted: 'Someone find the pin which + releases the boat from the ropes and pull it up!' No one knew where it + was. We felt on the floor and sides, but found nothing, and it was hard to + move among so many people—we had sixty or seventy on board. + </p> + <p> + "Down we went and presently floated, with our ropes still holding us, the + exhaust washing us away from the side of the vessel and the swell of the + sea urging us back against the side again. The result of all these forces + was an impetus which carried us parallel to the ship's side and directly + under boat 14, which had filled rapidly with men and was coming down on us + in a way that threatened to submerge our boat. + </p> + <p> + "'Stop lowering 14,' our crew shouted, and the crew of No. 14, now only + twenty feet above, shouted the same. But the distance to the top was some + seventy feet and the creaking pulleys must have deadened all sound to + those above, for down she came, fifteen feet, ten feet, five feet and a + stoker and I reached up and touched her swinging above our heads. The next + drop would have brought her on our heads, but just before she dropped + another stoker sprang to the ropes, with his knife. + </p> + <p> + JUST ESCAPED ANOTHER BOAT + </p> + <p> + "'One,' I heard him say, 'two,' as his knife cut through the pulley ropes, + and the next moment the exhaust stream had carried us clear, while boat 14 + dropped into the water, into the space we had the moment before occupied, + our gunwales almost touching. + </p> + <p> + "We drifted away easily, as the oars were got out, and headed directly + away from the ship. The crew seemed to me to be mostly stewards or cooks + in white jackets, two to an oar, with a stoker at the tiller. There was a + certain amount of shouting from one end of the boat to the other, and + discussion as to which way we should go, but finally it was decided to + elect the stoker, who was steering, as captain, and for all to obey his + orders. He set to work at once to get into touch with the other boats, + calling to them and getting as close as seemed wise, so that when the + search boats came in the morning to look for us, there would be more + chance for all to be rescued by keeping together. + </p> + <p> + "It was now about 1 A. M.; a beautiful starlight night, with no moon, and + so not very light. The sea was as calm as a pond, just a gentle heave as + the boat dipped up and down in the swell; an ideal night, except for the + bitter cold, for anyone who had to be out in the middle of the Atlantic + ocean in an open boat. And if ever there was a time when such a night was + needed, surely it was now, with hundreds of people, mostly women and + children, afloat hundreds of miles from land. + </p> + <p> + WATCHED THE TITANIC + </p> + <p> + "The captain-stoker told us that he had been at sea twenty-six years, and + had never yet seen such a calm night on the Atlantic. As we rowed away + from the Titanic, we looked back from time to time to watch her, and a + more striking spectacle it was not possible for anyone to see. + </p> + <p> + "In the distance it looked an enormous length, its great bulk outlined in + black against the starry sky, every port-hole and saloon blazing with + light. It was impossible to think anything could be wrong with such a + leviathan, were it not for that ominous tilt downward in the bows, where + the water was by now up to the lowest row of port-holes. + </p> + <p> + "Presently, about 2 A. M., as near as I can remember, we observed it + settling very rapidly, with the bows and the bridge completely under + water, and concluded it was now only a question of minutes before it went; + and so it proved." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Beasley went on to tell of the spectacle of the sinking of the + Titanic, the terrible experiences of the survivors in the life-boats and + their final rescue by the Carpathia as already related. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK + </h2> + <p> + SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD SON OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD OFFICIAL TELLS MOVING + STORY OF HIS RESCUE—TOLD MOTHER TO BE BRAVE—SEPARATED FROM + PARENTS—JUMPED WHEN VESSEL SANK—DRIFTED ON OVERTURNED BOAT + PICKED UP BY CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + ONE of the calmest of the passengers was: young Jack Thayer, the + seventeen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Thayer. When his mother was + put into the life-boat he kissed her and told her to be brave, saying that + he and his father would be all right. He and Mr. Thayer stood on the deck + as the small boat in which Mrs. Thayer was a passenger made off from the + side of the Titanic over the smooth sea. + </p> + <p> + The boy's own account of his experience as told to one of his rescuers is + one of the most remarkable of all the wonderful ones that have come from + the tremendous catastrophe: + </p> + <p> + "Father was in bed, and mother and myself were about to get into bed. + There was no great shock, I was on my feet at the time and I do not think + it was enough to throw anyone down. I put on an overcoat and rushed up on + A deck on the port side. I saw nothing there. I then went forward to the + bow to see if I could see any signs of ice. The only ice I saw was on the + well deck. I could not see very far ahead, having just come out of a + brightly lighted room. + </p> + <p> + "I then went down to our room and my father and mother came on deck with + me, to the starboard side of A deck. We could not see anything there. + Father thought he saw small pieces of ice floating around, but I could not + see any myself. There was no big berg. We walked around to the port side, + and the ship had then a fair list to port. We stayed there looking over + the side for about five minutes. The list seemed very slowly to be + increasing. + </p> + <p> + "We then went down to our rooms on C deck, all of us dressing quickly, + putting on all our clothes. We all put on life-preservers, and over these + we put our overcoats. Then we hurried up on deck and walked around, + looking out at different places until the women were all ordered to + collect on the port side. + </p> + <p> + SEPARATED FROM PARENTS + </p> + <p> + "Father and I said good-bye to mother at the top of the stairs on A deck. + She and the maid went right out on A deck on the port side and we went to + the starboard side. As at this time we had no idea the boat would sink we + walked around A deck and then went to B deck. Then we thought we would go + back to see if mother had gotten off safely, and went to the port side of + A deck. We met the chief steward of the main dining saloon and he told us + that mother had not yet taken a boat, and he took us to her. + </p> + <p> + "Father and mother went ahead and I followed. They went down to B deck and + a crowd got in front of me and I was not able to catch them, and lost + sight of them. As soon as I could get through the crowd I tried to find + them on B deck, but without success. That is the last time I saw my + father. This was about one half an hour before she sank. I then went to + the starboard side, thinking that father and mother must have gotten off + in a boat. All of this time I was with a fellow named Milton C. Long, of + New York, whom I had just met that evening. + </p> + <p> + "On the starboard side the boats were getting away quickly. Some boats + were already off in a distance. We thought of getting into one of the + boats, the last boat to go on the forward part of the starboard side, but + there seemed to be such a crowd around I thought it unwise to make any + attempt to get into it. He and I stood by the davits of one of the boats + that had left. I did not notice anybody that I knew except Mr. Lindley, + whom I had also just met that evening. I lost sight of him in a few + minutes. Long and I then stood by the rail just a little aft of the + captain's bridge. + </p> + <p> + THOUGHT SHIP WOULD FLOAT + </p> + <p> + "The list to the port had been growing greater all the time. About this + time the people began jumping from the stern. I thought of jumping myself, + but was afraid of being stunned on hitting the water. Three times I made + up my mind to jump out and slide down the davit ropes and try to make the + boats that were lying off from the ship, but each time Long got hold of me + and told me to wait a while. He then sat down and I stood up waiting to + see what would happen. Even then we thought she might possibly stay + afloat. + </p> + <p> + "I got a sight on a rope between the davits and a star and noticed that + she was gradually sinking. About this time she straightened up on an even + keel and started to go down fairly fast at an angle of about 30 degrees. + As she started to sink we left the davits and went back and stood by the + rail about even with the second funnel. + </p> + <p> + "Long and myself said good-bye to each other and jumped up on the rail. He + put his legs over and held on a minute and asked me if I was coming. I + told him I would be with him in a minute. He did not jump clear, but slid + down the side of the ship. I never saw him again. + </p> + <p> + "About five seconds after he jumped I jumped out, feet first. I was clear + of the ship; went down, and as I came up I was pushed away from the ship + by some force. I came up facing the ship, and one of the funnels seemed to + be lifted off and fell towards me about 15 yards away, with a mass of + sparks and steam coming out of it. I saw the ship in a sort of a red + glare, and it seemed to me that she broke in two just in front of the + third funnel. + </p> + <p> + "This time I was sucked down, and as I came up I was pushed out again and + twisted around by a large wave, coming up in the midst of a great deal of + small wreckage. As I pushed my hand from my head it touched the cork + fender of an over- + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = READING ROOM OF THE TITANIC} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Copyright, 1912. International News Service. THE + SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION—ISMAY ON THE GRILL + </p> + <p> + J. Bruce Ismay, Managing Director of the........} + </p> + <p> + turned life-boat. I looked up and saw some men on the top and asked them + to give me a hand. One of them, who was a stoker, helped me up. In a short + time the bottom was covered with about twenty-five or thirty men. When I + got on this I was facing the ship. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = SKETCHES OF THE TITANIC BY "JACK" THAYER + </p> + <p> + These sketches were outlined by John B. Thayer, Jr., on the day of the + disaster, and afterwards filled in by L. D. Skidmon, of Brooklyn.} + </p> + <p> + "The stern then seemed to rise in the air and stopped at about an angle of + 60 degrees. It seemed to hold there for a time and then with a hissing + sound it shot right down out of sight with people jumping from the stern. + The stern either pivoted around towards our boat, or we were sucked + towards it, and as we only had one oar we could not keep away. There did + not seem to be very much suction and most of us managed to stay on the + bottom of our boat. + </p> + <p> + "We were then right in the midst of fairly large wreckage, with people + swimming all around us. The sea was very calm and we kept the boat pretty + steady, but every now and then a wave would wash over it. + </p> + <p> + SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER + </p> + <p> + "The assistant wireless operator was right next to me, holding on to me + and kneeling in the water. We all sang a hymn and said the Lord's Prayer, + and then waited for dawn to come. As often as we saw the other boats in a + distance we would yell, 'Ship ahoy!' But they could not distinguish our + cries from any of the others, so we all gave it up, thinking it useless. + It was very cold and none of us were able to move around to keep warm, the + water washing over her almost all the time. + </p> + <p> + "Toward dawn the wind sprang up, roughening up the water and making it + difficult to keep the boat balanced. The wireless man raised our hopes a + great deal by telling us that the Carpathia would be up in about three + hours. About 3.30 or 4 o'clock some men on our boat on the bow sighted her + mast lights. I could not see them, as I was sitting down with a man + kneeling on my leg. He finally got up and I stood up. We had the second + officer, Mr. Lightoller, on board. We had an officer's whistle and + whistled for the boats in the distance to come up and take us off. + </p> + <p> + "It took about an hour and a half for the boats to draw near. Two boats + came up. The first took half and the other took the balance, including + myself. We had great difficulty about this time in balancing the boat, as + the men would lean too far, but we were all taken aboard the already + crowded boat, and in about a half or three-quarters of an hour later we + were picked up by the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "I have noticed Second Officer Lightoller's statement that 'J. B. Thayer + was on our overturned boat,' which would give the impression that it was + father, when he really meant it was I, as he only learned my name in a + subsequent conversation on the Carpathia, and did not know I was + 'junior'." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + </h2> + <p> + WOMEN FORCED INTO THE LIFE-BOATS—WHY SOME MEN WERE SAVED BEFORE + WOMEN—ASKED TO MAN LIFE-BOATS + </p> + <p> + SURROUNDED by his wife and members of his family, James McGough, of + Philadelphia, a buyer for the Gimbel Brothers, whose fate had been in + doubt, recited a most thrilling and graphic picture of the disaster. + </p> + <p> + As the Carpathia docked, Mrs. McGough, a brother and several friends of + the buyer, met him, and after the touching reunion had taken place the + party proceeded to Philadelphia. + </p> + <p> + Vivid in detail, Mr. McGough's story differs essentially from one the + imagination would paint. He declared that the boat was driving at a high + rate of speed at the time of the accident, and seemed impressed by the + calmness and apathy displayed by the survivors as they tossed on the + frozen seas in the little life-boats until the Carpathia picked them up. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic did not plunge into the water suddenly, he declared, but + settled slowly into the deep with its hundreds of passengers. + </p> + <p> + "The collision occurred at 20 minutes of 12," said Mr. McGough. "I was + sleeping in my cabin when I felt a wrench, not severe or terrifying. + </p> + <p> + "It seemed to me to be nothing more serious than the racing of the screw, + which often occurs when a ship plunges her bow deep into a heavy swell, + raising the stern out of water. We dressed hurriedly and ran to the upper + deck. There was little noise or tumult at the time. + </p> + <p> + "The promenade decks being higher from the base of the ship and thus more + insecure, strained and creaked; so we went to the lower decks. By this + time the engines had been reversed, and I could feel the ship backing off. + Officers and stewards ran through the corridors, shouting for all to be + calm, that there was no danger. We were warned, however, to dress and put + life-preservers on us. I had on what clothing I could find and had stuffed + some money in my pocket. + </p> + <p> + PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE + </p> + <p> + "As I passed the gymnasium I saw Colonel Astor and his young wife + together. She was clinging to him, piteously pleading that he go into the + life-boat with her. He refused almost gruffly and was attempting to calm + her by saying that all her fears were groundless, that the accident she + feared would prove a farce. It proved different, however. + </p> + <p> + "None, I believe, knew that the ship was about to sink. I did not realize + it just then. When I reached the upper deck and saw tons of ice piled upon + our crushed bow the full realization came to me. + </p> + <p> + "Officers stood with drawn guns ordering the women into the boats. All + feared to leave the comparative safety of a broad and firm deck for the + precarious smaller boats. Women clung to their husbands, crying that they + would never leave without them, and had to be torn away. + </p> + <p> + "On one point all the women were firm. They would not enter a Life-boat + until men were in it first. They feared to trust themselves to the seas in + them. It required courage to step into the frail crafts as they swung from + the creaking davits. Few men were willing to take the chance. An officer + rushed behind me and shouted: + </p> + <p> + "'You're big enough to pull an oar. Jump into this boat or we'll never be + able to get the women off.' I was forced to do so, though I admit that the + ship looked a great deal safer to me than any small boat. + </p> + <p> + "Our boat was the second off. Forty or more persons were crowded into it, + and with myself and members of the crew at the oars, were pulled slowly + away. Huge icebergs, larger than the Pennsylvania depot at New York, + surrounded us. As we pulled away we could see boat after boat filled and + lowered to the waves. Despite the fact that they were new and supposedly + in excellent working order, the blocks jammed in many instances, tilting + the boats, loaded with people, at varying angles before they reached the + water. + </p> + <p> + BAND CONTINUED PLAYING + </p> + <p> + "As the life-boats pulled away the officers ordered the bands to play, and + their music did much to quell panic. It was a heart-breaking sight to us + tossing in an eggshell three-fourths of a mile away, to see the great ship + go down. First she listed to the starboard, on which side the collision + had occurred, then she settled slowly but steadily, without hope of + remaining afloat. + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic was all aglow with lights as if for a function. First we saw + the lights of the lower deck snuffed out. A while later and the second + deck illumination was extinguished in a similar manner. Then the third and + upper decks were darkened, and without plunging or rocking the great ship + disappeared slowly from the surface of the sea. + </p> + <p> + "People were crowded on each deck as it lowered into the water, hoping in + vain that aid would come in time. Some of the life-boats caught in the + merciless suction were swallowed with her. + </p> + <p> + "The sea was calm—calm as the water in a tumbler. But it was + freezing cold. None had dressed heavily, and all, therefore, suffered + intensely. The women did not shriek or grow hysterical while we waited + through the awful night for help. We men stood at the oars, stood because + there was no room for us to sit, and kept the boat headed into the swell + to prevent her capsizing. Another boat was at our side, but all the others + were scattered around the water. + </p> + <p> + "Finally, shortly before 6 o'clock, we saw the lights of the Carpathia + approaching. Gradually she picked up the survivors in the other boats and + then approached us. When we were lifted to the deck the women fell + helpless. They were carried to whatever quarters offered themselves, while + the men were assigned to the smoking room. + </p> + <p> + "Of the misery and suffering which was witnessed on the rescue ship I know + nothing. With the other men survivors I was glad to remain in the smoking + room until New York was reached, trying to forget the awful experience. + </p> + <p> + "To us aboard the Carpathia came rumors of misstatements which were being + made to the public. The details of the wreck were wofully misunderstood. + </p> + <p> + "Let me emphasize that the night was not foggy or cloudy. There was just + the beginning of the new moon, but every star in the sky was shining + brightly, unmarred by clouds. The boats were lowered from both sides of + the Titanic in time to escape, but there was not enough for all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK + </h2> + <p> + STORY OF HAROLD BRIDE, THE SURVIVING WIRELESS OPERATOR OF THE TITANIC, WHO + WAS WASHED OVERBOARD AND RESCUED BY LIFE-BOAT—BAND PLAYED RAG-TIME + AND "AUTUMN" + </p> + <p> + ONE of the most connected and detailed accounts of the horrible disaster + was that told by Harold Bride, the wireless operator. Mr. Bride said: + </p> + <p> + "I was standing by Phillips, the chief operator, telling him to go to bed, + when the captain put his head in the cabin. + </p> + <p> + "'We've struck an iceberg,' the captain said, 'and I'm having an + inspection made to tell what it has done for us. You better get ready to + send out a call for assistance. But don't send it until I tell you.' + </p> + <p> + "The captain went away and in ten minutes, I should estimate the time, he + came back. We could hear a terrific confusion outside, but there was not + the least thing to indicate that there was any trouble. The wireless was + working perfectly. + </p> + <p> + "'Send the call for assistance,' ordered the captain, barely putting his + head in the door. + </p> + <p> + "'What call shall I send?' Phillips asked. + </p> + <p> + "'The regulation international call for help. Just that.' + </p> + <p> + "Then the captain was gone Phillips began to send 'C. Q. D.' He flashed + away at it and we joked while he did so. All of us made light of the + disaster. + </p> + <p> + "The Carpathia answered our signal. We told her our position and said we + were sinking by the head. The operator went to tell the captain, and in + five minutes returned and told us that the captain of the Carpathia, was + putting about and heading for us + </p> + <p> + GREAT SCRAMBLE ON DECK + </p> + <p> + "Our captain had left us at this time and Phillips told me to run and tell + him what the Carpathia had answered. I did so, and I went through an awful + mass of people to his cabin. The decks were full of scrambling men and + women. I saw no fighting, but I heard tell of it. + </p> + <p> + "I came back and heard Phillips giving the Carpathia fuller directions. + Phillips told me to put on my clothes. Until that moment I forgot that I + was not dressed. + </p> + <p> + "I went to my cabin and dressed. I brought an overcoat to Phillips. It was + very cold. I slipped the overcoat upon him while he worked. + </p> + <p> + "Every few minutes Phillips would send me to the captain with little + messages. They were merely telling how the Carpathia was coming our way + and gave her speed. + </p> + <p> + "I noticed as I came back from one trip that they were putting off women + and children in life-boats. I noticed that the list forward was + increasing. + </p> + <p> + "Phillips told me the wireless was growing weaker. The captain came and + told us our engine rooms were taking water and that the dynamos might not + last much longer. We sent that word to the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + "I went out on deck and looked around. The water was pretty close up to + the boat deck. There was a great scramble aft, and how poor Phillips + worked through it right to the end I don't know. + </p> + <p> + "He was a brave man. I learned to love him that night and I suddenly felt + for him a great reverence to see him standing there sticking to his work + while everybody else was raging about. I will never live to forget the + work of Phillips for the last awful fifteen minutes. + </p> + <p> + "I thought it was about time to look about and see if there was anything + detached that would float. I remembered that every member of the crew had + a special life-belt and ought to know where it was. I remembered mine was + under my bunk. I went and got it. Then I thought how cold the water was. + </p> + <p> + "I remembered I had an extra jacket and a pair of boots, and I put them + on. I saw Phillips standing out there still sending away, giving the + Carpathia details of just how we were doing. + </p> + <p> + "We picked up the Olympic and told her we were sinking by the head and + were about all down. As Phillips was sending the message I strapped his + life-belt to his back. I had already put on his overcoat. Every minute was + precious, so I helped him all I could. + </p> + <p> + BAND PLAYS IN RAG-TIME + </p> + <p> + "From aft came the tunes of the band. It was a rag-time tune, I don't know + what. Then there was 'Autumn.' Phillips ran aft and that was the last I + ever saw of him. + </p> + <p> + "I went to the place where I had seen a collapsible boat on the boat deck, + and to my surprise I saw the boat and the men still trying to push it off. + I guess there wasn't a sailor in the crowd. They couldn't do it. I went up + to them and was just lending a hand when a large wave came awash of the + deck. + </p> + <p> + "The big wave carried the boat off. I had hold of a row-lock and I went + off with it. The next I knew I was in the boat. + </p> + <p> + "But that was not all. I was in the boat and the boat was upside down and + I was under it. And I remember realizing I was wet through, and that + whatever happened I must not breathe, for I was under water. + </p> + <p> + "I knew I had to fight for it and I did. How I got out from under the boat + I do not know, but I felt a breath of air at last. + </p> + <p> + "There were men all around me hundreds of them. The sea was dotted with + them, all depending on their life-belts. I felt I simply had to get away + from the ship. She was a beautiful sight then. + </p> + <p> + "Smoke and sparks were rushing out of her funnel, and there must have been + an explosion, but we had heard none. We only saw the big stream of sparks. + The ship was gradually turning on her nose just like a duck does that goes + down for a dive. I had one thing on my mind—to get away from the + suction. The band was still playing, and I guess they all went down. + </p> + <p> + "They were playing 'Autumn' then. I swam with all my might. I suppose I + was 150 feet away when the Titanic, on her nose, with her after-quarter + sticking straight up in the air, began to settle slowly. + </p> + <p> + "When at last the waves washed over her rudder there wasn't the least bit + of suction I could feel. She must have kept going just as slowly as she + had been. + </p> + <p> + "I forgot to mention that, besides the Olympic and Carpathia, we spoke + some German boat, I don't know which, and told them how we were. We also + spoke the Baltic. I remembered those things as I began to figure what + ships would be coming toward us. + </p> + <p> + "I felt, after a little while, like sinking. I was very cold. I saw a boat + of some kind near me and put all my strength into an effort to swim to it. + It was hard work. I was all done when a hand reached out from the boat and + pulled me aboard. It was our same collapsible. + </p> + <p> + "There was just room for me to roll on the edge. I lay there, not caring + what happened. Somebody sat on my legs; they were wedged in between slats + and were being wrenched. I had not the heart left to ask the man to move. + It was a terrible sight all around—men swimming and sinking. + </p> + <p> + "I lay where I was, letting the man wrench my feet out of shape. Others + came near. Nobody gave them a hand. The bottom-up boat already had more + men than it would hold and it was sinking. + </p> + <p> + "At first the larger waves splashed over my head and I had to breathe when + I could. + </p> + <p> + "Some splendid people saved us. They had a right-side-up boat, and it was + full to its capacity. Yet they came to us and loaded us all into it. I saw + some lights off in the distance and knew a steamship was coming to our + aid. + </p> + <p> + "I didn't care what happened. I just lay, and gasped when I could and felt + the pain in my feet. At last the Carpathia was alongside and the people + were being taken up a rope ladder. Our boat drew near, and one b{y} one + the men were taken off of it. + </p> + <p> + "The way the band kept playing was a noble thing. I heard it first while + we were working wireless, when there was a rag-time tune for us, and the + last I saw of the band, when I was floating out in the sea, with my + life-belt on, it was still on deck playing 'Autumn.' How they ever did it + I cannot imagine. + </p> + <p> + "That and the way Phillips kept sending after the captain told him his + life was his own, and to look out for himself, are two things that stand + out in my mind over all the rest." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. STORY OF THE STEWARD + </h2> + <p> + PASSENGERS AND CREW DYING WHEN TAKEN ABOARD CARPATHIA—ONE WOMAN + SAVED A DOG—ENGLISH COLONEL SWAM FOR HOURS WHEN BOAT WITH MOTHER + CAPSIZED + </p> + <p> + SOME of the most thrilling incidents connected with the rescue of the + Titanic's survivors are told in the following account given by a man + trained to the sea, a steward of the rescue ship Carpathia: + </p> + <p> + "At midnight on Sunday, April 14th, I was promenading the deck of the + steamer Carpathia, bound for the Mediterranean and three days out from New + York, when an urgent summons came to my room from the chief steward, E. + Harry Hughes. I then learned that the White Star liner Titanic, the + greatest ship afloat, had struck an iceberg and was in serious + difficulties. + </p> + <p> + "We were then already steaming at our greatest power to the scene of the + disaster, Captain Rostron having immediately given orders that every man + of the crew should stand by to exert his utmost efforts. Within a very few + minutes every preparation had been made to receive two or three thousand + persons. Blankets were placed ready, tables laid with hot soups and + coffee, bedding, etc., prepared, and hospital supplies laid out ready to + attend to any injured. + </p> + <p> + "The men were then mustered in the saloon and addressed by the chief + steward. He told them of the disaster and appealed to them in a few words + to show the world what stuff Britishers were made of, and to add a + glorious page to the history of the empire; and right well did the men + respond to the appeal. Every life-boat was manned and ready to be launched + at a moment's notice. Nothing further could be done but anxiously wait and + look out for the ship's distress signal. + </p> + <p> + "Our Marconi operator, whose unceasing efforts for many hours deserve the + greatest possible praise, was unable at this time to get any reply to the + urgent inquiries he was sending out, and he feared the worst. + </p> + <p> + "At last a blue flare was observed, to which we replied with a rocket. Day + was just dawning when we observed a boat in the distance. + </p> + <p> + ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED + </p> + <p> + "Eastward on the horizon a huge iceberg, the cause of the disaster, + majestically reared two noble peaks to heaven. Rope ladders were already + lowered and we hove to near the life-boat, which was now approaching us as + rapidly as the nearly exhausted efforts of the men at the oars could bring + her. + </p> + <p> + "Under the command of our chief officer, who worked indefatigably at the + noble work of rescue, the survivors in + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = Above: MAIN STAIRWAY ON TITANIC. TOP E DECK Below: + SECOND LANDING. C DECK. GRAND STAIRWAY} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = MRS. JOHN B. THAYER + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Thayer and her son were....} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = JOHN B. THAYER + </p> + <p> + Second Vice-President of the...} + </p> + <p> + the boat were rapidly but carefully hauled aboard and given into the hands + of the medical staff under the organization of Dr. McGee. + </p> + <p> + "We then learned the terrible news that the gigantic vessel, the + unsinkable Titanic, had gone down one hour and ten minutes after striking. + </p> + <p> + "From this time onward life-boats continued to arrive at frequent + intervals. Every man of the Carpathia's crew was unsparing in his efforts + to assist, to tenderly comfort each and every survivor. In all, sixteen + boatloads were receives, containing altogether 720 persons, many in simply + their night attire, others in evening dress, as if direct from an + after-dinner reception, or concert. Most conspicuous was the coolness and + self-possession, particularly of the women. + </p> + <p> + "Pathetic and heartrending incidents were many. There was not a man of the + rescue party who was not moved almost to tears. Women arrived and + frantically rushed from one gangway to another eagerly scanning the fresh + arrivals in the boats for a lost husband or brother. + </p> + <p> + A CAPSIZED BOAT + </p> + <p> + "One boat arrived with the unconscious body of an English colonel. He had + been taking out his mother on a visit, to three others of her sons. He had + succeeded in getting her away in one of the boats and he himself had found + a place in another. When but a few-yards from the ill-fated ship the boat + containing his mother capsized before his eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Immediately he dived into the water and commenced a frantic search for + her. But in vain. Boat after boat endeavored to take him aboard, but he + refused to give up, continuing to swim for nearly three hours until even + his great strength of body and mind gave out and he was hauled unconscious + into a passing boat and brought aboard the Carpathia. The doctor gives + little hope of his recovery. + </p> + <p> + "There were, I understand, twelve newly married couples aboard the big + ship. The twelve brides have been saved, but of the husbands all but one + have perished. That one would not have been here, had he not been urged to + assist in manning a life-boat. Think of the self-sacrifice of these eleven + heroes, who stood on the doomed vessel and parted from their brides + forever, knowing full well that a few brief minutes would end all things + for themselves. + </p> + <p> + "Many similar pathetic incidents could be related. Sad-eyed women roam + aimlessly about the ship still looking vainly for husband, brother or + father. To comfort them is impossible. All human efforts are being exerted + on their behalf. Their material needs are satisfied in every way. But who + can cure a broken heart? + </p> + <p> + SAVED HER POMERANIAN + </p> + <p> + "One of the earliest boats to arrive was seen to contain a woman tenderly + clasping a pet Pomeranian. When assisted to the rope ladder and while the + rope was being fastened around her she emphatically refused to give up for + a second the dog which was evidently so much to her. He is now receiving + as careful and tender attention as his mistress. + </p> + <p> + "A survivor informs me that there was on the ship a lady who was taking + out a huge great Dane dog. When the boats were rapidly filling she + appeared on deck with her canine companion and sadly entreated that he + should be taken off with her. It was impossible. Human lives, those of + women and children, were the first consideration. She was urged to seize + the opportunity to save her own life and leave the dog. She refused to + desert him and, I understand, sacrificed her life with him. + </p> + <p> + "One elderly lady was bewailing to a steward that she had lost everything. + He indignantly replied that she should thank God her life was spared, + never mind her replaceable property. The reply was pathetic: + </p> + <p> + "'I have lost everything—my husband,' and she broke into + uncontrollable grief. + </p> + <p> + FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS + </p> + <p> + "One incident that impressed me perhaps more than any other was the burial + on Tuesday afternoon of four of the poor fellows who succeeded in safely + getting away from the doomed vessel only to perish later from exhaustion + and exposure as a result of their gallant efforts to bring to safety the + passengers placed in their charge in the life-boats. They were: + </p> + <p> + "W. H. Hoyte, Esq., first class passenger. + </p> + <p> + "Abraham Hornner, third class passenger. + </p> + <p> + "S. C. Siebert, steward. + </p> + <p> + "P. Lyons, sailor. + </p> + <p> + "The sailor and steward were unfortunately dead when taken aboard. The + passengers lived but a few minutes after. They were treated with the + greatest attention. The funeral service was conducted amid profound + silence and attended by a large number of survivors and rescuers. The + bodies, covered by the national flag, were reverently consigned to the + mighty deep from which they had been, alas, vainly, saved. + </p> + <p> + "Most gratifying to the officers and men of the Carpathia is the + constantly expressive appreciation of the survivors." + </p> + <p> + He then told of the meeting of the survivors in the cabin of the Carpathia + and of the resolution adopted, a statement of which has already been given + in another chapter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + </h2> + <p> + NATIONS PROSTRATE WITH GRIEF—MESSAGES FROM KINGS AND CARDINALS—DISASTER + STIRS WORLD TO NECESSITY OF STRICTER REGULATIONS + </p> + <p> + YOUNG and old, rich and poor were prostrated by the news of the disaster. + Even Wall Street was neglected. Nor was the grief confined to America. + European nations felt the horror of the calamity and sent expressions of + sympathy. President Taft made public cablegrams received from the King and + Queen of England, and the King of Belgium, conveying their sympathy to the + American people in the sorrows which have followed the Titanic disaster. + The President's responses to both messages were also made public. + </p> + <p> + The following was the cablegram from King George, dated at Sandringham: + </p> + <p> + "The Queen and I are anxious to assure you and the American nation of the + great sorrow which we experienced at the terrible loss of life that has + occurred among the American citizens, as well as among my own subjects, by + the foundering of the Titanic. Our two countries are so intimately allied + by ties of friendship and brotherhood that any misfortunes which affect + the one must necessarily affect the other, and on the present terrible + occasion they are both equally sufferers. + </p> + <p> + "GEORGE R. AND I." + </p> + <p> + President Taft's reply was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "In the presence of the appalling disaster to the Titanic the people of + the two countries are brought into community of grief through their common + bereavement. The American people share in the sorrow of their kinsmen + beyond the sea. On behalf of my countrymen I thank you for your + sympathetic message. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "WILLIAM H. TAFT." +</pre> + <p> + The message from King Albert of Belgium was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "I beg Your Excellency to accept my deepest condolences on the occasion of + the frightful catastrophe to the Titanic, which has caused such mourning + in the American nation." + </p> + <p> + The President's acknowledgment follows: + </p> + <p> + "I deeply appreciate your sympathy with my fellow-countrymen who have been + stricken with affliction through the disaster to the Titanic." + </p> + <p> + MESSAGE PROM SPAIN + </p> + <p> + King Alfonso and Queen Victoria sent the following cablegram to President + Taft: + </p> + <p> + "We have learned with profound grief of the catastrophe to the Titanic, + which has plunged the American nation in mourning. We send you our + sincerest condolence, and wish to assure you and your nation of the + sentiments of friendship and sympathy we feel toward you." + </p> + <p> + A similar telegram was sent to the King of England. + </p> + <p> + The many expressions of grief to reach President Taft included one signed + jointly by the three American Cardinals, who were in New York attending + the meeting of the trustees of the Catholic University. It said: + </p> + <p> + "TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + </p> + <p> + "The archbishops of the country, in joint session with the trustees of the + Catholic University of America, beg to offer to the President of the + United States their expression of their profound grief at the awful loss + of human lives attendant upon the sinking of the steamship Titanic, and at + the same time to assure the relatives of the victims of this horrible + disaster of our deepest sympathy and condolence. + </p> + <p> + "They wish also to attest hereby to the hope that the law-makers of the + country will see in this sad accident the obvious necessity of legal + provisions for greater security of ocean travel. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS," Archbishop of Baltimore. + "JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY," Archbishop of New York. + "WILLIAM CARDINAL O'CONNELL," Archbishop of Boston. +</pre> + <p> + HOUSE ADJOURNED + </p> + <p> + Formal tribute to the Titanic's dead was paid by the House of + Representatives when it adjourned for twenty-four hours. + </p> + <p> + The prayer of the Rev. Henry N. Couden in opening the House session was, + in part: + </p> + <p> + "We thank Thee that though in the ordinary circumstances of life + selfishness and greed seem to be in the ascendancy, yet in times of + distress and peril, then it is that the nobility of soul, the Godlike in + man, asserts itself and makes heroes." + </p> + <p> + The flags on the White House and other Government buildings throughout the + country were at half-staff. + </p> + <p> + ROME MOURNED MAJOR BUTT + </p> + <p> + A special telegram from Rome stated that one of the victims most regretted + was Major Butt, whose jovial, bright character made many friends there. + Besides autograph letters from the Pope and Cardinal Merry del VaI{sic?} + to President Taft, the major had with him a signed photograph of the + Pontiff, given by him personally. + </p> + <p> + Cardinal Merry del Val had several conversations with Major Butt, who + declared that the cardinal was "the first gentleman of Europe." Shortly + before he was leaving Rome, regretting that he had not a signed picture of + Cardinal Merry del Val, Major Butt entrusted a friend to ask for one. The + cardinal willingly put an autograph dedication on a picture, recalling + their pleasant intercourse. + </p> + <p> + LONDON NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN LAXITY OF LAW + </p> + <p> + British indignation, which is not easily excited, was aroused over the + knowledge that an antiquated law enables steamship companies to fail to + provide sufficient life-boats to accommodate the passengers and crew of + the largest liners in the event of such a disaster as that which occurred + to the Titanic. It will be insisted that there be an investigation of the + loss of life in the Titanic and that the shortage of boats be gone into + thoroughly. + </p> + <p> + The newspapers commented adversely on the lack of boats and their views + were emphasized by the knowledge that no attempt has been made to change + the regulations in the face of the fact that the inadequacy of boats in + such an emergency was called to the attention of Parliament at the time of + the collision between the White Star liner Olympic and the cruiser Hawke. + It was pointed out at this time that German vessels, much smaller in size + than the Olympic, carried more boats and also that these boats were of + greater capacity. + </p> + <p> + T. W. Moore, Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, when seen at the + guild's rooms in Liverpool, said: + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic disaster is an example, on a colossal scale, of the + pernicious and supine system of officials, as represented by the Board of + Trade. Modern liners are so designed that they have no accommodations for + more life-boats. Among practical seamen it has long been recognized that + the modern passenger ship has nothing like adequate boat capacity. + </p> + <p> + "The Board of Trade has its own views, and the shipowners also have their + views, which are largely based upon the economical factor. The naval + architects have their opinions, but the practical merchant seaman is not + consulted. + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic disaster is a complete substantiation of the agitation that + our guild has carried on for nearly twenty years against the scheme that + has precluded practical seamen from being consulted with regard to boat + capacity and life-saving appliances. + </p> + <p> + HOUSE OF COMMONS INVESTIGATION + </p> + <p> + Immediate and searching inquiry into the Titanic disaster was promised on + the floor of the House of Commons April 18th, by President Sidney Buxton, + of the Board of Trade, which controls all sea-going vessels. + </p> + <p> + Buxton, in discussing the utterly inadequate life-saving equipment of the + big liner, declared that the committee of the board in charge of + life-saving precautions had recently recommended increased life-boats, + rafts and life-preservers on all big ships, but that the requirements had + been found unsatisfactory and had not been put in force. He frankly + admitted the necessity for increased equipment without delay. + </p> + <p> + The board, he said, was utterly unable to compel the transatlantic vessels + to reduce their speed in the contest for "express train" ships. He also + said the board could not force ships to take the southerly passage in the + spring to avoid ice. + </p> + <p> + The regulations under which the Titanic carried life-boat accommodations + for only about one-third of her passengers and crew had not been revised + by the committee since 1894. At that time the regulations were made for + ships of "10,000 tons or more." The Titanic's tonnage was 45,000, for + which the present requirements are altogether insufficient. + </p> + <p> + WORK OF RAISING RELIEF FUNDS PROMPT + </p> + <p> + Several foreign governments telegraphed to the British Government messages + of condolence for the sufferers. The King sent a donation of $2625 to the + Mansion House fund. Queen Mary donated $1310 and Queen Alexandra $1000 to + the same fund. + </p> + <p> + Oscar Hammerstein proffered, and the lord mayor accepted, the use of his + opera house for an entertainment in aid of the fund. + </p> + <p> + The Shipping Federation donated $10,500 to the Mayor of Southampton's + fund, taking care to explain that the White Star Line was not affiliated + with the Federation. + </p> + <p> + Some public institutions also offered to take care of the orphaned + children of the crew. + </p> + <p> + Large firms contributed liberally to the various relief funds, while + Covent Garden and other leading theaters prepared special performances to + aid in the relief work. + </p> + <p> + INDIGNANT GERMANY DEMANDS REFORMS + </p> + <p> + All Germany as well as England was stunned and grieved by the magnitude of + the horror of the Titanic catastrophe. Anglo-German recriminations for the + moment ceased, as far as the Fatherland was concerned, and profound and + sincere compassion for the nation on whom the blow had fallen more heavily + was the supreme note of the hour. + </p> + <p> + The Kaiser, with his characteristic promptitude, was one of the first to + communicate his sympathy by telegraph to King George and to the White Star + Line. Admiral Prince Henry of Prussia did likewise, and the first act of + the Reichstag, after reassembling on Tuesday, was to pass a standing vote + of condolence with the British people in their distress. + </p> + <p> + GERMAN LAWS ALSO INADEQUATE + </p> + <p> + The German laws, governing the safety appliances on board trans-oceanic + vessels, seem to be as archaic and inadequate as those of the British + Board of Trade. The maximum provision contained in the German statutes + refers to vessels with the capacity of 50,000 cubic metres, which must + carry sixteen life-boats. The law also says that if this number of + life-boats be insufficient to accommodate all the persons on board, + including the crew, there shall be carried elsewhere in the vessel a + correspondingly additional number of collapsible life-boats, suitable + rafts, floating deck-chairs and life-buoys, as well as a generous supply + of life-belts. + </p> + <p> + A vessel of 10,000 tons was a "leviathan" in the days when the German law + was passed, and it appears to have undergone no change to meet the + conditions, imposed by the construction of vessels twice or three times + 10,000 tons, like the Hamburg-American Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, or the + North German Lloyd George Washington, to say nothing of the 50,000-ton + Imperator, which is to be added to the Hamburg fleet next year. + </p> + <p> + The German lines seem, like the White Star Company, to have reckoned + simply with the practical impossibility of a ship like the Titanic + succumbing to the elements + </p> + <p> + PERSONAL ANXIETY + </p> + <p> + Although Germany's and Berlin's direct interest in the passengers aboard + the Titanic was less than that of London, New York or Paris, there was the + utmost concern for their fate. + </p> + <p> + Ambassador Leishman and other members of the American Embassy were + particularly interested in hearing about Major "Archie" Butt, who passed + through Berlin, less than a month before the disaster, en route from + Russia and the Far East. Vice-president John B. Thayer and family, of + Philadelphia, were also in Berlin a fortnight ago and were guests of the + American Consul General and Mrs. Thackara. A score of other lesser known + passengers had recently stayed in Berlin hotels, and it was local friends + or kinsmen of theirs who were in a state of distressing unrest over their + fate. + </p> + <p> + Their anxiety was aggravated by the old-fogey methods of the German + newspapers, which are invariably twelve or fifteen hours later than + journals elsewhere in Europe on world news events. Although New York, + London and Paris had the cruel truth with their morning papers on Tuesday, + it was not until the middle of the forenoon that "extras" made the facts + public in Berlin. + </p> + <p> + William T. Stead was well and favorably known in Germany, and his fate was + keenly and particularly mourned. Germans have also noted that many + Americans of direct Teutonic ancestry or origin were among the shining + marks in the death list. Colonel John Jacob Astor is claimed as of German, + extraction, as well as Isidor Straus, Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington + Roebling and Henry B. Harris. All of them had been in Germany frequently + and had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. + </p> + <p> + Only one well-known resident of Berlin was aboard the Titanic, Frau + Antoinette Flegenheim, whose name appears among the rescued. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + </h2> + <p> + ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH—BRAVE TO THE LAST—MAINTENANCE + OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE—ACTS OF HEROISM—ENGINEERS DIED AT + POSTS—NOBLE-HEARTED BAND + </p> + <p> + IN the anxious hours of uncertainty, when the air cracked and flashed with + the story of disaster, there was never doubt in the minds of men ashore + about the master of the Titanic. Captain Smith would bring his ship into + port if human power could mend the damage the sea had wrought, or if human + power could not stay the disaster he would never come to port. There is + something Calvinistic about such men of the old-sea breed. They go down + with their ships, of their own choice. + </p> + <p> + Into the last life-boat that was launched from the ship Captain Smith with + his own hand lifted a small child into a seat beside its mother. As the + gallant, officer performed his simple act of humanity several who were + already in the boat tried to force the captain to join them, but he turned + away resolutely toward the bridge. + </p> + <p> + That act was significant. Courteous, kindly, of quiet demeanor and soft + words, he was known and loved by thousands of travelers. + </p> + <p> + When the English firm, A. Gibson & Co.9 of Liverpool, purchased the + American clipper, Senator Weber, in 1869, Captain Smith, then a boy, + sailed on her. For seven years he was an apprentice on the Senator Weber, + leaving that vessel to go to the Lizzie Fennell, a square rigger, as + fourth officer. From there he went to the old Celtic of the White Star + Line as fourth officer and in 1887 he became captain of that vessel. For a + time he was in command of the freighters Cufic and Runic; then he became + skipper of the old Adriatic. Subsequently he assumed command of the + Celtic, Britannic, Coptic (which was in the Australian trade), Germanic, + Baltic, Majestic, Olympic and Titanic, an illustrious list of vessels for + one man to have commanded during his career. + </p> + <p> + It was not easy to get Captain Smith to talk of his experiences. He had + grown up in the service, was his comment, and it meant little to him that + he had been transferred from a small vessel to a big ship and then to a + bigger ship and finally to the biggest of them all. + </p> + <p> + "One might think that a captain taken from a small ship and put on a big + one might feel the transition," he once said. "Not at all. The skippers of + the big vessels have grown up to them, year after year, through all these + years. First there was the sailing vessel and then what we would now call + small ships—they were big in the days gone by—and finally the + giants to-day." + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = VESSEL WITH BOTTOM OF HULL RIPPED OPEN + </p> + <p> + A view of the torpedo destroyer Tiger, taken in drydock after her + collision with the Portland Breakwater last September; the damage to the + Tiger, which is plainly shown in the photograph, is of the same character, + though on a smaller scale, as that which was done to the Titanic.} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = A VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC + </p> + <p> + The sister-ship of the Titanic, showing the damage done to her hull in the + collision with British war vessel, Hawke, in the British Channel.} + </p> + <p> + DISASTER TO OLYMPIC + </p> + <p> + Only once during all his long years of service was he in trouble, when the + Olympic, of which he was in command, was rammed by the British cruiser + Hawke in the Solent on September 20, 1911. The Hawke came steaming out of + Portsmouth and drew alongside the giantess. According to some of the + passengers on the Olympic the Hawke swerved in the direction of the big + liner and a moment later the bow of the Hawke was crunching steel plates + in the starboard quarter of the Olympic, making a thirty-foot hole in her. + She was several months in dry dock. + </p> + <p> + The result of a naval court inquiry was to put all the blame for the + collision on the Olympic. Captain Smith, in his testimony before the naval + court, said that he was on the bridge when he saw the Hawke overhauling + him. The Olympic began to draw ahead later or the Hawke drop astern, the + captain did not know which. Then the cruiser turned very swiftly and + struck the Olympic at right angles on the quarter. The pilot gave the + signal for the Olympic to port, which was to minimize the force of the + collision. The Olympic's engines had been stopped by order of the pilot. + </p> + <p> + Up to the moment the Hawke swerved, Captain Smith said, he had no anxiety. + The pilot, Bowyer, corroborated the testimony of Captain Smith. That the + line did not believe Captain Smith was at fault, notwithstanding the + verdict of the board of naval inquiry, was shown by his retention as the + admiral of the White Star fleet and by his being given the command of the + Titanic. + </p> + <p> + Up to the time of the collision with the Hawke Captain Smith when asked by + interviewers to describe his experiences at sea would say one word, + "uneventful." Then he would add with a smile and a twinkle of his eyes: + </p> + <p> + "Of course there have been winter gales and storms and fog and the like in + the forty years I have been on the seas, but I have never been in an + accident worth speaking of. In all my years at sea (he made this comment a + few years ago) I have seen but one vessel in distress. That was a brig the + crew of which was taken off in a boat by my third officer. I never saw a + wreck. I never have been wrecked. I have never been in a predicament that + threatened to end in disaster of any sort." + </p> + <p> + THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE OF THE SEA + </p> + <p> + Once the interviewer stopped asking personal questions, Captain Smith + would talk of the sea, of his love for it, how its appeal to him as a boy + had never died. + </p> + <p> + "The love of the ocean that took me to sea as a boy has never died." he + once said. "When I see a vessel plunging up and down in the trough of the + sea, fighting her way through and over great waves, and keeping her keel + and going on and on—the wonder of the thing fills me, how she can + keep afloat and get safely to port. I have never outgrown the wild + grandeur of the sea." + </p> + <p> + When he was in command of the Adriatic, which was built before the + Olympic, Captain Smith said he did not believe a disaster with loss of + life could happen to the Adriatic. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to the Adriatic," he + said. "Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that. There will be bigger + boats. The depth of harbors seems to be the great drawback at present. I + cannot say, of course, just what the limit will be, but the larger boat + will surely come. But speed will not develop with size, so far as + merchantmen are concerned. + </p> + <p> + "The traveling public prefers the large comfortable boat of average speed, + and anyway that is the boat that pays. High speed eats up money mile by + mile, and extreme high speed is suicidal. There will be high speed boats + for use as transports and a wise government will assist steamship + companies in paying for them, as the English Government is now doing in + the cases of the Lusitania and Mauretania, twenty-five knot boats; but no + steamship company will put them out merely as a commercial venture." + </p> + <p> + Captain Smith believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. + </p> + <p> + BRAVE TO THE LAST + </p> + <p> + And though the ship turned out to be sinkable, the captain, by many acts + of bravery in the face of death, proved that his courage was equal to any + test. + </p> + <p> + Captain Inman Sealby, commander of the steamer Republic, which was the + first vessel to use the wireless telegraph to save her passengers in a + collision, spoke highly of the commander of the wrecked Titanic, calling + him one of the ablest seamen in the world. + </p> + <p> + "I am sure that Captain Smith did everything in his power to save his + passengers. The disaster is one about which he could have had no warning. + Things may happen at sea that give no warning to ships' crews and + commanders until the harm comes. I believe from what I read that the + Titanic hit an iceberg and glanced off, but that the berg struck her from + the bottom and tore a great hole." + </p> + <p> + Many survivors have mentioned the captain's name and narrated some + incident to bring out his courage and helpfulness in the emergency; but it + was left to a fireman on board the Titanic to tell the story of his death + and to record his last message. This man had gone down with the White Star + giantess and was clinging to a piece of wreckage for about half an hour + before he finally joined several members of the Titanic's company on the + bottom of a boat which was floating about among other wreckage near the + Titanic. + </p> + <p> + Harry Senior, the fireman, with his eight or nine companions in distress, + had just managed to get a firm hold in the upturned boat when they saw the + Titanic rearing preparatory to her final plunge. At that moment, according + to the fireman's story, Captain Smith jumped into the sea from the + promenade deck of the Titanic with a little girl clutched in his arms. It + took only a few strokes to bring him to the upturned boat, where a dozen + hands were stretched out to take the little child from his arms and drag + him to a point of safety. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Smith was dragged onto the upturned boat," said the fireman. "He + had a life-buoy and a life-preserver. He clung there for a moment and then + he slid off again. For a second time he was dragged from the icy water. + Then he took off his life-preserver, tossed the life-buoy on the inky + waters, and slipped into the water again with the words: "I will follow + the ship." + </p> + <p> + OTHER FAITHFUL MEN + </p> + <p> + Nor was the captain the only faithful man on the ship. Of the many stories + told by survivors all seem to agree that both officers and crew behaved + with the utmost gallantry and that they stuck by the ship nobly to the + last. + </p> + <p> + "Immediately after the Titanic struck the iceberg," said one of the + survivors, "the officers were all over the ship reassuring the passengers + and calming the more excitable. They said there was no cause for alarm. + When everything was quieted they told us we might go back to bed, as the + ship was safe. There was no confusion and many returned to their beds. + </p> + <p> + "We did not know that the ship was in danger until a comparatively short + time before she sank. Then we were called on deck and the life-boats were + filled and lowered. + </p> + <p> + "The behavior of the ship's officers at this time was wonderful. There was + no panic, no scramble for places in the boats." + </p> + <p> + Later there was confusion, and according to most of the passengers' + narratives, there were more than fifty shots fired upon the deck by + officers or others in the effort to maintain the discipline. + </p> + <p> + FIFTH OFFICER LOWE + </p> + <p> + A young English woman who requested that her name be omitted told a + thrilling story of her experience in one of the collapsible boats which + had been manned by eight of the crew from the Titanic. The boat was in + command of the fifth officer, H. Lowe, whose actions she described as + saving the lives of many people. Before the life-boat was launched he + passed along the port deck of the steamer, commanding the people not to + jump in the boats, and otherwise restraining them from swamping the craft. + When the collapsible was launched Officer Lowe succeeded in putting up a + mast and a small sail. He collected the other boats together, in some + cases the boats were short of adequate crews, and he directed an exchange + by which each was adequately manned. He threw lines connecting the boats + together, two by two, and thus all moved together. Later on he went back + to the wreck with the crew of one of the boats and succeeded in picking up + some of those who had jumped overboard and were swimming about. On his way + back to the Carpathia he passed one of the collapsible boats which was on + the point of sinking with thirty passengers aboard, most of them in scant + night-clothing. They were rescued just in the nick of time. + </p> + <p> + ENGINEERS DIED AT POSTS + </p> + <p> + There were brave men below deck, too. "A lot has been printed in the + papers about the heroism of the officers," said one survivor, "but little + has been said of the bravery of the men below decks. I was told that + seventeen enginemen who were drowned side by side got down on their knees + on the platform of the engine room and prayed until the water surged up to + their necks. Then they stood up, clasped hands so as to form a circle and + died together. All of these men helped rake the fires out from ten of the + forward boilers after the crash. This delayed the explosion and + undoubtedly permitted the ship to remain afloat nearly an hour longer, and + thus saved hundreds of lives." + </p> + <p> + In the list of heroes who went down on the Titanic the names of her + engineers will have a high place, for not a single engineer was saved. + Many of them, no doubt, could not get to the deck, but they had equally as + good a chance as the firemen, sixty-nine of whom were saved. + </p> + <p> + The supposition of those who manned the Titanic was that the engineers, + working below, were the first to know the desperate character of the + Titanic's injury. The watch called the others, and from that time until + the vessel was ready for her last plunge they were too hard at work to + note more than that there was a constant rise of water in the hull, and + that the pumps were useless. + </p> + <p> + It was engineers who kept the lights going, saw to the proper closing of + bulkhead doors and kept the stoke hole at work until the uselessness of + the task was apparent. Most of them probably died at their post of duty. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic carried a force of about sixty engineers, and in addition she + had at least twenty-five "guarantee" engineers, representatives of Harland + and Wolff, the builders, and those who had the contract for the + engineering work. This supplementary force was under Archie Frost, the + builders' chief engineer, and the regular force was under Chief Engineer + William Bell, of the White Star Line. + </p> + <p> + On the line's ships there is the chief engineer, senior and junior second, + senior and junior third, and senior and junior fourth engineers. The men + are assigned each to his own task. There are hydraulic, electric, pump and + steam packing men, and the "guarantee" engineers, representing the + builders and the contractors. + </p> + <p> + The duty of the "guarantee" engineers is to watch the working of the great + engines, and to see that they are tuned up and in working order. They also + watch the working of each part of the machinery which had nothing to do + with the actual speed of the ship, principally the electric light dynamos + and the refrigerating plant. + </p> + <p> + NOBLE-HEARTED BAND + </p> + <p> + "But what of the bandsmen? Who were they?" + </p> + <p> + This question was asked again and again by all who read the story of the + Titanic's sinking and of how the brave musicians played to the last, + keeping up the courage of those who were obliged to go down with the ship. + </p> + <p> + Many efforts were made to find out who the men were, but little was made + public until the members of the orchestra of the steamship Celtic reached + shore for the first time after the disaster. One of their first queries + was about the musicians of the Titanic. Their anxiety was greater than + that of any New Yorker, for the members of the band of the Celtic knew + intimately the musicians of the ill-fated liner. + </p> + <p> + "Not one of them saved!" cried John S. Carr, 'cellist on the Celtic. "It + doesn't seem possible they have all gone. + </p> + <p> + "We knew most of them well. They were Englishmen, you know—every one + of them, I think. Nearly all the steamship companies hire their musicians + abroad, and the men interchange between the ships frequently, so we get a + chance to know one another pretty well. The musicians for the Titanic were + levied from a number of other White Star ships, but most of the men who + went down with the Titanic had bunked with us at some time." + </p> + <p> + "The thing I can't realize is that happy 'Jock' Hume is dead," exclaimed + Louis Cross, a player of the bass viol. "He was the merriest, happiest + young Scotchman you ever saw. His family have been making musical + instruments in Scotland for generations. I heard him say once that they + were minstrels in the old days. It is certainly hard to believe that he is + not alive and having his fun somewhere in the world." + </p> + <p> + At least he helped to make the deaths of many less cruel. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD + </h2> + <p> + SENDING OUT THE MACKAY-BENNETT AND MINIA—BREMEN PASSENGERS SEE + BODIES—IDENTIFYING BODIES—CONFUSION IN NAMES—RECOVERIES + </p> + <p> + A FEW days after the disaster the cable steamer Mackay-Bennett was sent + out by the White Star Line to cruise in the vicinity of the disaster and + search for missing bodies. + </p> + <p> + Two wireless messages addressed to J. Bruce Ismay, president of the + International Mercantile Marine Company, were received on April 21st at + the offices of the White Star Line from the cable ship Mackay-Bennett, via + Cape Race, one of which reported that the steamship Rhein had sighted + bodies near the scene of the Titanic wreck. The first message, which was + dated April 20th, read: + </p> + <p> + "Steamer Rhein reports passing wreckage and bodies 42.1 north, 49.13 west, + eight miles west of three big icebergs. Now making for that position. + Expect to arrive 8 o'clock to-night. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." +</pre> + <p> + The second message read: + </p> + <p> + "Received further information from Bremen (presumably steamship Bremen) + and arrived on ground at 8 o'clock P. M. Start on operation to-morrow. + Have been considerably delayed on passage by dense fog. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." +</pre> + <p> + After receiving these messages Mr. Ismay issued the following statement: + </p> + <p> + "The cable ship Mackay-Bennett has been chartered by the White Star Line + and ordered to proceed to the scene of the disaster and do all she could + to recover the bodies and glean all information possible. + </p> + <p> + "Every effort will be made to identify bodies recovered, and any news will + be sent through immediately by wireless. In addition to any such message + as these, the Mackay-Bennett will make a report of its activities each + morning by wireless, and such reports will be made public at the offices + of the White Star Line. + </p> + <p> + "The cable ship has orders to remain on the scene of the wreck for at + least a week, but should a large number of bodies be recovered before that + time she will return to Halifax with them. The search for bodies will not + be abandoned until not a vestige of hope remains for any more recoveries. + </p> + <p> + "The Mackay-Bennett will not make any soundings, as they would not serve + any useful purpose, because the depth where the Titanic sank is more than + 2000 fathoms." + </p> + <p> + On April 22d the first list of twenty-seven names of bodies recovered was + made public. It contained that of Frederick Sutton, a well-known member of + the Union League of Philadelphia. It did not contain the name of any other + prominent man who perished, although it was thought that the name "George + W. Widen" might refer to George D. Widener, son of P. A. B. Widener, of + Philadelphia. The original passenger lists of the Titanic did not mention + "Widen," which apparently established the identity of the body as that of + Mr. Widener, who, together with his son, Harry, was lost. + </p> + <p> + The wireless message, after listing the names, concluded, "All preserved," + presumably referring to the condition of the bodies. + </p> + <p> + A number of the names in the list did not check up with the Titanic's + passenger list, which led to the belief that a number of the bodies + recovered were members of the Titanic's crew. + </p> + <p> + MINIA SENT TO ASSIST + </p> + <p> + At noon, April 23d, there was posted on the bulletin in the White Star + office this message from the Mackay-Bennett dated Sunday, April 21st: + </p> + <p> + "Latitude, 41.58; longitude, 49.21. Heavy southwest swell has interfered + with operations. Seventy-seven bodies recovered. All not embalmed will be + buried at sea at 8 o'clock to-night with divine service. Can bring only + embalmed bodies to port." + </p> + <p> + To Captain Lardner, master of the Mackay-Bennett, P. A. S. Franklin, + vice-president of the White Star Line, sent an urgent message asking that + the company be advised at once of all particulars concerning the bodies + identified, and also given any information that might lead to the + identification of others. He said it was very important that every effort + be made to bring all of the bodies possible to port. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Franklin then directed A. G. Jones, the Halifax agent of the White + Star Line, to charter the Minia and send her to the assistance of the + Mackay-Bennett. Mr. Jones answered this telegram, and said that the Minia + was ready to proceed to sea, but that a southeast gale, which generally + brings fog, might delay her departure. She left for Halifax. + </p> + <p> + NAMES BADLY GARBLED + </p> + <p> + On April 24th no wireless message was received from the Mackay-Bennett, + but the White Star Line officials and telegraphers familiar with the + wireless alphabet were busy trying to reconcile some of the names received + with those of persons who went down on the Titanic. That the body of + William T. Stead, the English journalist and author, had been recovered by + the Mackay-Bennett, but through a freakish error in wireless transmission + the name of another was reported instead, was one of the theories advanced + by persons familiar with the Morse code. + </p> + <p> + BREMEN SIGHTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED BODIES + </p> + <p> + When the German liner Bremen reached New York the account of its having + sighted bodies of the Titanic victims was obtained. + </p> + <p> + From the bridge, officers of the ship saw more than a hun-dred bodies + floating on the sea, a boat upside down, together with a number of small + pieces of wood, steamer chairs and other wreckage. As the cable ship + Mackay-Bennett was in sight, and having word that her mission was to look + for bodies, no attempt was made by the Bremen's crew to pick up the + corpses. + </p> + <p> + In the vicinity was seen an iceberg which answered the description of the + one the Titanic struck. Smaller bergs were sighted the same day, but at + some distance from where the Titanic sank. + </p> + <p> + The officers of the Bremen did not care to talk about the tragic + spectacle, but among the passengers several were found who gave accounts + of the dismal panorama through which their ship steamed. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Johanna Stunke, a first-cabin passenger, described the scene from the + liner's rail. + </p> + <p> + "It was between 4 and 5 o'clock, Saturday, April 20th," she said, "when + our ship sighted an iceberg off the bow to the starboard. As we drew + nearer, and could make out small dots floating around in the sea, a + feeling of awe and sadness crept over everyone on the ship. + </p> + <p> + "We passed within a hundred feet of the southernmost drift of the + wreckage, and looking down over the rail we distinctly saw a number of + bodies so clearly that we could make out what they were wearing and + whether they were men or women. + </p> + <p> + "We saw one woman in her night dress, with a baby clasped closely to her + breast. Several women passengers screamed and left the rail in a fainting + condition. There was another woman, fully dressed, with her arms tight + around the body of a shaggy dog. + </p> + <p> + "The bodies of three men in a group, all clinging to one steamship chair, + floated near by, and just beyond them were a dozen bodies of men, all of + them encased in life-preservers, clinging together as though in a last + desperate struggle for life. We couldn't see, but imagined that under them + was some bit of wreckage to which they all clung when the ship went down, + and which didn't have buoyancy enough to support them. + </p> + <p> + "Those were the only bodies we passed near enough to distinguish, but we + could see the white life-preservers of many more dotting the sea, all the + way to the iceberg. The officers told us that was probably the berg hit by + the Titanic, and that the bodies and ice had drifted along together." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Stunke said a number of the passengers demanded that the Bremen stop + and pick up the bodies, but the officers assured them that they had just + received a wireless message saying the cable ship Mackay-Bennett was only + two hours away fron{sic} the spot, and was coming for that express + purpose. + </p> + <p> + Other passengers corroborated Mrs. Stunke. + </p> + <p> + THE IDENTIFED{sic} DEAD. + </p> + <p> + On April 25th the White Star Line officials issued a corrected list of the + identified dead. While the corrected list cleared up two or more of the + wireless confusions that caused so much speculation in the original list, + there still remained a few names that so far as the record of the Titanic + showed were not on board that ship when she foundered. + </p> + <p> + The new list, however, established the fact that the body of George D. + Widener, of Philadelphia, was among those on the Mackay-Bennett, and two + of the bodies were identified as those of men named Butt. + </p> + <p> + THE MACKAY-BENNETT RETURNS TO PORT + </p> + <p> + After completing her search the Mackay-Bennett steamed for Halifax, + reaching that port on Tuesday, April 30th. With her flag at half mast, the + death ship docked slowly. Her crew manned the rails with bared heads, and + on the aft deck were stacked the caskets with the dead. The vessel carried + on board 190 bodies, and announcement was made that 113 other bodies had + been buried at sea. + </p> + <p> + Everybody picked up had been in a life-belt and there were no bullet holes + in any. Among those brought to port were the bodies of two women. + </p> + <p> + THE MINIA GIVES UP THE SEARCH + </p> + <p> + When at last the Minia turned her bow toward shore only thirteen + additional bodies had been recovered, making a total of 316 bodies found + by the two ships. + </p> + <p> + Further search seemed futile. Not only had the two vessels gone thoroughly + over as wide a field as might likely prove fruitful, but, in addition, the + time elapsed made it improbable that other bodies, if found, could be + brought to shore. Thus did the waves completely enforce the payment of + their terrible toll. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = ISADOR STRAUS + </p> + <p> + The New York millionaire merchant and philanthropist who lost his life + when the giant Titanic foundered at sea after hitting an iceberg.} + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = ICEBERG PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR SCENE OF DISASTER + </p> + <p> + This photograph shows what is quite...} + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_LIST3" id="link2H_LIST3"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD + </h2> + <p> + Following is a list of those whose identity was wholly or partially + established: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ASTOR, JOHN JACOB. + ADONIS, J. + ALE, WILLIAM. + ARTAGAVEYTIA, RAMON. + ASHE, H. W. + ADAHL, MAURITZ. + ANDERSON, THOMAS. + ADAMS, J. + ASPALANDE, CARL. + ALLEN, H. + ANDERSON, W. Y. + ALLISON, H. J. + + BUTT, W. (seaman). + BUTT, W. (may be Major Butt). + BUTTERWORTH, ABELJ. + BAILEY, G. F. + BARKER, E. T. + BUTLER, REGINALD. + BIRNBAUM, JACOB. + BRISTOW, R. C. + BUCKLEY, KATHERINE. + + CHAPMAN, JOHN H. + CHAPMAN, CHARLES. + CONNORS, P. + CLONG, MILTON. + COX, DENTON. + CAVENDISH, TYRRELL w. + CARBINES, W. + + DUTTON, F. + DASHWOOD, WILLIAM. + DULLES, W. C. + DOUGLAS, W. D. + DRAZENOUI, YOSIP (referring probably to + Joseph Draznovic). + DONATI, ITALO (waiter). + + ENGINEER, A. E. F. + ELLIOTT, EDWARD. + + FARRELL, JAMES. + FAUNTHORPE, H. + + GILL, J. H. + GREENBERG, H. + GILINSKI, LESLIE. + GRAHAM, GEORGE. + GILES, RALPH. + GIVARD, HANS C. + + HANSEN, HENRY D. + HAYTOR, A. + HAYS, CHALES M. + HODGES, H. P. + HELL, J. C. + HEWITT, T. + HARRISON, H. H. + HALE, REG. + HENDEKERIC, TOZNAI. + HINTON, W. + HARBECK, W. H. + HOLVERDON, A. O. (probably A. M. + Halverson of Troy). + HOFFMAN, LOUIS M. + HINCKLEY, G. + Hospital Attendant, no name given. + + JOHANSEN, MALCOLM. + JOHANSEN, ERIC. + JOHANSSON, GUSTAF J. + JOHANSEN, A. F. + JONES, C. C. + + KELLY, JAMES. + + LAURENCE, A. + LOUCH, CHARLES. + LONG, MILTON C. + LILLY, A. + LINHART, WENZELL. + MARRIORTT, W. H. (no such name appears + on the list of passengers or crew). + MANGIN, MARY. + McNAMEE, MRS. N. (probably Miss + Elleen McNamee.) + MACK, MRS. + MONROE, JEAN. + McCAFFRY, THOMAS. + MORGAN, THOMAS. + MOEN, SEGURD H. + + NEWELL, T. H. + NASSER, NICOLAS. + NORMAN, ROBERT D. + + PETTY, EDWIN H. + PARTNER, AUSTIN. + PENNY, OLSEN F. + POGGI, ——. + + RAGOZZI, A. BOOTHBY. + RICE, J. R. + ROBINS, A. + ROBINSON, J. M. + ROSENSHINE, GEORGE. + + STONE, J. + STEWARD, 76. + STOKES, PHILIP J. + STANTON, W. + + STRAUS, ISIDOR. + SAGE, WILLIAM. + SHEA, ——. + SUTTON, FREDERICK. + SOTHER, SIMON. + SCHEDID, NIHIL. + SWANK, GEORGE. + SEBASTIANO, DEL CARLO. + STANBROCKE, A. + + TOMLIN, ETNEST P. + TALBOT, G. + + VILLNER, HENDRICK K. + VASSILIOS, CATALEVAS (thought to be a + confusion of two surnames). + VEAR, W. (may be W. J. Ware or W. T. + Stead). + + WIDENER, GEORGE W. + WILLIAMS, LESLIE. + WIRZ, ALBERT + WIKLUND, JACOB A. + WAILENS, ACHILLE. + WHITE, F. F. + WOODY, O. S. + WERSZ, LEOPOLD. + + ZACARIAN, MAURI DER. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII. CRITICISM OF ISMAY + </h2> + <p> + CRIMINAL AND COWARDLY CONDUCT CHARGED—PROPER CAUTION NOT EXERCISED + WHEN PRESENCE OF ICEBERGS WAS KNOWN—SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON BOARD TO + HELP IN WORK OF RESCUE—SELFISH AND UNSYMPATHETIC ACTIONS ON BOARD + THE CARPATHIA—ISMAY'S DEFENSE—WILLIAM E. CARTER'S STATEMENT + </p> + <p> + FROM the moment that Bruce Ismay's name was seen among those of the + survivors of the Titanic he became the object of acrid attacks in every + quarter where the subject of the disaster was discussed. Bitter criticism + held that he should have been the last to leave the doomed vessel. + </p> + <p> + His critics insisted that as managing director of the White Star Line his + responsibility was greater even than Captain Smith's, and while granting + that his survival might still be explained, they condemned his apparent + lack of heroism. Even in England his survival was held to be the one great + blot on an otherwise noble display of masculine courage. + </p> + <p> + A prominent official of the White Star Line shook his head meaningly when + asked what he thought of Ismay's escape with the women and children. The + general feeling seemed to be that he should have stayed aboard the sinking + vessel, looking out for those who were left, playing the man like Major + Butt and many another and going down with the ship like Captain Smith. + </p> + <p> + He was also charged with urging a speed record and with ignoring + information received with regard to icebergs. + </p> + <p> + FEELING IN ENGLAND + </p> + <p> + The belief in England was that the captain of the Carpathia had acted + under Ismay's influence in refusing to permit any account of the disaster + to be transmitted previous to the arrival of the vessel in New York. + Ismay's telegram making arrangements for the immediate deportation of the + survivors among the Titanic's crew was taken to be part of the same scheme + to delay if not to prevent their stories of the wreck from being obtained + in New York. + </p> + <p> + Another circumstance which created a damaging impression was Ismay's + failure to give the names of the surviving crew, whose distraught families + were entitled to as much consideration as those whose relatives occupied + the most expensive suites on the Titanic. The anguish endured by the + families of members of the crew was reported as indescribable, and + Southampton was literally turned into a city of weeping and tragic pathos. + The wives of two members of the crew died of shock and suspense. + </p> + <p> + CRIED FOR FOOD + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ismay's actions while on the Carpathia were also criticised as selfish + and unwarrantable. + </p> + <p> + "For God's sake get me something to eat, I'm starved. I don't care what it + costs or what it is. Bring it to me." + </p> + <p> + This was the first statement made by Mr. Ismay a few minutes after he was + landed on the Carpathia. It is vouched for by an officer of the Carpathia + who requested that his name be withheld. This officer gave one of the most + complete stories of the events that took place on the Carpathia from the + time she received the Titanic's appeal for assistance until she landed the + survivors at the Cunard Line pier. + </p> + <p> + "Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the seventh life-boat," said the + officer. "I didn't know who he was, but afterward I heard the other + members of the crew discussing his desire to get something to eat the + minute he put his foot on deck. The steward who waited on him reported + that Ismay came dashing into the dining room and said. + </p> + <p> + "'Hurry, for God's sake, and get me something to eat, I'm starved. I don't + care what it costs or what it is. Bring it to me.'" + </p> + <p> + "The steward brought Ismay a load of stuff and when he had finished it he + handed the man a two dollar bill. 'Your money is no good on this ship,' + the steward told him. + </p> + <p> + "'Take it,' insisted Ismay. 'I am well able to afford it. I will see to it + that the boys of the Carpathia are well rewarded for this night's work.' + </p> + <p> + "This promise started the steward making inquiries as to the identity of + the man he had waited on. Then we learned that he was Ismay. I did not see + Ismay after the first few hours. He must have kept to his cabin." + </p> + <p> + REPLY TO CHARGES + </p> + <p> + Mr. Ismay's plans had been to return immediately to England, and he had + wired that the steamer Cedric be held for himself and officers and members + of the crew; but public sentiment and subpoenas of the Senate's + investigating committee prevented. In the face of the criticism aimed + against him Mr. Ismay issued a long statement in which he not only + disclaimed responsibility for the Titanic's fatal collision, but also + sought to clear himself of blame for everything that happened after the + big ship was wrecked. + </p> + <p> + He laid the responsibility for the tragedy on Captain Smith. + </p> + <p> + He expressed astonishment that his own conduct in the disaster had been + made the subject of inquiry. He denied that he gave any order to Captain + Smith. His position aboard was that of any other first cabin passenger, he + insisted, and he was never consulted by the captain. He denied telling + anyone that he wished the ship to make a speed record. He called attention + to the routine clause in the instructions to White Star captains ordering + them to think of safety at all times. He did not dine with the captain, he + said, and when the ship struck the berg, he was not sitting with the + captain in the saloon. + </p> + <p> + The managing director added that he was in his stateroom when the + collision occurred. He told of helping to send women and children away in + life-boats on the starboard side, and said there was no woman in sight on + deck when he and William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., entered the + collapsible boat—the last small craft left on that side of the + vessel. He asserted that he pulled an oar and denied that in sending the + three messages from the Carpathia, urging the White Star officials to hold + the Cedric for the survivors of the Titanic's officers and crew, he had + any intention to block investigation of the tragedy. Ismay asserted that + he did not know there was to be an investigation until the Cunarder + docked. + </p> + <p> + Mr. William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, who, with his family, was saved, + confirmed Mr. Ismay's assertions. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Ismay's statement is absolutely correct," said Mr. Carter. "There + were no women on the deck when that boat was launched. We were the very + last to leave the deck, and we entered the life-boat because there were no + women to enter it. + </p> + <p> + "The deck was deserted when the boat was launched, and Mr. Ismay and + myself decided that we might as well enter the boat and pull away from the + wreck. If he wants me, I assume that he will write to me. + </p> + <p> + "I can say nothing, however, that he has not already said, as our + narratives are identical; the circumstances under which we were rescued + from the Titanic were similar. We left the boat together and were picked + up together, and, further than that, we were the very last to leave the + deck. + </p> + <p> + "I am ready to go to Washington to testify to the truth of Mr. Ismay's + statement, and also to give my own account at any time I may be called + upon. If Mr. Ismay writes to me, asking that I give a detailed account of + our rescue I will do so." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII. THE FINANCIAL LOSS + </h2> + <p> + TITANIC NOT FULLY INSURED—VALUABLE CARGO AND MAIL—NO CHANCE + FOR SALVAGE—LIFE INSURANCE LOSS—LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + SO great was the interest in the tragedy and so profound the grief at the + tremendous loss of life that for a time the financial loss was not + considered. It was, however, the biggest ever suffered by marine insurance + brokers. + </p> + <p> + The value of the policy covering the vessel against all ordinary risks was + $5,000,000, but the whole of this amount was not insured, because British + and Continental markets were not big enough to swallow it. The actual + amount of insurance was $3,700,000, of which the owners themselves held + $750,000. + </p> + <p> + As to the cargo, it was insured by the shippers. The company has nothing + to do with the insurance of the cargo, which, according to the company's + manifest, was conservatively estimated at about $420,000. Cargo, however, + was a secondary matter, so far as the Titanic was concerned. The ship was + built for high-priced passengers, and what little cargo she carried was + also of the kind that demanded quick transportation. The Titanic's freight + was for the most part what is known as high-class package freight, + consisting of such articles as fine laces, ostrich feathers, wines, + liquors and fancy food commodities. + </p> + <p> + LOST MAIL MAY COST MILLIONS + </p> + <p> + Prior to the sailing of the vessel the postal authorities of Southampton + cabled the New York authorities that 3435 bags of mail matter were on + board. + </p> + <p> + "In a load of 3500 bags," said Postmaster Morgan, of New York, "it is a + safe estimate to say that 200 contained registered mail. The size of + registered mail packages varies greatly, but 1000 packages for each mail + bag should be a conservative guess. That would mean that 200,000 + registered packages and letters went down with the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + "This does not mean, however, that Great Britain will be held financially + responsible for all these losses. There were probably thousands of + registered packages from the Continent, and in such cases the countries of + origin will have to reimburse the senders. Moreover, in the case of money + being sent in great quantities, it is usual to insure the registry over + and above the limit of responsibility set by the country of origin. + </p> + <p> + "Probably if there were any shipping of securities mounting up to + thousands of dollars, it will be the insurance companies which will bear + the loss, and not the European post-offices at all." + </p> + <p> + In the case of money orders, the postmaster explained, there would be no + loss, except of time, as duplicates promptly would be shipped without + further expense. + </p> + <p> + The postmaster did not know the exact sum which the various European + countries set as the limit of their guarantee in registered mail. In + America it is $50. + </p> + <p> + Underwriters will probably have to meet heavy claims of passengers for + luggage, including jewelry. Pearls of one American woman insured in London + were valued at $240,000. + </p> + <p> + NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE + </p> + <p> + The Titanic and her valuable cargo can never be recovered, said the White + Star Line officials. + </p> + <p> + "Sinking in mid-ocean, at the depth which prevails where the accident + occurred," said Captain James Parton, manager of the company, "absolutely + precludes any hopes of salvage." + </p> + <p> + LIFE INSURANCE LOSS + </p> + <p> + In the life insurance offices there was much figuring over the lists of + those thought to be lost aboard the Titanic. Nothing but rough estimates + of the company's losses through the wreck were given out. + </p> + <p> + LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA + </p> + <p> + The loss to the Carpathia, too, was considerable. It is, of course, the + habit of all good steamship lines to go out of their way and cheerfully + submit to financial loss when it comes to succoring the distressed or the + imperiled at sea. Therefore, the Cunard line in extending the courtesies + of the sea to the survivors of the Titanic asked for nothing more than the + mere acknowledgment of the little act of kindness. The return of the + Carpathia cost the line close to $10,000. + </p> + <p> + She was delayed on her way to the Mediterranean at least ten days and was + obliged to coal and provision again, as the extra 800 odd passengers she + was carrying reduced her large allowance for her long voyage to the + Mediterranean and the Adriatic very much. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV. OPINIONS OF EXPERTS + </h2> + <p> + CAPTAIN E. K. RODEN, LEWIS NIXON, GENERAL GREELY AND ROBERT H. KIRK POINT + OUT LESSONS TAUGHT BY TITANIC DISASTER AND NEEDED CHANGES IN CONSTRUCTION + </p> + <p> + THE tremendous loss of life necessarily aroused a discussion as to the + cause of the disaster, and the prevailing opinion seemed to be that the + present tendency in shipbuilding was to sacrifice safety to luxury. + </p> + <p> + Captain Roden, a well-known Swedish navigator, had written an article + maintaining this theory in the Navy, a monthly service magazine, in + November, 1910. With seeming prophetic insight he had mentioned the + Titanic by name and portrayed some of the dangers to which shipbuilding + for luxury is leading. + </p> + <p> + He pointed out that the new steamships, the Olympic and Titanic, would be + the finest vessels afloat, no expense being spared to attain every + conceivable comfort for which men or women of means could possibly ask—staterooms + with private shower-baths, a swimming pool large enough for diving, a + ballroom covering an entire upper deck, a gymnasium, elaborate cafes, a + sun deck representing a flower garden, and other luxuries. + </p> + <p> + After forcibly pointing out the provisions that should be made for the + protection of life, Captain Roden wrote in conclusion: + </p> + <p> + "If the men controlling passenger ships, from the ocean liner down to the + excursion barge, were equally disposed to equip their vessels with the + best safety appliances as they are to devise and adopt implements of + comfort and luxury, the advantage to themselves as well as to their + patrons would be plainly apparent." + </p> + <p> + VIEW OF LEWIS NIXON + </p> + <p> + Lewis Nixon, the eminent naval architect and designer of the battleship + Oregon, contributed a very interesting comment. He said in part: + </p> + <p> + "Here was a vessel presumed, and I think rightly so, to be the perfection + of the naval architect's art, yet sunk in a few hours by an accident + common to North Atlantic navigation. + </p> + <p> + THE UNSINKABLE SHIP + </p> + <p> + "An unsinkable ship is possible, but it would be of little use except for + flotation. It may be said that vessels cannot be built to withstand such + an accident. + </p> + <p> + "We might very greatly subdivide the forward compartments, where much + space is lost at best, making the forward end, while amply strong for + navigation purposes, of such construction that it would collapse and take + up some of the energy of impact; then tie this to very much stronger + sections farther aft. Many such plans will be proposed by those who do not + realize the momentum of a great vessel which will snap great cables like + ribbons, when the motion of the vessel is not perceptible to the eye. + </p> + <p> + "The proper plan is to avoid the accident, and if an accident is + unavoidable to minimize the loss of life and property." + </p> + <p> + VIEW OF ROBERT H. KIRK + </p> + <p> + The Titanic disaster was discussed by Robert H. Kirk, who installed the + compartment doors in the ships of the United States Navy. Mr. Kirk's + opinion follows: + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic's disaster will cause endless speculation as to how similar + disasters may be avoided in the future. + </p> + <p> + BULKHEAD DOORS PROBABLY OPEN + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic had bulkheads, plenty of them, for the rules of the British + Board of Trade and of Lloyds are very specific and require enough + compartments to insure floating of the ship though several may be flooded. + She also had doors in the bulkheads, and probably plenty of them, for she + was enormous and needed easy access from one compartment to another. It + will probably never be known how <i>FEW</i> of these doors were closed + when she struck the iceberg, but the probability is that many were open, + for in the confusion attending such a crash the crews have a multitude of + duties to perform, and closing a door with water rushing through it is + more of a task than human muscle and bravery can accomplish. + </p> + <p> + "A Lloyds surveyor in testing one of these hand-operated doors started two + men on the main deck to close it. They worked four hours before they had + carried out his order. If all the doors on the ship had worked as badly as + this one, what would have happened in event of accident?" + </p> + <p> + MANIA FOR SPEED + </p> + <p> + General Adolphus W. Greely, U. S. A., noted American traveler and Arctic + explorer, vehemently denounced the sinking of the Titanic and the loss of + over 1600 souls as a terrible sacrifice to the American mania for speed. + He gave his opinion that the Titanic came to grief through an attempt on + the part of the steamship management to establish a new record by the + vessel on her maiden voyage. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic, General Greely declared, had absolutely no business above + Cape Race and north of Sable Island on the trip on which she went to her + doom. Choosing the northern route brought about the dire disaster, in his + mind, and it was the saving of three hours for the sake of a new record + that ended in the collision with the tragic victory for the ghostlike + monster out of the far north. + </p> + <p> + It was the opinion of General Greely, capable of judging after his many + trips in quest of the pole, that neither Captain Smith nor any of his + officers saw the giant iceberg which encompassed their ruin until they + were right upon it. Then, the ship was plunging ahead at such frightful + velocity that the Titanic was too close to avert striking the barrier + lined up across its path. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV. OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS + </h2> + <p> + DEADLY DANGER OF ICEBERGS—DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH IN COLLISION—OTHER + DISASTERS + </p> + <p> + THE danger of collision with icebergs has always been one of the most + deadly that confront the mariner. Indeed, so well recognized is this peril + of the Newfoundland Banks, where the Labrador current in the early spring + and summer months floats southward its ghostly argosy of icy pinnacles + detached from the polar ice caps, that the government hydrographic offices + and the maritime exchanges spare no pains to collate and disseminate the + latest bulletins on the subject. + </p> + <p> + THE ARIZONA + </p> + <p> + A most remarkable case of an iceberg collision is that of the Guion Liner, + Arizona, in 1879. She was then the greyhound of the Atlantic, and the + largest ship afloat—5750 tons except the Great Eastern. Leaving New + York in November for Liverpool, with 509 souls aboard, she was coursing + across the Banks, with fair weather but dark, when, near midnight, about + 250 miles east of St. John's, she rammed a monster ice island at full + speed eighteen knots. Terrific was the impact. + </p> + <p> + The welcome word was passed along that the ship, though sorely stricken, + would still float until she could make harbor. The vast white terror had + lain across her course, + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = THE SHAPE OF AN ICEBERG + </p> + <p> + Showing the bulk and formation under water and the consequent danger to + vessels even without actual contact with the visible part of the iceberg.} + </p> + <p> + stretching so far each way that, when described, it was too late to alter + the helm. Its giant shape filled the foreground, towering high above the + masts, grim and gaunt and ghastly, immovable as the adamantine buttresses + of a frowning seaboard, while the liner lurched and staggered like a + wounded thing in agony as her engines slowly drew her back from the + rampart against which she had flung herself. + </p> + <p> + She was headed for St. John's at slow speed, so as not to strain the + bulkhead too much, and arrived there thirty-six hours later. That little + port—the crippled ship's hospital—has seen many a strange + sight come in from the sea, but never a more astounding spectacle than + that which the Arizona presented the Sunday forenoon she entered there. + </p> + <p> + "Begob, captain!" said the pilot, as he swung himself over the rail. "I've + heard of carrying coals to Newcastle, but this is the first time I've seen + a steamer bringing a load of ice into St. John's." + </p> + <p> + They are a grim race, these sailors, and, the danger over, the captain's + reply was: "We were lucky, my man, that we didn't all go to the bottom in + an ice box." + </p> + <p> + DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH + </p> + <p> + But to the one wounded ship that survives collision with a berg, a dozen + perish. Presumably, when the shock comes, it loosens their bulkheads and + they fill and founder, or the crash may injure the boilers or engines, + which explode and tear out the sides, and the ship goes down like a + plummet. As long ago as 1841, the steamer President, with 120 people + aboard, crossing from New York to Liverpool in March, vanished from human + ken. In 1854, in the same month, the City of Glasgow left Liverpool for + Philadelphia with 480 souls, and was never again heard of. In February, + 1856, the Pacific, from Liverpool for New York, carrying 185 persons, + passed away down to a sunless sea. In May, 1870, the City of Boston, from + that port for Liverpool, mustering 191 souls, met a similar fate. It has + always been thought that these ships were sunk by collision with icebergs + or floes. As shipping traffic has expanded, the losses have been more + frequent. In February, 1892, the Naronic, from Liverpool for New York; in + the same month in 1896, the State of Georgia, from Aberdeen for Boston; in + February, 1899, the Alleghany, from New York for Dover; and once more in + February, 1902, the Huronian, from Liverpool for St. John's—all + disappeared without leaving a trace. Between February and May, the Grand + Banks are most infested with ice, and collision therewith is' the most + likely explanation of the loss of these steamers, all well manned and in + splendid trim, and meeting only the storms which scores of other ships + have braved without a scathe. + </p> + <p> + TOLL OF THE SEA + </p> + <p> + Among the important marine disasters recorded since 1866 are the + following: + </p> + <p> + 1866, Jan. 11.—Steamer London, on her way to Melbourne, foundered in + the Bay of Biscay; 220 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1866, Oct. 3.—Steamer Evening Star, from New York to New Orleans, + foundered; about 250 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1867, Oct. 29.—Royal Mail steamers Rhone and Wye and about fifty + other vessels driven ashore and wrecked at St Thomas, West Indies, by a + hurricane; about 1,000 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1873, Jan. 22.—British steamer Northfleet sunk in collision off + Dungeness; 300 lives lost + </p> + <p> + 1873, Nov. 23.—White Star liner Atlantic wrecked off Nova Scotia; + 547 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1873, Nov. 23.—French line Ville du Havre, from New York to Havre, + in collision with ship Locharn and sunk in sixteen minutes; 110 lives + lost. + </p> + <p> + 1874, Dec. 24.—Emigrant vessel Cospatrick took fire and sank off + Auckland; 476 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1875, May 7.—Hamburg Mail steamer Schiller wrecked in fog on Scilly + Islands; 200 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1875, Nov. 4.—American steamer Pacific in collision thirty miles + southwest of Cape Flattery; 236 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1878, March 24.—British training ship Eurydice, a frigate, foundered + near the Isle of Wight; 300 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1878, Sept. 3.—British iron steamer Princess Alice sunk in the + Thames River; 700 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1878, Dec. 18.—French steamer Byzantin sunk in collision in the + Dardanelles with the British steamer Rinaldo; 210 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1879, Dec. 2.—Steamer Borussia sank off the coast of Spain; 174 + lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1880, Jan. 31.—British trading ship Atlanta left Bermuda with 290 + men and was never heard from. + </p> + <p> + 1881, Aug. 30.—Steamer Teuton wrecked off the Cape of Good Hope; 200 + lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1883, July 3.—Steamer Daphne turned turtle in the Clyde; 124 lives + lost. + </p> + <p> + 1884, Jan. 18.—American steamer City of Columbus wrecked off Gay + Head Light, Massachusetts; 99 lived lost. + </p> + <p> + 1884, July 23.—Spanish steamer Gijon and British steamer Lux in + collision off Finisterre; 150 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1887, Jan. 29.—Steamer Kapunda in collision with bark Ada Melore off + coast of Brazil; 300 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1887, Nov. 15.—British steamer Wah Young caught fire between Canton + and Hong Kong; 400 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1888, Sept. 13.—Italian steamship Sud America and steamer La France + in collision near the Canary Islands; 89 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1889, March 16.—United States warships Trenton, Vandalia and Nipsic + and German ships Adler and Eber wrecked on Samoan Islands; 147 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1890, Jan. 2.—Steamer Persia wrecked on Corsica; 130 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1890, Feb. 17.—British steamer Duburg wrecked in the China Sea; 400 + lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1890, March 1.—British steamship Quetta foundered in Torres Straits; + 124 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1890, Dec. 27.—British steamer Shanghai burned in China Seas; 101 + lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1891, March 17.—Anchor liner Utopia in collision with British + steamer Anson off Gibraltar and sunk; 574 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1892, Jan. 13.—Steamer Namehow wrecked in China Sea; 414 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1892, Oct. 28.—Anchor liner Romania, wrecked off Portugal; 113 lives + lost. + </p> + <p> + 1893, Feb. 8.—Anchor liner Trinairia, wrecked off Spain; 115 lives + lost. + </p> + <p> + 1894, June 25.—Steamer Norge, wrecked on Rockall Reef, in the North + Atlantic; nearly 600 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1895, Jan. 30.—German steamer Elbe sunk in collision with British + steamer Crathie in North Sea; 335 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1898, July 4.—French line steamer La Bourgogne in collision with + British sailing vessel Cromartyshire; 571 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1898, Nov. 27.—American steamer Portland, wrecked off Cape Cod, + Mass.; 157 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1901, April 1.—Turkish transport Aslam wrecked in the Red Sea; over + 180 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1902, July 21.—Steamer Primus sunk in collision with the steamer + Hansa on the Lower Elbe; 112 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1903, June 7.—French steamer Libau sunk in collision with steamer + Insulerre near Marseilles; 150 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1904, June 15. General Slocum, excursion steamboat, took fire going + through Hell Gate, East River; more than 1000 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1906, Jan. 21.—Brazilian battleship Aquidaban sunk near Rio Janeiro + by an explosion of the powder magazines; 212 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1906, Jan. 22.—American steamer Valencia lost off Cloose, Pacific + Coast; 140 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1906, Aug. 4.—Italian emigrant ship Sirio struck a rock off Cape + Palos; 350 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1906, Oct. 21.—Russian steamer Variag, on leaving Vladivostock, + struck by a torpedo and sunk; 140 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1907, Feb. 12.—American steamer Larchmond sunk in collision off + Rhode Island coast; 131 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1907, July 20.—American steamers Columbia and San Pedro collided on + the Californian coast; 100 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1907, Nov. 26.—Turkish steamer Kaptain foundered in the North Sea; + 110 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1908, March 23.—Japanese steamer Mutsu Maru sunk in collision near + Hakodate; 300 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1908, April 30.—Japanese training cruiser Matsu Shima sunk off the + Pescadores owing to an explosion; 200 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1909, Jan. 24.—Collision between the Italian steamer Florida and the + White Star liner Republic, about 170 miles east of New York during a fog; + a large number of lives were saved by the arrival of the steamer Baltic, + which received the "C. Q. D.," or distress signal sent up by wireless by + the Republic January 22. The Republic sank while being towed; 6 lives + lost. + </p> + <p> + 1910, Feb. 9.—French line steamer General Chanzy off Minorca; 200 + lives lost. + </p> + <p> + 1911, Sept. 25.—French battleship Liberte sunk by explosion in + Toulon harbor; 223 lives lost. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI. DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING + </h2> + <p> + EVOLUTION OF WATER TRAVEL—INCREASES IN SIZE OF VESSELS—IS + THERE ANY LIMIT?—ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPEED—TITANIC NOT THE LAST + WORD. + </p> + <p> + THE origin of travel on water dates back to a very early period in human + history, men beginning with the log, the inflated skin, the dug-out canoe, + and upwards through various methods of flotation; while the paddle, the + oar, and finally the sail served as means of propulsion. This was for + inland water travel, and many centuries passed before the navigation of + the sea was dreamed of by adventurous mariners. + </p> + <p> + The paintings and sculptures of early Egypt show us boats built of sawn + planks, regularly constructed and moved both by oars and sails. At a later + period we read of the Phoenicians, the most daring and enterprising of + ancient navigators, who braved the dangers of the open sea, and are said + by Herodotus to have circumnavigated Africa as early as 604 B. C. Starting + from the Red Sea, they followed the east coast, rounded the Cape, and + sailed north along the west coast to the Mediterranean, reaching Egypt + again in the third year of this enterprise. + </p> + <p> + The Carthaginians and Romans come next in the history of shipbuilding, + confining themselves chiefly to the Mediterranean, and using oars as the + principal means of propulsion. Their galleys ranged from one to five banks + of oars. The Roman vessels in the first Punic war were over 100 feet long + and had 300 rowers, while they carried 120 soldiers. They did not use + sails until about the beginning of the fourteenth century B. C. + </p> + <p> + Portugal was the first nation to engage in voyages of discovery, using + vessels of small size in these adventurous journeys. Spain, which soon + became her rival in this field, built larger ships and long held the lead. + Yet the ships with which Columbus made the discovery of America were of a + size and character in which few sailors of the present day would care to + venture far from land. + </p> + <p> + England was later in coming into the field of adventurous navigation, + being surpassed not only by the Portuguese and Spanish, but by the Dutch, + in ventures to far lands. + </p> + <p> + Europe long held the precedence in shipbuilding and enterprise in + navigation, but the shores of America had not long been settled before the + venturous colonists had ships upon the seas. The first of these was built + at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. This was a staunch little + two-masted vessel, which was named the Virginia, supposed to have been + about sixty feet long and seventeen feet in beam. Next in time came the + Restless, built in 1614 or 1615 at New York, by Adrian Blok, a Dutch + captain whose ships had been burned while lying at Manhattan Island. This + vessel, thirty-eight feet long and of eleven feet beam, was employed for + several years in exploring the Atlantic coast. + </p> + <p> + With the advent of the nineteenth century a new ideal in naval + architecture arose, that of the ship moved by steam-power instead of + wind-power, and fitted to combat with the seas alike in storm and calm, + with little heed as to whether the wind was fair or foul. The steamship + appeared, and grew in size and power until such giants of the wave as the + Titanic and Olympic were set afloat. To the development of this modern + class of ships our attention must now be turned. + </p> + <p> + As the reckless cowboy of the West is fast becoming a thing of the past, + so is the daring seaman of fame and story. In his place is coming a class + of men miscalled sailors, who never reefed a sail or coiled a cable, who + do not know how to launch a life-boat or pull an oar, and in whose career + we meet the ridiculous episode of the life-boats of the Titanic, where + women were obliged to take the oars from their hands and row the boats. + Thus has the old-time hero of the waves been transformed into one fitted + to serve as a clown of the vaudeville stage. + </p> + <p> + The advent of steam navigation came early in the nineteenth century, + though interesting steps in this direction were taken earlier. No sooner + was the steam-engine developed than men began to speculate on it as a + moving power on sea and land. Early among these were several Americans, + Oliver Evans, one of the first to project steam railway travel, and James + Rumsey and John Fitch, steamboat inventors of early date. There were + several experimenters in Europe also, but the first to produce a practical + steamboat was Robert Fulton, a native of Pennsylvania, whose successful + boat; the Clermont, made its maiden trip up the Hudson in 1807. A crude + affair was the Clermont, with a top speed of about seven miles an hour; + but it was the dwarf from which the giant steamers of to-day have grown. + </p> + <p> + Boats of this type quickly made their way over the American rivers and + before 1820 regular lines of steamboats were running between England and + Ireland. In 1817 James Watt, the inventor of the practical steam-engine, + crossed in a steamer from England to Belgium. But these short voyages were + far surpassed by an American enterprise, that of the first ocean + steamship, the Savannah, which crossed the Atlantic from Savannah to + Liverpool in 1819. + </p> + <p> + Twelve years passed before this enterprise was repeated, the next steam + voyage being in 1831, when the Royal William crossed from Quebec to + England. She used coal for fuel, having utilized her entire hold to store + enough for the voyage. The Savannah had burned pitch-pine under her + engines, for in America wood was long used as fuel for steam-making + purposes. As regards this matter, the problem of fuel was of leading + importance, and it was seriously questioned if a ship could be built to + cross the Atlantic depending solely upon steam power. Steam-engines in + those days were not very economical, needing four or five times as much + fuel for the same power as the engines of recent date. + </p> + <p> + It was not until 1838 that the problem was solved. On April 23d of that + year a most significant event took place. Two steamships dropped anchor in + the harbor of New York, the Sirius and the Great Western. Both of these + had made the entire voyage under steam, the Sirius, in eighteen and a half + and the Great Western in fourteen and a half days, measuring from + Queenstown. The Sirius had taken on board 450 tons of coal, but all this + was burned by the time Sandy Hook was reached, and she had to burn her + spare spars and forty-three barrels of rosin to make her way up the bay. + The Great Western, on the contrary, had coal to spare. + </p> + <p> + Two innovations in shipbuilding were soon introduced. These were the + building of iron instead of wooden ships and the replacing of the paddle + wheel by the screw propeller. The screw-propeller was first successfully + introduced by the famous Swede, John Ericsson, in 1835. His propeller was + tried in a small vessel, forty-five feet long and eight wide, which was + driven at the rate of ten miles an hour, and towed a large packet ship at + fair speed. Ericsson, not being appreciated in England, came to America to + experiment. Other inventors were also at work in the same line. + </p> + <p> + Their experiments attracted the attention of Isambard Brunel, one of the + greatest engineers of the period, who was then engaged in building a large + paddle-wheel steamer, the Great Britain. Appreciating the new idea, he had + the engines of the new ship changed and a screw propeller introduced. This + ship, a great one for the time, 322 feet long and of 3443 tons, made her + first voyage from Liverpool to New York in 1845, her average speed being + 12 1/4 knots an hour, the length of the voyage 14 days and 21 hours. + </p> + <p> + By the date named the crossing of the Atlantic by steamships had become a + common event. In 1840 the British and Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was + organized, its chief promoter being Samuel Cunard, of Halifax, Nova + Scotia, whose name has long been attached to this famous line. + </p> + <p> + The first fleet of the Cunard Line comprised four vessels, the Britannia, + Acadia, Caledonia and Columbia. The Unicorn, sent out by this company as a + pioneer, entered Boston harbor on June 2, 1840, being the first steamship + from Europe to reach that port. Regular trips began with the Britannia, + which left Liverpool on July 4, 1840. For a number of years later this + line enjoyed a practical monopoly of the steam carrying trade between + England and the United States. Then other companies came into the field, + chief among them being the Collins Line, started in 1849, and of short + duration, and the Inman Line, instituted in 1850. + </p> + <p> + We should say something here of the comforts and conveniences provided for + the passengers on these early lines. They differed strikingly from those + on the leviathans of recent travel and were little, if any, superior to + those on the packet ships, the active rivals at that date of the steamers. + Then there were none of the comfortable smoking rooms, well-filled + libraries, drawing rooms, electric lights, and other modern improvements. + The saloons and staterooms were in the extreme after part of the vessel, + but the stateroom of that day was little more than a closet, with two + berths, one above the other, and very little standing room between these + and the wall. By paying nearly double fare a passenger might secure a room + for himself, but the room given him did not compare well even with that of + small and unpretentious modern steamers. + </p> + <p> + Other ocean steamship companies gradually arose, some of which are still + in existence. But no especial change in ship-building was introduced until + 1870, when the Oceanic Company, now known as the White Star Line, built + the Britannic and Germanic. These were the largest of its early ships. + They were 468 feet long and 35 feet wide, constituting a new type of + extreme length as compared with their width. In the first White Star ship, + the Oceanic, the improvements above mentioned were introduced, the saloons + and staterooms being brought as near as possible to the center of the + ship. All the principal lines built since that date have followed this + example, thus adding much to the comfort of the first-class passengers. + </p> + <p> + Speed and economy in power also became features of importance, the tubular + boiler and the compound engine being introduced. These have developed into + the cylindrical, multitubular boiler and the triple expansion engine, in + which a greater percentage of the power of the steam is utilized and four + or five times the work obtained from coal over that of the old system. The + side-wheel was continued in use in the older ships until this period, but + after 1870 it disappeared. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that the life of iron ships, barring disasters at sea, is + unlimited, that they cannot wear out. This statement has not been tested, + but the fact remains that the older passenger ships have gone out of + service and that steel has now taken the place of iron, as lighter and + more durable. + </p> + <p> + Something should also be said here of the steam turbine engine, recently + introduced in some of the greatest liners, and of proven value in several + particulars, an important one of these being the doing away with the + vibration, an inseparable accompaniment of the old style engines. The + Olympic and Titanic engines were a combination of the turbine and + reciprocating types. In regard to the driving power, one of the recent + introductions is that of the multiple propeller. The twin screw was first + applied in the City of New York, of the Inman line, and enabled her to + make in 1890 an average speed of a little over six days from New York to + Queenstown. The best record up to October, 1891, was that of the Teutonic, + of five days, sixteen hours, and thirty minutes. Triple-screw propellers + have since then been introduced in some of the greater ships, and the + record speed has been cut down to the four days and ten hours of the + Lusitania in 1908 and the four days, six hours and forty-one minutes of + the Mauretania in 1910. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic was not built especially for speed, but in every other way she + was the master product of the shipbuilders' art. Progress through the + centuries has been steady, and perhaps the twentieth century will prepare + a vessel that will be unsinkable as well as magnificent. Until the fatal + accident the Titanic and Olympic were considered the last words on + ship-building; but much may still remain to be spoken. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII. SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + </h2> + <p> + WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY—WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS—SUBMARINE SIGNALS—LIFE-BOATS + AND RAFTS—NIXON'S PONTOON—LIFE-PRESERVERS AND BUOYS—ROCKETS + </p> + <p> + THE fact that there are any survivors of the Titanic left to tell the + story of the terrible catastrophe is only another of the hundreds of + instances on record of the value of wireless telegraphy in saving life on + shipboard. Without Marconi's invention it is altogether probable that the + world would never have known of the nature of the Titanic's fate, for it + is only barely within the realm of possibility that any of the Titanic's + passengers' poorly clad, without proper provisions of food and water, and + exposed in the open boats to the frigid weather, would have survived long + enough to have been picked up by a transatlantic liner in ignorance of the + accident to the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + Speaking (since the Titanic disaster) of the part which wireless + telegraphy has played in the salvation of distressed ships, Guglielmo + Marconi, the inventor of this wonderful science, has said: + </p> + <p> + "Fifteen years ago the curvature of the earth was looked upon as the one + great obstacle to wireless telegraphy. By various experiments in the Isle + of Wight and at St. John's I finally succeeded in sending the letter S + 2000 miles. + </p> + <p> + "We have since found that the fog and the dull skies in the vicinity of + England are exceptionally favorable for wireless telegraphy." + </p> + <p> + Then the inventor told of wireless messages being transmitted 2500 miles + across the Abyssinian desert, and of preparation for similar achievements. + </p> + <p> + "The one necessary requirement for continued success is that governments + keep from being enveloped in political red tape," said he. + </p> + <p> + "The fact that a message can be flashed across the wide expanse of ocean + in ten minutes has exceeded my fondest expectations. Some idea of the + progress made may be had by citing the fact that in eleven years the range + of wireless telegraphy has increased from 200 to 3000 miles. + </p> + <p> + "Not once has wireless telegraphy failed in calling and securing help on + the high seas. A recognition of this is shown in the attitude of the + United States Government in compelling all passenger-carrying vessels + entering our ports to be equipped with wireless apparatus." + </p> + <p> + Of the Titanic tragedy, Marconi said: + </p> + <p> + "I know you will all understand when I say that I entertain a deep feeling + of gratitude because of the fact that wireless telegraphy has again + contributed to the saving of life." + </p> + <p> + WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS + </p> + <p> + One of the most essential factors in making ships safe is the construction + of proper bulkheads to divide a ship into water-tight compartments in case + of injury to her hull. Of the modern means of forming such compartments, + and of the complete and automatic devices for operating the watertight + doors which connect them, a full explanation has already been given in the + description of the Titanic's physical features, to which the reader is + referred. A wise precaution usually taken in the case of twin and triple + screw ships is to arrange the bulkheads so that each engine is in a + separate compartment, as is also each boiler or bank of boilers and each + coal bunker. + </p> + <p> + SUBMARINE SIGNALS + </p> + <p> + Then there are submarine signals to tell of near-by vessels or shores. + This signal arrangement includes a small tank on either side of the + vessel, just below the water line. Within each is a microphone with wires + leading to the bridge. If the vessel is near any other or approaching + shore, the sounds; conveyed through the water from the distant object are + heard through the receiver of the microphone. These arrangements are + called the ship's ears, and whether the sounds come from one side of the + vessel or the other, the officers can tell the location of the shore or + ship near by. If both ears record, the object is ahead. + </p> + <p> + LIFEBOATS AND RAFTS + </p> + <p> + The construction of life-boats adapts them for very rough weather. The + chief essentials, of course, are ease in launching, strength in + withstanding rough water and bumping when beached; also strength to + withstand striking against wreckage or a ship's side; carrying capacity + and lightness. Those carried on board ship are lighter than those used in + life-saving service on shore. Safety is provided by air-tight tanks which + insure buoyancy in case the boat is filled with water. They have also + self-righting power in case of being overturned; likewise self-emptying + power. Life-boats are usually of the whaleboat type, with copper air-tight + tanks along the side beneath the thwarts, and in the ends. + </p> + <p> + Life-boats range from twenty-four to thirty feet in length and carry from + thirty to sixty persons. The rafts carry from twenty to forty persons. The + old-fashioned round bar davits can be got for $100 to $150 a set. The new + style davits, quick launchers in type, come as low as $400 a set. + </p> + <p> + According to some naval constructors, an ocean steamship can carry in + davits enough boats to take care of all the passengers and crew, it being + simply a question as to whether the steamship owners are willing to take + up that much deck room which otherwise would be used for lounging chairs + or for a promenade. + </p> + <p> + Nowadays all life-boats are equipped with air tanks to prevent sinking, + with the result that metal boats are as unsinkable as wooden ones. The + metal boats are considered in the United States Navy as superior to wooden + ones, for several reasons: They do not break or collapse; they do not, in + consequence of long storage on deck, open at the seams and thereby spring + a leak; and they are not eaten by bugs, as is the case with wooden boats. + </p> + <p> + Comparatively few of the transatlantic steamships have adopted metal + life-boats. Most of the boats are of wood, according to the official + United States Government record of inspection. The records show that a + considerable proportion of the entire number of so-called "life-boats" + carried by Atlantic Ocean liners are not actually life-boats at all, but + simply open boats, without air tanks or other special equipment or + construction. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = CHAMBERS COLLAPSIBLE LIFE RAFT} + </p> + <p> + Life-rafts are of several kinds. They are commonly used on large passenger + steamers where it is difficult to carry sufficient life-boats. In most + cases they consist of two or more hollow metal or inflated rubber floats + which support a wooden deck. The small rafts are supplied with life-lines + and oars, and the larger ones with life-lines only, or with life-lines and + sails. + </p> + <p> + The collapsible feature of the Chambers raft consists of canvas-covered + steel frames extending up twenty-five inches from the sides to prevent + passengers from being pitched off. When the rafts are not in use these + side frames are folded down on the raft. + </p> + <p> + The collapsible rafts are favored by the ship-owners because such boats + take up less room; they do not have to be carried in the davits, and they + can be stowed to any number required. Some of the German lines stack their + collapsible rafts one above another on deck. + </p> + <p> + NIXON'S PONTOON + </p> + <p> + Lewis Nixon, the well-known ship designer, suggests the construction of a + pontoon to be carried on the after end of the vessel and to be made of + sectional air-tight compartments. One compartment would accommodate the + wireless outfit. Another compartment would hold drinking water, and still + another would be filled with food. + </p> + <p> + The pontoon would follow the line of the ship and seem to be a part of it. + The means for releasing it before the sinking of the vessel present no + mechanical problem. It would be too large and too buoyant to be sucked + down with the wreck. + </p> + <p> + The pontoon would accommodate, not comfortably but safely, all those who + failed to find room in the life-boats. + </p> + <p> + It is Mr. Nixon's plan to instal a gas engine in one of the compartments. + With this engine the wireless instrument would remain in commission and + direct the rescuers after the ship itself had gone down. + </p> + <p> + LIFE PRESERVERS AND BUOYS + </p> + <p> + Life-preservers are chiefly of the belt or jacket type, made to fit about + the body and rendered buoyant by slabs of cork sewed into the garment, or + by rubber-lined air-bags. The use of cork is usually considered + preferable, as the inflated articles are liable to injury, and jackets are + preferable to belts as they can be put on more quickly. + </p> + <p> + Life-buoys are of several types, but those most common are of the ring + type, varying in size from the small one designed to be thrown by hand to + the large hollow metal buoy capable of supporting several people. The + latter are usually carried by sea-going vessels and are fitted with lamps + which are automatically lighted when the buoy is dropped into the water. + </p> + <p> + ROCKETS + </p> + <p> + American ocean-going steamers are required to have some approved means of + firing lines to the shore. Cunningham rockets and the Hunt gun are largely + used. The inaccuracy of the rocket is of less importance when fired from a + ship than when fired from shore. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII. TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORMS + </h2> + <p> + SPEED AND LUXURY OVEREMPHASIZED—SPACE NEEDED FOR LIFE-BOATS DEVOTED + TO SWIMMING POOLS AND SQUASH-COURTS—MANIA FOR SPEED RECORDS COMPELS + USE OF DANGEROUS ROUTES AND PREVENTS PROPER CAUTION IN FOGGY WEATHER—LIFE + MORE VALUABLE THAN LUXURY—SAFETY MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED—AN + AROUSED PUBLIC OPINION NECESSARY—INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE + RECOMMENDED—ADEQUATE LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE COMPULSORY—SPEED + REGULATIONS IN BAD WEATHER—COOPERATION IN ARRANGING SCHEDULES TO + KEEP VESSELS WITHIN REACH OF EACH OTHER—LEGAL REGULATIONS + </p> + <p> + IT is a long time since any modern vessel of importance has gone down + under Nature's attack, and in general the floating city of steel laughs at + the wind and waves. She is not, however, proof against disaster. The + danger lies in her own power—in the tens of thousands of horse power + with which she may be driven into another ship or into an iceberg standing + cold and unyielding as a wall of granite. In view of this fact it is of + the utmost importance that present-day vessels should be thoroughly + provided with the most efficient life-saving devices. These would seem + more important than fireplaces, squash-courts and many other luxuries with + which the Titanic was provided. The comparatively few survivors of the + ill-fated Titanic were saved by the life-boats. The hundreds of others who + went down with the vessel perished because there were no life-boats to + carry them until rescue came. + </p> + <p> + SURVIVORS URGE REFORM + </p> + <p> + The survivors urge the need of reform. In a resolution drawn up after the + disaster they said: + </p> + <p> + "We feel it our duty to call the attention of the public to what we + consider the inadequate supply of life-saving appliances provided for the + modern passenger steamships and recommend that immediate steps be taken to + compel passenger steamers to carry sufficient boats to accommodate the + maximum number of people carried on board. The following facts were + observed and should be considered in this connection: The insufficiency of + life-boats, rafts, etc.; lack of trained seamen to man same (stokers, + stewards, etc., are not efficient boat handlers); not enough officers to + carry out emergency orders on the bridge and superintend the launching and + control of life-boats; the absence of search lights. + </p> + <p> + "The Board of Trade allows for entirely too many people in each boat to + permit the same to be properly handled. On the Titanic the boat deck was + about seventy-five feet from the water and consequently the passengers + were required to embark before lowering the boats, thus endangering the + operation and preventing the taking on of the maximum number the boats + would hold. Boats at all times should be properly equipped with + provisions, water, lamps, compasses, lights, etc. Life-saving boat drills + should be more frequent and thoroughly carried out and officers should be + armed at both drills. There should be greater reduction of speed in fog + and ice, as damage if collision actually occurs is liable to be less. + </p> + <p> + INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED + </p> + <p> + "In conclusion we suggest that an international conference be called to + recommend the passage of identical laws providing for the safety of all at + sea, and we urge the United States Government to take the initiative as + soon as possible." + </p> + <p> + That ocean liners take chances with their passengers, though known to the + well informed, is newly revealed and comes with a shock of surprise and + dismay to most people. If boats are unsinkable as well as fireproof there + is no need of any life-boats at all. But no such steamship has ever been + constructed. + </p> + <p> + That it is realized that life-boats may be necessary on the best and + newest steamships is proved by the fact that they carry them even beyond + the law's requirements. But if life-boats for one-third of those on the + ship are necessary, life-boats for all on board are equally necessary. The + law of the United States requires this, but the law and trade regulations + of England do not, and these controlled the Titanic and caused the death + of over sixteen hundred people. + </p> + <p> + True, a steamship is rarely crowded to her capacity, and ordinarily + accommodations in life-boats for a full list would not be needed. But that + is no argument against maximum safety facilities, for when disaster comes + it comes unexpectedly, and it might come when every berth was occupied. So + there must be life-boats for use in every possible emergency. Places must + be found for them and methods for handling them promptly. + </p> + <p> + Suppose a vessel to be thus equipped, would safety be insured? In calm + weather such as the Titanic had, yes, for all that would be needed would + be to keep the small boats afloat until help came. The Titanic could have + saved everyone aboard. In heavy weather, no. As at present arranged, if a + vessel has a list, or, in non-nautical language, has tipped over on one + side, only the boats upon the lower side can be dropped, for they must be + swung clear of the vessel to be lowered from the davits. + </p> + <p> + So there is a problem which it is the duty of marine designers to solve. + They have heretofore turned their attention to the invention of some new + contrivance for comfort and luxury. Now let them grasp the far more + important question of taking every soul from a sinking ship. They can do + it, and while they are about it, it would be well to supplement life-boats + with other methods. + </p> + <p> + We like to think and to say that nothing is impossible in these days of + ceaseless and energetic progress. Certainly it is possible for the brains + of marine designers to find a better way for rescue work. Lewis Nixon, + ship-builder and designer for years, is sure that we can revolutionize + safety appliances. He has had a plan for a long time for the construction + of a considerable section of deck that could be detached and floated off + like an immense raft. He figures that such a deck-raft could be made to + carry the bulk of the passengers. + </p> + <p> + That may seem a bit chimerical to laymen, but Nixon is no layman. His + ideas are worthy of every consideration. Certain it is that something + radical must be done, and that the maritime nations must get together, not + only in the way of providing more life-saving facilities, but in agreeing + upon navigation routes and methods. + </p> + <p> + Captain William S. Sims, of the United States Navy, who is in a position + to know what he is talking about, has made some very pointed comments on + the subject. He says: + </p> + <p> + "The truth of the matter is that in case any large passenger steamship + sinks, by reason of collision or other fatal damage to her flotability, + more than half of her passengers are doomed to death, even in fair + weather, and in case there is a bit of a sea running none of the loaded + boats can long remain afloat, even if they succeed in getting safely away + from the side, and one more will be added to the long list of 'the ships + that never return.' + </p> + <p> + "Most people accept this condition as one of the inevitable perils of the + sea, but I believe it can be shown that the terrible loss of life + occasioned by such disasters as overtook the Bourgogne and the Titanic and + many other ships can be avoided or at least greatly minimized. Moreover, + it can be shown that the steamship owners are fully aware of the danger to + their passengers; that the laws on the subject of life-saving appliances + are wholly inadequate; that the steamship companies comply with the law, + though they oppose any changes therein, and that they decline to adopt + improved appliances; because there is no public demand for them, the + demand being for high schedule speed and luxurious conditions of travel. + </p> + <p> + "In addition to installing efficient life-saving appliances, if the great + steamship lines should come to an agreement to fix a maximum speed for + their vessels of various classes and fix their dates and hours of steaming + so that they would cross the ocean in pairs within supporting distances of + each other, on routes clear of ice, all danger of ocean travel would + practically be eliminated. + </p> + <p> + "The shortest course between New York and the English Channel lies across + Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Consequently the shortest water route is + over seas where navigation is dangerous by reason of fog and ice. It is a + notorious fact that the transatlantic steamships are not navigated with + due regard to safety; that they steam at practically full speed in the + densest fogs. But the companies cannot properly be blamed for this + practice, because if the 'blue liners' slow down in a fog or take a safe + route, clear of ice, the public will take passage on the 'green liners,' + which take the shortest route, and keep up their schedule time; regardless + of the risks indicated." + </p> + <p> + PROMPT REFORMS + </p> + <p> + The terrible sacrifice of the Titanic, however, is to have its fruit in + safety for the future. The official announcement is + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = A diagrammatic map showing how...} + </p> + <p> + made by the International Mercantile Marine that all its ships will be + equipped with sufficient life-boats and rafts for every passenger and + every member of the crew, without regard to the regulations in this + country and England or Belgium. One of the German liners already had this + complement of life-boats, though the German marine as a whole is + sufficiently deficient at this point to induce the Reichstag to order an + investigation. + </p> + <p> + Prompt, immediate and gratifying reform marks this action of the + International Mercantile Marine. It is doubtless true that this precaution + ought to have been taken without waiting for a loss of life such as makes + all previous marine disasters seem trivial. But the public itself has been + inert. For thirty years, since Plimsoll's day, every intelligent passenger + knew that every British vessel was deficient in life-boats, but neither + public opinion nor the public press took this matter up. There were no + questions in Parliament and no measures introduced in Congress. Even the + legislation by which the United States permitted English vessels reaching + American ports to avoid the legal requirements of American statute law + (which requires a seat in the life-boats for every passenger and every + member of the crew) attracted no public attention, and occasional + references to the subject by those better informed did nothing to awake + action. + </p> + <p> + But this is past. Those who died bravely without complaint and with + sacrificing regard for others did not lose their lives in vain. The safety + of all travelers for all times to come under every civilized flag is to be + greater through their sac-rifice. Under modern conditions life can be made + as safe at sea as on the land. It is heartrending to stop and think that + thirty-two more life-boats, costing only about $16,000, which could have + been stowed away without being noticed on the broad decks of the Titanic, + would have saved every man, woman and child on the steamer. There has + never been so great a disaster in the history of civilization due to the + neglect of so small an expenditure. + </p> + <p> + It would be idle to think that this was due simply to parsimony. It was + really due to the false and vicious notion that life at sea must be made + showy, sumptuous and magnificent. The absence of life-boats was not due to + their cost, but to the demand for a great promenade deck, with ample space + to look out on the sea with which a continuous row of life-boats would + have interfered, and to the general tendency to lavish money on the + luxuries of a voyage instead of first insuring its safety. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX. THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION + </h2> + <p> + PROMPT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT—SENATE COMMITTEE PROBES DISASTER AND + BRINGS OUT DETAILS—TESTIMONY OF ISMAY, OFFICERS, CREW, PASSENGERS + AND OTHER WITNESSES + </p> + <p> + PUBLIC sentiment with regard to the Titanic disaster was reflected in the + prompt action of the United States Government. + </p> + <p> + On April 17th the Senate, without a dissenting vote, ordered an + investigation of the wreck of the Titanic, with particular reference to + the inadequacy of life-saving boats and apparatus. The resolution also + directed inquiry into the use by the Titanic of the northern course "over + a route commonly regarded as dangerous from icebergs." + </p> + <p> + Besides investigating the disaster, the committee was directed to look + into the feasibility of international agreements for the further + protection of ocean traffic. + </p> + <p> + The Senate Committee on Commerce, in whose charge the investigation was + placed, immediately appointed the following sub-committee to conduct the + gathering of evidence and the examination of witnesses: + </p> + <p> + Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan, chairman; Senator Francis + Newlands of Nevada, Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of Oregon, Senator + George C. Perkins of California, Senator Theodore E. Burton of Ohio, + Senator Furnifold McL. Simmons of North Carolina and Senator Duncan U. + Fletcher of Florida. + </p> + <p> + The Senate Committee began its investigation in New York on Friday, April + 19th, the morning after the arrival of the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + Ismay, the first witness, came to the witness chair with a smile upon his + face. He was sworn and then told the committee that he made the voyage on + the Titanic only as a voluntary passenger. Nobody designated him to come + to see how the newly launched monster would behave on the initial trip. He + said that no money was spared in the construction, and as she was built on + commission there was no need for the builders to slight the work for their + own benefit. The accident had happened on Sunday night, April 14th. + </p> + <p> + "I was in bed and asleep," he said. "The ship was not going at full speed, + as has been printed, because full speed would be from seventy-eight to + eighty revolutions, and we were making only seventy-five. After the impact + with the iceberg I dressed and went on deck. I asked the steward what the + matter was and he told me. Then I went to Captain Smith and asked him if + the ship was in danger and he told me he thought she was." + </p> + <p> + Ismay said that he went on the bridge and remained there for some time and + then lent a hand in getting the life-boats ready. He helped to get the + women and children into the boats. + </p> + <p> + Ismay said that no other executive officer of the steamship company was on + board, which practically made him the sole master of the vessel the minute + it passed beyond the control of the captain and his fellow-officers. But + Ismay, seeming to scent the drift of the questions, said that he never + interfered in any way with the handling of the ship. + </p> + <p> + Ismay was asked to give more particulars about his departure from the + ship. He said: + </p> + <p> + "The boat was ready to be lowered away and the officer called out if there + were any more women or children to go or any more passengers on deck, but + there was none, and I got on board." + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S TESTIMONY + </p> + <p> + Captain Rostron, of the Carpathia, followed Mr. Ismay. He said the first + message received from the Titanic was that she was in immediate danger. "I + gave the order to turn the ship around as soon as the Titanic had given + her position. I set a course to pick up the Titanic, which was fifty-eight + miles west of my position. I sent for the chief engineer, told him to put + on another watch of stokers and make all speed for the Titanic. I told the + first officer to stop all deck work, get out the life-boats and be ready + for any emergency. The chief steward and doctors of the Carpathia I called + to my office and instructed as to their duties. The English doctor was + assigned to the first class dining room, the Italian doctor to the second + class dining room, the Hungarian doctor to the third class dining room. + They were instructed to be ready with all supplies necessary for any + emergency." + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER STEAMSHIPS TO + THE TITANIC ON NIGHT OF DISASTER.} + </p> + <p> + The captain told in detail of the arrangements made to prepare the + life-boats and the ship for the receipt of the survivors. + </p> + <p> + WEEPS AS HE TELLS STORY + </p> + <p> + Then with tears filling his eyes, Captain Rostron said he called the + purser. "I told him," said Captain Rostron, "I wanted to hold a service of + prayer—thanksgiving for the living and a funeral service for the + dead. I went to Mr. Ismay. He told me to take full charge. An Episcopal + clergyman was found among the passengers and he conducted the services." + </p> + <p> + TITANIC WAS A "LIFE-BOAT." + </p> + <p> + Captain Rostron said that the Carpathia had twenty lifeboats of her own, + in accordance with the British regulations. + </p> + <p> + "Wouldn't that indicate that the regulations are out of date, your ship + being much smaller than the Titanic, which also carried twenty + life-boats?" Senator Smith asked. + </p> + <p> + "No. The Titanic was supposed to be a life-boat herself." + </p> + <p> + WIRELESS FAILED + </p> + <p> + Why so few messages came from the Carpathia was gone into. Captain Rostron + declared the first messages, all substantially the same, were sent to the + White Star Line, the Cunard Line and the Associated Press. Then the first + and second cabin passenger lists were sent, when the wireless failed. + </p> + <p> + Senator Smith said some complaint had been heard that the Carpathia had + not answered President Taft's inquiry for Major Butt. Captain Rostron + declared a reply was sent, "Not on board." + </p> + <p> + Captain Rostron declared he issued orders for no messages to be sent + except upon orders from him, and for official business to go first, then + private messages from the Titanic survivors in order of filing. + </p> + <p> + Absolutely no censorship was exercised, he said. The wire-less continued + working all the way in, the Marconi operator being constantly at the key. + </p> + <p> + Guglielmo Marconi, the wireless inventor, was the next witness. + </p> + <p> + Marconi said he was chairman of the British Marconi Company. Under + instructions of the company, he said, operators must take their orders + from the captain of the ship on which they are employed. + </p> + <p> + "Do the regulations prescribe whether one or two operators should be + aboard the ocean vessels?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, on ships like the late Titanic and Olympic two are carried," said + Marconi. "The Carpathia, a smaller boat, carries one. The Carpathia's + wireless apparatus is a short-distance equipment." + </p> + <p> + TITANIC WELL EQUIPPED + </p> + <p> + "Do you consider that the Titanic was equipped with the latest improved + wireless apparatus?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I should say that it had the very best." + </p> + <p> + "Did you hear the captain of the Carpathia say, in his testimony, that + they caught this distress message from the Titanic almost providentally?" + asked Senator Smith. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I did. It was absolutely providential." + </p> + <p> + "Is there any signal for the operator if he is not at his post?'{'} + </p> + <p> + "I think there is none," said Marconi. + </p> + <p> + "Ought it not be incumbent upon ships to have an operator always at the + key?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but ship-owners don't like to carry two operators when they can get + along with one. The smaller boat owners do not like the expense of two + operators." + </p> + <p> + SECOND OFFICER TESTIFIES + </p> + <p> + Charles Herbert Lightoller, second officer of the Titanic, followed + Marconi on the stand. Mr. Lightoller said he understood the maximum speed + of the Titanic, as shown by its trial tests, to have been twenty-two and a + half to twenty-three knots. Senator Smith asked if the rule requiring + life-saving apparatus to be in each room for each passenger was complied + with. + </p> + <p> + "Everything was complete," said Lightoller. "Sixteen life-boats, of which + four were collapsible, were on the Titanic," he added. During the tests, + he said, Captain Clark, of the British Board of Trade, was aboard the + Titanic to inspect its life-saving equipment. + </p> + <p> + "How thorough are these captains of the Board of Trade in inspecting + ships?" asked Senator Smith. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Clark is so thorough that we called him a nuisance." + </p> + <p> + TITANIC KILLED RAPIDLY + </p> + <p> + After testifying to the circumstances under which the life-boats were + filled and lowered, Lightoller continued. "The boat's deck was only ten + feet from the water when I lowered the sixth boat. When we lowered the + first, the distance to the water was seventy feet." + </p> + <p> + "If the same course was pursued on the starboard side as you pursued on + the port, in filling boats, how do you account for so many members of the + crew being saved?" asked Chairman Smith. + </p> + <p> + "I have inquired especially and have found that for every six persons + picked up, five were either firemen or stewards." + </p> + <p> + COTTAM TELLS HIS STORY + </p> + <p> + Thomas Cottam, of Liverpool, the Marconi operator on the Carpathia, was + the next witness. + </p> + <p> + Cottam said that he was about ready to retire Sunday night, having + partially removed his clothes, and was waiting for a reply to a message to + the Parisian when he heard Cape Cod trying to call the Titanic. Cottam + called the Titanic operator to inform him of the fact, and received the + reply. 'Come at once; this is a distress message. C. Q. D.' " + </p> + <p> + "What did you do then?" + </p> + <p> + "I confirmed the distress message by asking the Titanic if I should report + the distress message to the captain of the Carpathia." + </p> + <p> + "How much time elapsed after you received the Titanic's distress message + before you reported it to Captain Rostron?" + </p> + <p> + "About a couple of minutes," Cottam answered. + </p> + <p> + COTTAM RECALLED + </p> + <p> + When the committee resumed the investigation on April 20th, Cottam was + recalled to the stand. + </p> + <p> + Senator Smith asked the witness if he had received any messages from the + time the Carpathia left the scene of the disaster until it reached New + York. The purpose of this question was to discover whether any official + had sought to keep back the news of the disaster. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," answered Cottam. "I reported the entire matter myself to the + steamship Baltic at 10.30 o'clock Monday morning. I told her we had been + to the wreck and had picked up as many of the passengers as we could." + </p> + <p> + Cottam denied that he had sent any message that all passengers had been + saved, or anything on which such a report could be based. + </p> + <p> + Cottam said he was at work Monday and until Wednesday. He repeated his + testimony of the previous day and said he had been without sleep + throughout Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and until late Wednesday afternoon when + he had been relieved by Bride. + </p> + <p> + "Did you or Bride send any message declaring that the Titanic was being + towed into Halifax?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," said the witness, with emphasis. + </p> + <p> + MARCONI EXPLAINS + </p> + <p> + In an effort to determine whether the signal "C. Q. D." might not have + been misunderstood by passing ships, Senator Smith called upon Mr. + Marconi. + </p> + <p> + "The 'C. Q.,'" said Marconi, "is an international signal which meant that + all stations should cease sending except the one using the call. The 'D.' + was added to indicate danger. The call, however, now has been superseded + by the universal call, 'S. O. S.'" + </p> + <p> + BRIDE ON THE STAND + </p> + <p> + Harold S. Bride, the sole surviving operator of the Titanic, was then + called. + </p> + <p> + Bride said he knew the Frankfurt was nearer than the Carpathia when he + called for assistance, but that he ceased his efforts to communicate with + the former because her operator persisted in asking, "What is the matter?" + despite Bride's message that the ship was in distress. + </p> + <p> + Time after time Senator Smith asked in varying forms why the Titanic did + not explain its condition to the Frankfurt. + </p> + <p> + "Any operator receiving 'C. Q. D.' and the position of the ship, if he is + on the job," said Bride, "would tell the captain at once." + </p> + <p> + Marconi again testified to the distress signals, and said that the + Frankfurt was equipped with Marconi wireless. He said that the receipt of + the signal "C. Q. D." by the Frankfurt's operator should have been + all-sufficient to send the Frankfurt to the immediate rescue. + </p> + <p> + ALL APPEALS RECEIVED + </p> + <p> + Under questioning by Senator Smith, Bride said that undoubtedly the + Frankfurt received all of the urgent appeals for help sent subsequently to + the Carpathia. + </p> + <p> + INVESTIGATION CARRIED TO WASHINGTON + </p> + <p> + The first witness when the investigation was resumed in Washington on + April 22d was P. A. S. Franklin, vice-president of the International + Mercantile Marine Company. + </p> + <p> + Franklin testified that he had had no communication with Captain Smith + during the Titanic's voyage, nor with Ismay, except one cable from + Southampton. + </p> + <p> + Senator Smith then showed Mr. Franklin the telegram received by + Congressman Hughes, of West Virginia, from the White Star Line, dated New + York, April 15th, and addressed to J. A. Hughes, Huntington, W. Va., as + follows: + </p> + <p> + "Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Passengers probably land on Wednesday. All + safe. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (Signed) "THE WHITE STAR LINE. " +</pre> + <p> + TELEGRAM A MYSTERY + </p> + <p> + "I ask you," continued the senator, "whether you know about the sending of + that telegram, by whom it was authorized and from whom it was sent?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not, sir," said Franklin. "Since it was mentioned at the Waldorf + Saturday we have had the entire passenger staff examined and we cannot + find out." + </p> + <p> + Asked when he first knew that the Titanic had sunk, Franklin said he first + knew it about 6.27 P.M., Monday. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Franklin then produced a thick package of telegrams which he had + received in relation to the disaster. + </p> + <p> + "About twenty minutes of two on Monday morning," said he, "I was awakened + by a telephone bell, and was called by a reporter for some paper who + informed me that the Titanic had met with an accident and was sinking. I + asked him where he got the information. He told me that it had come by + wireless from the steamship Virginian, which had been appealed to by the + Titanic for aid." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Franklin said he called up the White Star docks, but they had no + information, and he then appealed to the Associated Press, and there was + read to him a dispatch from Cape Race advising him of the accident. + </p> + <p> + "I asked the Associated Press," said Mr. Franklin, "not to send out the + dispatch until we had more detailed information, in order to avoid causing + unnecessary alarm. I was told, however, that the story already had been + sent." + </p> + <p> + The reassuring statements sent out by the line in the early hours of the + disaster next were made the subject of inquiry. + </p> + <p> + "Tell the committee on what you based those statements," directed Senator + Smith. + </p> + <p> + "We based them on reports and rumors received at Cape Race by individuals + and by the newspapers. They were rumors, and we could not place our finger + on anything authentic." + </p> + <p> + FIRST DEFINITE NEWS + </p> + <p> + "At 6.20 or 6.30 Monday evening," Mr. Franklin continued, "a message was + received telling the fateful news that the Carpathia reached the Titanic + and found nothing but boats and wreckage; that the Titanic had foundered + at 2.20 A.M. in 41.16 north, 50.14 west; that the Carpathia picked up all + the boats and had on board about 675 Titanic survivors—passengers + and crew. + </p> + <p> + "It was such a terrible shock that it took me several moments to think + what to do. Then I went downstairs to the reporters, I began to read the + message, holding it high in my hand. I had read only to the second line, + which said that the Titanic had sunk, when there was not a reporter left—they + were so anxious to get to the telephones. + </p> + <p> + SAFETY EQUIPMENT + </p> + <p> + "The Titanic's equipment was in excess of the law," said the witness. "It + carried its clearance in the shape of a certificate from the British Board + of Trade. I might say that no vessel can leave a British port without a + certificate that it is equipped to care for human lives aboard in case of + accident. It is the law." + </p> + <p> + "Do you know of anyone, any officer or man or any official, whom you deem + could be held responsible for the accident and its attendant loss of + life?" + </p> + <p> + "Positively not. No one thought such an accident could happen. It was + undreamed of. I think it would be absurd to try to hold some individual + responsible. Every precaution was taken; that the precautions were of no + avail is a source of the deepest sorrow. But the accident was + unavoidable." + </p> + <p> + FOURTH OFFICER TESTIFIES + </p> + <p> + J. B. Boxhall, the fourth officer, was then questioned. + </p> + <p> + "Were there any drills or any inspection before the Titanic sailed?" he + was asked. + </p> + <p> + "Both," said the witness. "The men were mustered and the life-boats + lowered in the presence of the inspectors from the Board of Trade." + </p> + <p> + "How many boats were lowered?" + </p> + <p> + "Just two, sir." + </p> + <p> + "One on each side of the ship?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir. They were both on the same side. We were lying in dock." + </p> + <p> + The witness said he did not know whether the lowering tackle ran free or + not on that occasion. + </p> + <p> + "In lowering the life-boats at the test, did the gear work + satisfactorily?" + </p> + <p> + "So far as I know." + </p> + <p> + In lowering a life-boat, he said, first the boat has to be cleared, chocks + knocked down and the boat hangs free. Then the davits are screwed out to + the ship's side and the boat lowered. + </p> + <p> + At the time of the tests all officers of the Titanic were present. + </p> + <p> + Boxhall said that under the weather conditions experienced at the time of + the collision the life-boats were supposed to carry sixty-five persons. + Under the regulations of the British Board of Trade, in addition to the + oars, there were in the boats water breakers, water dippers, bread, + bailers, mast and sail and lights and a supply of oil. All of these + supplies, said Boxhall, were in the boats when the Titanic left Belfast. + He could not say whether they were in when the vessel left Southampton. + </p> + <p> + "Now," repeated Senator Smith, "suppose the weather was clear and the sky + unruffled, as it was at the time of the disaster, how many would the boat + hold?" + </p> + <p> + "Really, I don't know. It would depend largely upon the people who were to + enter. If they did as they were told I believe each boat could accommodate + sixty-five persons." + </p> + <p> + Boxhall testified to the sobriety and good habits of his superior and + brother officers. + </p> + <p> + NO TRACE OF DAMAGE INSIDE + </p> + <p> + Boxhall said he went down to the steerage, inspected all the decks in the + vicinity of where the ship had struck, found no traces of any damage and + went directly to the bridge and so reported. + </p> + <p> + CARPENTER FOUND LEAKS + </p> + <p> + "The captain ordered me to send a carpenter to sound the ship, but I found + a carpenter coming up with the announcement that the ship was taking + water. In the mail room I found mail sacks floating about while the clerks + were at work. I went to the bridge and reported, and the captain ordered + the life-boats to be made ready." + </p> + <p> + Boxhall testified that at Captain Smith's orders he took word of the + ship's position to the wireless operators. + </p> + <p> + "What position was that?" + </p> + <p> + "Forty-one forty-six north, fifty fourteen west." + </p> + <p> + "Was that the last position taken?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, the Titanic stood not far from there when she sank." + </p> + <p> + After that Boxhall went back to the life-boats, where there were many men + and women. He said they had been provided with life-belts. + </p> + <p> + {illust. caption = THE EFFECTS OF STRIKING AN ICEBERG + </p> + <p> + (1) Shows normal....} + </p> + <p> + DISTRESS ROCKETS FIRED + </p> + <p> + "After that I was on the bridge most of the time sending out distress + signals, trying to attract the attention of boats ahead," he said. "I sent + up distress rockets until I left the ship, to try to attract the attention + of a ship directly ahead. I had seen her lights. She seemed to be meeting + us and was not far away. She got close enough, so she seemed to me, to + read our Morse electric signals." + </p> + <p> + "Suppose you had a powerful search light on the Titanic, could you not + have thrown a beam on the vessel and have compelled her attention?" + </p> + <p> + "We might." + </p> + <p> + H. J. Pitman, the third officer of the ship, was the first witness on + April 23d. By a series of searching questions Senator Fletcher brought out + the fact that when the collision occurred the Titanic was going at the + greatest speed attained during the trip, even though the ship was entering + the Grand Banks and had been advised of the presence of ice. + </p> + <p> + Frederick Fleet, a sailor and lookout man on the Titanic, followed Pitman + on the stand. Fleet said he had had five or six years' experience at sea + and was lookout on the Oceanic prior to going on the Titanic. He was in + the crow's nest at the time of the collision. + </p> + <p> + Fleet stated that he had kept a sharp lookout for ice, and testified to + seeing the iceberg and signaling the bridge. + </p> + <p> + Fleet acknowledged that if he had been aided in his observations by a good + glass he probably could have spied the berg into which the ship crashed in + time to have warned the bridge to avoid it. Major Arthur Peuchen, of + Toronto, a passenger who followed Fleet on the stand, also testified to + the much greater sweep of vision afforded by binoculars and, as a + yachtsman, said he believed the presence of the iceberg might have been + detected in time to escape the collision had the lookout men been so + equipped. + </p> + <p> + HAD ASKED FOR BINOCULARS + </p> + <p> + It was made to appear that the blame for being without glasses did not + rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they had asked for them at + Southampton and were told there were none for them. One glass, in a pinch, + would have served in the crow's nest. + </p> + <p> + The testimony before the committee on April 24th showed that the big + steamship was on the verge of a field of ice twenty or thirty miles long, + if she had not actually entered it, when the accident occurred. + </p> + <p> + The committee tried to discover whether it would add to human safety if + the ships were fitted with search lights so that at night objects could be + seen at a greater distance. The testimony so far along this line had been + conflicting. Some of the witnesses thought it would be no harm to try it, + but they were all skeptical as to its value, as an iceberg would not be + especially distinguishable because its bulk is mostly below the surface. + </p> + <p> + One of the witnesses said that much dependence is not placed upon the + lookout, and that those lookouts who used binoculars constantly found them + detrimental. + </p> + <p> + Harold G. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, told the committee his part + in the struggle of the survivors for life following the catastrophe. The + details of this struggle have have already been told in a previous + chapter. + </p> + <p> + AUTHORIZED TO SELL STORY + </p> + <p> + In great detail Guglielmo Marconi, on April 25th, explained the operations + of his system and told how he had authorized Operator Bride of the + Titanic, and Operator Cottam, of the Carpathia, to sell their stories of + the disaster after they came ashore. + </p> + <p> + In allowing the operator's to sell their stories, said Mr. Marconi, there + was no question of suppressing or monopolizing the news. He had done + everything he could, he said, to have the country informed as quickly as + possible of the details of the disaster. That was why he was particularly + glad for the narratives of such important witnesses as the operators to + receive publication, regardless of the papers that published them. + </p> + <p> + He repeated the testimony of Cottam that every effort had been made to get + legitimate dispatches ashore. The cruiser Chester, he said, had been + answered as fully as possible, though it was not known at the time that + its queries came from the President of the United States. The Salem, he + said, had never got in touch with the Carpathia operator. + </p> + <p> + Senator Newlands suggested that the telegrams, some signed by the name of + Mr. Sammis and some with the name of Marconi, directing Cottam to "keep + his mouth shut" and hold out for four figures on his story, was sent only + as the Carpathia was entering New York harbor, when there was no longer + need for sending official or private messages from the rescuing ship. + There had been an impression before, he said, that the messages had been + sent to Cottam when the ship was far at sea, when they might have meant + that he was to hold back messages relieving the anxiety of those on shore. + </p> + <p> + SAW DISTRESS ROCKETS + </p> + <p> + Ernest Gill, a donkey engineman on the steamship Californian, was the + first witness on April 26th. He said that Captain Stanley Lord, of the + Californian, refused later to go to the aid of the Titanic, the rockets + from which could be plainly seen. He says the captain was apprised of + these signals, but made no effort to get up steam and go to the rescue. + The Californian was drifting with the floe. So indignant did he become, + said Gill, that he endeavored to recruit a committee of protest from among + the crew, but the men failed him. + </p> + <p> + Captain Lord entered a sweeping denial of Gill's accusations and read from + the Californian's log to support his contention. Cyril Evans, the + Californian's wireless operator, however, told of hearing much talk among + the crew, who were critical of the captain's course. Gill, he said, told + him he expected to get $500 for his story when the ship reached Boston. + </p> + <p> + Evans told of having warned the Titanic only a brief time before the great + vessel crashed into the berg that the sea was crowded with ice. The + Titanic's operators, he said, at the time were working with the wireless + station at Cape Race, and they told him to "shut up" and keep out. Within + a half hour the pride of the sea was crumpled and sinking. + </p> + <p> + Members of the committee who examined individually the British sailors and + stewards of the Titanic's crew prepared a report of their investigations + for the full committee. This testimony was ordered to be incorporated in + the record of the hearings. + </p> + <p> + Most of this testimony was but a repetition of experiences similar to the + many already related by those who got away in the life-boats. + </p> + <p> + On April 27th Captain James H. Moore, of the steamship Mount Temple, who + hurried to the Titanic in response to wireless calls for help, told of the + great stretch of field ice which held him off. Within his view from the + bridge he discerned, he said, a strange steamship, probably a "tramp," and + a schooner which was making her way out of the ice. The lights of this + schooner, he thought, probably were those seen by the anxious survivors of + the Titanic and which they were frantically trying to reach. + </p> + <p> + WOMEN AT HEARING WEEP + </p> + <p> + Steward Crawford also related a thrilling story in regard to loading the + life-boats with women first. He told of several instances that came under + his observation of women throwing their arms around their husbands and + crying out that they would not leave the ship without them. The pathetic + recital caused several women at the hearing to weep, and all within + earshot of the steward's story were thrilled. + </p> + <p> + ANDREWS WAS BRAVE + </p> + <p> + Stories that Mr. Andrews, the designer of the ship, had tried to disguise + the extent of danger were absolutely denied by Henry Samuel Etches, his + bedroom steward, who told the committee how Mr. Andrews urged women back + to their cabins to dress more warmly and to put on life-belts. + </p> + <p> + The steward, whose duty it was to serve Major Butt and his party, told how + he did not see the Major at dinner the evening of the disaster as he was + dining with a private party in the restaurant. William Burke, a first + class steward, told of serving dinner at 7.15 o'clock to Mr. and Mrs. + Straus, and later Mrs. Straus' refusal to leave her husband was again told + to the committee. A bedroom steward told of a quiet conversation with + Benjamin Guggenheim, Senator Guggenheim's brother, after the accident and + shortly before the Titanic settled in the plunge that was to be his death. + </p> + <p> + On April 29th Marconi produced copies of several messages which passed + between the Marconi office and the Carpathia in an effort to get definite + information of the wreck and the survivors. + </p> + <p> + Marconi and F. M. Sammis, chief engineer of the American Marconi Company, + both acknowledged that a mistake had been made in sending messages to + Bride and Cottam on board the Carpathia not to give out any news until + they had seen Marconi and Sammis. + </p> + <p> + The senatorial committee investigating the Titanic disaster has served + several good purposes. It has officially established the fact that all + nations are censurable for insufficient, antiquated safety regulations on + ocean vessels, and it has emphasized the imperative necessity for united + action among all maritime countries to revise these laws and adapt them to + changed conditions. + </p> + <p> + The committee reported its findings as follows: + </p> + <p> + GENERAL CONCLUSIONS + </p> + <p> + No particular person is named as being responsible, though attention is + called to the fact that on the day of the disaster three distinct warnings + of ice were sent to Captain Smith. J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of + the White Star Line, is not held responsible for the ship's high speed. In + fact, he is barely mentioned in the report. + </p> + <p> + Ice positions, so definitely reported to the Titanic just preceding the + accident, located ice on both sides of the lane in which she was + traveling. No discussion took place among the officers, no conference was + called to consider these warnings, no heed was given to them. The speed + was not relaxed, the lookout was not increased. + </p> + <p> + The supposedly water-tight compartments of the Titanic were not + water-tight, because of the non-water-tight condition of the decks where + the transverse bulkheads ended. + </p> + <p> + The steamship Californian, controlled by the same concern as the Titanic, + was nearer the sinking steamship than the nineteen miles reported by her + captain, and her officers and crew saw the distress signals of the Titanic + and failed to respond to them in accordance with the dictates of humanity, + international usage and the requirements of law. Had assistance been + promptly proffered the Californian might have had the proud distinction of + rescuing the lives of the passengers and crew of the Titanic. + </p> + <p> + The mysterious lights on an unknown ship, seen by the passengers on the + Titanic, undoubtedly were on the Californian, less than nineteen miles + away. + </p> + <p> + Eight ships, all equipped with wireless, were in the vicinity of the + Titanic, the Olympic farthest away—512 miles. + </p> + <p> + The full capacity of the Titanic's life-boats was not utilized, because, + while only 705 persons were saved, the ship's boats could have carried + 1176. + </p> + <p> + No general alarm was sounded, no whistle blown and no systematic warning + was given to the endangered passengers, and it was fifteen or twenty + minutes after the collision before Captain Smith ordered the Titanic's + wireless operator to send out a distress message. + </p> + <p> + The Titanic's crew were only meagerly acquainted with their positions and + duties in an accident and only one drill was held before the maiden trip. + Many of the crew joined the ship only a few hours before she sailed and + were in ignorance of their positions until the following Friday. + </p> + <p> + Many more lives could have been saved had the survivors been concentrated + in a few life-boats, and had the boats thus released returned to the wreck + for others. + </p> + <p> + The first official information of the disaster was the message from + Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, received by the White Star Line at 6.16 + P. M., Monday, April 15. In the face of this information a message + reporting the Titanic being towed to Halifax was sent to Representative J. + A. Hughes, at Huntington, W. Va., at 7.51 P. M. that day. The message was + delivered to the Western Union office in the same building as the White + Star Line offices. + </p> + <p> + "Whoever sent this message," says the report, "under the circumstances, is + guilty of the most reprehensible conduct." + </p> + <p> + The wireless operator on the Carpathia was not duly vigilant in handling + his messages after the accident. + </p> + <p> + The practice of allowing wireless operators to sell their stories should + be stopped. + </p> + <p> + RECOMMENDATIONS. + </p> + <p> + It is recommended that all ships carrying more than 100 passengers shall + have two searchlights. + </p> + <p> + That a revision be made of steamship inspection laws of foreign countries + to conform to the standard proposed in the United States. + </p> + <p> + That every ship be required to carry sufficient life-boats for all + passengers and crew. + </p> + <p> + That the use of wireless be regulated to prevent interference by amateurs, + and that all ships have a wireless operator on constant duty. + </p> + <p> + Detailed recommendations are made as to water-tight bulkhead construction + on ocean-going ships. Bulkheads should be so spaced that any two adjacent + compartments of a ship might be flooded without sinking. + </p> + <p> + Transverse bulkheads forward and abaft the machinery should be continued + watertight to the uppermost continuous structural deck, and this deck + should be fitted water-tight. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sinking of the Titanic, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SINKING OF THE TITANIC *** + +***** This file should be named 781-h.htm or 781-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/781/ + +Produced by Charles Keller, Mike Lough, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Sinking of the Titanic + and Great Sea Disasters + +Author: Various + +Editor: Logan Marshall + +Release Date: January, 1997 [Etext #781] +Posting Date: November 5, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SINKING OF THE TITANIC *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller and Mike Lough + + + + + +SINKING OF THE TITANIC + +AND GREAT SEA DISASTERS + +By Various + +Edited by Logan Marshall + + + +Pre-Frontispiece Caption: THE TITANIC + +The largest and finest steamship in the world; on her maiden voyage, +loaded with a human freight of over 2,300 souls, she collided with a +huge iceberg 600 miles southeast of Halifax, at 11.40 P.M. Sunday April +14, 1912, and sank two and a half hours later, carrying over 1,600 of +her passengers and crew with her. + + + +Frontispiece Caption: CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH + +Of the ill-fated giant of the sea; a brave and seasoned commander who +was carried to his death with his last and greatest ship. + + + +Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters + +A Detailed and Accurate Account of the Most Awful Marine Disaster in +History, Constructed from the Real Facts as Obtained from Those on Board +Who Survived.......... + +ONLY AUTHORITATIVE BOOK + +INCLUDING Records of Previous Great Disasters of the Sea, Descriptions +of the Developments of Safety and Life-saving Appliances, a Plain +Statement of the Causes of Such Catastrophes and How to Avoid Them, the +Marvelous Development of Shipbuilding, etc. + +With a Message of Spiritual Consolation by REV. HENRY VAN DYKE, D.D. + +EDITED BY LOGAN MARSHALL + +Author of "Life of Theodore Roosevelt," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED With Numerous Authentic Photographs and Drawings + + + +Dedication + +To the 1635 souls who were lost with the ill-fated Titanic, and +especially to those heroic men, who, instead of trying to save +themselves, stood aside that women and children might have their chance; +of each of them let it be written, as it was written of a Greater +One--"He Died that Others might Live" + + +"I stood in unimaginable trance And agony that cannot be +remembered."--COLERIDGE + + +Dr. Van Dyke's Spiritual Consolation to the Survivors of the Titanic + + +The Titanic, greatest of ships, has gone to her ocean grave. What has +she left behind her? Think clearly. + +She has left debts. Vast sums of money have been lost. Some of them are +covered by insurance which will be paid. The rest is gone. All wealth is +insecure. + +She has left lessons. The risk of running the northern course when it +is menaced by icebergs is revealed. The cruelty of sending a ship to +sea without enough life-boats and life-rafts to hold her company is +exhibited and underlined in black. + +She has left sorrows. Hundreds of human hearts and homes are in mourning +for the loss of dear companions and friends. The universal sympathy +which is written in every face and heard in every voice proves that man +is more than the beasts that perish. It is an evidence of the divine in +humanity. Why should we care? There is no reason in the world, unless +there is something in us that is different from lime and carbon and +phosphorus, something that makes us mortals able to suffer together-- + + "For we have all of us an human heart." + +But there is more than this harvest of debts, and lessons, and sorrows, +in the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. There is a great ideal. +It is clearly outlined and set before the mind and heart of the modern +world, to approve and follow, or to despise and reject. + +It is, "Women and children first!" + +Whatever happened on that dreadful April night among the arctic ice, +certainly that was the order given by the brave and steadfast captain; +certainly that was the law obeyed by the men on the doomed ship. But +why? There is no statute or enactment of any nation to enforce such an +order. There is no trace of such a rule to be found in the history of +ancient civilizations. There is no authority for it among the heathen +races to-day. On a Chinese ship, if we may believe the report of an +official representative, the rule would have been "Men First, children +next, and women last." + +There is certainly no argument against this barbaric rule on physical or +material grounds. On the average, a man is stronger than a woman, he is +worth more than a woman, he has a longer prospect of life than a woman. +There is no reason in all the range of physical and economic science, +no reason in all the philosophy of the Superman, why he should give his +place in the life-boat to a woman. + +Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking Titanic come +from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth. + +It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the strong +ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." It is the divine +revelation which is summed up in the words: "Greater love hath no man +than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." + +It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic to bring out +the absolute contradiction between this ideal and all the counsels of +materialism and selfish expediency. + +I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found in other +religions. I do not say that they are against it. I do not ask any man +to accept my theology (which grows shorter and simpler as I grow older), +unless his heart leads him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the +strength of the strong is given them to protect and save the weak, +the ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," is in +essential harmony with the spirit of Christ. + +If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this ideal is +supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find arguments for it. The +tragedy of facts sets the question clearly before us. Think about it. Is +this ideal to survive and prevail in our civilization or not? + +Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and dominion. But +what a world to live in! + +Only through the belief that the strong are bound to protect and save +the weak because God wills it so, can we hope to keep self-sacrifice, +and love, and heroism, and all the things that make us glad to live and +not afraid to die. + +HENRY VAN DYKE. + +PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY + +"The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"--Another triumph set +down to wireless telegraphy--The world goes to sleep peacefully--The sad +awakening + +CHAPTER II THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + +Dimensions of the Titanic--Capacity--Provisions for the comfort +and entertainment of passengers--Mechanical equipment--The army of +attendants required + +CHAPTER III THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + +Preparations for the voyage--Scenes of gayety--The boat sails--Incidents +of the voyage--A collision narrowly averted--The boat on fire--Warned of +icebergs + +CHAPTER IV SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS + +Sketches of prominent men and women on board, including Major Archibald +Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, J. Bruce +Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d, Charles M. +Hays, W. T. Stead and others + +CHAPTER V THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! + +Tardy attention to warning responsible for accident--The danger not +realized at first--An interrupted card game--Passengers joke among +themselves--The real truth dawns--Panic on board--Wireless calls for +help. + +CHAPTER VI "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" + +Cool-headed officers and crew bring order out of chaos--Filling the +life-boats--Heartrending scenes as families are parted--Four life-boats +lost--Incidents of bravery--"The boats are all filled!" + +CHAPTER VII LEFT TO THEIR FATE + +Coolness and heroism of those left to perish--Suicide of +Murdock--Captain Smith's end--The ship's band plays a noble hymn as the +vessel goes down. + +CHAPTER VIII THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD + +The value of the wireless--Other ships alter their course--Rescuers on +the way. + +CHAPTER IX IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS + +Sorrow and suffering--The survivors see the Titanic go down with their +loved ones on board--A night of agonizing suspense--Women help to +row--Help arrives--Picking up the life-boats. + +CHAPTER X ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA + +Aid for the suffering and hysterical--Burying the dead--Vote of +thanks to Captain Rostron of the Carpathia--Identifying those +saved--Communicating with land--The passage to New York. + +CHAPTER XI PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS + +Police arrangements--Donations of money and supplies--Hospital and +ambulances made ready--Private houses thrown open--Waiting for the +Carpathia to arrive--The ship sighted! + +CHAPTER XII THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING + +The Carpathia reaches New York--An intense and dramatic +moment--Hysterical reunions and crushing disappointments at the +dock--Caring for the sufferers--Final realization that all hope for +others is futile--List of survivors--Roll of the dead. + +CHAPTER XIII THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD + +How the Titanic sank--Water strewn with dead bodies--Victims met death +with hymn on their lips. + +CHAPTER XIV THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + +Collision only a slight jar--Passengers could not believe the vessel +doomed--Narrow escape of life-boats--Picked up by the Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XV JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK + +Seventeen-year-old son of Pennsylvania Railroad official tells +moving story of his rescue--Told mother to be brave--Separated from +parents--Jumped when vessel sank--Drifted on overturned boat--Picked up +by Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XVI INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + +Women forced into the life-boats--Why some men were saved before +women--Asked to man life-boats. + +CHAPTER XVII WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK + +Story of Harold Bride, the surviving wireless operator of the Titanic, +who was washed overboard and rescued by life-boat--Band played ragtime +and "Autumn". + +CHAPTER XVIII STORY OF THE STEWARD + +Passengers and crew dying when taken aboard Carpathia--One woman saved +a dog--English colonel swam for hours when boat with mother aboard +capsized. + +CHAPTER XIX HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + +Nations prostrate with grief--Messages from kings and +cardinals--Disaster stirs world to necessity of stricter regulations. + +CHAPTER XX BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + +Illustrious career of Captain E. J. Smith--Brave to the +last--Maintenance of order and discipline--Acts of heroism--Engineers +died at posts--Noble-hearted band. + +CHAPTER XXI SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD + +Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia--Bremen passengers see +bodies--Identifying bodies--Confusion in names--Recoveries. + +CHAPTER XXII CRITICISM OF ISMAY + +Criminal and cowardly conduct charged--Proper caution not exercised when +presence of icebergs was known--Should have stayed on board to help +in work of rescue--Selfish and unsympathetic actions on board the +Carpathia--Ismay's defense--William E. Carter's statement. + +CHAPTER XXIII THE FINANCIAL LOSS + +Titanic not fully insured--Valuable cargo and mail--No chance for +salvage--Life insurance loss--Loss to the Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XXIV OPINIONS OF EXPERTS + +Captain E. K. Roden, Lewis Nixon, General Greely and Robert H. Kirk +point out lessons taught by Titanic disaster and needed changes in +construction. + +CHAPTER XXV OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS. + +Deadly danger of icebergs--Dozens of ships perish in collision--Other +disasters. + +CHAPTER XXVI DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING + +Evolution of water travel--Increases in size of vessels--Is there any +limit?--Achievements in speed--Titanic not the last word. + +CHAPTER XXVII SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + +Wireless telegraphy--Water-tight bulkheads--Submarine +signals--Life-boats and rafts--Nixon's pontoon--Life-preservers and +buoys--Rockets. + +CHAPTER XXVIII TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORM + +Speed and luxury overemphasized--Space needed for life-boats devoted to +swimming pools and squash-courts--Mania for speed records compels use of +dangerous routes and prevents proper caution in foggy weather--Life +more valuable than luxury--Safety more important than speed--An aroused +public opinion necessary--International conference recommended--Adequate +life-saving equipment should be compulsory--Speed regulations in bad +weather--Co-operation in arranging schedules to keep vessels within +reach of each other--Legal regulations. + +CHAPTER XXIX THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION + +Prompt action of the Government--Senate committee probes disaster and +brings out details--Testimony of Ismay, officers, crew passengers and +other witnesses. + + + + +FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC + +NUMBER of persons aboard, 2340. Number of life-boats and rafts, 20. +Capacity of each life-boat, 50 passengers and crew of 8. Utmost capacity +of life-boats and rafts, about 1100. Number of life-boats wrecked in +launching, 4. Capacity of life-boats safely launched, 928. Total number +of persons taken in life-boats, 711. Number who died in life-boats, 6. +Total number saved, 705. Total number of Titanic's company lost, 1635. + +The cause of the disaster was a collision with an iceberg in latitude +41.46 north, longitude 50.14 west. The Titanic had had repeated warnings +of the presence of ice in that part of the course. Two official warnings +had been received defining the position of the ice fields. It had been +calculated on the Titanic that she would reach the ice fields about 11 +o'clock Sunday night. The collision occurred at 11.40. At that time the +ship was driving at a speed of 21 to 23 knots, or about 26 miles, an +hour. + +There had been no details of seamen assigned to each boat. + +Some of the boats left the ship without seamen enough to man the oars. + +Some of the boats were not more than half full of passengers. + +The boats had no provisions, some of them had no water stored, some were +without sail equipment or compasses. + +In some boats, which carried sails wrapped and bound, there was not a +person with a knife to cut the ropes. In some boats the plugs in the +bottom had been pulled out and the women passengers were compelled to +thrust their hands into the holes to keep the boats from filling and +sinking. + +The captain, E. J. Smith, admiral of the White Star fleet, went down +with his ship. + + + +CHAPTER I. FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY + +"THE TITANIC IN COLLISION, BUT EVERYBODY SAFE"--ANOTHER TRIUMPH SET +DOWN TO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY--THE WORLD GOES TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY--THE SAD +AWAKENING. + +LIKE a bolt out of a clear sky came the wireless message on Monday, +April 15, 1912, that on Sunday night the great Titanic, on her maiden +voyage across the Atlantic, had struck a gigantic iceberg, but that +all the passengers were saved. The ship had signaled her distress and +another victory was set down to wireless. Twenty-one hundred lives +saved! + +Additional news was soon received that the ship had collided with a +mountain of ice in the North Atlantic, off Cape Race, Newfoundland, at +10.25 Sunday evening, April 14th. At 4.15 Monday morning the Canadian +Government Marine Agency received a wireless message that the Titanic +was sinking and that the steamers towing her were trying to get her into +shoal water near Cape Race, for the purpose of beaching her. + +Wireless despatches up to noon Monday showed that the passengers of the +Titanic were being transferred aboard the steamer Carpathia, a Cunarder, +which left New York, April 13th, for Naples. Twenty boat-loads of the +Titanic's passengers were said to have been transferred to the Carpathia +then, and allowing forty to sixty persons as the capacity of each +life-boat, some 800 or 1200 persons had already been transferred from +the damaged liner to the Carpathia. They were reported as being taken to +Halifax, whence they would be sent by train to New York. + +Another liner, the Parisian, of the Allan Company, which sailed from +Glasgow for Halifax on April 6th, was said to be close at hand and +assisting in the work of rescue. The Baltic, Virginian and Olympic were +also near the scene, according to the information received by wireless. + +While badly damaged, the giant vessel was reported as still afloat, but +whether she could reach port or shoal water was uncertain. The White +Star officials declared that the Titanic was in no immediate danger of +sinking, because of her numerous water-tight compartments. + +"While we are still lacking definite information," Mr. Franklin, +vice-president of the White Star Line, said later in the afternoon, "we +believe the Titanic's passengers will reach Halifax, Wednesday evening. +We have received no further word from Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, +or from any of the ships in the vicinity, but are confident that there +will be no loss of life." + +With the understanding that the survivors would be taken to Halifax the +line arranged to have thirty Pullman cars, two diners and many passenger +coaches leave Boston Monday night for Halifax to get the passengers +after they were landed. Mr. Franklin made a guess that the Titanic's +passengers would get into Halifax on Wednesday. The Department of +Commerce and Labor notified the White Star Line that customs and +immigration inspectors would be sent from Montreal to Halifax in +order that there would be as little delay as possible in getting the +passengers on trains. + +Monday night the world slept in peace and assurance. A wireless message +had finally been received, reading: + +"All Titanic's passengers safe." + +It was not until nearly a week later that the fact was discovered that +this message had been wrongly received in the confusion of messages +flashing through the air, and that in reality the message should have +read: + +"Are all Titanic's passengers safe?" + +With the dawning of Tuesday morning came the awful news of the true fate +of the Titanic. + + + +CHAPTER II. THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + +DIMENSIONS OF THE TITANIC--CAPACITY--PROVISIONS FOR THE COMFORT AND +ENTERTAINMENT OF PASSENGERS--MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT THE ARMY OF ATTENDANTS +REQUIRED. + +THE statistical record of the great ship has news value at this time. + +Early in 1908 officials of the White Star Company announced that they +would eclipse all previous records in shipbuilding with a vessel of +staggering dimensions. The Titanic resulted. + +The keel of the ill-fated ship was laid in the summer of 1909 at the +Harland & Wolff yards, Belfast. Lord Pirrie, considered one of the +best authorities on shipbuilding in the world, was the designer. The +leviathan was launched on May 31, 1911, and was completed in February, +1912, at a cost of $10,000,000. + + +SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC + +The Titanic, largest liner in commission, was a sister ship of the +Olympic. The registered tonnage of each vessel is estimated as 45,000, +but officers of the White Star Line say that the Titanic measured 45,328 +tons. The Titanic was commanded by Captain E. J. Smith, the White Star +admiral, who had previously been on the Olympic. + +She was 882 1/2 long, or about four city blocks, and was 5000 tons +bigger than a battleship twice as large as the dreadnought Delaware. + +Like her sister ship, the Olympic, the Titanic was a four-funneled +vessel, and had eleven decks. The distance from the keel to the top of +the funnels was 175 feet. She had an average speed of twenty-one knots. + +The Titanic could accommodate 2500 passengers. The steamship was divided +into numerous compartments, separated by fifteen bulkheads. She was +equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool, hospital with operating room, +and a grill and palm garden. + + +CARRIED CREW OF 860 + +The registered tonnage was 45,000, and the displacement tonnage 66,000. +She was capable of carrying 2500 passengers and the crew numbered 860. + +The largest plates employed in the hull were 36 feet long, weighing 43 +1/2 tons each, and the largest steel beam used was 92 feet long, the +weight of this double beam being 4 tons. The rudder, which was operated +electrically, weighed 100 tons, the anchors 15 1/2 tons each, the center +(turbine) propeller 22 tons, and each of the two "wing" propellers 38 +tons each. The after "boss-arms," from which were sus-pended the three +propeller shafts, tipped the scales at 73 1/2 tons, and the forward +"boss-arms" at 45 tons. Each link in the anchor-chains weighed 175 +pounds. There were more than 2000 side-lights and windows to light the +public rooms and passenger cabins. + +Nothing was left to chance in the construction of the Titanic. Three +million rivets (weighing 1200 tons) held the solid plates of steel +together. To insure stability in binding the heavy plates in the double +bottom, half a million rivets, weighing about 270 tons, were used. + +All the plating of the hulls was riveted by hydraulic power, driving +seven-ton riveting machines, suspended from traveling cranes. The double +bottom extended the full length of the vessel, varying from 5 feet 3 +inches to 6 feet 3 inches in depth, and lent added strength to the hull. + + +MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP + +Not only was the Titanic the largest steamship afloat but it was the +most luxurious. Elaborately furnished cabins opened onto her eleven +decks, and some of these decks were reserved as private promenades that +were engaged with the best suites. One of these suites was sold for +$4350 for the boat's maiden and only voyage. Suites similar, but which +were without the private promenade decks, sold for $2300. + +The Titanic differed in some respects from her sister ship. The Olympic +has a lower promenade deck, but in the Titanic's case the staterooms +were brought out flush with the outside of the superstructure, and the +rooms themselves made much larger. The sitting rooms of some of the +suites on this deck were 15 x 15 feet. + +The restaurant was much larger than that of the Olympic and it had a +novelty in the shape of a private promenade deck on the starboard side, +to be used exclusively by its patrons. Adjoining it was a reception +room, where hosts and hostesses could meet their guests. + +Two private promenades were connected with the two most luxurious suites +on the ship. The suites were situated about amidships, one on either +side of the vessel, and each was about fifty feet long. One of the +suites comprised a sitting room, two bedrooms and a bath. + +These private promenades were expensive luxuries. The cost figured out +something like forty dollars a front foot for a six days' voyage. They, +with the suites to which they are attached, were the most expensive +transatlantic accommodations yet offered. + + +THE ENGINE ROOM + +The engine room was divided into two sections, one given to the +reciprocating engines and the other to the turbines. There were two +sets of the reciprocating kind, one working each of the wing propellers +through a four-cylinder triple expansion, direct acting inverted engine. +Each set could generate 15,000 indicated horse-power at seventy-five +revolutions a minute. The Parsons type turbine takes steam from the +reciprocating engines, and by developing a horse-power of 16,000 at 165 +revolutions a minute works the third of the ship's propellers, the one +directly under the rudder. Of the four funnels of the vessel three +were connected with the engine room, and the fourth or after funnel for +ventilating the ship including the gallery. + +Practically all of the space on the Titanic below the upper deck +was occupied by steam-generating plant, coal bunkers and propelling +machinery. Eight of the fifteen water-tight compartments contained the +mechanical part of the vessel. There were, for instance, twenty-four +double end and five single end boilers, each 16 feet 9 inches in +diameter, the larger 20 feet long and the smaller 11 feet 9 inches long. +The larger boilers had six fires under each of them and the smaller +three furnaces. Coal was stored in bunker space along the side of the +ship between the lower and middle decks, and was first shipped from +there into bunkers running all the way across the vessel in the lowest +part. From there the stokers handed it into the furnaces. + +One of the most interesting features of the vessel was the refrigerating +plant, which comprised a huge ice-making and refrigerating machine and +a number of provision rooms on the after part of the lower and orlop +decks. There were separate cold rooms for beef, mutton, poultry, game, +fish, vegetables, fruit, butter, bacon, cheese, flowers, mineral water, +wine, spirits and champagne, all maintained at different temperatures +most suitable to each. Perishable freight had a compartment of its own, +also chilled by the plant. + +COMFORT AND STABILITY + +Two main ideas were carried out in the Titanic. One was comfort and the +other stability. The vessel was planned to be an ocean ferry. She was +to have only a speed of twenty-one knots, far below that of some other +modern vessels, but she was planned to make that speed, blow high or +blow low, so that if she left one side of the ocean at a given time she +could be relied on to reach the other side at almost a certain minute of +a certain hour. + +One who has looked into modern methods for safeguarding + +{illust. caption = LIFE-BOAT AND DAVITS ON THE TITANIC + +This diagram shows very clearly the arrangement of the life-boats and +the manner in which they were launched.} + + +a vessel of the Titanic type can hardly imagine an accident that could +cause her to founder. No collision such as has been the fate of any ship +in recent years, it has been thought up to this time, could send her +down, nor could running against an iceberg do it unless such an accident +were coupled with the remotely possible blowing out of a boiler. She +would sink at once, probably, if she were to run over a submerged rock +or derelict in such manner that both her keel plates and her double +bottom were torn away for more than half her length; but such a +catastrophe was so remotely possible that it did not even enter the +field of conjecture. + +The reason for all this is found in the modern arrangement of +water-tight steel compartments into which all ships now are divided +and of which the Titanic had fifteen so disposed that half of them, +including the largest, could be flooded without impairing the safety +of the vessel. Probably it was the working of these bulkheads and the +water-tight doors between them as they are supposed to work that saved +the Titanic from foundering when she struck the iceberg. + +These bulkheads were of heavy sheet steel and started at the very bottom +of the ship and extended right up to the top side. The openings in the +bulkheads were just about the size of the ordinary doorway, but the +doors did not swing as in a house, but fitted into water-tight grooves +above the opening. They could be released instantly in several ways, +and once closed formed a barrier to the water as solid as the bulkhead +itself. + +In the Titanic, as in other great modern ships, these doors were held +in place above the openings by friction clutches. On the bridge was +a switch which connected with an electric magnet at the side of the +bulkhead opening. The turning of this switch caused the magnet to draw +down a heavy weight, which instantly released the friction clutch, and +allowed the door to fall or slide down over the opening in a second. +If, however, through accident the bridge switch was rendered useless the +doors would close automatically in a few seconds. This was arranged by +means of large metal floats at the side of the doorways, which rested +just above the level of the double bottom, and as the water entered +the compartments these floats would rise to it and directly release the +clutch holding the door open. These clutches could also be released by +hand. + +It was said of the Titanic that liner compartments could be flooded +as far back or as far forward as the engine room and she would float, +though she might take on a heavy list, or settle considerably at one +end. To provide against just such an accident as she is said to have +encountered she had set back a good distance from the bows an extra +heavy cross partition known as the collision bulkhead, which would +prevent water getting in amidships, even though a good part of her bow +should be torn away. What a ship can stand and still float was shown a +few years ago when the Suevic of the White Star Line went on the rocks +on the British coast. The wreckers could not move the forward part of +her, so they separated her into two sections by the use of dynamite, and +after putting in a temporary bulkhead floated off the after half of +the ship, put it in dry dock and built a new forward part for her. More +recently the battleship Maine, or what was left of her, was floated out +to sea, and kept on top of the water by her water-tight compartments +only. + + + +CHAPTER III. THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + +PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE--SCENES OF GAYETY--THE BOAT SAILS--INCIDENTS +OF THE VOYAGE---A COLLISION NARROWLY AVERTED--THE BOAT ON FIRE--WARNED +OF ICEBERGS. + +EVER was ill-starred voyage more auspiciously begun than when the +Titanic, newly crowned empress of the seas, steamed majestically out of +the port of Southampton at noon on Wednesday, April 10th, bound for New +York. + +Elaborate preparations had been made for the maiden voyage. Crowds +of eager watchers gathered to witness the departure, all the more +interested because of the notable people who were to travel aboard her. +Friends and relatives of many of the passengers were at the dock to bid +Godspeed to their departing loved ones. The passengers themselves were +unusually gay and happy. + +Majestic and beautiful the ship rested on the water, marvel of +shipbuilding, worthy of any sea. As this new queen of the ocean moved +slowly from her dock, no one questioned her construction: she was fitted +with an elaborate system of + + +{illust. caption = STEAMER "TITANIC" COMPARED WITH THE LARGEST +STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD 1. Bunker Hill Monument. Boston, 221 feet high. +2. Public + +{illust. caption = J. BRUCE ISMAY + +Managing director of the International Mercantile Marine, and managing +director of the White....} + +{illust. caption = CHARLES M. HAYS + +President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, numbered among the heroic +men....} + + +water-tight compartments, calculated to make her unsinkable; she had +been pronounced the safest as well as the most sumptuous Atlantic liner +afloat. + +There was silence just before the boat pulled out--the silence that +usually precedes the leave-taking. The heavy whistles sounded and the +splendid Titanic, her flags flying and her band playing, churned the +water and plowed heavily away. + +Then the Titanic, with the people on board waving handkerchiefs and +shouting good-byes that could be heard only as a buzzing murmur on +shore, rode away on the ocean, proudly, majestically, her head up and, +so it seemed, her shoulders thrown back. If ever a vessel seemed to +throb with proud life, if ever a monster of the sea seemed to "feel its +oats" and strain at the leash, if ever a ship seemed to have breeding +and blue blood that would keep it going until its heart broke, that ship +was the Titanic. + +And so it was only her due that as the Titanic steamed out of the harbor +bound on her maiden voyage a thousand "God-speeds" were wafted after +her, while every other vessel that she passed, the greatest of them +dwarfed by her colossal proportions, paid homage to the new queen +regnant with the blasts of their whistles and the shrieking of steam +sirens. + + +THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN + + +In command of the Titanic was Captain E. J. Smith, a veteran of the +seas, and admiral of the White Star Line fleet. The next six officers, +in the order of their rank, were Murdock, Lightollder,{sic} Pitman, +Boxhall, Lowe and Moody. Dan Phillips was chief wireless operator, with +Harold Bride as assistant. + +From the forward bridge, fully ninety feet above the sea, peered out the +benign face of the ship's master, cool of aspect, deliberate of action, +impressive in that quality of confidence that is bred only of long +experience in command. + +From far below the bridge sounded the strains of the ship's orchestra, +playing blithely a favorite air from "The Chocolate Soldier." All went +as merry as a wedding bell. Indeed, among that gay ship's company were +two score or more at least for whom the wedding bells had sounded in +truth not many days before. Some were on their honeymoon tours, others +were returning to their motherland after having passed the weeks of the +honeymoon, like Colonel John Jacob Astor and his young bride, amid the +diversions of Egypt or other Old World countries. + +What daring flight of imagination would have ventured the prediction +that within the span of six days that stately ship, humbled, shattered +and torn asunder, would lie two thousand fathoms deep at the bottom of +the Atlantic, that the benign face that peered from the bridge would +be set in the rigor of death and that the happy bevy of voyaging brides +would be sorrowing widows? + + +ALMOST IN A COLLISION + +The big vessel had, however, a touch of evil fortune before she cleared +the harbor of Southampton. As she passed down stream her immense +bulk--she displaced 66,000 tons--drew the waters after her with an +irresistible suction that tore the American liner New York from her +moorings; seven steel hawsers were snapped like twine. The New York +floated toward the White Star ship, and would have rammed the new ship +had not the tugs Vulcan and Neptune stopped her and towed her back to +the quay. + +When the mammoth ship touched at Cherbourg and later at Queenstown +she was again the object of a port ovation, the smaller craft doing +obeisance while thousands gazed in wonder at her stupendous proportions. +After taking aboard some additional passengers at each port, the Titanic +headed her towering bow toward the open sea and the race for a record on +her maiden voyage was begun. + + +NEW BURST OF SPEED EACH DAY + +The Titanic made 484 miles as her first day's run, her powerful new +engines turning over at the rate of seventy revolutions. On the second +day out the speed was hit up to seventy-three revolutions and the run +for the day was bulletined as 519 miles. Still further increasing the +speed, the rate of revolution of the engines was raised to seventy-five +and the day's run was 549 miles, the best yet scheduled. + +But the ship had not yet been speeded to her capacity she was capable of +turning over about seventy-eight revolutions. Had the weather conditions +been propitious, it was intended to press the great racer to the full +limit of her speed on Monday. But for the Titanic Monday never came. +FIRE IN THE COAL BUNKERS + +Unknown to the passengers, the Titanic was on fire from the day she +sailed from Southampton. Her officers and crew knew it, for they had +fought the fire for days. + +This story, told for the first time by the survivors of the crew, was +only one of the many thrilling tales of the fateful first voyage. + +"The Titanic sailed from Southampton on Wednesday, April 10th, at noon," +said J. Dilley, fireman on the Titanic. + +"I was assigned to the Titanic from the Oceanic, where I had served as +a fireman. From the day we sailed the Titanic was on fire, and my sole +duty, together with eleven other men, had been to fight that fire. We +had made no headway against it." + + +PASSENGERS IN IGNORANCE + +"Of course," he went on, "the passengers knew nothing of the fire. Do +you think we'd have let them know about it? No, sir. + +"The fire started in bunker No. 6. There were hundreds of tons of coal +stored there. The coal on top of the bunker was wet, as all the coal +should have been, but down at the bottom of the bunker the coal had been +permitted to get dry. + +"The dry coal at the bottom of the pile took fire, and smoldered for +days. The wet coal on top kept the flames from coming through, but down +in the bottom of the bunkers the flames were raging. + +"Two men from each watch of stokers were tolled off, to fight that fire. +The stokers worked four hours at a time, so twelve of us were fighting +flames from the day we put out of Southampton until we hit the iceberg. + +"No, we didn't get that fire out, and among the stokers there was +talk that we'd have to empty the big coal bunkers after we'd put our +passengers off in New York, and then call on the fire-boats there to +help us put out the fire. + +"The stokers were alarmed over it, but the officers told us to keep our +mouths shut--they didn't want to alarm the passengers." + + +USUAL DIVERSION + +Until Sunday, April 14th, then, the voyage had apparently been a +delightful but uneventful one. The passengers had passed the time in the +usual diversions of ocean travelers, amusing themselves in the luxurious +saloons, promenading on the boat deck, lolling at their ease in steamer +chairs and making pools on the daily runs of the steamship. The smoking +rooms and card rooms had been as well patronized as usual, and a party +of several notorious professional gamblers had begun reaping their usual +easy harvest. + +As early as Sunday afternoon the officers of the Titanic must have known +that they were approaching dangerous ice fields of the kind that are +a perennial menace to the safety of steamships following the regular +transatlantic lanes off the Great Banks of Newfoundland. + +AN UNHEEDED WARNING + +On Sunday afternoon the Titanic's wireless operator forwarded to the +Hydrographic office in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and elsewhere +the following dispatch: + +"April 14.--The German steamship Amerika (Hamburg-American Line) +reports by radio-telegraph passing two large icebergs in latitude 41.27, +longitude 50.08.--Titanic, Br. S. S." + +Despite this warning, the Titanic forged ahead Sunday night at her usual +speed--from twenty-one to twenty-five knots. + + + +CHAPTER IV. SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS + +SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD, INCLUDING MAJOR ARCHIBALD +BUTT, JOHN JACOB ASTOR, BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM, ISIDOR STRAWS, J. BRUCE +ISMAY, GEORGE D. WIDENER, COLONEL WASHINGTON ROEBLING, 2D, CHARLES M. +HAYS, W. T. STEAD AND OTHERS + +THE ship's company was of a character befitting the greatest of all +vessels and worthy of the occasion of her maiden voyage. Though the +major part of her passengers were Americans returning from abroad, there +were enrolled upon her cabin lists some of the most distinguished +names of England, as well as of the younger nation. Many of these had +purposely delayed sailing, or had hastened their departure, that they +might be among the first passengers on the great vessel. + +There were aboard six men whose fortunes ran into tens of millions, +besides many other persons of international note. Among the men were +leaders in the world of commerce, finance, literature, art and the +learned professions. Many of the women were socially prominent in two +hemispheres. + +Wealth and fame, unfortunately, are not proof against fate, and most +of these notable personages perished as pitiably as the more humble +steerage passengers. + +The list of notables included Colonel John Jacob Astor, head of the +Astor family, whose fortune is estimated at $150,000,000; Isidor Straus, +merchant and banker ($50,000,000); J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of +the International Mercantile Marine ($40,000,000); Benjamin Guggenheim, +head of the Guggenheim family ($95,000,000): George D. Widener, son of +P. A. B. Widener, traction magnate and financier ($5,000,000); Colonel +Washington Roebling, builder of the great Brooklyn Bridge; Charles +M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway; W. T. Stead. famous +publicist; Jacques Futrelle, journalist; Henry S. Harper, of the firm +of Harper & Bros.; Henry B. Harris, theatrical manager; Major Archibald +Butt, military aide to President Taft; and Francis D. Millet, one of the +best-known American painters. + + +MAJOR BUTT + +Major Archibald Butt, whose bravery on the sinking vessel will not soon +be forgotten, was military aide to President Taft and was known wherever +the President traveled. His recent European mission was apparently to +call on the Pope in behalf of President Taft; for on March 21st he was +received at the Vatican, and presented to the Pope a letter from +Mr. Taft thanking the Pontiff for the creation of three new American +Cardinals. + +Major Butt had a reputation as a horseman, and it is said he was able +to keep up with President Roosevelt, be the ride ever so far or fast. +He was promoted to the rank of major in 1911. He sailed for the +Mediterranean on March 2d with his friend Francis D. Millet, the artist, +who also perished on the Titanic. + + +COLONEL ASTOR + +John Jacob Astor was returning from a trip to Egypt with his +nineteen-year-old bride, formerly Miss Madeline Force, to whom he was +married in Providence, September 9, 1911. He was head of the family +whose name he bore and one of the world's wealthiest men. He was not, +however, one of the world's "idle rich," for his life of forty-seven +years was a well-filled one. He had managed the family estates since +1891; built the Astor Hotel, New York; was colonel on the staff of +Governor Levi P. Morton, and in May, 1898, was commissioned colonel +of the United States volunteers. After assisting Major-General +Breckinridge, inspector-general of the United States army, he was +assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General Shafter and served in +Cuba during the operations ending in the surrender of Santiago. He was +also the inventor of a bicycle brake, a pneumatic road-improver, and an +improved turbine engine. + + +BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM + +Next to Colonel Astor in financial importance was Benjamin Guggenheim, +whose father founded the famous house of M. Guggenheim and Sons. When +the various Guggen-heim interests were consolidated into the American +Smelting and Refining Company he retired from active business, although +he later became interested in the Power and Mining Machinery Company of +Milwaukee. In 1894 he married Miss Floretta Seligman, daughter of James +Seligman, the New York banker. + +ISIDOR STRAUS + +Isidor Straus, whose wife elected to perish with him in the ship, was a +brother of Nathan and Oscar Straus, a partner with Nathan Straus in R. +H. Macy & Co. and L. Straus & Sons, a member of the firm of Abraham & +Straus in Brooklyn, and has been well known in politics and charitable +work. He was a member of the Fifty-third Congress from 1893 to 1895, +and as a friend of William L. Wilson was in constant consultation in the +matter of the former Wilson tariff bill. + +Mr. Straus was conspicuous for his works of charity and was an ardent +supporter of every enterprise to improve the condition of the Hebrew +immigrants. He was president of the Educational Alliance, vice-president +of the J. Hood Wright Memorial Hospital, a member of the Chamber of +Commerce, on one of the visiting committees of Harvard University, and +was besides a trustee of many financial and philanthropic institutions. + +Mr. Straus never enjoyed a college education. He was, however, one of +the best informed men of the day, his information having been derived +from extensive reading. His library, said to be one of the finest and +most extensive in New York, was his pride and his place of special +recreation. + + +{illust. caption = ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ICEBERG THAT SUNK THE +TITANIC + +Lady Duff Gordon, a prominent English woman who was aboard the...} + + +{illust. caption = HEART-BREAKING FAREWELLS + +Both men and women were loaded into the first boats, but soon the cry of +"Women first" was raised. Then came the real note of tragedy. +Husbands and wives clung to each other in farewell; some refused to be +separated.} + + +GEORGE D. WIDENER + +The best known of Philadelphia passengers aboard the Titanic were Mr. +and Mrs. George D. Widener. Mr. Widener was a son of Peter A. B. Widener +and, like his father, was recognized as one of the foremost financiers +of Philadelphia as well as a leader in society there. Mr. Widener +married Miss Eleanor Elkins, a daughter of the late William L. Elkins. +They made their home with his father at the latter's fine place +at Eastbourne, ten miles from Philadelphia. Mr. Widener was keenly +interested in horses and was a constant exhibitor at horse shows. In +business he was recognized as his father's chief adviser in managing the +latter's extensive traction interests. P. A. B. Widener is a director of +the International Mercantile Marine. + +Mrs. Widener is said to be the possessor of one of the finest +collections of jewels in the world, the gift of her husband. One string +of pearls in this collection was reported to be worth $250,000. + +The Wideners went abroad two months previous to the disaster, Mr. +Widener desiring to inspect some of his business interests on the other +side. At the opening of the London Museum by King George on March 21st +last it was announced that Mrs. Widener had presented to the museum +thirty silver plates once the property of Nell Gwyn. Mr. Widener is +survived by a daughter, Eleanor, and a son, George D. Widener, Jr. Harry +Elkins Widener was with his parents and went down on the ship. + +COLONEL ROEBLING + +Colonel Washington Augustus Roebling was president of the John A. +Roebling Sons' Company, manufacturers of iron and steel wire rope. He +served in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865, resigning to assist his +father in the construction of the Cincinnati and Covington suspension +bridge. At the death of his father in 1869 he took entire charge of the +construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is to his genius that the +success of that great work may be said to be due. + +WILLIAM T. STEAD + +One of the most notable of the foreign passengers was William T. Stead. +Few names are more widely known to the world of contemporary literature +and journalism than that of the brilliant editor of the Review of +Reviews. Matthew Arnold called him "the inventor of the new journalism +in England." He was on his way to America to take part in the Men and +Religion Forward Movement and was to have delivered an address in Union +Square on the Thursday after the disaster, with William Jennings Bryan +as his chief associate. + +Mr. Stead was an earnest advocate of peace and had written many books. +His commentary "If Christ Came to Chicago" raised a storm twenty years +ago. When he was in this country in 1907 he addressed a session of +Methodist clergymen, and at one juncture of the meeting remarked that +unless the Methodists did something about the peace movement besides +shouting "amen" nobody "would care a damn about their amens!" + +OTHER ENGLISHMEN ABOARD + +Other distinguished Englishmen on the Titanic were Norman C. Craig, +M.P., Thomas Andrews, a representative of the firm of Harland & Wolff, +of Belfast, the ship's builders, and J. Bruce Ismay, managing director +of the White Star Line. + +J. BRUCE ISMAY + +Mr. Ismay is president and one of the founders of the International +Mercantile Marine. He has made it a custom to be a passenger on the +maiden voyage of every new ship built by the White Star Line. It was Mr. +Ismay who, with J. P. Morgan, consolidated the British steamship lines +under the International Mercantile Marine's control; and it is largely +due to his imagination that such gigantic ships as the Titanic and +Olympic were made possible + +JACQUES FUTRELLE + +Jacques Futrelle was an author of short stories, some of which have +appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, and of many novels of the same +general type as "The Thinking Machine," with which he first gained a +wide popularity. Newspaper work, chiefly in Richmond, Va., engaged his +attention from 1890 to 1909, in which year he entered the theatrical +business as a manager. In 1904 he returned to his journalistic career. + +HENRY B. HARRIS + +Henry B. Harris, the theater manager, had been manager of May Irwin, +Peter Dailey, Lily Langtry, Amelia Bingham, and launched Robert Edeson +as star. He became the manager of the Hudson Theater in 1903 and the +Hackett Theater in 1906. Among his best known productions are "The Lion +and the Mouse," "The Traveling Salesman" and "The Third Degree." He was +president of the Henry B. Harris Company controlling the Harris Theater. + +Young Harris had a liking for the theatrical business from a boy. Twelve +years ago Mr. Harris married Miss Rene Wallach of Washington. He was +said to have a fortune of between $1,000,000 and $3,000,000. He owned +outright the Hudson and the Harris theaters and had an interest in two +other show houses in New York. He owned three theaters in Chicago, one +in Syracuse and one in Philadelphia. + + +HENRY S. HARPER + +Henry Sleeper Harper, who was among the survivors, is a grandson of John +Wesley Harper, one of the founders of the Harper publishing business. H. +Sleeper Harper was himself an incorporator of Harper & Brothers when the +firm became a corporation in 1896. He had a desk in the offices of the +publishers, but his hand of late years in the management of the business +has been very slight. He has been active in the work of keeping the +Adirondack forests free from aggression. He was in the habit of spending +about half of his time in foreign travel. His friends in New York +recalled that he had a narrow escape about ten years ago when a ship in +which he was traveling ran into an iceberg on the Grand Banks. + +FRANCIS DAVID MILLET + +Millet was one of the best-known American painters and many of his +canvasses are found in the leading galleries of the world. He served as +a drummer boy with the Sixtieth Massachusetts volunteers in the Civil +War, and from early manhood took a prominent part in public affairs. He +was director of the decorations for the Chicago Exposition and was, at +the time of the disaster, secretary of the American Academy in Rome. He +was a wide traveler and the author of many books, besides translations +of Tolstoi. + +CHARLES M. HAYS + +Another person of prominence was Charles Melville Hays, president of the +Grand Trunk and the Grand Trunk Pacific railways. He was described by +Sir Wilfrid Laurier at a dinner of the Canadian Club of New York, at the +Hotel Astor last year, as "beyond question the greatest railroad genius +in Canada, as an executive genius ranking second only to the late Edward +H. Harriman." He was returning aboard the Titanic with his wife and +son-in-law and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Davidson, of Montreal. + + + +CHAPTER V. THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! + +TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT--THE DANGER NOT +REALIZED AT FIRST--AN INTERRUPTED CARD GAME--PASSENGERS JOKE AMONG +THEMSELVES--THE REAL TRUTH DAWNS--PANIC ON BOARD--WIRELESS CALLS FOR +HELP + +SUNDAY night the magnificent ocean liner was plunging through a +comparatively placid sea, on the surface of which there was much mushy +ice and here and there a number of comparatively harmless-looking floes. +The night was clear and stars visible. First Officer William T. Murdock +was in charge of the bridge The first intimation of the presence of the +iceberg that he received was from the lookout in the crow's nest. + +Three warnings were transmitted from the crow's nest of the Titanic +to the officer on the doomed steamship's bridge 15 minutes before she +struck, according to Thomas Whiteley, a first saloon steward. + +Whiteley, who was whipped overboard from the ship by a rope while +helping to lower a life-boat, finally reported on the Carpathia aboard +one of the boats that contained, he said, both the crow's nest lookouts. +He heard a conversation between them, he asserted, in which they +discussed the warnings given to the Titanic's bridge of the presence of +the iceberg. + +Whiteley did not know the names of either of the lookout men and +believed that they returned to England with the majority of the +surviving members of the crew. + + +{illust. caption = A GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE FORCE WITH WHICH A +VESSEL STRIKES AN ICEBERG} + + + +"I heard one of them say that at 11.15 o'clock, 15 minutes before the +Titanic struck, he had reported to First Officer Murdock, on the bridge, +that he fancied he saw an iceberg!" said Whiteley. "Twice after that, +the lookout said, he warned Murdock that a berg was ahead. They were +very indignant that no attention was paid to their warnings." + +TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT + +Murdock's tardy answering of a telephone call from the crow's nest is +assigned by Whiteley as the cause of the disaster. + +When Murdock answered the call he received the information that the +iceberg was due ahead. This information was imparted just a few seconds +before the crash, and had the officer promptly answered the ring of the +bell it is probable that the accident could have been avoided, or at +least, been reduced by the lowered speed. + +The lookout saw a towering "blue berg" looming up in the sea path of the +Titanic, and called the bridge on the ship's telephone. When, after the +passing of those two or three fateful minutes an officer on the bridge +lifted the telephone receiver from its hook to answer the lookout, +it was too late. The speeding liner, cleaving a calm sea under a +star-studded sky, had reached the floating mountain of ice, which the +theoretically "unsinkable" ship struck a crashing, if glancing, blow +with her starboard bow. + +MURDOCK PAID WITH LIFE + +Had Murdock, according to the account of the tragedy given by two of the +Titanic's seamen, known how imperative was that call from the lookout +man, the men at the wheel of the liner might have swerved the great ship +sufficiently to avoid the berg altogether. At the worst the vessel would +probably have struck the mass of ice with her stern. + +Murdock, if the tale of the Titanic sailor be true, expiated his +negligence by shooting himself within sight of all alleged victims +huddled in life-boats or struggling in the icy seas. + +When at last the danger was realized, the great ship was so close upon +the berg that it was practically impossible to avoid collision with it + + +VAIN TRIAL TO CLEAR BERG + +The first officer did what other startled and alert commanders would +have done under similar circumstances, that is + + +{illust. caption = THE LOCATION OF THE DISASTER} + + +he made an effort by going full speed ahead on the starboard propeller +and reversing his port propeller, simultaneously throwing his helm +over, to make a rapid turn and clear the berg. The maneuver was not +successful. He succeeded in saving his bows from crashing into the +ice-cliff, but nearly the entire length of the underbody of the great +ship on the starboard side was ripped. The speed of the Titanic, +estimated to be at least twenty-one knots, was so terrific that the +knife-like edge of the iceberg's spur protruding under the sea cut +through her like a can-opener. + +The Titanic was in 41.46 north latitude and 50.14 west longitude when +she was struck, very near the spot on the wide Atlantic where the +Carmania encountered a field of ice, studded with great bergs, on her +voyage to New York which ended on April 14th. It was really an ice pack, +due to an unusually severe winter in the north Atlantic. No less than +twenty-five bergs, some of great height, were counted. + +The shock was almost imperceptible. The first officer did not apparently +realize that the great ship had received her death wound, and none of +the passengers had the slightest suspicion that anything more than a +usual minor sea accident had happened. Hundreds who had gone to their +berths and were asleep were unawakened by the vibration. + + +BRIDGE GAME NOT DISTURBED + +To illustrate the placidity with which practically all the men regarded +the accident it is related that Pierre Marechal, son of the vice-admiral +of the French navy, Lucien Smith, Paul Chevre, a French sculptor, and A. +F. Ormont, a cotton broker, were in the Cafe Parisien playing bridge. + +The four calmly got up from the table and after walking on deck and +looking over the rail returned to their game. One of them had left his +cigar on the card table, and while the three others were gazing out on +the sea he remarked that he couldn't afford to lose his smoke, returned +for his cigar and came out again. + +They remained only for a few moments on deck, and then resumed their +game under the impression that the ship had stopped for reasons best +known to the captain and not involving any danger to her. Later, in +describing the scene that took place, M. Marechal, who was among the +survivors, said: "When three-quarters of a mile away we stopped, the +spectacle before our eyes was in its way magnificent. In a very calm +sea, beneath a sky moonless but sown with millions of stars, the +enormous Titanic lay on the water, illuminated from the water line to +the boat deck. The bow was slowly sinking into the black water." + +The tendency of the whole ship's company except the men in the engine +department, who were made aware of the danger by the inrushing water, +was to make light of and in some instances even to ridicule the thought +of danger to so substantial a fabric. + + +THE CAPTAIN ON DECK + +When Captain Smith came from the chart room onto the bridge, his first +words were, "Close the emergency doors." + +"They're already closed, sir," Mr. Murdock replied. + +"Send to the carpenter and tell him to sound the ship," was the next +order. The message was sent to the carpenter, but the carpenter never +came up to report. He was probably the first man on the ship to lose his +life. + +The captain then looked at the communicator, which shows in what +direction the ship is listing. He saw that she carried five degrees list +to starboard. + +The ship was then rapidly settling forward. All the steam sirens were +blowing. By the captain's orders, given in the next few minutes, the +engines were put to work at pumping out the ship, distress signals +were sent by the Marconi, and rockets were sent up from the bridge by +Quartermaster Rowe. All hands were ordered on deck. + + +PASSENGERS NOT ALARMED + +The blasting shriek of the sirens had not alarmed the great company of +the Titanic, because such steam calls are an incident of travel in seas +where fogs roll. Many had gone to bed, but the hour, 11.40 P. M., was +not too late for the friendly contact of saloons and smoking rooms. It +was Sunday night and the ship's concert had ended, but there were many +hundreds up and moving among the gay lights, and many on deck with their +eyes strained toward the mysterious west, where home lay. And in one +jarring, breath-sweeping moment all of these, asleep or awake, were at +the mercy of chance. Few among the more than 2000 aboard could have had +a thought of danger. The man who had stood up in the smoking room to say +that the Titanic was vulnerable or that in a few minutes two-thirds of +her people would be face to face with death, would have been considered +a fool or a lunatic. No ship ever sailed the seas that gave her +passengers more confidence, more cool security. + +Within a few minutes stewards and other members of the crew were sent +round to arouse the people. Some utterly refused to get up. The stewards +had almost to force the doors of the staterooms to make the somnolent +appreciate their peril, and many of them, it is believed, were drowned +like rats in a trap. + + +ASTOR AND WIFE STROLLED ON DECK + +Colonel and Mrs. Astor were in their room and saw the ice vision flash +by. They had not appreciably felt the gentle shock and supposed that +nothing out of the ordinary had happened. They were both dressed +and came on deck leisurely. William T. Stead, the London journalist, +wandered on deck for a few minutes, stopping to talk to Frank Millet. +"What do they say is the trouble?" he asked. "Icebergs," was the brief +reply. "Well," said Stead, "I guess it is nothing serious. I'm going +back to my cabin to read." + +From end to end on the mighty boat officers were rushing about without +much noise or confusion, but giving orders sharply. Captain Smith told +the third officer to rush downstairs and see whether the water was +coming in very fast. "And," he added, "take some armed guards along to +see that the stokers and engineers stay at their posts." + +In two minutes the officer returned. "It looks pretty bad, sir," he +said. "The water is rushing in and filling the bottom. The locks of the +water-tight compartments have been sprung by the shock." + +"Give the command for all passengers to be on deck with life-belts on." + +Through the length and breadth of the boat, upstairs and downstairs, +on all decks, the cry rang out: "All passengers on deck with +life-preservers." + + +A SUDDEN TREMOR OF FEAR + +For the first time, there was a feeling of panic. Husbands sought for +wives and children. Families gathered together. Many who were asleep +hastily caught up their clothing and rushed on deck. A moment before the +men had been joking about the life-belts, according to the story told by +Mrs. Vera Dick, of Calgary, Canada. "Try this one," one man said to her, +"they are the very latest thing this season. Everybody's wearing them +now." + +Another man suggested to a woman friend, who had a fox terrier in her +arms, that she should put a life-saver on the dog. "It won't fit," the +woman replied, laughing. "Make him carry it in his mouth," said the +friend. + + +CONFUSION AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS + +Below, on the steerage deck, there was intense confusion. About the time +the officers on the first deck gave the order that all men should stand +to one side and all women should go below to deck B, taking the children +with them, a similar order was given to the steerage passengers. The +women were ordered to the front, the men to the rear. Half a dozen +healthy, husky immigrants pushed their way forward and tried to crowd +into the first boat. + +"Stand back," shouted the officers who were manning the boat. "The women +come first." + +Shouting curses in various foreign languages, the immigrant men +continued their pushing and tugging to climb into the boats. Shots +rang out. One big fellow fell over the railing into the water. Another +dropped to the deck, moaning. His jaw had been shot away. This was the +story told by the bystanders afterwards on the pier. One husky Italian +told the writer on the pier that the way in which the men were shot down +was horrible. His sympathy was with the men who were shot. + +"They were only trying to save their lives," he said. + + +WIRELESS OPERATOR DIED AT HIS POST + +On board the Titanic, the wireless operator, with a life-belt about +his waist, was hitting the instrument that was sending out C. Q. D., +messages, "Struck on iceberg, C. Q. D." + +"Shall I tell captain to turn back and help?" flashed a reply from the +Carpathia. + +"Yes, old man," the Titanic wireless operator responded. "Guess we're +sinking." + +An hour later, when the second wireless man came into the boxlike room +to tell his companion what the situation was, he found a negro stoker +creeping up behind the operator and saw him raise a knife over his head. +He said afterwards--he was among those rescued--that he realized at +once that the negro intended to kill the operator in order to take his +life-belt from him. The second operator pulled out his revolver and shot +the negro dead. + +"What was the trouble?" asked the operator. + +"That negro was going to kill you and steal your life-belt," the second +man replied. + +"Thanks, old man," said the operator. The second man went on deck to get +some more information. He was just in time to jump overboard before the +Titanic went down. The wireless operator and the body of the negro who +tried to steal his belt went down together. + +On the deck where the first class passengers were quartered, known as +deck A, there was none of the confusion that was taking place on the +lower decks. The Titanic was standing without much rocking. The captain +had given an order and the band was playing. + + +{illust. caption = WAITING FOR THE NEWS + +A Bird's eye view of the great crowds...} + +{illust. caption = WIRELESS STATION AT CAPE RACE + +Where the first news of the Titanic disaster was received.} + + + +CHAPTER VI. "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!" + +COOL-HEADED OFFICERS AND CREW BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS--FILLING THE +LIFE-BOATS--HEARTRENDING SCENES AS FAMILIES ARE PARTED--FOUR LIFE-BOATS +LOST--INCIDENTS OF BRAVERY--"THE BOATS ARE ALL FILLED!" + +ONCE on the deck, many hesitated to enter the swinging life-boats. Tho +glassy sea, the starlit sky, the absence, in the first few moments, +of intense excitement, gave them the feeling that there was only some +slight mishap; that those who got into the boats would have a chilly +half hour below and might, later, be laughed at. + +It was such a feeling as this, from all accounts, which caused John +Jacob Astor and his wife to refuse the places offered them in the first +boat, and to retire to the gymnasium. In the same way H. J. Allison, a +Montreal banker, laughed at the warning, and his wife, reassured by +him, took her time dressing. They and their daughter did not reach +the Carpathia. Their son, less than two years old, was carried into a +life-boat by his nurse, and was taken in charge by Major Arthur Peuchen. + +THE LIFE-BOATS LOWERED + +The admiration felt by the passengers and crew for the matchlessly +appointed vessel was translated, in those first few moments, into a +confidence which for some proved deadly. The pulsing of the engines had +ceased, and the steamship lay just as though she were awaiting the order +to go on again after some trifling matter had been adjusted. But in a +few minutes the canvas covers were lifted from the life-boats and the +crews allotted to each standing by, ready to lower them to the water. + +Nearly all the boats that were lowered on the port side of the ship +touched the water without capsizing. Four of the others lowered to +starboard, including one collapsible, were capsized. All, however, who +were in the collapsible boats that practically went to pieces, were +rescued by the other boats. + +Presently the order was heard: "All men stand back and all women retire +to the deck below." That was the smoking-room deck, or the B deck. The +men stood away and remained in absolute silence, leaning against the +rail or pacing up and down the deck slowly. Many of them lighted cigars +or cigarettes and began to smoke. + + +LOADING THE BOATS + +The boats were swung out and lowered from the A deck above. The women +were marshaled quietly in lines along the B deck, and when the boats +were lowered down to the level of the latter the women were assisted to +climb into them. + +As each of the boats was filled with its quota of passengers the word +was given and it was carefully lowered down to the dark surface of the +water. + +Nobody seemed to know how Mr. Ismay got into a boat, but it was assumed +that he wished to make a presentation of the case of the Titanic to his +company. He was among those who apparently realized that the splendid +ship was doomed. All hands in the life-boats, under instructions from +officers and men in charge, were rowed a considerable distance from the +ship herself in order to get far away from the possible suction that +would follow her foundering. + + +COOLEST MEN ON BOARD + +Captain Smith and Major Archibald Butt, military aide to the President +of the United States, were among the coolest men on board. A number of +steerage passengers were yelling and screaming and fighting to get to +the boats. Officers drew guns and told them that if they moved towards +the boats they would be shot dead. Major Butt had a gun in his hand and +covered the men who tried to get to the boats. + +The following story of his bravery was told by Mrs. Henry B. Harris, +wife of the theatrical manager: + +"The world should rise in praise of Major Butt. That man's conduct will +remain in my memory forever. The American army is honored by him and +the way he taught some of the other men how to behave when women and +children were suffering that awful mental fear of death. Major Butt was +near me and I noticed everything that he did. + +"When the order to man the boats came, the captain whispered something +to Major Butt. The two of them had become friends. The major immediately +became as one in supreme command. You would have thought he was at a +White House reception. A dozen or more women became hysterical all at +once, as something connected with a life-boat went wrong. Major Butt +stepped over to them and said: + +"'Really, you must not act like that; we are all going to see you +through this thing.' He helped the sailors rearrange the rope or chain +that had gone wrong and lifted some of the women in with a touch of +gallantry. Not only was there a complete lack of any fear in his manner, +but there was the action of an aristocrat. + +"When the time came he was a man to be feared. In one of the earlier +boats fifty women, it seemed, were about to be lowered, when a man, +suddenly panic-stricken, ran to the stern of it. Major Butt shot one arm +out, caught him by the back of the neck and jerked him backward like a +pillow. His head cracked against a rail and he was stunned. + +"'Sorry,' said Major Butt, 'women will be attended to first or I'll +break every damned bone in your body.' + + +FORCED MEN USURPING PLACES TO VACATE + +"The boats were lowered one by one, and as I stood by, my husband said +to me, 'Thank God, for Archie Butt.' Perhaps Major Butt heard it, for he +turned his face towards us for a second and smiled. Just at that moment, +a young man was arguing to get into a life-boat, and Major Butt had a +hold of the lad by the arm, like a big brother, and was telling him to +keep his head and be a man. + +"Major Butt helped those poor frightened steerage people so wonderfully, +so tenderly and yet with such cool and manly firmness that he prevented +the loss of many lives from panic. He was a soldier to the last. He was +one of God's greatest noblemen, and I think I can say he was an example +of bravery even to men on the ship." + + +LAST WORDS OF MAJOR BUTT + +Miss Marie Young, who was a music instructor to President Roosevelt's +children and had known Major Butt during the Roosevelt occupancy of the +White House, told this story of his heroism. + +"Archie himself put me into the boat, wrapped blankets about me and +tucked me in as carefully as if we were starting on a motor ride. He, +himself, entered the boat with me, performing the little courtesies as +calmly and with as smiling a face as if death were far away, instead of +being but a few moments removed from him. + +"When he had carefully wrapped me up he stepped upon the gunwale of the +boat, and lifting his hat, smiled down at me. 'Good-bye, Miss Young,' +he said. 'Good luck to you, and don't forget to remember me to the folks +back home.' Then he stepped back and waved his hand to me as the boat +was lowered. I think I was the last woman he had a chance to help, for +the boat went down shortly after we cleared the suction zone." + +COLONEL ASTOR ANOTHER HERO + +Colonel Astor was another of the heroes of the awful night. Effort was +made to persuade him to take a place in one of the life-boats, but he +emphatically refused to do so until every woman and child on board +had been provided for, not excepting the women members of the ship's +company. + +One of the passengers describing the consummate courage of Colonel Astor +said: + +"He led Mrs. Astor to the side of the ship and helped her to the +life-boat to which she had been assigned. I saw that she was prostrated +and said she would remain and take her chances with him, but Colonel +Astor quietly insisted and tried to reassure her in a few words. As she +took her place in the boat her eyes were fixed upon him. Colonel Astor +smiled, touched his cap, and when the boat moved safely away from the +ship's side he turned back to his place among the men." + +Mrs. Ida S. Hippach and her daughter Jean, survivors of the Titanic, +said they were saved by Colonel John Jacob Astor, who forced the crew of +the last life-boat to wait for them. + +"We saw Colonel Astor place Mrs. Astor in a boat and assure her that he +would follow later," said Mrs. Hippach. + +"He turned to us with a smile and said, 'Ladies, you are next.' The +officer in charge of the boat protested that the craft was full, and the +seamen started to lower it. + +"Colonel Astor exclaimed, 'Hold that boat,' in the voice of a man +accustomed to be obeyed, and they did as he ordered. The boat had been +lowered past the upper deck and the colonel took us to the deck below +and put us in the boat, one after the other, through a port-hole." + + +{illust. caption = LOADING THE LIFE-BOATS + +Here occurred the heart-rending separation of husbands and wives, as the +women were given precedence in the boats.} + + +HEART-BREAKING SCENES + +There were some terrible scenes. Fathers were parting from their +children and giving them an encouraging pat on the shoulders; men +were kissing their wives and telling them that they would be with them +shortly. One man said there was absolutely no danger, that the boat was +the finest ever built, with water-tight compartments, and that it could +not sink. That seemed to be the general impression. + +A few of the men, however, were panic-stricken even when the first of +the fifty-six foot life-boats was being filled. Fully ten men threw +themselves into the boats already crowded with women and children. These +men were dragged back and hurled sprawling across the deck. Six of them, +screamed with fear, struggled to their feet and made a second attempt to +rush to the boats. + +About ten shots sounded in quick succession. The six cowardly men were +stopped in their tracks, staggered and collapsed one after another. At +least two of them vainly attempted to creep toward the boats again. The +others lay quite still. This scene of bloodshed served its purpose. +In that particular section of the deck there was no further attempt to +violate the rule of "women and children first." + +"I helped fill the boats with women," said Thomas Whiteley, who was a +waiter on the Titanic. "Collapsible boat No. 2 on the starboard jammed. +The second officer was hacking at the ropes with a knife and I was being +dragged around the deck by that rope when I looked up and saw the boat, +with all aboard, turn turtle. In some way I got overboard myself and +clung to an oak dresser. I wasn't more than sixty feet from the Titanic +when she went down. Her big stern rose up in the air and she went down +bow first. I saw all the machinery drop out of her." + + +HENRY B. HARRIS + +Henry B. Harris, of New York, a theatrical manager, was one of the men +who showed superb courage in the crisis. When the life-boats were first +being filled, and before there was any panic, Mr. Harris went to the +side of his wife before the boat was lowered away. + +"Women first," shouted one of the ship's officers. Mr. Harris glanced up +and saw that the remark was addressed to him. + +"All right," he replied coolly. "Good-bye, my dear," he said, as he +kissed his wife, pressed her a moment to his breast, and then climbed +back to the Titanic's deck. + + +THREE EXPLOSIONS + +Up to this time there had been no panic; but about one hour before +the ship plunged to the bottom there were three separate explosions of +bulkheads as the vessel filled. These were at intervals of about fifteen +minutes. From that time there was a different scene. The rush for the +remaining boats became a stampede. + +The stokers rushed up from below and tried to beat a path through the +steerage men and women and through the sailors and officers, to get into +the boats. They had their iron bars and shovels, and they struck down +all who stood in their way. + +The first to come up from the depths of the ship was an engineer. From +what he is reported to have said it is probable that the steam fittings +were broken and many were scalded to death when the Titanic lifted. He +said he had to dash through a narrow place beside a broken pipe and his +back was frightfully scalded. + +Right at his heels came the stokers. The officers had pistols, but they +could not use them at first for fear of killing the women and children. +The sailors fought with their fists and many of them took the stoke bars +and shovels from the stokers and used them to beat back the others. + +Many of the coal-passers and stokers who had been driven back from +the boats went to the rail, and whenever a boat was filled and lowered +several of them jumped overboard and swam toward it trying to climb +aboard. Several of the survivors said that men who swam to the sides of +their boats were pulled in or climbed in. + +Dozens of the cabin passengers were witnesses of some of the frightful +scenes on the steerage deck. The steerage survivors said that ten women +from the upper decks were the only cool passengers in the life-boat, and +they tried to quiet the steerage women, who were nearly all crazed with +fear and grief. + + +OTHER HEROES + +Among the chivalrous young heroes of the Titanic disaster were +Washington A. Roebling, 2d, and Howard Case, London representative of +the Vacuum Oil Company. Both were urged repeatedly to take places in +life-boats, but scorned the opportunity, while working against time to +save the women aboard the ill-fated ship. They went to their death, it +is said by survivors, with smiles on their faces. + +Both of these young men aided in the saving of Mrs. William T. Graham, +wife of the president of the American Can Company, and Mrs. Graham's +nineteen-year-old daughter, Margaret. + +Afterwards relating some of her experiences Mrs. Graham said: + +"There was a rap at the door. It was a passenger whom we had met shortly +after the ship left Liverpool, and his name was Roebling--Washington A. +Roebling, 2d. He was a gentleman and a brave man. He warned us of +the danger and told us that it would be best to be prepared for an +emergency. We heeded his warning, and I looked out of my window and saw +a great big iceberg facing us. Immediately I knew what had happened and +we lost no time after that to get out into the saloon. + +"In one of the gangways I met an officer of the ship. + +"'What is the matter?' I asked him. + +"'We've only burst two pipes,' he said. 'Everything is all right, don't +worry.' + +"'But what makes the ship list so?' I asked. + +"'Oh, that's nothing,' he replied, and walked away. + +"Mr. Case advised us to get into a boat. + +"'And what are you going to do?' we asked him. + +"'Oh,' he replied, 'I'll take a chance and stay here.' + +"Just at that time they were filling up the third life-boat on the port +side of the ship. I thought at the time that it was the third boat which +had been lowered, but I found out later that they had lowered other +boats on the other side, where the people were more excited because they +were sinking on that side. + +"Just then Mr. Roebling came up, too, and told us to hurry and get into +the third boat. Mr. Roebling and Mr. Case bustled our party of three +into that boat in less time than it takes to tell it. They were both +working hard to help the women and children. The boat was fairly crowded +when we three were pushed into it, and a few men jumped in at the last +moment, but Mr. Roebling and Mr. Case stood at the rail and made no +attempt to get into the boat. + +"They shouted good-bye to us. What do you think Mr. Case did then? He +just calmly lighted a cigarette and waved us good-bye with his hand. +Mr. Roebling stood there, too--I can see him now. I am sure that he knew +that the ship would go to the bottom. But both just stood there." + + +IN THE FACE OF DEATH + +Scenes on the sinking vessel grew more tragic as the remaining +passengers faced the awful certainty that death must be the portion of +the majority, death in the darkness of a wintry sea studded with its ice +monuments like the marble shafts in some vast cemetery. + +In that hour, when cherished illusions of possible safety had all +but vanished, manhood and womanhood aboard the Titanic rose to their +sublimest heights. It was in that crisis of the direst extremity that +many brave women deliberately rejected life and chose rather to remain +and die with the men whom they loved. + + +DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS + +"I will not leave my husband," said Mrs. Isidor Straus. "We are old; we +can best die together," and she turned from those who would have forced +her into one of the boats and clung to the man who had been the partner +of her joys and sorrows. Thus they stood hand in hand and heart to +heart, comforting each other until the sea claimed them, united in death +as they had been through a long life. + +"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for +his friends." + +Miss Elizabeth Evans fulfilled this final test of affection laid down +by the Divine Master. The girl was the niece of the wife of Magistrate +Cornell, of New York. She was placed in the same boat with many other +women. As it was about to be lowered away it was found that the craft +contained one more than its full quota of passengers. + +The grim question arose as to which of them should surrender her place +and her chance of safety. Beside Miss Evans sat Mrs. J. J. Brown, of +Denver, the mother of several children. Miss Evans was the first to +volunteer to yield to another. + + +GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM + +"Your need is greater than mine," said she to Mrs. Brown. "You have +children who need you, and I have none." + +So saying she arose from the boat and stepped back upon the deck. The +girl found no later refuge and was one of those who went down with the +ship. She was twenty-five years old and was beloved by all who knew her. + +Mrs. Brown thereafter showed the spirit which had made her also +volunteer to leave the boat. There were only three men in the boat +and but one of them rowed. Mrs. Brown, who was raised on the water, +immediately picked up one of the heavy sweeps and began to pull. + +In the boat which carried Mrs. Cornell and Mrs. Appleton there were +places for seventeen more than were carried. This too was undermanned +and the two women at once took their places at the oars. + +The Countess of Rothes was pulling at the oars of her boat, likewise +undermanned because the crew preferred to stay behind. + +Miss Bentham, of Rochester, showed splendid courage. She happened to be +in a life-boat which was very much crowded--so much so that one sailor +had to sit with his feet dangling in the icy cold water, and as time +went on the sufferings of the man from the cold were apparent. Miss +Bentham arose from her place and had the man turn around while she took +her place with her feet in the water. + +Scarcely any of the life-boats were properly manned. Two, filled with +women and children, capsized immediately, while the collapsible boats +were only temporarily useful. They soon filled with water. In one boat +eighteen or twenty persons sat in water above their knees for six hours. + + + +{illust. caption = + +In the darkness and confusion, punctuated by screams, sobs and curses, +the boats were lowered after being filled with women, children and a +few men. The sketch, drawn from description of eye-witnesses, shows the +lofty side of the stricken vessel and the laden boats descending. + +THE LIFE-BOATS BEING LOWERED} + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. LIFE-BOATS, +AS SEEN FROM THE CARPATHIA + +Photographs taken from the rescue ship as she reached the first boats +carrying the Titanic's sufferers.} + + + +heard it, but have forgotten it. But I saw an order for five pounds +which this man gave to each of the crew of his boat after they got +aboard the Carpathia. It was on a piece of ordinary paper addressed to +the Coutts Bank of England. + +"We called that boat the 'money boat.' It was lowered from the +starboard side and was one of the first off. Our orders were to load the +life-boats beginning forward on the port side, working aft and then back +on the starboard. This man paid the firemen to lower a starboard boat +before the officers had given the order." + +Whiteley's own experience was a hard one. When the uncoiling rope, which +entangled his feet, threw him into the sea, it furrowed the flesh of +his leg, but he did not feel the pain until he was safe aboard the +Carpathia. + +"I floated on my life-preserver for several hours," he said, "then I +came across a big oak dresser with two men clinging to it. I hung on to +this till daybreak and the two men dropped off. When the sun came up I +saw the collapsible raft in the distance, just black with men. They were +all standing up, and I swam to it--almost a mile, it seemed to me--and +they would not let me aboard. Mr. Lightoller, the second officer, was +one of them. + +"'It's thirty-one lives against yours,, he said, 'you can't come +aboard. There's not room.'" + +"I pleaded with him in vain, and then I confess I prayed that somebody +might die, so I could take his place. It was only human. And then some +one did die, and they let me aboard. + +"By and by, we saw seven life-boats lashed together, and we were taken +into them." + + +MEN SHOT DOWN + +The officers had to assert their authority by force, and three +foreigners from the steerage who tried to force their way in among the +women and children were shot down without mercy. + +Robert Daniel, a Philadelphia passenger, told of terrible scenes at +this period of the disaster. He said men fought and bit and struck one +another like madmen, and exhibited wounds upon his face to prove the +assertion. Mr. Daniel said that he was picked up naked from the ice-cold +water and almost perished from exposure before he was rescued. He and +others told how the Titanic's bow was completely torn away by the impact +with the berg. + +K. Whiteman, of Palmyra, N. J., the Titanic's barber, was lowering boats +on deck after the collision, and declared the officers on the bridge, +one of them First Officer Murdock, promptly worked the electrical +apparatus for closing the water-tight compartments. He believed the +machinery was in some way so damaged by the crash that the front +compartments failed to close tightly, although the rear ones were +secure. + +Whiteman's manner of escape was unique. He was blown off the deck by the +second of the two explosions of the boilers, and was in the water more +than two hours before he was picked up by a raft. + +"The explosions," Whiteman said; "were caused by the rushing in of the +icy water on the boilers. A bundle of deck chairs, roped together, was +blown off the deck with me, and I struck my back, injuring my spine, but +it served as a temporary raft. + +"The crew and passengers had faith in the bulkhead system to save the +ship and we were lowering a collapsible boat, all confident the ship +would get through, when she took a terrific dip forward and the water +swept over the deck and into the engine rooms. + +"The bow went clean down, and I caught the pile of chairs as I was +washed up against the rim. Then came the explosions which blew me +fifteen feet. + +"After the water had filled the forward compartments, the ones at the +stern could not save her, although they did delay the ship's going down. +If it wasn't for the compartments hardly anyone could have got away." + + +A SAD MESSAGE + +One of the Titanic's stewards, Johnson by name, carried this message to +the sorrowing widow of Benjamin Guggenheim: + +"When Mr. Guggenheim realized that there was grave danger," said the +room steward, "he advised his secretary, who also died, to dress fully +and he himself did the same. Mr. Guggenheim, who was cool and collected +as he was pulling on his outer garments, said to the steward:-- + + +PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY + +"'I think there is grave doubt that the men will get off safely. I am +willing to remain and play the man's game, if there are not enough boats +for more than the women and children. I won't die here like a beast. +I'll meet my end as man.' + +"There was a pause and then Mr. Guggenheim continued: + +"'Tell my wife, Johnson, if it should happen that my secretary and I +both go down and you are saved, tell her I played the game out straight +and to the end. No woman shall be left aboard this ship because Ben +Guggenheim was a coward. + +"'Tell her that my last thoughts will be of her and of our girls, but +that my duty now is to these unfortunate women and children on this +ship. Tell her I will meet whatever fate is in store for me, knowing she +will approve of what I do.'" + +In telling the story the room steward said the last he saw of Mr. +Guggenheim was when he stood fully dressed upon the upper deck talking +calmly with Colonel Astor and Major Butt. + +Before the last of the boats got away, according to some of the +passengers' narratives, there were more than fifty shots fired upon the +decks by officers or others in the effort to maintain the discipline +that until then had been well preserved. + + +THE SINKING VESSEL + +Richard Norris Williams, Jr., one of the survivors of the Titanic, saw +his father killed by being crushed by one of the tremendous funnels of +the sinking vessel. + +"We stood on deck watching the life-boats of the Titanic being filled +and lowered into the water," said Mr. Williams. "The water was nearly +up to our waists and the ship was about at her last. Suddenly one of the +great funnels fell. I sprang aside, endeavoring to pull father with me. +A moment later the funnel was swept overboard and the body of father +went with it. + +"I sprang overboard and swam through the ice to a life-raft, and +was pulled aboard. There were five men and one woman on the raft. +Occasionally we were swept off into the sea, but always managed to crawl +back. + +"A sailor lighted a cigarette and flung the match carelessly among the +women. Several screamed, fearing they would be set on fire. The sailor +replied: 'We are going to hell anyway and we might as well be cremated +now as then.'" + +A huge cake of ice was the means of aiding Emile Portaleppi, of Italy, +in his hairbreadth escape from death when the Titanic went down. +Portaleppi, a second class passenger, was awakened by the explosion of +one of the bulkheads of the ship. He hurried to the deck, strapped a +life-preserver around him and leaped into the sea. With the aid of the +preserver and by holding to a cake of ice he managed to keep afloat +until one of the life-boats picked him up. There were thirty-five other +people in the boat, he said, when he was hauled aboard. + +THE COWARD + +Somewhere in the shadow of the appalling Titanic disaster slinks--still +living by the inexplicable grace of God--a cur in human shape, to-day +the most despicable human being in all the world. + +In that grim midnight hour, already great in history, he found himself +hemmed in by the band of heroes whose watchword and countersign rang out +across the deep--"Women and children first!" + +What did he do? He scuttled to the stateroom deck, put on a woman's +skirt, a woman's hat and a woman's veil, and picking his crafty way back +among the brave and chivalric men who guarded the rail of the doomed +ship, he filched a seat in one of the life-boats and saved his skin. + +His name is on that list of branded rescued men who were neither picked +up from the sea when the ship went down nor were in the boats under +orders to help get them safe away. His identity is not yet known, though +it will be in good time. So foul an act as that will out like murder. + +The eyes of strong men who have read this crowded record of golden +deeds, who have read and re-read that deathless roll of honor of the +dead, are still wet with tears of pity and of pride. This man still +lives. Surely he was born and saved to set for men a new standard by +which to measure infamy and shame. + +It is well that there was sufficient heroism on board the Titanic to +neutralize the horrors of the cowardice. When the first order was given +for the men to stand back, there were a dozen or more who pushed forward +and said that men would be needed to row the life-boats and that they +would volunteer for the work. + +The officers tried to pick out the ones that volunteered merely for +service and to eliminate those who volunteered merely to save their own +lives. This elimination process however, was not wholly successful. + + +THE DOOMED MEN + +As the ship began to settle to starboard, heeling at an angle of nearly +forty-five degrees, those who had believed it was all right to stick by +the ship began to have doubts, and a few jumped into the sea. They were +followed immediately by others, and in a few minutes there were scores +swimming around. Nearly all of them wore life-preservers. One man, who +had a Pomeranian dog, leaped overboard with it and striking a piece of +wreckage was badly stunned. He recovered after a few minutes and swam +toward one of the life-boats and was taken aboard. + +Said one survivor, speaking of the men who remained on the ship. "There +they stood--Major Butt, Colonel Astor waving a farewell to his wife, +Mr. Thayer, Mr. Case, Mr. Clarence Moore, Mr. Widener, all +multimillionaires, and hundreds of other men, bravely smiling at us all. +Never have I seen such chivalry and fortitude. Such courage in the face +of fate horrible to contemplate filled us even then with wonder and +admiration." + +Why were men saved? ask: others who seek to make the occasional male +survivor a hissing scorn; and yet the testimony makes it clear that for +a long time during that ordeal the more frightful position seemed to +many to be in the frail boats in the vast relentless sea, and that some +men had to be tumbled into the boats under orders from the officers. +Others express the deepest indignation that 210 sailors were rescued, +the testimony shows that most of these sailors were in the welter of ice +and water into which they had been thrown from the ship's deck when she +sank; they were human beings and so were picked up and saved. + + +"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" + +The one alleviating circumstance in the otherwise immitigable tragedy +is the fact that so many of the men stood aside really with out the +necessity for the order, "Women and children first," and insisted that +the weaker sex should first have places in the boats. + +There were men whose word of command swayed boards of directors, +governed institutions, disposed of millions. They were accustomed merely +to pronounce a wish to have it gratified. Thousands "posted at their +bidding"; the complexion of the market altered hue when they nodded; +they bought what they wanted, and for one of the humblest fishing smacks +or a dory they could have given the price that was paid to build and +launch the ship that has become the most imposing mausoleum that ever +housed the bones of men since the Pyramids rose from the desert sands. + +But these men stood aside--one can see them!--and gave place not merely +to the delicate and the refined, but to the scared Czech woman from the +steerage, with her baby at her breast; the Croatian with a toddler by +her side, coming through the very gate of Death and out of the mouth of +Hell to the imagined Eden of America. + +To many of those who went it was harder to go than to stay there on the +vessel gaping with its mortal wounds and ready to go down. It meant that +tossing on the waters they must wait in suspense, hour after hour even +after the lights of the ship were engulfed in appalling darkness, hoping +against hope for the miracle of a rescue dearer to them than their own +lives. + +It was the tradition of Anglo-Saxon heroism that was fulfilled in the +frozen seas during the black hours of Sunday night. The heroism was that +of the women who went, as well as of the men who remained! + + + +CHAPTER VII. LEFT TO THEIR FATE + +COOLNESS AND HEROISM OF THOSE LEFT TO PERISH--SUICIDE OF +MURDOCK--CAPTAIN SMITH'S END--THE SHIP'S BAND PLAYS A NOBLE HYMN AS THE +VESSEL GOES DOWN + +THE general feeling aboard the ship after the boats had left her +sides was that she would not survive her wound, but the passengers who +remained aboard displayed the utmost heroism. + +William T. Stead, the famous English journalist, was so litt{l}e alarmed +that he calmly discussed with one of the passengers the probable height +of the iceberg after the Titanic had shot into it. + +Confidence in the ability of the Titanic to remain afloat doubtlessly +led many of the passengers to death. The theory that the great ship was +unsinkable remained with hundreds who had entrusted themselves to the +gigantic hulk, long after the officers knew that the vessel could not +survive. + +The captain and officers behaved with superb gallantry, and there was +perfect order and discipline among those who were aboard, even after all +hope had been abandoned for the salvation of the ship. + +Many women went down, steerage women who were unable to get to the upper +decks where the boats were launched, maids who were overlooked in the +confusion, cabin passengers who refused to desert their husbands or who +reached the decks after the last of the life-boats was gone and the ship +was settling for her final plunge to the bottom of the Atlantic. + +Narratives of survivors do not bear out the supposition that the final +hours upon the vessel's decks were passed in darkness. They say the +electric lighting plant held out until the last, and that even as they +watched the ship sink, from their places in the floating life-boats, her +lights were gleaming in long rows as she plunged under by the head. Just +before she sank, some of the refugees say, the ship broke in two abaft +the engine room after the bulkhead explosions had occurred. + +COLONEL ASTOR'S DEATH + + +To Colonel Astor's death Philip Mock bears this testimony. + +"Many men were hanging on to rafts in the sea. William T. Stead and +Colonel Astor were among them. Their feet and hands froze and they had +to let go. Both were drowned." + +The last man among the survivors to speak to Colonel Astor was K. +Whiteman, the ship's barber. + +"I shaved Colonel Astor Sunday afternoon," said Whiteman. "He was a +pleasant, affable man, and that awful night when I found myself standing +beside him on the passenger deck, helping to put the women into the +boats, I spoke to him. + +"'Where is your life-belt?' I asked him. + +"'I didn't think there would be any need of it,' he said. + +"'Get one while there is time,' I told him. 'The last boat is gone, and +we are done for.' + +"'No,' he said, 'I think there are some life-boats to be launched, and +we may get on one of them.' + +"'There are no life-rafts,' I told him, 'and the ship is going to sink. +I am going to jump overboard and take a chance on swimming out and being +picked up by one of the boats. Better come along.' + +"'No, thank you,' he said, calmly, 'I think I'll have to stick.' + +"I asked him if he would mind shaking hands with me. He said, 'With +pleasure,' gave me a hearty grip, and then I climbed up on the rail and +jumped overboard. I was in the water nearly four hours before one of the +boats picked me up." + + +CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD + +Murdock's last orders were to Quartermaster Moody and a few other petty +officers who had taken their places in the rigid discipline of the ship +and were lowering the boats. Captain Smith came up to him on the bridge +several times and then rushed down again. They spoke to one another only +in monosyllables. + +There were stories that Captain Smith, when he saw the ship actually +going down, had committed suicide. There is no basis for such tales. The +captain, according to the testimony of those who were near him almost +until the last, was admirably cool. He carried a revolver in his hand, +ready to use it on anyone who disobeyed orders. + +"I want every man to act like a man for manhood's sake," he said, "and +if they don't, a bullet awaits the coward." + +With the revolver in his hand--a fact that undoubtedly gave rise to +the suicide theory--the captain moved up and down the deck. He gave the +order for each life-boat to make off and he remained until every boat +was gone. Standing on the bridge he finally called out the order: "Each +man save himself." At that moment all discipline fled. It was the last +call of death. If there had been any hope among those on board before, +the hope now had fled. + +The bearded admiral of the White Star Line fleet, with every life-saving +device launched from the decks, was returning to the deck to perform the +sacred office of going down with his ship when a wave dashed over the +side and tore him from the ladder. + +The Titanic was sinking rapidly by the head, with the twisting sidelong +motion that was soon to aim her on her course two miles down. Murdock +saw the skipper swept out; but did not move. Captain Smith was but one +of a multitude of lost at that moment. Murdock may have known that the +last desperate thought of the gray mariner was to get upon his bridge +and die in command. That the old man could not have done this may have +had something to do with Murdock's suicidal inspiration. Of that no man +may say or safely guess. + +The wave that swept the skipper out bore him almost to the thwart of +a crowded life-boat. Hands reached out, but he wrenched himself away, +turned and swam back toward the ship. + +Some say that he said, "Good-bye, I'm going back to the ship." + +He disappeared for a moment, then reappeared where a rail was slipping +under water. Cool and courageous to the end, loyal to his duty under the +most difficult circumstances, he showed himself a noble captain, and he +died a noble death. + + +SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH + +Quartermaster Moody saw all this, watched the skipper scramble aboard +again onto the submerged decks, and then vanish altogether in a great +billow. + +As Moody's eye lost sight of the skipper in this confusion of waters it +again shifted to the bridge, and just in time to see Murdock take his +life. The man's face was turned toward him, Moody said, and he could +not mistake it. There were still many gleaming lights on the ship, +flickering out like little groups of vanishing stars, and with the +clear starshine on the waters there was nothing to cloud or break the +quartermaster's vision. + +"I saw Murdock die by his own hand," said Moody, "saw the flash from +his gun, heard the crack that followed the flash and then saw him plunge +over on his face." + +Others report hearing several pistol shots on the decks below the +bridge, but amid the groans and shrieks and cries, shouted orders and +all that vast orchestra of sounds that broke upon the air they must have +been faint periods of punctuation + +BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE + +The band had broken out in the strains of "Nearer, My God, to Thee," +some minutes before Murdock lifted the revolver to his head, fired and +toppled over on his face. Moody saw all this in a vision that filled his +brain, while his ears drank in the tragic strain of the beautiful hymn +that the band played as their own dirge, even to the moment when the +waters sucked them down. + +Wherever Murdock's eye swept the water in that instant, before he drew +his revolver, it looked upon veritable seas of drowning men and women. +From the decks there came to him the shrieks and groans of the caged and +drowning, for whom all hope of escape was utterly vanished. He evidently +never gave a thought to the possibility of saving himself, his mind +freezing with the horrors he beheld and having room for just one central +idea--swift extinction. + +The strains of the hymn and the frantic cries of the dying blended in a +symphony of sorrow. + +Led by the green light, under the light of stars, the boats drew away, +and the bow, then the quarter, then the stacks and last the stern of the +marvel ship of a few days before passed beneath the waters. The great +force of the ship's sinking was unaided by any violence of the elements, +and the suction, not so great as had been feared, rocked but mildly the +group of boats now a quarter of a mile distant from it. + +Just before the Titanic disappeared from view men and women leaped from +the stern. More than a hundred men, according to Colonel Gracie, jumped +at the last. Gracie was among the number and he and the second officer +were of the very few who were saved. + +As the vessel disappeared, the waves drowned the majestic + + +{illust. caption = DEPTH OF OCEAN WHERE THE TITANIC WENT DOWN + +The above etching shows a diagram of the ocean depths between the shore +of Newfoundland (shown at the top to the left, by the heavily shaded +part) to 800 miles out, where the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. +Over the Great Bank of Newfoundland the greatest depth is about 35 +fathoms, or 210 feet. Then there is a sudden drop to 105 fathoms, or +630 feet, and then there is a falling away to 1650 fathoms or 9900 feet, +then 2000 fathoms or 12,000 feet, and about where the Titanic sank 2760 +fathoms or 16,560 feet.} + + +hymn which the musicians played as they went to their watery grave. The +most authentic accounts agree that this hymn was not "Nearer, My God, to +Thee," which it seems had been + + + +{illust. caption = CARPATHIA + +The Cunard liner which brought the survivors of the Titanic to New +York.} + +{illust. caption = THE HERO WIRELESS OPERATOR OF THE TITANIC + +Photograph of Harold...} + + +played shortly before, but "Autumn," which is found in the Episcopal +hymnal and which fits appropriately the situation on the Titanic in the +last moments of pain and darkness there. One line, "Hold me up in mighty +waters," particularly may have suggested the hymn to some minister +aboard the doomed vessel, who, it has been thought, thereupon asked +the remaining passengers to join in singing the hymn, in a last service +aboard the sinking ship, soon to be ended by death itself. + +Following is the hymn: + + God of mercy and compassion! + Look with pity on my pain: + Hear a mournful, broken spirit + Prostrate at Thy feet complain; + Many are my foes, and mighty; + Strength to conquer I have none; + Nothing can uphold my goings + But Thy blessed Self alone. + + Saviour, look on Thy beloved; + Triumph over all my foes; + Turn to heavenly joy my mourning, + Turn to gladness all my woes; + Live or die, or work or suffer, + Let my weary soul abide, + In all changes whatsoever + Sure and steadfast by Thy side. + When temptations fierce assault me, + When my enemies I find, + Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, + All against my soul combined, + Hold me up in mighty waters, + Keep my eyes on things above, + Righteousness, divine Atonement, + Peace, and everlasting Love. + + +It was a little lame schoolmaster, Tyrtaeus, who aroused the Spartans by +his poetry and led them to victory against the foe. + +It was the musicians of the band of the Titanic--poor men, paid a few +dollars a week--who played the music to keep up the courage of the souls +aboard the sinking ship. + +"The way the band kept playing was a noble thing," says the wireless +operator. "I heard it first while we were working the wireless, when +there was a rag-time tune for us, and the last I saw of the band, when I +was floating, struggling in the icy water, it was still on deck, playing +'Autumn.' How those brave fellows ever did it I cannot imagine." + +Perhaps that music, made in the face of death, would not have satisfied +the exacting critical sense. It may be that the chilled fingers faltered +on the pistons of the cornet or at the valves of the French horn, that +the time was irregular and that by an organ in a church, with a decorous +congregation, the hymns they chose would have been better played and +sung. But surely that music went up to God from the souls of drowning +men, and was not less acceptable than the song of songs no mortal ear +may hear, the harps of the seraphs and the choiring cherubim. Under the +sea the music-makers lie, still in their fingers clutching the broken +and battered means of melody; but over the strident voice of warring +winds and the sound of many waters there rises their chant eternally; +and though the musicians lie hushed and cold at the sea's heart, their +music is heard forevermore. + + +LAST MOMENTS + +That great ship, which started out as proudly, went down to her death +like some grime silent juggernaut, drunk with carnage and anxious to +stop the throbbing of her own heart at the bottom of the sea. Charles H. +Lightoller, second officer of the Titanic, tells the story this way: + +"I stuck to the ship until the water came up to my ankles. There had +been no lamentations, no demonstrations either from the men passengers +as they saw the last life-boat go, and there was no wailing or crying, +no outburst from the men who lined the ship's rail as the Titanic +disappeared from sight. + +"The men stood quietly as if they were in church. They knew that they +were in the sight of God; that in a moment judgment would be passed +upon them. Finally, the ship took a dive, reeling for a moment, then +plunging. I was sucked to the side of the ship against the grating over +the blower for the exhaust. There was an explosion. It blew me to the +surface again, only to be sucked back again by the water rushing into +the ship + +"This time I landed against the grating over the pipes, which furnish a +draught for the funnels, and stuck there. There was another explosion, +and I came to the surface. The ship seemed to be heaving tremendous +sighs as she went down. I found myself not many feet from the ship, but +on the other side of it. The ship had turned around while I was under +the water. + +"I came up near a collapsible life-boat and grabbed it. Many men were +in the water near me. They had jumped at the last minute. A funnel fell +within four inches of me and killed one of the swimmers. Thirty clung to +the capsized boat, and a life-boat, with forty survivors in it already, +finally took them off. + +"George D. Widener and Harry Elkins Widener were among those who jumped +at the last minute. So did Robert Williams Daniel. The three of them +went down together. Daniel struck out, lashing the water with his arms +until he had made a point far distant from the sinking monster of the +sea. Later he was picked up by one of the passing life-boats. + +"The Wideners were not seen again, nor was John B. Thayer, who went down +on the boat. 'Jack' Thayer, who was literally thrown off the Titanic +by an explosion, after he had refused to leave the men to go with his +mother, floated around on a raft for an hour before he was picked up." + + +AFLOAT WITH JACK THAYER + +Graphic accounts of the final plunge of the Titanic were related by two +Englishmen, survivors by the merest chance. One of them struggled for +hours to hold himself afloat on an overturned collapsible life-boat, +to one end of which John B. Thayer, Jr., of Philadelphia, whose father +perished, hung until rescued. + +The men gave their names as A. H. Barkworth, justice of the peace of +East Riding, Yorkshire, England, and W. J. Mellers, of Christ Church +Terrace, Chelsea, London. The latter, a young man, had started for this +country with his savings to seek his fortune, and lost all but his life. + +Mellers, like Quartermaster Moody, said Captain Smith did not commit +suicide. The captain jumped from the bridge, Mellers declares, and he +heard him say to his officers and crew: "You have done your duty, boys. +Now every man for himself." Mellers and Barkworth, who say their names +have been spelled incorrectly in most of the lists of survivors, both +declare there were three distinct explosions before the Titanic broke in +two, and bow section first, and stern part last, settled with her human +cargo into the sea. + +Her four whistles kept up a deafening blast until the explosions, +declare the men. The death cries from the shrill throats of the +blatant steam screechers beside the smokestacks so rent the air that +conversation among the passengers was possible only when one yelled into +the ear of a fellow-unfortunate. + +"I did not know the Thayer family well," declared Mr. Barkworth, "but I +had met young Thayer, a clear-cut chap, and his father on the trip. The +lad and I struggled in the water for several hours endeavoring to hold +afloat by grabbing to the sides and end of an overturned life-boat. +Now and again we lost our grip and fell back into the water. I did not +recognize young Thayer in the darkness, as we struggled for our lives, +but I did recall having met him before when we were picked up by a +life-boat. We were saved by the merest chance, because the survivors on +a life-boat that rescued us hesitated in doing so, it seemed, fearing +perhaps that additional burdens would swamp the frail craft. + +"I considered my fur overcoat helped to keep me afloat. I had a life +preserver over it, under my arms, but it would not have held me up so +well out of the water but for the coat. The fur of the coat seemed not +to get wet through, and retained a certain amount of air that added to +buoyance. I shall never part with it. + +"The testimony of J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star +Line, that he had not heard explosions before the Titanic settled, +indicates that he must have gotten some distance from her in his +life-boat. There were three distinct explosions and the ship broke in +the center. The bow settled headlong first, and the stern last. I was +looking toward her from the raft to which young Thayer and I had clung." + + +HOW CAPTAIN SMITH DIED + +Barkworth jumped, just before the Titanic went down. He said there were +enough life-preservers for all the passengers, but in the confusion many +may not have known where to look for them. Mellers, who had donned a +life-preserver, was hurled into the air, from the bow of the ship by the +force of the explosion, which he believed caused the Titanic to part in +the center. + +"I was not far from where Captain Smith stood on the bridge, giving full +orders to his men," said Mellers. "The brave old seaman was crying, but +he had stuck heroically to the last. He did not shoot himself. He +jumped from the bridge when he had done all he could. I heard his final +instructions to his crew, and recall that his last words were: 'You have +done your duty, boys. Now every man for himself.' + +"I thought I was doomed to go down with the rest. I stood on the deck, +awaiting my fate, fearing to jump from the ship. Then came a grinding +noise, followed by two others, and I was hurled into the deep. Great +waves engulfed me, but I was not drawn toward the ship, so that I +believe there was little suction. I swam about for more than one hour +before I was picked up by a boat." + + +A FAITHFUL OFFICER + +Charles Herbert Lightoller, previously mentioned, stood by the ship +until the last, working to get the passengers away, and when it appeared +that he had made his last trip he went up high on the officers' quarters +and made the best dive he knew how to make just as the ship plunged down +to the depths. This is an excerpt from his testimony before the Senate +investigating committee: + +"What time did you leave the ship?" + +"I didn't leave it." + +"Did it leave you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Children shall hear that episode sung in after years and his own +descendants shall recite it to their bairns. Mr. Lightoller acted as an +officer and gentleman should, and he was not the only one. + + +A MESSAGE FROM A NOTORIOUS GAMBLER + +That Jay Yates, gambler, confidence man and fugitive from justice, known +to the police and in sporting circles as J. H. Rogers, went down with +the Titanic after assisting many women aboard life-boats, became known +when a note, written on a blank page torn from a diary: was delivered to +his sister. Here is a fac-simile of the note: + + +{illust.} + + + +This note was given by Rogers to a woman he was helping into a +life-boat. The woman, who signed herself "Survivor," inclosed the note +with the following letter. + +"You will find note that was handed to me as I was leaving the Titanic. +Am stranger to this man, but think he was a card player. He helped me +aboard a life-boat and I saw him help others. Before we were lowered I +saw him jump into the sea. If picked up I did not recognize him on the +Carpathia. I don't think he was registered on the ship under his right +name." + +Rogers' mother, Mrs. Mary A. Yates, an old woman, broke down when she +learned son had perished. + +"Thank God I know where he is now," she sobbed. "I have not heard from +him for two years. The last news I had from him he was in London." + + +FIFTY LADS MET DEATH + +Among the many hundreds of heroic souls who went bravely and quietly to +their end were fifty happy-go-lucky youngsters shipped as bell boys +or messengers to serve the first cabin passengers. James Humphreys, a +quartermaster, who commanded life-boat No. 11, told a li{t}tle story +that shows how these fifty lads met death. + +Humphreys said the boys were called to their regular posts in the main +cabin entry and taken in charge by their captain, a steward. They were +ordered to remain in the cabin and not get in the way. Throughout the +first hour of confusion and terror these lads sat quietly on their +benches in various parts of the first cabin. + +Then, just toward the end when the order was passed around that the ship +was going down and every man was free to save himself, if he kept away +from the life-boats in which the women + +{illust. caption = "WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS IN THE HOLLOW OF +HIS HAND."--Isaiah XL:xii} + + +were being taken, the bell boys scattered to all parts of the ship. + +Humphreys said he saw numbers of them smoking cigarettes and joking with +the passengers. They seemed to think that their violation of the rule +against smoking while on duty was a sufficient breach of discipline. + +Not one of them attempted to enter a life-boat. Not one of them was +saved. + + +THE HEROES WHO REMAINED + +The women who left the ship; the men who remained--there is little to +choose between them for heroism. Many of the women compelled to take to +the boats would have stayed, had it been possible, to share the fate of +their nearest and dearest, without whom their lives are crippled, broken +and disconsolate. + +The heroes who remained would have said, with Grenville. "We have only +done our duty, as a man is bound to do." They sought no palms or crowns +of martyrdom. "They also serve who only stand and wait," and their first +action was merely to step aside and give places in the boats to women +and children, some of whom were too young to comprehend or to remember. + +There was no debate as to whether the life of a financier, a master +of business, was rated higher in the scale of values than that of an +ignorant peasant mother. A woman was a woman, whether she wore rags +or pearls. A life was given for a life, with no assertion that one was +priceless and the other comparatively valueless. + +Many of those who elected to remain might have escaped. "Chivalry" is a +mild appellation for their conduct. Some of the vaunted knights of old +were desperate cowards by comparison. A fight in the open field, or +jousting in the tournament, did not call out the manhood in a man as did +the waiting till the great ship took the final plunge, in the knowledge +that the seas round about were covered with loving and yearning +witnesses whose own salvation was not assured. + +When the roll is called hereafter of those who are "purged of pride +because they died, who know the worth of their days," let the names of +the men who went down with the Titanic be found written there in the +sight of God and men. + + +THE OBVIOUS LESSON + +And, whatever view of the accident be taken, whether the moralist shall +use it to point the text of a solemn or denunciatory warning, or whether +the materialist, swinging to the other extreme, scouts any other theory +than that of the "fortuitous concurrence of atoms," there is scarcely a +thinking mortal who has heard of what happened who has not been deeply +stirred, in the sense of a personal bereavement, to a profound humility +and the conviction of his own insignificance in the greater universal +scheme. + +Many there are whom the influences of religion do not move, and upon +whose hearts most generous sentiments knock in vain, who still are +overawed and bowed by the magnitude of this catastrophe. No matter what +they believe about it, the effect is the same. The effect is to reduce +a man from the swaggering braggart--the vainglorious lord of what he +sees--the self-made master of fate, of nature, of time, of space, of +everything--to his true microscopic stature in the cosmos. He goes in +tears to put together again the fragments of the few, small, pitiful +things that belonged to him. + + "Though Love may pine, and Reason chafe, + There came a Voice without reply." + + +The only comfort, all that can bring surcease of sorrow, is that men +fashioned in the image of their Maker rose to the emergency like heroes, +and went to their grave as bravely as any who have given their lives +at any time in war. The hearts of those who waited on the land, and +agonized, and were impotent to save, have been laid upon the same altars +of sacrifice. The mourning of those who will not be comforted rises from +alien lands together with our own in a common broken intercession. How +little is the 882 feet of the "monster" that we launched compared with +the arc of the rainbow we can see even in our grief spanning the frozen +boreal mist! + + "The best of what we do and are, + Just God, forgive!" + + +THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE + +And still our work must go on. It is the business of men and women +neither to give way to unavailing grief nor to yield to the crushing +incubus of despair, but to find hope that is at the bottom of +everything, even at the bottom of the sea where that glorious virgin of +the ocean is dying. "And when she took unto herself a mate + She must espouse the everlasting sea." + + +Even so, for any progress of the race, there must be the ancient +sacrifice of man's own stubborn heart, and all his pride. He must +forever "lay in dust life's glory dead." He cannot rise to the height it +was intended he should reach till he has plumbed the depths, till he has +devoured the bread of the bitterest affliction, till he has known the +ache of hopes deferred, of anxious expectation disappointed, of dreams +that are not to be fulfilled this side of the river that waters the +meads of Paradise. There still must be a reason why it is not an unhappy +thing to be taken from "the world we know to one a wonder still," and so +that we go bravely, what does it matter, the mode of our going? It was +not only those who stood back, who let the women and children go to +the boats, that died. There died among us on the shore something of the +fierce greed of bitterness, something of the sharp hatred of passion, +something of the mad lust of revenge and of knife-edge competition. +Though we are not aware of it, perhaps, we are not quite the people that +we were before out of the mystery an awful hand was laid upon us all, +and what we had thought the colossal power of wealth was in a twinkling +shown to be no more than the strength of an infant's little finger, or +the twining tendril of a plant. + + "Lest we forget; lest we forget!" + +{"illustration", really "music" Lyrics = + +God of mercy and compassion, Look with pity on my pain; Hear a mournful, +broken spirit Prostrate at Thy feet complain; Many are my foes and +mighty; Strength to conquer I have none; Nothing can uphold my goings +But they blessed Self alone. AMEN + +{2nd Stanza} Saviour, look on Thy beloved, Triumph over all my foes, +Turn to heavenly joy my mourning, Turn to gladness all my woes; Live +or die, or work or suffer Let my weary soul abide, In all changes +whatsoever, Sure and steadfast by Thy side: + +{3rd Stanza} When temptations fierce assault me, When my enemies I find, +Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, All against my soul combined, Hold +me up in mighty waters, Keep my eyes on things above--Rightousness,{sic} +divine atonement Peace and everlasting love,} + + +{illust. caption = LATITUDE 41.46 NORTH, LONGITUDE 50.14 WEST WHERE +MANHOOD PERISHED NOT} + +{illust. caption = LOWERING OF THE LIFE-BOATS FROM THE TITANIC + +It is easy to understand why...} + +{illust. caption = PASSENGERS LEAVING THE TITANIC IN THE LIFE-BOATS + +The agony and despair which possessed the occupants of these boats +as they were carried away from the doomed giant, leaving husbands and +brothers behind, is almost beyond description. It is little wonder that +the strain of these moments, with the physical and mental suffering +which followed during the early morning hours, left many of the women +still hysterical when they reached New York.} + + + +WHERE MANHOOD PERISHED NOT + + Where cross the lines of forty north + And fifty-fourteen west + There rolls a wild and greedy sea + With death upon its crest. + No stone or wreath from human hands + Will ever mark the spot + Where fifteen hundred men went down, + But Manhood perished not. + + Old Ocean takes but little heed + Of human tears or woe. + No shafts adorn the ocean graves, + Nor weeping willows grow. + Nor is there need of marble slab + To keep in mind the spot + Where noble men went down to death, + But manhood perished not! + + Those men who looked on death and smiled, + And trod the crumbling deck, + Have saved much more than precious lives + From out that awful wreck. + Though countless joys and hopes and fears + Were shattered at a breath, + 'Tis something that the name of Man + Did not go down to death. + + 'Tis not an easy thing to die, + E'en in the open air, + Twelve hundred miles from home and friends, + In a shroud of black despair. + A wreath to crown the brow of man, + And hide a former blot + Will ever blossom o'er the waves + Where Manhood perished not. + + HARVEY P. THEW + {spelling uncertain due to poor printing} + + + +CHAPTER VIII. THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD + +THE VALUE OF THE WIRELESS--OTHER SHIPS ALTER THEIR COURSE--RESCUERS ON +THE WAY + +"WE have struck an iceberg. Badly damaged. Rush aid." + +Seaward and landward, J. G. Phillips, the Titanic's wireless man, had +hurled the appeal for help. By fits and starts--for the wireless was +working unevenly and blurringly--Phillips reached out to the world, +crying the Titanic's peril. A word or two, scattered phrases, now and +then a connected sentence, made up the message that sent a thrill of +apprehension for a thousand miles east, west and south of the doomed +liner. + +The early despatches from St. John's, Cape Race, and Montreal, told +graphic tales of the race to reach the Titanic, the wireless appeals +for help, the interruption of the calls, then what appeared to be a +successful conclusion of the race when the Virginian was reported as +having reached the giant liner. + + +MANY LINES HEAR THE CALL + +Other rushing liners besides the Virginian heard the call and became on +the instant something more than cargo carriers and passenger greyhounds. +The big Baltic, 200 miles to the eastward and westbound, turned again +to save life, as she did when her sister of the White Star fleet, the +Republic, was cut down in a fog in January, 1909. The Titanic's mate, +the Olympic, the mightiest of the seagoers save the Titanic herself, +turned in her tracks. All along the northern lane the miracle of the +wireless worked for the distressed and sinking White Star ship. The +Hamburg-American Cincinnati, the Parisian from Glasgow, the North +German Lloyd Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, the Hamburg-American liners Prinz +Adelbert and Amerika, all heard the C. Q. D. and the rapid, condensed +explanation of what had happened. + + +VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE + +But the Virginian was nearest, barely 170 miles away, and was the first +to know of the Titanic's danger. She went about and headed under +forced draught for the spot indicated in one of the last of Phillips' +messages--latitude 41.46 N. and longitude 50.14 W. She is a fast +ship, the Allan liner, and her wireless has told the story of how she +stretched through the night to get up to the Titanic in time. There was +need for all the power of her engines and all the experience and skill +of her captain. The final fluttering Marconigrams that were released +from the Titanic made it certain that the great ship with 2340 souls +aboard was filling and in desperate peril. + +Further out at sea was the Cunarder, Carpathia, which left New York +for the Mediterranean on April 13th. Round she went and plunged back +westward to take a hand in saving life. And the third steamship within +short sailing of the Titanic was the Allan liner Parisian away to the +eastward, on her way from Glasgow to Halifax. + +While they sped in the night with all the drive that steam could give +them, the Titanic's call reached to Cape Race and the startled operator +there heard at midnight a message which quickly reached New York: + +"Have struck an iceberg. We are badly damaged. Titanic latitude 41.46 +N., 50.14 W." + +Cape Race threw the appeal broadcast wherever his apparatus could carry. + +Then for hours, while the world waited for a crumb of news as to the +safety of the great ship's people, not one thing more was known save +that she was drifting, broken and helpless and alone in the midst of a +waste of ice. And it was not until seventeen hours after the Titanic +had sunk that the words came out of the air as to her fate. There was a +confusion and tangle of messages--a jumble of rumors. Good tidings were +trodden upon by evil. And no man knew clearly what was taking place in +that stretch of waters where the giant icebergs were making a mock of +all that the world knew best in ship-building. + + +TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS + +It was at 12.17 A. M., while the Virginian was still plunging eastward, +that all communication from the Titanic ceased. The Virginian's +operator, with the Virginian's captain at his elbow, fed the air with +blue flashes in a desperate effort to know what was happening to the +crippled liner, but no message came back. The last word from the Titanic +was that she was sinking. Then the sparking became fainter. The call +was dying to nothing. The Virginian's operator labored over a blur of +signals. It was hopeless. So the Allan ship strove on, fearing that the +worst had happened. + +It was this ominous silence that so alarmed the other vessels hurrying +to the Titanic and that caused so much suspense here. + + + +CHAPTER IX. IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS + +SORROW AND SUFFERING--THE SURVIVORS SEE THE TITANIC GO DOWN WITH THEIR +LOVED ONES ON BOARD--A NIGHT OF AGONIZING SUSPENSE--WOMEN HELP TO +ROW--HELP ARRIVES--PICKING UP THE LIFE-BOATS + +SIXTEEN boats were in the procession which entered on the terrible hours +of rowing, drifting and suspense. Women wept for lost husbands and sons, +sailors sobbed for the ship which had been their pride. Men choked back +tears and sought to comfort the widowed. Perhaps, they said, other boats +might have put off in another direction. They strove, though none too +sure themselves, to convince the women of the certainty that a rescue +ship would appear. + +In the distance the Titanic looked an enormous length, her great bulk +outlined in black against the starry sky, every port-hole and saloon +blazing with light. It was impossible to think anything could be wrong +with such a leviathan, were it not for that ominous tilt downwards in +the bows, where the water was now up to the lowest row of port-holes. +Presently, about 2 A. M., as near as can be determined, those in the +life-boats observed her settling very rapidly with the bows and the +bridge completely under water, and concluded it was now only a question +of minutes before she went. So it proved She slowly tilted straight on +end with the stern vertically upwards, and as she did, the lights in +the cabins and saloons, which until then had not flickered for a moment, +died out, came on again for a single flash, and finally went altogether. +At the same time the machinery roared down through the vessel with a +rattle and a groaning that could be heard for miles, the weirdest sound +surely that could be heard in the middle of the ocean, a thousand miles +away from land. But this was not yet quite the end. + + +TITANIC STOOD UPRIGHT + +To the amazement of the awed watchers in the life-boats, the doomed +vessel remained in that upright position for a time estimated at five +minutes; some in the boat say less, but it was certainly some minutes +that at least 150 feet of the Titanic towered up above the level of the +sea and loomed black against the sky. + + +SAW LAST OF BIG SHIP + +Then with a quiet, slanting dive she disappeared beneath the waters, and +the eyes of the helpless spectators had looked for the last time upon +the gigantic vessel on which they had set out from Southampton. And +there was left to the survivors only the gently heaving sea, the +life-boats filled with men and women in every conceivable condition of +dress and undress, above the perfect sky of brilliant stars with not a +cloud, all tempered with a bitter cold that made each man and woman long +to be one of the crew who toiled away with the oars and kept themselves +warm thereby--a curious, deadening; bitter cold unlike anything they had +felt before. + + +"ONE LONG MOAN" + +And then with all these there fell on the ear the most appalling +noise that human being has ever listened to--the cries of hundreds of +fellow-beings struggling in the icy cold water, crying for help with a +cry that could not be answered. + +Third Officer Herbert John Pitman, in charge of one of the boats, +described this cry of agony in his testimony before the Senatorial +Investigating Committee, under the questioning of Senator Smith: + +"I heard no cries of distress until after the ship went down," he said. + +"How far away were the cries from your life-boat?" + +"Several hundred yards, probably, some of them." + +"Describe the screams." + +"Don't, sir, please! I'd rather not talk about it." + +"I'm sorry to press it, but what was it like? Were the screams +spasmodic?" + +"It was one long continuous moan." + +The witness said the moans and cries continued an hour. + +Those in the life-boats longed to return and pick up some of the poor +drowning souls, but they feared this would mean swamping the boats and a +further loss of life. + +Some of the men tried to sing to keep the women from hearing the cries, +and rowed hard to get away from the scene of the wreck, but the memory +of those sounds will be one of the things the rescued will find it +difficult to forget. + +The waiting sufferers kept a lookout for lights, and several times it +was shouted that steamers' lights were seen, but they turned out to be +either a light from another boat or a star low down on the horizon. It +was hard to keep up hope. + + +WOMEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE + +"Let me go back--I want to go back to my husband--I'll jump from the +boat if you don't," cried an agonized voice in one life-boat. + +"You can do no good by going back--other lives will be lost if you try +to do it. Try to calm yourself for the sake of the living. It may be +that your husband will be picked up somewhere by one of the fishing +boats." + +The woman who pleaded to go back, according to Mrs. Vera Dick, of +Calgary, Canada, later tried to throw herself from the life-boat. Mrs. +Dick, describing the scenes in the life-boats, said there were half +a dozen women in that one boat who tried to commit suicide when they +realized that the Titanic had gone down. + +"Even in Canada, where we have such clear nights," said Mrs. Dick, "I +have never seen such a clear sky. The stars were very bright and we +could see the Titanic plainly, like a great hotel on the water. Floor +after floor of the lights went out as we watched. It was horrible, +horrible. I can't bear to think about it. From the distance, as we rowed +away, we could hear the band playing 'Nearer, My God to Thee.' + +"Among the life-boats themselves, however, there were scenes just as +terrible, perhaps, but to me nothing could outdo the tragic grandeur +with which the Titanic went to its death. To realize it, you would +have to see the Titanic as I saw it the day we set sail--with the +flags flying and the bands playing. Everybody on board was laughing and +talking about the Titanic being the biggest and most luxurious boat on +the ocean and being unsinkable. To think of it then and to think of it +standing out there in the night, wounded to death and gasping for life, +is almost too big for the imagination. + + +SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN IN LIFE-BOATS + +"The women on our boat were in nightgowns and bare feet--some of +them--and the wealthiest women mingled with the poorest immigrants. One +immigrant woman kept shouting: 'My God, my poor father! He put me in +this boat and would not save himself. Oh, why didn't I die, why didn't I +die? Why can't I die now?' + +"We had to restrain her, else she would have jumped over-board. It was +simply awful. Some of the men apparently had said they could row just to +get into the boats. We paid no attention to cowardice, however. We were +all busy with our own troubles. My heart simply bled for the women who +were separated from their husbands. + +"The night was frightfully cold, although clear. We had to huddle +together to keep warm. Everybody drank sparingly of the water and +ate sparingly of the bread. We did not know when we would be saved. +Everybody tried to remain cool, except the poor creatures who could +think of nothing but their own great loss. Those with the most brains +seemed to control themselves best." + + +PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HEROINES + +How Mrs. George D. Widener, whose husband and son perished after kissing +her good-bye and helping her into one of the boats, rowed when exhausted +seamen were on the verge of collapse, was told by Emily Geiger, maid of +Mrs. Widener, who was saved with her. + +The girl said Mrs. Widener bravely toiled throughout the night and +consoled other women who had broken down under the strain. + +Mrs. William E. Carter and Mrs. John B. Thayer were in the same +life-boat and worked heroically to keep it free from the icy menace. +Although Mrs. Thayer's husband remained aboard the Titanic and sank with +it, and although she had no knowledge of the safety of her son until +they met, hours later, aboard the Carpathia, Mrs. Thayer bravely labored +at the oars throughout the night. + +In telling of her experience Mrs. Carter said: + +"When I went over the side with my children and got in the boat there +were no seamen in it. Then came a few men, but there were oars with no +one to use them. The boat had been filled with passengers, and there was +nothing else for me to do but to take an oar. + +"We could see now that the time of the ship had come. She was sinking, +and we were warned by cries from the men above to pull away from +the ship quickly. Mrs. Thayer, wife of the vice-president of the +Pennsylvania Railroad, was in my boat, and she, too, took an oar. + +"It was cold and we had no time to clothe ourselves with warm overcoats. +The rowing warmed me. We started to pull away from the ship. We could +see the dim outlines of the decks above, but we could not recognize +anybody." + + +MANY WOMEN ROWING + +Mrs. William R. Bucknell's account of the part women played in the +rowing is as follows: + +"There were thirty-five persons in the boat in which the captain placed +me. Three of these were ordinary seamen, supposed to manage the boat, +and a steward. + +"One of these men seemed to think that we should not start away from +the sinking ship until it could be learned whether the other boats would +accommodate the rest of the women. He seemed to think that; more could +be crowded into ours, if necessary. + +"'I would rather go back and go down with the ship than leave under +these circumstances.' he cried. + +"The captain shouted to him to obey orders and to pull for a little +light that could just be discerned miles in the distance. I do not know +what this little light was. It may have been a passing fishing vessel, +which, of course could not know our predicament. Anyway, we never +reached it. + +"We rowed all night, I took an oar and sat beside the Countess de +Rothes. Her maid had an our and so did mine. The air was freezing cold, +and it was not long before the only man that appeared to know anything +about rowing commenced to complain that his hands were freezing: A woman +back of him handed him a shawl from about her shoulders. + +"As we rowed we looked back at the lights of the Titanic. There was +not a sound from her, only the lights began to get lower and lower, +and finally she sank. Then we heard a muffled explosion and a dull roar +caused by the great suction of water. + +"There was not a drop of water on our boat. The last minute before our +boat was launched Captain Smith threw aboard a bag of bread. I took +the precaution of taking a good drink of water before we started, so I +suffered no inconvenience from thirst." + +Mrs. Lucien Smith, whose young husband perished, was another heroine. It +is related by survivors that she took turns at the oars, and then, when +the boat was in danger of sinking, stood ready to plug a hole with her +finger if the cork stopper became loose. + +In another boat Mrs. Cornell and her sister, who had a slight knowledge +of rowing, took turns at the oars, as did other women. + +The boat in which Mrs. J. J. Brown, of Denver, Col., was saved contained +only three men in all, and only one rowed. He was a half-frozen seaman +who was tumbled into the boat at the last minute. The woman wrapped him +in blankets and set him at an oar to start his blood. The second man was +too old to be of any use. The third was a coward. + +Strange to say, there was room in this boat for ten other people. Ten +brave men would have received the warmest welcome of their lives if they +had been there. The coward, being a quartermaster and the assigned head +of the boat, sat in the stern and steered. He was terrified, and the +women had to fight against his pessimism while they tugged at the oars. + +The women sat two at each oar. One held the oar in place, the other did +the pulling. Mrs. Brown coached them and cheered them on. She told them +that the exercise would keep the chill out of their veins, and she spoke +hopefully of the likelihood that some vessel would answer the wireless +calls. Over the frightful danger of the situation the spirit of this +woman soared. + + +THE PESSIMIST + +And the coward sat in his stern seat, terrified, his tongue loosened +with fright. He assured them there was no chance in the world. He had +had fourteen years' experience, and he knew. First, they would have +to row one and a half miles at least to get out of the sphere of the +suction, if they did not want to go down. They would be lost, and nobody +would ever find them. + +"Oh, we shall be picked up sooner or later," said some of the braver +ones. No, said the man, there was no bread in the boat, no water; they +would starve--all that big boatload wandering the high seas with nothing +to eat, perhaps for days. + +"Don't," cried Mrs. Brown. "Keep that to yourself, if you feel that way. +For the sake of these women and chil-dren, be a man. We have a smooth +sea and a fighting chance. Be a man." + +But the coward only knew that there was no compass and no chart aboard. +They sighted what they thought was a fishing smack on the horizon, +showing dimly in the early dawn. The man at the rudder steered toward +it, and the women bent to their oars again. They covered several miles +in this way--but the smack faded into the distance. They could not see +it any longer. And the coward said that everything was over. + +They rowed back nine weary miles. Then the coward thought they must stop +rowing, and lie in the trough of the waves until the Carpathia should +appear. The women tried it for a few moments, and felt the cold creeping +into their bodies. Though exhausted from the hard physical labor they +thought work was better than freezing. + +"Row again!" commanded Mrs. Brown. + +"No, no, don't," said the coward. + +"We shall freeze," cried several of the women together. "We must row. We +have rowed all this time. We must keep on or freeze." + +When the coward still demurred, they told him plainly and once for all +that if he persisted in wanting them to stop rowing, they were going to +throw him overboard and be done with him for good. Something about the +look in the eye of that Mississippi-bred oarswoman, who seemed such a +force among her fellows, told him that he had better capitulate. And he +did. + +COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN + +Miss Alice Farnam Leader, a New York physician, escaped from the Titanic +on the same boat which carried the Countess Rothes. "The countess is an +expert oarswoman," said Doctor Leader, "and thoroughly at home on the +water. She practically took command of our boat when it was found that +the seaman who had been placed at the oars could not row skilfully. +Several of the women took their place with the countess at the oars and +rowed in turns, while the weak and unskilled stewards sat quietly in one +end of the boat." + + + +MEN COULD NOT ROW + +"With nothing on but a nightgown I helped row one of the boats for three +hours," said Mrs. Florence Ware, of Bristol, England. + +"In our boat there were a lot of women, a steward and a fireman. None of +the men knew anything about managing a small boat, so some of the women +who were used to boats took charge. + +"It was cold and I worked as hard as I could at an oar until we were +picked up. There was nothing to eat or drink on our boat." + + +DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS + +"The temperature must have been below freezing," testified another +survivor, "and neither men nor women in my boat were warmly clothed. +Several of them died. The officer in charge of the life-boat decided it +was better to bury the + + +{illust. caption = SURVIVORS OF THE GREAT MARINE DISASTER + +The first authentic photograph,...} + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Campbell Studio. N. Y. + +COLONEL AND MRS. JOHN JACOB ASTOR + +Mrs. Astor, nee Miss Madeline Force, was rescued. Colonel Astor who +bravely refused to take a place in the life-boats, went down with the +Titanic.} + + +bodies. Soon they were weighted so they would sink and were put +overboard. We could also see similar burials taking place from other +life-boats that were all around us." + + +GAMBLERS WERE POLITE + +In one boat were two card sharps. With the same cleverness that enabled +them to win money on board they obtained places in the boats with the +women. + +In the boat with the gamblers were women in their night-gowns and women +in evening dress. None of the boats were properly equipped with food, +but all had enough bread and water to keep the rescued from starving +until the expected arrival of help. + +To the credit of the gamblers who managed to escape, it should be said +that they were polite and showed the women every courtesy. All they +wanted was to be sure of getting in a boat. That once accomplished, they +reverted to their habitual practice of politeness and suavity. They were +even willing; to do a little manual labor, refusing to let women do any +rowing. + +The people on that particular boat were a sad group. Fathers had kissed +their daughters good-bye and husbands had parted from their wives. The +card sharps, however philosophized wonderfully about the will of the +Almighty and how strange His ways. They said that one must be prepared +for anything; that good always came from evil, and that every cloud had +a silvery lining{.} + +"Who knows?" said one. "It may be that everybody on board will be +saved." Another added: "Our duty is to the living. You women owe it to +your relatives and friends not to allow this thing to wreck your reason +or undermine your health." And they took pains to see that all the women +who were on the life-boat had plenty of covering to keep them from the +icy blasts of the night. + + +HELP IN SIGHT + +The survivors were in the life-boats until about 5.30 A. M. About 3 A. +M. faint lights appeared in the sky and all rejoiced to see what was +supposed to be the coming dawn, but after watching for half an hour +and seeing no change in the intensity of the light, the disappointed +sufferers realized it was the Northern Lights. Presently low down on +the horizon they saw a light which slowly resolved itself into a double +light, and they watched eagerly to see if the two lights would separate +and so prove to be only two of the boats, or whether these lights would +remain together, in which case they should expect them to be the lights +of a rescuing steamer. + +To the inexpressible joy of all, they moved as one! Immediately the +boats were swung around and headed for the lights. Someone shouted: +"Now, boys, sing!" and everyone not too weak broke into song with "Row +for the shore, boys." Tears came to the eyes of all as they realized +that safety was at hand. The song was sung, but it was a very poor +imitation of the real thing, for quavering voices make poor songs. A +cheer was given next, and that was better--you can keep in tune for a +cheer. + +THE "LUCKY THIRTEEN" + +"Our rescuer showed up rapidly, and as she swung round we saw her cabins +all alight, and knew she must be a large steamer. She was now motionless +and we had to row to her. Just then day broke, a beautiful quiet dawn +with faint pink clouds just above the horizon, and a new moon whose +crescent just touched the horizon. 'Turn your money over, boys,' said +our cheery steersman, 'that is, if you have any with you,' he added. + +"We laughed at him for his superstition at such a time, but he countered +very neatly by adding: 'Well, I shall never say again that 13 is an +unlucky number; boat 13 has been the best friend we ever had.' Certainly +the 13 superstition is killed forever in the minds of those who escaped +from the Titanic in boat 13. + +"As we neared the Carpathia we saw in the dawning light what we thought +was a full-rigged schooner standing up near her, and presently behind +her another, all sails set, and we said: 'They are fisher boats from the +Newfoundland bank and have seen the steamer lying to and are standing by +to help.' But in another five minutes the light shone pink on them +and we saw they were icebergs towering many feet in the air, huge, +glistening masses, deadly white, still, and peaked in a way that had +easily suggested a schooner. We glanced round the horizon and there were +others wherever the eye could reach. The steamer we had to reach was +surrounded by them and we had to make a detour to reach her, for between +her and us lay another huge berg." + +A WONDERFUL DAWN + +Speaking of the moment when the Carpathia was sighted. Mrs. J. J. Brown, +who had cowed the driveling quartermaster, said: + +"Then, knowing that we were safe at last, I looked about me. The most +wonderful dawn I have ever seen came upon us. I have just returned from +Egypt. I have been all over the world, but I have never seen anything +like this. First the gray and then the flood of light. Then the sun came +up in a ball of red fire. For the first time we saw where we were. Near +us was open water, but on every side was ice. Ice ten feet high was +everywhere, and to the right and left and back and front were icebergs. +Some of them were mountain high. This sea of ice was forty miles wide, +they told me. We did not wait for the Carpathia to come to us, we rowed +to it. We were lifted up in a sort of nice little sling that was lowered +to us. After that it was all over. The passengers of the Carpathia +were so afraid that we would not have room enough that they gave us +practically the whole ship to ourselves." + +It had been learned that some of the passengers, in fact all of the +women passengers of the Titanic who were rescued, refer to "Lady +Margaret," as they called Mrs. Brown as the strength of them all. + + +TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED + +Officers of the Carpathia report that when they reached the scene of +the Titanic's wreck there were fifty bodies or more floating in the +sea. Only one mishap attended the transfer of the rescued from the +life-boats. One large collapsible life-boat, in which thirteen persons +were seated, turned turtle just as they were about to save it, and all +in it were lost. + + + +THE DOG HERO + +Not the least among the heroes of the Titanic disaster was Rigel, a big +black Newfoundland dog, belonging to the first officer, who went down +with the ship. But for Rigel the fourth boat picked up might have been +run down by the Carpathia. For three hours he swam in the icy water +where the Titanic went down, evidently looking for his master, and was +instrumental in guiding the boatload of survivors to the gangway of the +Carpathia. + +Jonas Briggs, a seaman abroad the Carpathia, now has Rigel and told +the story of the dog's heroism. The Carpathia was moving slowly about, +looking for boats, rafts or anything which might be afloat. Exhausted +with their efforts, weak from lack of food and exposure to the cutting +wind and terror-stricken, the men and women in the fourth boat had +drifted under the Carpathia's starboard bow. They were dangerously close +to the steamship, but too weak to shout a warning loud enough to reach +the bridge. + +The boat might not have been seen were it not for the sharp barking of +Rigel, who was swimming ahead of the craft, and valiantly announcing his +position. The barks attracted the attention of Captain Rostron; and he +went to the starboard end of the bridge to see where they came from and +saw the boat. He immediately ordered the engines stopped, and the boat +came alongside the starboard gangway. + +Care was taken to get Rigel aboard, but he appeared little affected +by his long trip through the ice-cold water. He stood by the rail and +barked until Captain Rostron called Briggs and had him take the dog +below. + + +A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE + +Mr. Wallace Bradford, of San Francisco, a passenger aboard the +Carpathia, gave the following thrilling account of the rescue of the +Titanic's passengers. + +"Since half-past four this morning I have experienced one of those +never-to-be-forgotten circumstances that weighs heavy on my soul and +which shows most awfully what poor things we mortals are. Long before +this reaches you the news will be flashed that the Titanic has gone down +and that our steamer, the Carpathia, caught the wireless message when +seventy-five miles away, and so far we have picked up twenty boats +estimated to contain about 750 people. + +"None of us can tell just how many, as they have been hustled to various +staterooms and to the dining saloons to be warmed up. I was awakened by +unusual noises and imagined that I smelled smoke. I jumped up and looked +out of my port-hole, and saw a huge iceberg looming up like a rock off +shore. It was not white, and I was positive that it was a rock, and the +thought flashed through my mind, how in the world can we be near a rock +when we are four days out from New York in a southerly direction and in +mid-ocean. + +"When I got out on deck the first man I encountered told me that the +Titanic had gone down and we were rescuing the passengers. The first two +boats from the doomed vessel were in sight making toward us. Neither of +them was crowded. This was accounted for later by the fact that it was +impossible to get many to leave the steamer, as they would not believe +that she was going down. It was a glorious, clear morning and a quiet +sea. Off to the starboard was a white area of ice plain, from whose even +surface rose mammoth forts, castles and pyramids of solid ice almost as +real as though they had been placed there by the hand of man. + +"Our steamer was hove to about two and a half miles from the edge of +this huge iceberg. The Titanic struck about 11.20 P. M. and did not go +down until two o'clock. Many of the passengers were in evening dress +when they came aboard our ship, and most of these were in a most +bedraggled condition. Near me as I write is a girl about eighteen years +old in a fancy dress costume of bright colors, while in another seat +near by is a women in a white dress trimmed with lace and covered with +jaunty blue flowers. + +"As the boats came alongside after the first two all of them contained +a very large proportion of women. In fact, one of the boats had women +at the oars, one in particular containing, as near as I could estimate, +about forty-five women and only about six men. In this boat two women +were handling one of the oars. All of the engineers went down with the +steamer. Four bodies have been brought aboard. One is that of a fireman, +who is said to have been shot by one of the officers because he refused +to obey orders. Soon after I got on deck I could, with the aid of my +glasses, count seven boats headed our way, and they continued to come up +to half past eight o'clock. Some were in sight for a long time and +moved very slowly, showing plainly that the oars were being handled by +amateurs or by women. + +"No baggage of any kind was brought by the survivors. In fact, the only +piece of baggage that reached the Carpathia from the Titanic is a small +closed trunk about twenty-four inches square, evidently the property of +an Irish female immigrant. While some seemed fully dressed, many of +the men having their overcoats and the women sealskin and other coats, +others came just as they had jumped from their berths, clothed in their +pajamas and bath robes." + + +THE SORROW OF THE LIVING + +Of the survivors in general it may be said that they escaped death and +they gained life. Life is probably sweet to them as it is to everyone, +but what physical and mental torture has been the price of life to those +who were brought back to land on the Carpathia--the hours in life-boats, +amid the crashing of ice, the days of anguish that have succeeded, the +horrors of body and mind still experienced and never to be entirely +absent until death affords them its relief. + +The thought of the nation to-day is for the living. They need our +sympathy, our consolation more than do the dead, and, perhaps, in the +majority of the cases they need our protecting care as well. + + + +CHAPTER X. ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA + +AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL--BURYING THE DEAD--VOTE OF +THANKS TO CAPTAIN ROSTRON OF THE CARPATHIA--IDENTIFYING THOSE +SAVED--COMMUNICATING WITH LAND--THE PASSAGE TO NEW YORK. + +IF the scenes in the life-boats were tear-bringing, hardly less so +was the arrival of the boats at the Carpathia with their bands of +terror-stricken, grief-ridden survivors, many of them too exhausted to +know that safety was at hand. Watchers on the Carpathia were moved to +tears. + +"The first life-boat reached the Carpathia about half-past five o'clock +in the morning," recorded one of the passengers on the Carpathia. "And +the last of the sixteen boats was unloaded before nine o'clock. Some of +the life-boats were only half filled, the first one having but two men +and eleven women, when it had accommodations for at least forty. There +were few men in the boats. The women were the gamest lot I have ever +seen. Some of the men and women were in evening clothes, and others +among those saved had nothing on but night clothes and raincoats." + +After the Carpathia had made certain that there were no more passengers +of the Titanic to be picked up, she threaded her way out of the ice +fields for fifty miles. It was dangerous work, but it was managed +without trouble. + + +AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL + +The shrieks and cries of the women and men picked up in life-boats by +the Carpathia were horrible. The women were clothed only in night robes +and wrappers. The men were in their night garments. One was lifted on +board entirely nude. All the passengers who could bear nourishment were +taken into the dining rooms and cabins by Captain Rostron and given food +and stimulants. Passengers of the Carpathia gave up their berths and +staterooms to the survivors. + +As soon as they were landed on the Carpathia many of the women became +hysterical, but on the whole they behaved splendidly. Men and women +appeared to be stunned all day Monday, the full force of the disaster +not reaching them until Tuesday night. After being wrapped up in +blankets and filled with brandy and hot coffee, the first thoughts were +for their husbands and those at home. Most of them imagined that their +husbands had been picked up by other vessels, and they began flooding +the wireless rooms with messages. It was almost certain that those who +were not on board the Carpathia had gone down to death. + +One of the most seriously injured was a woman who had lost both her +children. Her limbs had been severely torn; but she was very patient. + +WOMEN SEEKING NEWS + +In the first cabin library women of wealth and refinement mingled their +grief and asked eagerly for news of the possible arrival of a belated +boat, or a message from other steamers telling of the safety of their +husbands. Mrs. Henry B. Harris, wife of a New York theatrical manager, +checked her tears long enough to beg that some message of hope be sent +to her father-in-law. Mrs. G. Thorne, Miss Marie Young, Mrs Emil Taussig +and her daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Martin Rothschild, Mrs. William Augustus +Spencer, Mrs. J. Stewart White and Mrs. Walter M. Clark were a few +of those who lay back, exhausted, on the leather cushions and told in +shuddering sentences of their experiences. + +Mrs. John Jacob Astor and the Countess of Rothes had been taken to +staterooms soon after their arrival on shipboard. + +Before noon, at the captain's request, the first cabin passengers of the +Titanic gathered in the saloon and the passengers of other classes in +corresponding places on the rescue ship. Then the collecting of names +was begun by the purser and the stewards. A second table was served in +both cabins for the new guests, and the Carpathia's second cabin, being +better filled than its first, the second class arrivals had to be sent +to the steerage. + + +TEARS THEIR ONLY RELIEF + +Mrs. Jacques Futrelle, wife of the novelist, herself a writer of note, +sat dry eyed in the saloon, telling her friends that she had given up +hope for her husband. She joined with the rest in inquiries as to the +chances of rescue by another ship, and no one told her what soon came +to be the fixed opinion of the men--that all those saved were on the +Carpathia. + +"I feel better," Mrs. Futrelle said hours afterward, "for I can cry +now." + +Among the men conversation centered on the accident and the +responsibility for it. Many expressed the belief that the Titanic, in +common with other vessels, had had warning of the ice packs, but that in +the effort to establish a record on the maiden run sufficient heed had +not been paid to the warnings. + +"God knows I'm not proud to be here," said a rich New York man. "I got +on a boat when they were about to lower it and when, from delays below, +there was no woman to take the vacant place. I don't think any man who +was saved is deserving of censure, but I realize that, in contrast with +those who went down, we may be viewed unfavorably." He showed a picture +of his baby boy as he spoke. + + +PITIFUL SCENES OF GRIEF + +As the day passed the fore part of the ship assumed some degree of order +and comfort, but the crowded second sabin and rear decks gave forth the +incessant sound of lamentation. A bride of two months sat on the floor +and moaned her widowhood. An Italian mother shrieked the name of her +lost son. + +A girl of seven wept over the loss of her Teddy bear and two dolls, +while her mother, with streaming eyes, dared not tell the child that her +father was lost too, and that the money for which their home in England +had been sold had gone down with him. Other children clung to the necks +of the fathers who, because carrying them, had been permitted to take +the boats. + +In the hospital and the public rooms lay, in blankets, several others +who had been benumbed by the water. Mrs. Rosa Abbott, who was in the +water for hours, was restored during the day. K. Whiteman, the Titanic's +barber, who declared he was blown off the ship by the second of the two +explosions after the crash, was treated for bruises. A passenger, who +was thoroughly ducked before being picked up, caused much amusement on +this ship, soon after the doctors were through with him, by demanding a +bath. + + +SURVIVORS AID THE DESTITUTE + +Storekeeper Prentice, the last man off the Titanic to reach this ship, +was also soon over the effects of his long swim in the icy waters into +which he leaped from the poop deck. + +The physicians of the Carpathia were praised, as was Chief Steward +Hughes, for work done in making the arrivals comfortable and averting +serious illness. + +Monday night on the Carpathia was one of rest. The wailing and sobbing +of the day were hushed as widows and orphans slept. Tuesday, save for +the crowded condition of the ship, matters took somewhat their normal +appearance. + +The second cabin dining room had been turned into a hospital to care +for the injured, and the first, second and third class dining rooms were +used for sleeping rooms at night for women, while the smoking rooms were +set aside for men. All available space was used, some sleeping in chairs +and some on the floor, while a few found rest in the bathrooms. + +Every cabin had been filled, and women and children were sleeping on the +floors in the dining saloon, library and smoking rooms. The passengers +of the Carpathia had divided their clothes with the shipwrecked ones +until they had at least kept warm. It is true that many women had to +appear on deck in kimonos and some in underclothes with a coat thrown +over them, but their lives had been spared and they had not thought of +dress. Some children in the second cabin were entirely without clothes, +but the women had joined together, and with needles and thread they +could pick up from passenger to passenger, had made warm clothes out of +the blankets belonging to the Carpathia. + + +WOMEN BEFRIENDED ONE ANOTHER + +The women aboard the Carpathia did what they could by word and act to +relieve the sufferings of the rescued. Most of the survivors were in +great need of clothing, and this the women of the Carpathia supplied to +them as long as their surplus stock held out. + +J. A. Shuttleworth, of Louisville, Ky., befriended Mrs. Lucien Smith, +whose husband went down with the Titanic. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss +Eloise Hughes, daughter of Representative and Mrs. James A. Hughes, of +Huntington, W. Va., and was on her wedding trip. Mr. Shuttleworth asked +her if there wasn't something he could do for her. She said that all the +money she had was lost on the Titanic, so Mr. Shuttleworth gave her $500 + + +DEATHS ON THE CARPATHIA + +Two of the rescued from the Titanic died from shock and exposure before +they reached the Carpathia, and another died a few minutes after being +taken on board. The dead were W. H. Hoyte, first cabin; Abraham Hormer, +third class, and S. C. Sirbert, steward, and they were buried at sea the +morning of April 15th, latitude 41.14 north, longitude 51.24 west. P. +Lyon, able seaman, died and was buried at sea the following morning. + +An assistant steward lost his mind upon seeing one of the Titanic's +rescued firemen expire after being lifted to the deck of the Carpathia. + +An Episcopal bishop and a Catholic priest from Montreal read services of +their respective churches over the dead. + +The bodies were sewed up in sacks, heavily weighted at the feet, and +taken to an opening in the side of the ship on the lower deck not far +above the water line. A long plank tilted at one end served as the +incline down which the weighted sacks slid into the sea. + +"After we got the Titanic's passengers on board our ship," said one of +the Carpathia's officers, "it was a question as to where we should take +them. Some said the Olympic would come out and meet us and take them on +to New York, but others said they would die if they had to be lowered +again into small boats to be taken up by another, so we finally turned +toward New York, delaying the Carpathia's passengers eight days in +reaching Gibraltar." + + +SURVIVORS WATCH NEW BOATS + +There were several children on board, who had lost their parents--one +baby of eleven months with a nurse who, coming on board the Carpathia +with the first boat, watched with eagerness and sorrow for each incoming +boat, but to no avail. The parents had gone down. + +There was a woman in the second cabin who lost seven children out of +ten, and there were many other losses quite as horrible. + + +MR. ISMY "PITIABLE SIGHT" + +Among the rescued ones who came on board the Carpathia was the president +of the White Star Line. + +"Mr. Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the tenth life-boat," said an +officer. "I didn't know who he was, but afterward heard the others of +the crew discussing his desire to get something to eat the minute he put +his foot on deck. The steward who waited on him, McGuire, from London, +says Mr. Ismay came dashing into the dining room, and throwing himself +in a chair, said: 'Hurry, for God's sake, and get me something to eat; +I'm starved. I don't care what it costs or what it is; bring it to me.' + +"McGuire brought Mr. Ismay a load of stuff and when he had finished +it, he handed McGuire a two dollar bill. 'Your money is no good on this +ship,' McGuire told him. 'Take it.' + + +{illust. caption = DIAGRAM OF THE TITANIC'S ARRANGEMENT AND EQUIPMENT + +The Titanic was far and away the largest and finest vessel ever built, +excepting only her sister-ship, the Olympic. Her dimensions were: +Length, 882 1/2 feet; Beam, 92 feet, Depth (from keel to tops of +funnels), 175 feet Tonnage, 45,000. Her huge hull, divided into thirty +watertight compartments, contained nine steel decks, and provided +accommodation for 2,500 passengers, besides a crew of 890.} + +{illust. caption = UPPER DECK OF THE TITANIC, LOOKING FORWARD} + + +insisted Mr. Ismay, shoving the bill in McGuire's hand. I am well able +to afford it. I will see to it that the boys of the Carpathia are well +rewarded for this night's work.' This promise started McGuire making +inquiries as to the identity of the man he had waited on. Then we +learned that he was Mr. Ismay. I did not see Mr. Ismay after the first +few hours. He must have kept to his cabin." + +A passenger on the Carpathia said there was no wonder that none of the +wireless telegrams addressed to Mr. Ismay were answered until the one +that he sent yesterday afternoon to his line, the White Star. + +"Mr. Ismay was beside himself," said this woman passenger, "and on +most of the voyage after we had picked him up he was being quieted with +opiates on orders of the ship's doctor. + + +FIVE DOGS AND ONE PIG SAVED + +"Five women saved their pet dogs, carrying them in their arms. Another +woman saved a little pig, which she said was her mascot. Though her +husband is an Englishman and she lives in England she is an American and +was on her way to visit her folks here. How she cared for the pig aboard +ship I do not know, but she carried it up the side of the ship in a big +bag. I did not mind the dogs so much, but it seemed to me to be too much +when a pig was saved and human beings went to death. + +"It was not until noon on Monday that we cleared the last of the ice, +and Monday night a dense fog came up and continued until the following +morning, then a strong wind, a heavy sea, a thunderstorm and a dense fog +Tuesday night, caused some uneasiness among the more unnerved, the fog +continuing all of Tuesday. + +"A number of whales were sighted as the Carpathia was clearing the last +of the ice, one large one being close by, and all were spouting like +geysers." + + +VOTE OF THANKS TO CARPATHIA + +"On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the uninjured survivors was called in +the main saloon for the purpose of devising means of assisting the more +unfortunate, many of whom had lost relatives and all their personal +belongings, and thanking Divine Providence for their deliverance. +The meeting was called to order and Mr. Samuel Goldenberg was elected +chairman. Resolutions were then passed thanking the officers, surgeons, +passengers and crew of the Carpathia for their splendid services in +aiding the rescued and like resolutions for the admirable work done by +the officers, surgeons and crew of the Titanic. + +"A committee was then appointed to raise funds on board the Carpathia to +relieve the immediate wants of the destitute and assist them in reaching +their destinations and also to present a loving cup to the officers of +the Carpathia and also a loving cup to the surviving officers of the +Titanic. + +"Mr. T. G. Frauenthal, of New York, was made chairman of the Committee +on Subscriptions. + +"A committee, consisting of Mrs. J. J. Brown, Mrs William Bucknell and +Mrs. George Stone, was appointed to look after the destitute. There +was a subscription taken up and up to Wednesday the amount contributed +totaled $15,000. + +"The work of the crew on board the Carpathia in rescuing was most noble +and remarkable, and these four days that the ship has been overcrowded +with its 710 extra passengers could not have been better handled. The +stewards have worked with undying strength--although one was overcome +with so much work and died and was put to his grave at sea. + +"I have never seen or felt the benefits of such royal treatment. I have +heard the captain criticised because he did not answer telegrams, but +all that I can say is that he showed us every possible courtesy, and if +we had been on our own boats, having paid our fares there, we could not +have had better food or better accommodations. + +"Men who had paid for the best staterooms on the Carpathia left their +rooms so that we might have them. They fixed up beds in the smoking +rooms, and mattresses everywhere. All the women who were rescued +were given the best staterooms, which were surrendered by the regular +passengers. None of the regular passengers grumbled because their trip +to Europe was interrupted, nor did they complain that they were put to +the inconvenience of receiving hundreds of strangers. + +"The women on board the Carpathia were particularly kind. It shows that +for every cruelty of nature there is a kindness, for every misfortune +there is some goodness. The men and women took up collections on board +for the rescued steerage passengers. Mrs. Astor, I believe, contributed +$2000, her check being cashed by the Carpathia. Altogether something +like $15,000 was collected and all the women were provided with +sufficient money to reach their destination after they were landed in +New York." + +Under any other circumstances the suffering would have been intolerable. +But the Good Samaritans on the Carpathia gave many women heart's-ease. + +The spectacle on board the Carpathia on the return trip to New York at +times was heartrending, while at other times those on board were quite +cheerful. + + + +CHAPTER XI. PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS + +POLICE ARRANGEMENTS--DONATIONS OF MONEY AND SUPPLIES--HOSPITALS AND +AMBULANCES MADE READY--PRIVATE HOUSES THROWN OPEN--WAITING FOR THE +CARPATHIA TO ARRIVE--THE SHIP SIGHTED! + +NEW YORK CITY, touched to the heart by the great ocean calamity and +desiring to do what it could to lighten the woes and relieve the +sufferings of the pitiful little band of men and women rescued from the +Titanic, opened both its heart and its purse. + +The most careful and systematic plans were made for the reception and +transfer to homes, hotels or institutions of the Titanic's survivors. +Mayor Gaynor, with Police Commissioner Waldo, arranged to go down the +bay on the police boat Patrol, to come up with the Carpathia and take +charge of the police arrangements at the pier. + +In anticipation of the enormous number that would, for a variety of +reasons, creditable or otherwise, surge about the Cunard pier at the +coming of the Carpathia, Mayor Gaynor and the police commissioner had +seen to it that the streets should be rigidly sentineled by continuous +lines of policemen Under Inspector George McClusky, the man of most +experience, perhaps, in handling large crowds, there were 200 men, +including twelve mounted men and a number in citizens' clothes. For two +blocks to the north, south and east of the docks lines were established +through which none save those bearing passes from the Government and the +Cunard Line could penetrate. + +With all arrangements made that experience or information could suggest, +the authorities settled down to await the docking of the Carpathia. No +word had come to either the White Star Line or the Cunard Line, they +said, that any of the Titanic's people had died on that ship or that +bodies had been recovered from the sea, but in the afternoon Mayor +Gaynor sent word to the Board of Coroners that it might be well for +some of that body to meet the incoming ship. Coroners Feinberg and +Holtzhauser with Coroner's Physician Weston arranged to go down the +bay on the Patrol, while Coroner Hellenstein waited at the pier. An +undertaker was notified to be ready if needed. Fortunately there was no +such need. + + +EVERY POSSIBLE MEASURE THOUGHT OF + +Every possible measure of relief for the survivors that could be thought +of by officials of the city, of the Federal Government, by the heads of +hospitals and the Red Cross and relief societies was arranged for. +The Municipal Lodging House, which has accommodations for 700 persons, +agreed to throw open its doors and furnish lodging and food to any of +the survivors as long as they should need it. Commissioner of Charities +Drummond did not know, of course, just how great the call would be for +the services of his department. He went to the Cunard pier to direct his +part of the work in person. Meanwhile he had twenty ambulances ready +for instant movement on the city's pier at the foot of East Twenty-sixth +Street. They were ready to take patients to the reception hospital +connected with Bellevue or the Metropolitan Hospital on Blackwell's +Island. Ambulances from the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn were also +there to do their share. All the other hospitals in the city stood ready +to take the Titanic's people and those that had ambulances promised to +send them. The Charities ferryboat, Thomas S. Brennan, equipped as a +hospital craft, lay off the department pier with nurses and physicians +ready to be called to the Cunard pier on the other side of the city. +St. Vincent's Hospital had 120 beds ready, New York Hospital twelve, +Bellevue and the reception hospital 120 and Flower Hospital twelve. + +The House of Shelter maintained by the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant +Aid Society announced that it was able to care for at least fifty +persons as long as might be necessary. The German Society of New York, +the Irish Immigrant Society, the Italian Society, the Swedish Immigrant +Society and the Young Men's Christian Association were among the +organizations that also offered to see that no needy survivor would go +without shelter. + +Mrs. W. A. Bastede, whose husband is a member of the staff of St. Luke's +Hospital, offered to the White Star Line the use of the newly opened +ward at St. Luke's, which will accommodate from thirty to sixty persons. +She said the hospital would send four ambulances with nurses and doctors +and that she had collected clothing enough for fifty persons. The line +accepted her offer and said that the hospital would be kept informed as +to what was needed. A trustee of Bellevue also called at the White Star +offices to offer ambulances. He said that five or six, with two or three +doctors and nurses on each, would be sent to the pier if required. + +Many other hospitals as well as individuals called at the mayor's +office, expressing willingness to take in anybody that should be sent to +them. A woman living in Fiftieth Street just off Fifth Avenue wished +to put her home at the disposal of the survivors. D. H. Knott, of 102 +Waverley Place, told the mayor that he could take care of 100 and give +them both food and lodging at the Arlington, Holly and Earl Hotels. +Commissioner Drummond visited the City Hall and arranged with the +mayor the plans for the relief to be extended directly by the city. Mr. +Drummond said that omnibuses would be provided to transfer passengers +from the ship to the Municipal Lodging House. + + +MRS. VANDERBILT'S EFFORTS + +Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., spent the day telephoning to her friends, +asking them to let their automobiles be used to meet the Carpathia and +take away those who needed surgical care. It was announced that as a +result of Mrs. Vanderbilt's efforts 100 limousine automobiles and all +the Fifth Avenue and Riverside Drive automobile buses would be at the +Cunard pier. + +Immigration Commissioner Williams said that he would be at the pier when +the Carpathia came in. There was to be no inspection of immigrants at +Ellis Island. Instead, the commissioner sent seven or eight inspectors +to the pier to do their work there and he asked them to do it with the +greatest possible speed and the least possible bother to the shipwrecked +aliens. The immigrants who had no friends to meet them were to be +provided for until their cases could be disposed of. Mr. Williams +thought that some of them who had lost everything might have to be sent +back to their homes. Those who were to be admitted to the United States +were to be cared for by the Women's Relief Committee. + + +RED CROSS RELIEF + +Robert W. de Forest, chairman of the Red Cross Relief Committee of the +Charity Organization Society, after conferring with Mayor Gaynor, said +that in addition to an arrangement that all funds received by the +mayor should be paid to Jacob H. Schiff, the New York treasurer of the +American Red Cross, the committee had decided that it could turn over +all the immediate relief work to the Women's Relief Committee. + +The Red Cross Committee announced that careful plans had been made to +provide for every possible emergency. + +The emergency committee received a telegram that Ernest P. Bicknell, +director of the American Red Cross, was coming from Washington. The Red +Cross Emergency Relief Committee was to have several representatives at +the pier to look out for the passengers on the Carpathia. Mr. Persons +and Dr. Devine were to be there and it was planned to have others. + +The Salvation Army offered, through the mayor's office, accommodation +for thirty single men at the Industrial Home, 533 West Forty-eighth +Street, and for twenty others at its hotel, 18 Chatham Square. The +army's training school at 124 West Fourteenth Street was ready to take +twenty or thirty survivors. R. H. Farley, head of the White Star Line's +third class department, said that the line would give all the steerage +passengers railroad tickets to their destination. + +Mayor Gaynor estimated that more than 5000 persons could be accommodated +in quarters offered through his orders. Most of these offers of course +would have to be rejected. The mayor also said that Colonel Conley of +the Sixty-ninth Regiment offered to turn out his regiment to police the +pier, but it was thought that such service would be unnecessary. + + +CROWDS AT THE DOCKS + +Long before dark on Thursday night a few people passed the police lines +and with a yellow card were allowed to go on the dock; but reports had +been published that the Carpathia would not be in till midnight, and by +8 o'clock there were not more than two hundred people on the pier. In +the next hour the crowd with passes trebled in number. By 9 o'clock the +pier held half as many as it could comfortably contain. The early crowd +did not contain many women relatives of the survivors. Few nervous +people could be seen, but here and there was a woman, usually supported +by two male escorts, weeping softly to herself. + +On the whole it was a frantic, grief-crazed crowd. Laborers rubbed +shoulders with millionaires. + +The relatives of the rich had taxicabs waiting outside the docks. The +relatives of the poor went there on foot in the rain, ready to take +their loved ones. + +A special train was awaiting Mrs. Charles M. Hays, widow of the +president of the Grand Trunk Railroad. A private car also waited Mrs. +George D. Widener. + + +EARLY ARRIVALS AT PIER + +Among the first to arrive at the pier was a committee from the Stock +Exchange, headed by R. H. Thomas, and composed of Charles Knoblauch, B. +M. W. Baruch, Charles Holzderber and J. Carlisle. Mr. Thomas carried +a long black box which contained $5000 in small bills, which was to +be handed out to the needy steerage survivors of the Titanic as they +disembarked. + +With the early arrivals at the pier were the relatives of Frederick +White, who was not reported among the survivors, though Mrs. White +was; Harry Mock, who came to look for a brother and sister; and Vincent +Astor, who arrived in a limousine with William A. Dobbyn, Colonel +Astor's secretary, and two doctors. The limousine was kept waiting +outside to take Mrs. Astor to the Astor home on Fifth Avenue. + +EIGHT LIMOUSINE CARS + +The Waldorf-Astoria had sent over eight limousine car to convey to the +hotel these survivors: + +Mrs. Mark Fortune and three daughters, Mrs. Lucien P. Smith, Mrs. J. +Stewart White, Mrs. Thornton Davidson, Mrs. George C. Douglass, Mrs. +George D. Widener and maid, Mrs. George Wick, Miss Bonnell, Miss E. +Ryerson, Mrs. Susan P. Ryerson, Mrs. Arthur Ryerson, Miss Mary Wick, the +Misses Howell, Mrs. John P. Snyder and Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Bishop. + + +THIRTY-FIVE AMBULANCES AT THE PIER + +At one time there were thirty-five ambulances drawn up; outside the +Cunard pier. Every hospital in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx was +represented. Several of the ambulances came from as far north as the +Lebanon Hospital, in the Bronx, and the Brooklyn Hospital, in Brooklyn. + +Accompanying them were seventy internes and surgeons from the staffs of +the hospitals, and more than 125 male and female nurses. + +St. Vincent's sent the greatest number of ambulances, at one time, eight +of them from this hospital being in line at the pier. + +Miss Eva Booth, direct head of the Salvation Army, was at the pier, +accompanied by Miss Elizabeth Nye and a corps of her officers, ready +to aid as much as possible. The Sheltering Society and various other +similar organizations also were represented, all ready to take care of +those who needed them. + +An officer of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, N. G. N. Y., offered the White +Star Line officials, the use of the regiment's armory for any of the +survivors. + +Mrs. Thomas Hughes, Mrs. August Belmont and Mgrs. Lavelle and McMahon, +of St. Patrick's Cathedral, together with a score of black-robed Sisters +of Charity, representing the Association of Catholic Churches, were +on the pier long before the Carpathia was made fast, and worked +industriously in aiding the injured and ill. + +The Rev. Dr. William Carter, pastor of the Madison Avenue Reformed +Church, was one of those at the pier with a private ambulance awaiting +Miss Sylvia Caldwell, one of the survivors, who is known in church +circles as a mission worker in foreign fields + + +FREE RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION + +The Pennsylvania Railroad sent representatives to the pier, who said +that the railroad had a special train of nine cars in which it would +carry free any passenger who wanted to go immediately to Philadelphia +or points west. The Pennsylvania also had eight taxicabs at the pier for +conveyance of the rescued to the Pennsylvania Station, in Thirty-third +Street. + +Among those who later arrived at the pier before the Carpathia docked +were P. A. B. Widener, of Philadelphia, two women relatives of J. B. +Thayer, William Harris, Jr., the theatrical man, who was accompanied by +Dr Dinkelspiel, and Henry Arthur Jones, the playwright. + +RELATIVES OF SAVED AND LOST + +Commander Booth, of the Salvation Army, was there especially to meet +Mrs. Elizabeth Nye and Mrs. Rogers Abbott, both Titanic survivors. Mrs. +Abbott's two sons were supposed to be among the lost. Miss Booth had +received a cablegram from London saying that other Salvation Army people +were on the Titanic. She was eager to get news of them. + +Also on the pier was Major Blanton, U. S. A., stationed at Washington, +who was waiting for tidings of Major Butt, supposedly at the instance of +President Taft. + +Senator William A. Clark and Mrs. Clark were also in the company. Dr. +John R. MacKenty was waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Harper. Ferdinand +W. Roebling and Carl G. Roebling, cousins of Washington A. Roebling, +Jr., whose name is among the list of dead, went to the pier to see what +they could learn of his fate. + +J. P. Morgan, Jr., arrived at the pier about half an hour before the +Carpathia docked. He said he had many friends on the Titanic and was +eagerly awaiting news of all of them. + +Fire Commissioner Johnson was there with John Peel, of Atlanta, Gal, a +brother of Mrs. Jacques Futrelle. Mrs. Futrelle has a son twelve years +old in Atlanta, and a daughter Virginia, who has been in school in +the North and is at present with friends in this city, ignorant of her +father's death. + + +A MAN IN HYSTERICS + +There was one man in that sad waiting company who startled those near +him about 9 o'clock by dancing across the pier and back. He seemed to be +laughing, but when he was stopped it was found that he was sobbing. He +said that he had a relative on the Titanic and had lost control of his +nerves. + +H. H. Brunt, of Chicago, was at the gangplank waiting for A. Saalfeld, +head of the wholesale drug firm of Sparks, White & Co., of London, who +was coming to this country on the Titanic on a business trip and whose +life was saved. + + +WAITING FOR CARPATHIA + +During the afternoon and evening tugboats, motor boats and even sailing +craft, had been waiting off the Ambrose Light for the appearance of the +Carpathia. + +Some of the waiting craft contained friends and anxious relatives of the +survivors and those reported as missing. + +The sea was rough and choppy, and a strong east wind was blowing. There +was a light fog, so that it was possible to see at a distance of only a +few hundred yards. This lifted later in the evening. + +First to discover the incoming liner with her pitiful cargo was one +of the tugboats. From out of the mist there loomed far out at sea the +incoming steamer. + + +RESCUE BOAT SIGHTED + +"Liner ahead!" cried the lookout on the tug to the captain. + +"She must be the Carpathia," said the captain, and then he turned the +nose of his boat toward the spot on t he horizon. + +Then the huge black hull and one smokestack could be distinguished. + +"It's the Carpathia," said the captain. "I can tell her by the stack." + +The announcement sent a thrill through those who heard it. Here, at the +gate of New York, was a ship whose record for bravery and heroic work +would be a famuliar{sic} name in history. + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by G. V. Buck. MRS. LUCIEN P. SMITH + +Formerly Miss Eloise Hughes, daughter of Representative and Mrs. James +A. Hughes, of West Virginia. Mrs. Smith and her husband were passengers +on the Titanic. Mrs. Smith was saved, but her husband went to a watery +grave. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married only a few months ago.} + + +{illust. caption = MAJOR ARCHIBALD BUTT + +Military Aide to President Taft. Of Major Butt, who was one of the +victims of the Titanic, one of the survivors said: "Major Butt was the +real leader in all of that rescue work. He made the men stand back and +helped the women and children into the boats. He was surely one of God's +noblemen."} + + + +CHAPTER XII. THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING + +THE CARPATHIA REACHES NEW YORK--AN INTENSE AND DRAMATIC +MOMENT--HYSTERICAL REUNIONS AND CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENTS AT THE +DOCK--CARING FOR THE SUFFERERS--FINAL REALIZATION THAT ALL HOPE FOR +OTHERS IS FUTILE--LIST OF SURVIVORS--ROLL OF THE DEAD + +IT was a solemn moment when the Carpathia heaved in sight. There +she rested on the water, a blur of black--huge, mysterious, +awe-inspiring--and yet withal a thing to send thrills of pity and then +of admiration through the beholder. + +It was a few minutes after seven o'clock when she arrived at the +entrance to Ambrose Channel. She was coming fast steaming at better than +fifteen knots an hour, and she was sighted long before she was expected. +Except for the usual side and masthead lights she was almost dark, only +the upper cabins showing a glimmer here and there. + +Then began a period of waiting, the suspense of which proved almost too +much for the hundreds gathered there to greet friends and relatives or +to learn with certainty at last that those for whom they watched would +never come ashore. + +There was almost complete silence on the pier. Doctors and nurses, +members of the Women's Relief Committee, city and government officials, +as well as officials of the line, moved nervously about. + +Seated where they had been assigned beneath the big customs letters +corresponding to the initials of the names of the survivors they came to +meet, sat the mass of 2000 on the pier. + +Women wept, but they wept quietly, not hysterically, and the sound of +the sobs made many times less noise than the hum and bustle which is +usual on the pier among those awaiting an incoming liner. + +Slowly and majestically the ship slid through the water, still bearing +the details of that secret of what happened and who perished when the +Titanic met her fate. + +Convoying the Carpathia was a fleet of tugs bearing men and women +anxious to learn the latest news. The Cunarder had been as silent for +days as though it, too, were a ship of the dead. A list of survivors +had been given out from its wireless station and that was all. Even the +approximate time of its arrival had been kept a secret. + + +NEARING PORT + +There was no response to the hail from one tug, and as others closed in, +the steamship quickened her speed a little and left them behind as she +swung up the channel. + +There was an exploding of flashlights from some of the tugs, answered +seemingly by sharp stabs of lightning in the northwest that served to +accentuate the silence and absence of light aboard the rescue ship. Five +or six persons, apparently members of the crew or the ship's officers, +were seen along the rail; but otherwise the boat appeared to be +deserted. + +Off quarantine the Carpathia slowed down and, hailing the immigration +inspection boat, asked if the health officer wished to board. She +was told that he did, and came to a stop while Dr. O'Connell and two +assistants climbed on board. Again the newspaper men asked for some +word of the catastrophe to the Titanic, but there was no answer, and the +Carpathia continued toward her pier. + +As she passed the revenue cutter Mohawk and the derelict destroyer +Seneca anchored off Tompkinsville the wireless on the Government vessels +was seen to flash, but there was no answering spark from the Carpathia. +Entering the North River she laid her course close to the New Jersey +side in order to have room to swing into her pier. + +By this time the rails were lined with men and women. They were very +silent. There were a few requests for news from those on board and a few +answers to questions shouted from the tugs. + +The liner began to slacken her speed, and the tugboat soon was +alongside. Up above the inky blackness of the hull figures could be made +out, leaning over the port railing, as though peering eagerly at the +little craft which was bearing down on the Carpathia. + +Some of them, perhaps, had passed through that inferno of the deep sea +which sprang up to destroy the mightiest steamship afloat. + +"Carpathia, ahoy!" was shouted through a megaphone. + +There was an interval of a few seconds, and then, "Aye, aye," came the +reply. + +"Is there any assistance that can be rendered?" was the next question. + +"Thank you, no," was the answer in a tone that carried emotion with it. +Meantime the tugboat was getting nearer and nearer to the Carpathia, and +soon the faces of those leaning over the railing could be distinguished. + + +TALK WITH SURVIVORS + +More faces appeared, and still more. + +A woman who called to a man on the tugboat was asked? "Are you one the +Titanic survivors?" + +"Yes," said the voice, hesitatingly. + +"Do you need help?" + +"No," after a pause. + +"If there is anything you want done it will be attended to." + +"Thank you. I have been informed that my relatives will meet me at the +pier." + +"Is it true that some of the life-boats sank with the Titanic?" + +"Yes. There was some trouble in manning them. They were not far enough +away from her." + +All of this questioning and receiving replies was carried on with the +greatest difficulty. The pounding of the liner's engines, the washing of +the sea, the tugboat's engines, made it hard to understand the woman's +replies. + + +ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD + +"Were the women properly cared for after the crash?" she was asked. + +"Oh, yes," came the shrill reply. "The men were brave--very brave." Here +her voice broke and she turned and left the railing, to reappear a few +moments later and cry: + +"Please report me as saved." + +"What name?" was asked. She shouted a name that could not be understood, +and, apparently believing that it had been, turned away again and +disappeared. + +"Nearly all of us are very ill," cried another woman. Here several other +tugboats appeared, and those standing at the railing were besieged with +questions. + +"Did the crash come without warning?" a voice on one of the smaller +boats megaphoned. + +"Yes," a woman answered. "Most of us had retired. We saved a few of our +belongings." + +"How long did it take the boat to sink?" asked the voice. + + +TITANIC CREW HEROES + +"Not long," came the reply? "The crew and the men were very brave. Oh, +it is dreadful--dreadful to think of!" + +"Is Mr. John Jacob Astor on board?" + +"No." + +"Did he remain on the Titanic after the collision?" + +"I do not know." + +Questions of this kind were showered at the few survivors who stood at +the railing, but they seemed too confused to answer them intelligibly, +and after replying evasively to some they would disappear. + + +RUSHES ON TO DOCK + +"Are you going to anchor for the night?" Captain Rostron was asked by +megaphone as his boat approached Ambrose Light. It was then raining +heavily. + +"No," came the reply. "I am going into port. There are sick people on +board." + +"We tried to learn when she would dock," said Dr. Walter Kennedy, head +of the big ambulance corps on the mist-shrouded pier, "and we were told +it would not be before midnight and that most probably it would not be +before dawn to-morrow. The childish deception that has been practiced +for days by the people who are responsible for the Titanic has been +carried up to the very moment of the landing of the survivors." + +She proceeded past the Cunard pier, where 2000 persons were waiting +her, and steamed to a spot opposite the White Star piers at Twenty-first +Street. + +The ports in the big inclosed pier of the Cunard Line were opened, and +through them the waiting hundreds, almost frantic with anxiety over what +the Carpathia might reveal, watched her as with nerve-destroying leisure +she swung about in the river, dropping over the life-boats of the +Titanic that they might be taken to the piers of the White Star Line. + +THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS + +It was dark in the river, but the lowering away of the life-boats +could be seen from the Carpathia's pier, and a deep sigh arose from the +multitude there as they caught this first glance of anything associated +with the Titanic. + +Then the Carpathia started for her own pier. As she approached it the +ports on the north side of pier 54 were closed that the Carpathia might +land there, but through the two left open to accommodate the forward +and after gangplanks of the big liner the watchers could see her +looming larger and larger in the darkness till finally she was directly +alongside the pier. + +As the boats were towed away the picture taking and shouting of +questions began again. John Badenoch, a buyer for Macy & Co., called +down to a representative of the firm that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Isidor +Straus were among the rescued on board the Carpathia. An officer of +the Carpathia called down that 710 of the Titanic's passengers were on +board, but refused to reply to other questions. + +The heavy hawsers were made fast without the customary shouting of +ship's officers and pier hands. From the crowd on the pier came a long, +shuddering murmur. In it were blended sighs and hundreds of whispers. +The burden of it all was: "Here they come." + + +ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN + +About each gangplank a portable fence had been put in place, marking +off some fifty feet of the pier, within which stood one hundred or more +customs officials. Next to the fence, crowded close against it, were +anxious men and women, their gaze strained for a glance of the first +from the ship, their mouths opened to draw their breaths in spasmodic, +quivering gasps, their very bodies shaking with suppressed excitement, +excitement which only the suspense itself was keeping in subjection. + +These were the husbands and wives, children, parents, sweethearts and +friends of those who had sailed upon the Titanic on its maiden voyage. + +They pressed to the head of the pier, marking the boats of the wrecked +ship as they dangled at the side of the Carpathia and were revealed in +the sudden flashes of the photographers upon the tugs. They spoke +in whispers, each group intent upon its own sad business. Newspaper +writers, with pier passes showing in their hat bands, were everywhere. + +A sailor hurried outside the fence and disappeared, apparently on a +mission for his company. There was a deep-drawn sigh as he walked away, +shaking his head toward those who peered eagerly at him. Then came a +man and woman of the Carpathia's own passengers, as their orderly dress +showed them to be. + +Again a sigh like a sob swept over the crowd, and again they turned back +to the canopied gangplank. + + +THE FIRST SURVIVORS + +Several minutes passed and then out of the first cabin gangway; tunneled +by a somber awning, streamed the first survivors. A young woman, +hatless, her light brown hair disordered and the leaden weight of +crushing sorrow heavy upon eyes and sensitive mouth, was in the van. She +stopped, perplexed, almost ready to drop with terror and exhaustion, and +was caught by a customs official. + +"A survivor?" he questioned rapidly, and a nod of the head answering +him, he demanded: + +"Your name." + +The answer given, he started to lead her toward that section of the pier +where her friends would be waiting. + +When she stepped from the gangplank there was quiet on the pier. The +answers of the woman could almost be heard by those fifty feet away, but +as she staggered, rather than walked, toward the waiting throng outside +the fence, a low wailing sound arose from the crowd. + +"Dorothy, Dorothy!" cried a man from the number. He broke through the +double line of customs inspectors as though it was composed of +wooden toys and caught the woman to his breast. She opened her lips +inarticulately, weakly raised her arms and would have pitched forward +upon her face had she not been supported. Her fair head fell weakly to +one side as the man picked her up in his arms, and, with tears streaming +down his face, stalked down the long avenue of the pier and down the +long stairway to a waiting taxicab. + +The wailing of the crowd--its cadences, wild and weird--grew steadily +louder and louder till they culminated in a mighty shriek, which swept +the whole big pier as though at the direction of some master hand. + +RUMORS AFLOAT + +The arrival of the Carpathia was the signal for the most sensational +rumors to circulate through the crowd on the pier. + +First, Mrs. John Jacob Astor was reported to have died at 8.06 o'clock, +when the Carpathia was on her way up the harbor. + +Captain Smith and the first engineer were reported to have shot +themselves when they found that the Titanic was doomed to sink. +Afterward it was learned that Captain Smith and the engineer went down +with their ship in perfect courage and coolness. + +Major Archibald Butt, President Taft's military aide, was said to have +entered into an agreement with George D. Widener, Colonel John Jacob +Astor and Isidor Straus to kill them first and then shoot himself before +the boat sank. It was said that this agreement had been carried out. +Later it was shown that, like many other men on the ship, they had gone +down without the exhibition of a sign of fear. + + +MRS. CORNELL SAFE + +Magistrate Cornell's wife and her two sisters were among the first +to leave the ship. They were met at the first cabin pier entrance by +Magistrate Cornell and a party of friends. None of the three women had +hats. One of those who met them was Magistrate Cornell's son. One of +Mrs. Cornell's sisters was overheard to remark that "it would be a +dreadful thing when the ship began really to unload." + +The three women appeared to be in a very nervous state. Their hair was +more or less dishevelled. They were apparently fully dressed save for +their hats. Clothing had been supplied them in their need and everything +had been done to make them comfortable. One of the party said that the +collision occurred at 9.45. + +Following closely the Cornell party was H. J. Allison of Montreal, who +came to meet his family. One of the party, who was weeping bitterly as +he left the pier, explained that the only one of the family that was +rescued was the young brother. + + +MRS. ASTOR APPEARED + +In a few minutes young Mrs. Astor with her maid appeared. She came down +the gangplank unassisted. She was wearing a white sweater. Vincent Astor +and William Dobbyn, Colonel Astor's secretary, greeted her and +hurried her to a waiting limousine which contained clothing and other +necessaries of which it was thought she might be in need. The young +woman was white-faced and silent. Nobody cared to intrude upon +her thoughts. Her stepson said little to her. He did not feel like +questioning her at such a time, he said. + + +LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR + +Walter M. Clark, a nephew of the senator, said that he had seen Colonel +Astor put his wife in a boat, after assuring her that he would soon +follow her in another. Mr. Clark and others said that Colonel and Mrs. +Astor were in their suite when the crash came, and that they appeared +quietly on deck a few minutes afterward. + +Here and there among the passengers of the Carpathia and from the +survivors of the Titanic the story was gleaned of the rescue. Nothing in +life will ever approach the joy felt by the hundreds who were waiting in +little boats on the spot where the Titanic foundered when the lights of +the Carpathia were first distinguished. That was at 4 o'clock on Monday +morning. + + +DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED + +Efforts were made to learn from Dr. Henry Franenthal{sic} something +about the details of how he was rescued. Just then, or as he was leaving +the pier, beaming with evident delight, he was surrounded by a big crowd +of his friends. + +"There's Harry! There he is!" they yelled and made a rush for him. + +All the doctor's face that wasn't covered with red beard was aglow +with smiles as his friends hugged him and slapped him on the back. They +rushed him off bodily through the crowd and he too was whirled home. + + +A SAD STORY + +How others followed--how heartrending stories of partings and of +thrilling rescues were poured out in an amazing stream--this has all +been told over and over again in the news that for days amazed, saddened +and angered the entire world. It is the story of a disaster that +nations, it is hoped, will make impossible in the years to come. + +In the stream of survivors were a peer of the realm, Sir Cosmo Duff +Gordon, and his secretary, side by side with plain Jack Jones, of +Birmingham, able seaman, millionaires and paupers, women with bags of +jewels and others with nightgowns their only property. + + +MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS + +More than seventy widows were in the weeping company. The only large +family that was saved in its entirety was that of the Carters, of +Philadelphia. Contrasting with this remarkable salvage of wealthy +Pennsylvanians was the sleeping eleven-months-old baby of the Allisons, +whose father, mother and sister went down to death after it and its +nurse had been placed in a life-boat. + +Millionaire and pauper, titled grandee and weeping immigrant, Ismay, the +head of the White Star Company, and Jack Jones from the stoke hole were +surrounded instantly. Some would gladly have escaped observation. Every +man among the survivors acted as though it were first necessary to +explain how he came to be in a life-boat. Some of the stories smacked of +Munchausen. Others were as plain and unvarnished as a pike staff. Those +that were most sincere and trustworthy had to be fairly pulled from +those who gave their sad testimony. + +Far into the night the recitals were made. They were told in the rooms +of hotels, in the wards of hospitals and upon trains that sped toward +saddened homes. It was a symposium of horror and heroism, the like of +which has not been known in the civilized world since man established +his dominion over the sea. + + +STEERAGE PASSENGERS + +The two hundred and more steerage passengers did not leave the ship +until 11 o'clock. They were in a sad condition. The women were without +wraps and the few men there were wore very little clothing. A poor +Syrian woman who said she was Mrs. Habush, bound for Youngstown, Ohio, +carried in her arms a six-year-old baby girl. This woman had lost her +husband and three brothers. "I lost four of my men folks," she cried. + + +TWO LITTLE BOYS + +Among the survivors who elicited a large measure of sympathy were two +little French boys who were dropped, almost naked, from the deck of the +sinking Titanic into a life-boat. From what place in France did they +come and to what place in the New World were they bound? There was not +one iota of information to be had as to the identity of the waifs of the +deep, the orphans of the Titanic. + +The two baby boys, two and four years old, respectively, were in charge +of Miss Margaret Hays, who is a fluent speaker of French, and she had +tried vainly to get from the lisping lips of the two little ones some +information that would lead to the finding of their relatives. + +Miss Hays, also a survivor of the Titanic, took charge of the almost +naked waifs on the Carpathia. She became warmly attached to the two +boys, who unconcernedly played about, not understanding the great +tragedy that had come into their lives. + +The two little curly-heads did not understand it all. Had not their +pretty nineteen-year-old foster mother provided them with pretty suits +and little white shoes and playthings a-plenty? Then, too, Miss Hays had +a Pom dog that she brought with her from Paris and which she carried +in her arms when she left the Titanic and held to her bosom through the +long night in the life-boat, and to which the children became warmly +attached. All three became aliens on an alien shore. + +Miss Hays, unable to learn the names of the little fellows, had dubbed +the older Louis and the younger "Lump." "Lump" was all that his name +implies, for he weighed almost as much as his brother. They were +dark-eyed and brown curly-haired children, who knew how to smile as only +French children can. + +On the fateful night of the Titanic disaster and just as the last boats +were pulling away with their human freight, a man rushed to the rail +holding the babes under his arms. He cried to the passengers in one +of the boats and held the children aloft. Three or four sailors and +passengers held up their arms. The father dropped the older boy. He was +safely caught. Then he dropped the little fellow and saw him folded in +the arms of a sailor. Then the boat pulled away. + +The last seen of the father, whose last living act was to save his +babes, he was waving his hand in a final parting. Then the Titanic +plunged to the ocean's bed. + + +BABY TRAVERS + +Still more pitiable in one way was the lot of the baby survivor, +eleven-months-old Travers Allison, the only member of a family of +four to survive the wreck. His father, H. J. Allison, and mother and +Lorraine, a child of three, were victims of the catastrophe. Baby +Travers, in the excitement following the crash, was separated from the +rest of the family just before the Titanic went down. With the party +were two nurses and a maid. + +Major Arthur Peuchen, of Montreal, one of the survivors, standing near +the little fellow, who, swathed in blankets, lay blinking at his nurse, +described the death of Mrs. Allison. She had gone to the deck without +her husband, and, frantically seeking him, was directed by an officer to +the other side of the ship. + +She failed to find Mr. Allison and was quickly hustled into one of the +collapsible life-boats, and when last seen by Major Peuchen she was +toppling out of the half-swamped boat. J. W. Allison, a cousin of H. J. +Allison, was at the pier to care for Baby Travers and his nurse. They +were taken to the Manhattan Hotel. + +Describing the details of the perishing of the Allison family, the +rescued nurse said they were all in bed when the Titanic hit the berg. + +"We did not get up immediately," said she, "for we had + + +{illust. caption = WHITE STAR STEAMER TITANIC GYMNASIUM} + +{illust. caption = Copyright, 1912, Underwood & Underwood. CAPTAIN A. H. +ROSTROM + +Commander of the Carpathia, which rescued the survivors of the Titanic +from the life-boats in the open sea and brought them to New York. After +the Senatorial Investigating Committee had examined Captain Rostrom, at +which time this specially posed photograph was taken, Senator William +Alden Smith, chairman of the committee, said of Captain Rostrom: "His +conduct of the rescue shows that he is not only an efficient seaman, but +one of nature's noblemen."} + + +not thought of danger. Later we were told to get up, and I hurriedly +dressed the baby. We hastened up on deck, and confusion was all about. +With other women and children we clambered to the life-boats, just as a +matter of precaution, believing that there was no immediate danger. +In about an hour there was an explosion and the ship appeared to fall +apart. We were in the life-boat about six hours before we were picked +up." + + +THE RYERSON FAMILY + +Probably few deaths have caused more tears than Arthur Ryerson's, in +view of the sad circumstances which called him home from a lengthy +tour in Europe. Mr. Ryerson's eldest son, Arthur Larned Ryerson, a Yale +student, was killed in an automobile accident Easter Monday, 1912. + +A cablegram announcing the death plunged the Ryerson family into +mourning and they boarded the first steamship for this country. If{sic} +happened to be the Titanic, and the death note came near being the cause +of the blotting out of the entire family. + +The children who accompanied them were Miss Susan P. Ryerson, Miss Emily +B. Ryerson and John Ryerson. The latter is 12 years old. + +They did not know their son intended to spend the Easter holidays at +their home at Haverford, Pa. until they were informed of his death. John +Lewis Hoffman, also of Haverford and a student of Yale, was killed with +young Ryerson. + +The two were hurrying to Philadelphia to escort a fellow-student to his +train. In turning out of the road to pass a cart the motor car crashed +into a pole in front of the entrance to the estate of Mrs. B. Frank +Clyde. The college men were picked up unconscious and died in the Bryn +Mawr Hospital. + +G. Heide Norris of Philadelphia, who went to New York to meet the +surviving members of the Ryerson family, told of a happy incident at the +last moment as the Carpathia swung close to the pier. There had been +no positive information that young "Jack" Ryerson was among those +saved--indeed, it was feared that he had gone down with the Titanic, +like his father, Arthur Ryerson. + +Mr. Norris spoke of the feeling of relief that came over him as, +watching from the pier, he saw "Jack" Ryerson come from a cabin and +stand at the railing. The name of the boy was missing from some of the +lists and for two days it was reported that he had perished. + + +CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S REPORT + +Less than 24 hours after the Cunard Line steamship Carpathia came in as +a rescue ship with survivors of the Titanic disaster, she sailed again +for the Mediterranean cruise which she originally started upon last +week. Just before the liner sailed, H. S. Bride, the second Marconi +wireless operator of the Titanic, who had both of his legs crushed on +a life-boat, was carried off on the shoulders of the ship's officers to +St. Vincent's Hospital. + +Captain A. H. Rostron, of the Carpathia, addressed an official report, +giving his account of the Carpathia's rescue work, to the general +manager of the Cunard Line, Liverpool. The report read: "I beg to report +that at 12.35 A. M. Monday 18th inst. I was informed of urgent message +from Titanic with her position. I immediately ordered ship turned around +and put her in course for that position, we being then 58 miles S. +52--E. 'T' from her; had heads of all departments called and issued +what I considered the necessary orders, to be in preparation for any +emergency. + +"At 2.40 A. M. saw flare half a point on port bow. Taking this for +granted to be ship, shortly after we sighted our first iceberg. I had +previously had lookouts doubled, knowing that Titanic had struck ice, +and so took every care and precaution. We soon found ourselves in a +field of bergs, and had to alter course several times to clear bergs; +weather fine, and clear, light air on sea, beautifully clear night, +though dark. + +"We stopped at 4 A. M., thus doing distance in three hours and a half, +picking up the first boat at 4.10 A. M.; boat in charge of officer, and +he reported that Titanic had foundered. At 8.30 A. M. last boat picked +up. All survivors aboard and all boats accounted for, viz., fifteen +life-boats, one boat abandoned, two Berthon boats alongside (saw one +floating upwards among wreckage), and according to second officer +(senior officer saved) one Berthon boat had not been launched, it having +got jammed, making sixteen life-boats and four Berthon boats accounted +for. By the time we had cleared first boat it was breaking day, and +I could see all within area of four miles. We also saw that we were +surrounded by icebergs, large and small, huge field of drift ice with +large and small bergs in it, the ice field trending from N. W. round W. +and S. to S. E., as far as we could see either way. + +"At 8 A. M. the Leyland S. S. California came up. I gave him the +principal news and asked him to search and I would proceed to New +York; at 8.50 proceeded full speed while researching over vicinity of +disaster, and while we were getting people aboard I gave orders to get +spare hands along and swing in all our boats, disconnect the fall and +hoist up as many Titanic boats as possible in our davits; also get +some on forecastle heads by derricks. We got thirteen lifeboats, six on +forward deck and seven in davits. After getting all survivors aboard +and while searching I got a clergyman to offer a short prayer of +thankfulness for those saved, and also a short burial service for their +loss, in saloon. + +"Before deciding definitely where to make for, I conferred with Mr. +Ismay, and as he told me to do what I thought best, I informed him, +I considered New York best. I knew we should require clean blankets, +provisions and clean linen, even if we went to the Azores, as most of +the passsengers{sic} saved were women and children, and they hysterical, +not knowing what medical attention they might require. I thought it best +to go to New York. I also thought it would be better for Mr. Ismay to go +to New York or England as soon as possible, and knowing I should be out +of wireless communication very soon if I proceeded to Azores, it left +Halifax, Boston and New York, so I chose the latter. + +"Again, the passengers were all hysterical about ice, and I pointed out +to Mr. Ismay the possibilities of seeing ice if I went to Halifax. Then +I knew it would be best to keep in touch with land stations as best I +could. We have experienced great difficulty in transmitting news, also +names of survivors. Our wireless is very poor, and again we have had +so many interruptions from other ships and also messages from shore +(principally press, which we ignored). I gave instructions to send first +all official messages, then names of passengers, then survivors' private +messages. We had haze early Tuesday morning for several hours; +again more or less all Wednesday from 5.30 A. M. to 5 P. M.; strong +south-southwesterly winds and clear weather Thursday, with moderate +rough sea. + +"I am pleased to say that all survivors have been very plucky. The +majority of women, first, second and third class, lost their husbands, +and, considering all, have been wonderfully well. Tuesday our doctor +reported all survivors physically well. Our first class passengers have +behaved splendidly, given up their cabins voluntarily and supplied the +ladies with clothes, etc. We all turned out of our cabins and gave them +to survivors--saloon, smoking room, library, etc., also being used for +sleeping accommodation. Our crew, also turned out to let the crew of +the Titanic take their quarters. I am pleased to state that owing to +preparations made for the comfort of survivors, none were the worse for +exposure, etc. I beg to specially mention how willing and cheerful the +whole of the ship's company behaved, receiving the highest praise from +everybody. And I can assure you I am very proud to have such a company +under my command. + + "A. H. ROSTRON." + + +The following list of the survivors and dead contains the latest +revisions and corrections of the White Star Line officials, and was +furnished by them exclusively for this book. + + + + +LIST OF SURVIVORS + + FIRST CABIN + + ANDERSON, HARRY. + ANTOINETTE, MISS. + APPIERANELT, MISS. + APPLETON. MRS. E. D. + ABBOTT, MRS. ROSE. + ALLISON, MASTER, and nurse. + ANDREWS, MISS CORNELIA I. + ALLEN, MISS. E. W. + ASTOR, MRS. JOHN JACOB, and maid. + AUBEART, MME. N., and maid. + + BARRATT, KARL B. + BESETTE, MISS. + BARKWORTH, A. H. + BUCKNELL, MRS. W. + BOWERMAN, MISS E. + BROWN, MRS. J. J. + BURNS, MISS C. M. + BISHOP, MR. AND MRS. D. H. + BLANK, H. + BESSINA, MISS A. + BAXTER, MRS. JAMES. + BRAYTON, GEORGE. + BONNELL, MISS LILY. + BROWN, MRS. J. M. + BOWEN, MISS G. C. + BECKWITH, MR. AND MRS. R. L. + BISLEY, MR. AND MRS. + BONNELL, MISS C. + + CASSEBEER, MRS. H. A. + CARDEZA, MRS. J. W. + CANDELL, MRS. CHURCHILL. + CASE, HOWARD B. + CAMARION, KENARD. + CASSEBORO, MISS D. D. + CLARK, MRS. W. M. + + CHIBINACE, MRS. B. C. + CHARLTON, W. M. + CROSBY, MRS E. G. + CARTER, MISS LUCILLE. + CALDERHEAD, E. P. + CHANDANSON, MISS VICTOTRINE. + CAVENDISH, MRS. TURRELL, and maid. + CHAFEE, MRS. H. I. + CARDEZA, MR. THOMAS. + CUMMINGS, MRS. J. + CHEVRE, PAUL. + CHERRY, MISS GLADYS. + CHAMBERS, MR. AND MRS. N. C. + CARTER, MR. AND MRS. W. E. + CARTER, MASTER WILLIAM. + COMPTON, MRS. A. T. + COMPTON, MISS S. R. + CROSBY, MRS. E. G. + CROSBY, MISS HARRIET. + CORNELL, MRS. R. C. + CHIBNALL, MRS. E. + + DOUGLAS, MRS. FRED. + DE VILLIERS, MME. + DANIEL, MISS SARAH. + DANIEL, ROBERT W. + DAVIDSON, MR. AND MRS. THORNTON, + and family. + DOUGLAS, MRS. WALTER, and maid. + DODGE, MISS SARAH. + DODGE, MRS. WASHINGTON, and son. + DICK, MR. AND MRS. A. A. + DANIELL, H. HAREN. + DRACHENSTED, A. + DALY, PETER D. + + ENDRES, MISS CAROLINE. + ELLIS, MISS + + + LIST OF SURVIVORS--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + EARNSHAW, MRS. BOULTON. + EUSTIS, MISS E. + EMMOCK, PHILIP E. + + FLAGENHEIM, MRS. ANTOINETTE. + FRANICATELLI, MISY. + FYNN, J. I. + FORTUNE, MISS ALICE + FORTUNE, MISS ETHEL. + FORTUNE, MRS. MARK. + FORTUNE, MISS MABEL. + FRAUENTHAL, DR. AND MRS. H. W. + FRAUENTHAL, MR. AND MRS. T. G + FROLICHER, MISS MARGARET. + FROLICHER, MAY AND MRS. + FROLICHER, MISS N. + FUTRELLE, MRS. JACQUES. + + GRACIE, COLONEL ARCHIBALD. + GRAHAM, MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM. + GRAHAM, MISS M. + GORDON, SIR COSMO DUFF. + GORDON, LADY. + GIBSON, MISS DOROTHY. + GOLDENBERG, MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL. + GOLDENBERG, MISS ELLA. + GREENFIELD, MRS. L. P. + GREENFIELD, G. B. + GREENFIELD, WILLIAM. + GIBSON, MRS. LEONARD. + GOOGHT, JAMES. + + HAVEN, MR. HENRY B. + HARRIS, MRS. H. B. + HOLVERSON, MRS. ALEX. + HOGEBOOM, MRS. J. C. + HAWKSFORD, W. J. + HARPER, HENRY, and man servant. + HARPER, MRS. H. S. + HOLD, MISS J. A. + HOPE, NINA. + HOYT, MR. AND Mrs. FRED. + HORNER, HENRY R. + HARDER, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. + HAYS, MRS. CHARLES M., and daughter. + HIPPACH, MISS JEAN. + HIPPACH, MRS. IDA S. + + ISMAY, J. BRUCE. + + JENASCO, MRS. J. + + KIMBALL, MR. AND MRS. ED. N. + KENNYMAN, F. A. + KENCHEN, MISS EMILE. + + LONGLEY, MISS G. F. + LEADER, MRS. A. F. + LEAHY, MISS NORA. + LAVORY, MISS BERTHA. + LINES, MRS. ERNEST. + LINES, MISS MARY. + LINDSTROM, MRS. SINGIRD. + LESNEUR, GUSTAVE, JR. + + MADILL, MISS GEORGETTE A. + MAHAN, MRS. + MELICARD, MME. + MENDERSON, MISS LETTA. + MAIAIMY, MISS ROBERTA. + MARVIN, MRS. D. W. + MARECHELL, PIERRE. + MARONEY, MRS. R. + MEYER, MRS. E. I. + MOCK, MR. P. E. + MIDDLE, MME. M. OLIVE. + MINAHAN, MISS DAISY. + MINAHAN, MRS. W. E. + MCGOUGH, JAMES. + + NEWELL, MISS ALICE. + NEWELL, MISS MADELINE. + NEWELL, WASHINGTON. + NEWSON, MISS HELEN. + + O'CONNELL, MISS R. + OSTBY, E. C. + + LIST OF SURVIVORS--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + OSTBY, MISS HELEN. + OMUND, FIEUNAM. + + PANHART, MISS NINETTE. + PEARS, MRS. E. + POMROY, MISS ELLEN. + POTTER, MRS. THOMAS, JR. + PEUCHEN, MAJOR ARTHUR. + PEERCAULT, MISS A. + + RYERSON, JOHN. + RENAGO, MRS. MAMAM. + RANELT, MISS APPIE. + ROTHSCHILD, MRS. LORD MARTIN. + ROSENBAHM, MISS EDITH. + RHEIMS, MR. AND MRS GEORGE. + ROSIBLE, MISS H. + ROTHES, COUNTESS. + ROBERT, MRS. EDNA. + ROLMANE, C. + RYERSON, ALISS SUSAN P. + RYERSON, MISS EMILY. + RYERSON, MRS. ARTHUR, and maid. + + STONE, MRS. GEORGE M. + SKELLER, MRS. WILLIAM. + SEGESSER, MISS EMMA. + SEWARD, FRED. K. + SHUTTER, MISS. + SLOPER, WILLIAM T. + SWIFT, MRS. F. JOEL. + SCHABERT, MRS. PAUL. + SHEDDEL, ROBERT DOUGLASS. + SNYDER, MR. AND MRS. JOHN. + SEREPECA, ALISS AUGHSTA. + SILVERTHORN, R. SPENCER. + SAALFELD, ADOLF. + STAHELIN, MAX. + SIMOINUS, ALFONSIUS. + SMITH, MRS. LUCIEN P. + STEPHENSON, MRS. WALTER. + SOLOMON, ABRAHAM. + SILVEY, MRS. WILLIAM B + STENMEL, MR. AND MRS. HELEERY + SPENCER, MRS. W. A., and maid. + SLAYTER, MISS HILDA. + SPEDDEN, MR. AND MRS. F. O., and child. + STEFFANSON, H. B. + STRAUS, MRS., maid of. + SCHABERT, MRS. EMMA. + SLINTER, MRS. E. + SIMMONS, A. + + TAYLOR, MISS. + TUCKER, MRS., and maid. + THAYER, MRS. J. B. + THAYER, J. B., JR. + TAUSSIG, MISS RUTH. + TAUSSIG. MRS. E. + THOR, MISS ELLA. + THORNE, MRS. G. + TAYLOR, MR. AND MRS. E. Z + TROUT, MISS JESSIE. + TUCKER, GILBERT. + + WOOLNER, HUGH. + WARD, MISS ANNA. + WILLIAMS, RICHARD M., JR. + WARREN, MRS. P. + WILSON, MISS HELEN A. + WILLIARD, MISS C. + WICK, MISS MARY. + WICK, GEO. + WIDENER, valet of. + WIDENER, MRS. GEORGE D., and maid. + WHITE, MRS. J. STUART. + + YOUNG, MISS MARIE. + + + + +LIST OF SURVIVORS--SECOND CABIN + + ABESSON, MRS. MANNA. + ABBOTT, MRS. R. + ARGENIA, MRS., and two children. + ANGEL, F. + ANGLE, WILLIAM. + + BAUMTHORPE, MRS. L. + BALLS, MRS. ADA E. + BUSS, MISS KATE. + BECKER, MRS. A. O., and three children + BEANE, EDWARD. + BEANE, MRS. ETHEL, + BRYHI, MISS D. + BEESLEY, MR. L. + BROWN, MR. T. W. S. + BROWN, MISS E. + BROWN, MRS. + BENTHAN, LILLIAN W. + BYSTRON, KAROLINA + BRIGHT, DAGMAR. + BRIGHT, DAISY. + + CLARKE, MRS. ADA. + CAMERON, MISS. C. + CALDWELL, ALBERT F. + CALDWELL, MRS. SYLVAN + CALDWELL, ALDEN, infant. + CRISTY, MR. AND MRS. + COLLYER, MRS. CHARLOTTE. + COLLYER, MISS MARJORIE + CHRISTY, MRS. ALICE. + COLLET, STITART. + CHRISTA, MISS DIJCIA. + CHARLES, WILLIAM. + CROFT, MILLIE MALL. + + DOLING, MRS. ELSIE. + DREW, MRS. LULU. + DAVIS, MRS. AGNES. + DAVIS, MISS MARY. + DAVIS, JOHN M. + DUVAN, FLORENTINE. + DUVAN, MRS. A. + DAVIDSON, MISS MARY. + DOLING, MISS ADA. + DRISCOLL, MRS. B. + DEYSTROM, CAROLINE. + + EMCARMACION, MRS. RINALDO. + + FAUNTHORPE, MRS. LIZZIE + FORMERY, MISS ELLEN. + + GARSIDE, ETHEL. + GERRECAI, MRS. MARCY. + GENOVESE, ANGERE. + + HART, MRS. ESTHER. + HART, EVA. + HARRIS, GEORGE. + HEWLETT, MRS. MARY. + HEBBER, MISS S. + HOFFMAN, LOLA. + HOFFMAN, LOUIS. + HARPER, NINA. + HOLD, STEPHEN. + HOLD, MRS. ANNA. + HOSONO, MASABTJMI. + HOCKING, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. + HOCKING, MISS NELLIE. + HERMAN, MRS. JANE, 2 daughters + HEALY, NORA. + HANSON, JENNIE. + HAMATAINEN, W. + HAMATAINEN, ANNA. + HARNLIN, ANNA, and Child + + ILETT, BERTHA. + + JACKSON, MRS. AMY. + JULIET, LUVCHE. + JERWAN, MARY. + JUHON, PODRO. + JACOBSON, MRS. + + KEANE, MISS NORA H. + KELLY, MRS. F. + KANTAR, MRS. S. + + LEITCH, JESSIE. + LAROCHE, MRS. AND MISS SIMMONE. + + LIST OF SURVIVORS--SECOND CABIN (CONTINITED) + + LAROCHE, MISS LOUISE. + LEHMAN, BERTHA. + LAUCH, MRS. ALEX. + LANIORE, AMELIA. + LYSTROM, MRS. C. + + MELLINGER, ELIZABETH. + MELLINGER, child. + MARSHALL, MRS. KATE. + MALLETT, A. + MALLETT, MRS. and child. + MANGE, PAULA. + MARE, MRS. FLORENCE. + MELLOR, W. J. + McDEARMONT, MISS LELA. + McGOWAN, ANNA. + + NYE, ELIZABETH. + NASSER, MRS. DELIA. + NUSSA, MRS. A. + + OXENHAM, PERCY J. + + PHILLIPS, ALICE. + PALLAS, EMILIO. + PADRO, JITLIAN. + PRINSKY, ROSA. + PORTALTTPPI, EMILIO. + PARSH, MRS. L. + PLETT, B. + + QUICK, MRS. JANE. + QUICK, MRS. VERA W. + QUICK, MISS PHYLLIS. + + REINARDO, MISS E. + RIDSDALE, LUCY. + RENOUF, MRS. LILY. + RUGG, MISS EMILY. + RICHARDS, M. + ROGERS, MISS SELINA. + RICHARDS, MRS. EMILIA, two boys, and + MR. RICHARDS, JR. + + SIMPSON, MISS. + SINCOCK, MISS MAUDE. + SINKKONNEN, ANNA. + SMITH, MISS MARION. + SILVEN, LYLLE. + + TRANT, MRS J. + TOOMEY, MISS. E. + TROUTT, MISS E. + TROUTT, MISS CECELIA. + + WARE, MISS H. + WATTER, MISS N. + WILHELM, C. + WAT, MRS. A., and two children. + WILLIAMS, RICHARD M., JR. + WEISZ, MATHILDE. + WEBBER, MISS SIJSDD. + WRIGHT, MISS MARION. + WATT, MISS BESSIE. + WATT, MISS BERTHA. + WEST, MRS. E. A. + WEST, MISS CONSTANCE. + WEST, MISS BARBARA. + WELLS, ADDIE. + WELLS, MASTER. + + + +A list of surviving third cabin passengers and crew is omitted owing to +the impossibility of obtaining the correct names of many. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD + + FIRST CABIN + + ALLISON, H. J. + ALLISON, MRS., and maid. + ALLISON, MISS. + ANDREWS, THOMAS. + ARTAGAVEYTIA, MR. RAMON. + ASTOR, COL. J. J., and servant. + ANDERSON, WALKER. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + BEATTIE, T. + BRANDEIS, E. + BUCKNELL, MRS. WILLIAM, maid of. + BAHMANN, J. + BAXTER, MR. AND MRS. QUIGG. + BJORNSTROM, H. + BIRNBAHM, JACOB. + BLACKWELL, S. W. + BOREBANK, J. J. + BOWEN, MISS. + BRADY, JOHN B. + BREWE, ARLBLIR J. + BUTT, MAJOR A. + + CLARK, WALTER M. + CLIFFORD, GEORGE Q. + COLLEY, E. P. + CARDEZA, T. D. M., servant of. + CARDEZA, MRS. J. W., maid of. + CARLSON, FRANK. + CORRAN, F. M. + CORRAN, J. P. + CHAFEE, MR. H. I. + CHISHOLM, ROBERT. + COMPTON, A. T. + CRAFTON, JOHN B. + CROSBY, EDWARD G. + CUMMINGS, JOHN BRADLEY. + + DULLES, WILLIAM C. + DOUGLAS, W. D. + DOUGLAS, MASTER R., nurse of. + + EVANS, MISS E. + + FORTUNE, MARK. + FOREMAN, B. L. + FORTUNE, CHARLES. + FRANKLIN, T. P. + FUTRELLE, J. + + GEE, ARTHUR. + GOLDENBERG, E. L. + GOLDSCHMIDT, G. B. + GIGLIO, VICTOR. + GUGGENHEIM, BENJAMIN. + + HAYS, CHARLES M. + HAYS, MRS. CHARLES, maid of. + HEAD, CHRISTOPHER. + HILLIARD, H. H. + HIPKINS, W. E. + HOGENHEIM, MRS. A. + HARRIS, HENRY B. + HARP, MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. + HARP, MISS MARGARET, and maid. + HOLVERSON, A. M. + + ISLAM, MISS A. E. + ISMAY, J. BRUCE, servant of. + + JULIAN, H. F. + JONES, C. C. + + KENT, EDWARD A. + KENYON, MR. AND MRS. F. R. + KLABER, HERMAN. + + LAMBERTH, WILLIAM, F. F. + LAWRENCE, ARTHUR. + LONG, MILTON. + LEWY, E. G. + LOPING, J. H. + LINGREY, EDWARD. + + MAGUIRE, J. E. + McCAFFRY, T. + McCAFFRY, T., JR. + McCARTHY, T. + MIDDLETON, J. C. + MILLET, FRANK D. + MINAHAN, DR. + MEYER, EDGAR J. + MOLSON, H. M. + MOORE, C., servant. + + NATSCH, CHARLES. + NEWALL, MISS T. + NICHOLSON, A. S. + + OVIES, S. + OBNOUT, ALFRED T. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + + PARR, M. H. W. + PEARS, MR. AND MRS. THOMAS. + PENASCO, MR. AND MRS. VICTOR. + PARTNER, M. A. + PAYNE, Y. + POND, FLORENCE, and maid. + PORTER, WALTER. + PUFFER, C. C. + + REUCHLIN, J. + ROBERT, MRS. E., maid of. + ROEBLING, WASHINGTON A., 2d. + ROOD, HUGH R. + ROES, J. HUGO. + ROTHES, COUNTESS, maid of. + ROTHSCHILD, M. + ROWE, ARTHUR. + RYERSON, A. + + SILVEY, WILLIAM B. + SPEDDEN, MRS. F. O., maid of + SPENCER, W. A. + STEAD, W. T. + STEHLI, MR. AND MRS. MAX FROLICHER. + STONE, MRS. GEORGE, maid of. + STRAUS, MR. AND MRS. ISIDOR. + SUTTON, FREDERICK. + SMART, JOHN M. + SMITH, CLINCH. + SMITET, R. W. + SMITH, L. P. + + TAUSSIC, EMIL. + THAYER, MRS., maid of. + THAYER, JOHN B. + THORNE, G. + + VANDERHOOF, WYCKOFF. + + WALKER, W. A. + WARREN, F. M. + WHITE, PERCIVAL A. + WHITE, RICHARD F. + WIDENER, G. D. + WIDENER, HARRY. + WOOD, MR. AND MRS. FRANK P. + WEIR, J. + WILLIAMS, DUANE. + WRIGHT, GEORGE. + + + SECOND CABIN + + ABELSON, SAMSON. + ANDREW, FRANK. + ASHBY, JOHN. + ALDWORTH, C. + ANDREW, EDGAR. + + BRACKEN, JAMES H. + BROWN, MRS. + BANFIELD, FRED. + BRIGHT, NARL. + BRAILY, bandsman. + BREICOUX, bandsman. + BAILEY, PERCY. + BAINBRIDGE, C. R. + BYLES, THE REV. THOMAS. + BEAUCHAMP, H. J. + BERG, MISS E. + BENTHAN, I. + BATEMAN, ROBERT J. + BUTLER, REGINALD. + BOTSFORD, HULL. + BOWEENER, SOLOMON. + BERRIMAN, WILLIAM. + + CLARKE, CHARLES. + CLARK, bandsman. + COREY, MRS. C. P. + CARTER, THE REV. ERNEST. + CARTER, MRS. + COLERIDGE, REGINALD, + CHAPMAN, CHARLES. + CUNNINGHAM, ALFRED. + CAMPBELL, WILLIAM. + COLLYER, HARVEY. + CORBETT, MRS. IRENE. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD--SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + + CHAPMAN, JOHN E. + CHAPMAN, MRS. E. + COLANDER, ERIC. + COTTERILL, HARBY. + + DEACON, PERCY. + DAVIS, CHARLES. + DIBBEN, WILLIAM. + DE BRITO, JOSE. + DENBORNY, H. + DREW, JAMES. + DREW, MASTER M. + DAVID, MASTER J. W. + DOUNTON, W. J. + DEL VARLO, S. + DEL VARLO, MRS. + + ENANDER, INGVAR. + EITEMILLER, G. F. + + FROST, A. + FYNNERY, MR. + FAUNTHORPE, H. + FILLBROOK, C. + FUNK, ANNIE. + FAHLSTROM, A. + FOX, STANLEY W. + + GREENBERG, S. + GILES, RALPH. + GASKELL, ALFRED. + GILLESPIE, WILLIAM. + GILBERT, WILLIAM. + GALL, S. + GILL, JOHN. + GILES, EDGAR. + GILES, FRED. + GALE, HARRY. + GALE, PHADRUCH. + GARVEY, LAWRENCE. + + HICKMAN, LEONARD. + HICKMAN, LENVIS. + HUME, bandsman. + HICKMAN, STANLEY. + HOOD, AMBROSE, + HODGES, HENRY P. + HART, BENJAMIN. + HARRIS, WALTER. + HARPER, JOHN. + HARBECK, W. H. + HOFFMAN, MR. + HERMAN, MRS. S. + HOWARD, B. + HOWARD, MRS. E. T. + HALE, REGINALD. + HILTUNEN, M. + HUNT, GEORGE. + + JACOBSON, MR. + JACOBSON, SYDNEY. + JEFFERY, CLIFFORD. + JEFFERY, ERNEST. + JENKIN, STEPHEN. + JARVIS, JOHN D. + + KEANE, DANIEL. + KIRKLAND, REV. C. + KARNES, MRS. F. G. + KEYNALDO, MISS. + KRILLNER, J. H. + KRINS, bandsman. + KARINES, MRS. + KANTAR, SELNA. + KNIGHT, R. + + LENGAM, JOHN. + LEVY, R. J. + LAHTIMAN, WILLIAM. + LAUCH, CHARLES. + LEYSON, R. W. N. + LAROCHE, JOSEPH. + LAMB, J. J + + McKANE, PETER. + MILLING, JACOB. + MANTOILA, JOSEPEI, + MALACHARD, NOLL. + MORAWECK, DR. + + ROLL OF THE DEAD--SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + + MANGIOVACCHI, E. + McCRAE, ARTHUR G. + McCRIE, JAMES M. + McKANE, PETER D. + MUDD, THOMAS. + MACK, MRS. MARY. + MARSHALL, HENRY. + MAYBERG, FRANK H. + MEYER, AUGUST. + MYLES, THOMAS. + MITCHELL, HENRY. + MATTHEWS, W. J. + + NESSEN, ISRAEL. + NICHOLLS, JOSEPH C. + NORMAN, ROBERT D. + + OTTER, RICHARD. + + PHILLIPS, ROBERT. + PONESELL, MARTIN. + PAIN, DR. ALFRED. + PARKES, FRANK. + PENGELLY, F. + PERNOT, RENE. + PERUSCHITZ, REV. + PARKER, CLIFFORD. + PULBAUM, FRANK + + RENOUF, PETER H. + ROGERS, HARRY. + REEVES, DAVID. + + SLEMEN, R. J. + SOBEY, HAYDEN. + SLATTER, MISS H. M. + STANTON, WARD. + SWORD, HANS K. + STOKES, PHILIP J. + SHARP, PERCIVAL. + SEDGWICK, MR. F. W. + SMITH, AUGUSTUS. + SWEET, GEORGE. + SJOSTEDT, ERNST. + + TAYLOR, bandsman. + TURPIN, WILLIAM J. + TURPIN, MRS. DOROTHY. + TURNER, JOHN H. + TROUPIANSKY, M. + TIRVAN, MRS. A. + + VEALE, JAMES. + + WATSON, E. + WOODWARD, bandsman. + WARE, WILLIAM J. + WEISZ, LEOPOLD. + WHEADON, EDWARD. + WARE, JOHN J. + WEST, E. ARTHUR. + WHEELER, EDWIN. + WERMAN, SAMUEL. + +The total death list was 1635. Third cabin passengers and crew are not +included in the list here given owing to the impossibility of obtaining +the exact names of many. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD + +HOW THE TITANIC SANK--WATER STREWN WITH DEAD BODIES--VICTIMS MET DEATH +WITH HYMN ON THEIR LIPS + +THE Story of how the Titanic sank is told by Charles F. Hurd, who was a +passenger on the Carpathia. + +He praised highly the courage of the crew, hundreds of whom gave their +lives with a heroism which equaled but could not exceed that of John +Jacob Astor, Henry B. Harris, Jacques Futrelle and others in the long +list of first-cabin passengers. The account continues: + +"The crash against the iceberg, which had been sighted at only a quarter +mile distance, came almost simultaneously with the click of the levers +operated from the bridge, which stopped the engines and closed the +water-tight doors. Captain Smith was on the bridge a moment later, +summoning all on board to put on life preservers and ordering the +life-boats lowered. + +"The first boats had more male passengers, as the men were the first +to reach the deck. When the rush of frightened men and women and +crying children to the decks began, the 'women first' rule was rigidly +enforced. + +"Officers drew revolvers, but in most cases there was no use for them. +Revolver shots heard shortly before the Titanic went down caused many +rumors, one that Captain Smith had shot himself, another that First +Officer Murdock had ended his life, but members of the crew discredit +these rumors. + +"Captain Smith was last seen on the bridge just before the ship sank, +leaping only after the decks had been washed away. + +"What became of the men with the life-preservers was a question asked by +many since the disaster. Many of these with life-preservers were seen to +go down despite the preservers, and dead bodies floated on the surface +as the boats moved away. + +"Facts which I have established by inquiries on the Carpathia, as +positively as they could be established in view of the silence of the +few surviving officers, are: + +"That the Titanic's officers knew, several hours before the crash, of +the possible nearness of the icebergs. + +"That the Titanic's speed, nearly 23 knots an hour, was not slackened. + +"That the number of life-boats on the Titanic was insufficient to +accommodate more than one-third of the passengers, to say nothing of the +crew. Most members of the crew say there were sixteen life-boats and two +collapsibles; none say there were more than twenty boats in all. The 700 +escaped filled most of the sixteen life-boats and the one collapsible +which got away, to the limit of their capacity. + +"Had the ship struck the iceberg head on at whatever + + +{illust. caption = MRS. GEORGE D. WIDENER + +Mrs. Widener was saved,....} + +{illust. caption = George D. WIDENER + +Who with his son....} + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. WILLIAM T. +STEAD + +The great English writer, who was a passenger on board the ill-fated +White Star Line Steamer Titanic.} + + +speed and with whatever resulting shock, the bulkhead system of +water-tight compartments would probably have saved the vessel. As one +man expressed it, it was the impossible that happened when, with a shock +unbelievably mild, the ship's side was torn for a length which made the +bulkhead system ineffective." + +After telling of the shock and the lowering of the boats the account +continues: + +"Some of the boats, crowded too full to give rowers a chance, drifted +for a time. Few had provisions or water, there was lack of covering +from the icy air, and the only lights were the still undimmed arcs and +incandescents of the settling ship, save for one of the first boats. +There a steward, who explained to the passengers that he had been +shipwrecked twice before, appeared carrying three oranges and a green +light. + +"That green light, many of the survivors say, was to the shipwrecked +hundreds as the pillar of fire by night. Long after the ship had +disappeared, and while confusing false lights danced about the boats, +the green lantern kept them together on the course which led them to the +Carpathia. + +"As the end of the Titanic became manifestly but a matter of moments, +the oarsmen pulled their boats away, and the chilling waters began to +echo splash after splash as passengers and sailors in life-preservers +leaped over and started swimming away to escape the expected suction. + +"Only the hardiest of constitutions could endure for more than a few +moments such a numbing bath. The first vigorous strokes gave way to +heart-breaking cries of 'Help! Help!' and stiffened forms were seen +floating on the water all around us. + +"Led by the green light, under the light of the stars, the boats drew +away, and the bow, then the quarter, then the stacks and at last the +stern of the marvel-ship of a few days before, passed beneath the +waters. The great force of the ship's sinking was unaided by any +violence of the elements, and the suction, not so great as had been +feared, rocked but mildly the group of boats now a quarter of a mile +distant from it. + +"Early dawn brought no ship, but not long after 5 A. M. the Carpathia, +far out of her path and making eighteen knots, instead of her wonted +fifteen, showed her single red and black smokestack upon the horizon. In +the joy of that moment, the heaviest griefs were forgotten. + +"Soon afterward Captain Rostron and Chief Steward Hughes were welcoming +the chilled and bedraggled arrivals over the Carpathia's side. + +"Terrible as were the San Francisco, Slocum and Iroquois disasters, they +shrink to local events in comparison with this world-catastrophe. + +"True, there were others of greater qualifications and longer experience +than I nearer the tragedy--but they, by every token of likelihood, +have become a part of the tragedy. The honored--must I say the +lamented--Stead, the adroit Jacques Futrelle, what might they not tell +were their hands able to hold pencil? + +"The silence of the Carpathia's engines, the piercing cold, the clamor +of many voices in the companionways, caused me to dress hurriedly +and awaken my wife, at 5.40 A. M. Monday. Our stewardess, meeting me +outside, pointed to a wailing host in the rear dining room and said. +'From the Titanic. She's at the bottom of the ocean.' + +"At the ship's side, a moment later, I saw the last of the line of boats +discharge their loads, and saw women, some with cheap shawls about their +heads, some with the costliest of fur cloaks, ascending the ship's side. +And such joy as the first sight of our ship may have given them +had disappeared from their faces, and there were tears and signs of +faltering as the women were helped up the ladders or hoisted aboard in +swings. For lack of room to put them, several of the Titanic's boats, +after unloading, were set adrift. + +"At our north was a broad ice field, the length of hundreds of +Carpathias. Around us on other sides were sharp and glistening peaks. +One black berg, seen about 10 A. M., was said to be that which sunk the +Titanic." + + +CHAPTER XIV. THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + +COLLISION ONLY A SLIGHT JAR--PASSENGERS COULD NOT BELIEVE THE VESSEL +DOOMED--NARROW ESCAPE OF LIFE-BOATS--PICKED UP BY THE CARPATHIA + +AMONG the most connected and interesting stories related by the +survivors was the one told by L. Beasley, of Cambridge, England. He +said: + +"The voyage from Queenstown had been quite uneventful; very fine weather +was experienced, and the sea was quite calm. The wind had been westerly +to southwesterly the whole way, but very cold, particularly the last +day; in fact after dinner on Saturday evening it was almost too cold to +be out on deck at all. + + +ONLY A SLIGHT JAR + +"I had been in my berth for about ten minutes, when, at about 11.15 +P. M., I felt a slight jar, and then soon after a second one, but not +sufficiently violent to cause any anxiety to anyone, however nervous +they may have been. However, the engines stopped immediately afterward, +and my first, thought was, 'She has lost a propeller.' + +"I went up on the top (boat) deck in a dressing gown, and found only +a few persons there, who had come up similarly to inquire why we had +stopped, but there was no sort of anxiety in the minds of anyone. + +"We saw through the smoking room window a game of cards going on, and +went in to inquire if they knew anything; it seems they felt more of +the jar, and, looking through the window, had seen a huge iceberg go by +close to the side of the boat. They thought we had just grazed it with +a glancing blow, and that the engines had been stopped to see if any +damage had been done. No one, of course, had any conception that the +vessel had been pierced below by part of the submerged iceberg. + +"The game went on without any thought of disaster and I retired to my +cabin, to read until we went on again. I never saw any of the players or +the onlookers again. + + +SOME WERE AWAKENED + +"A little later, hearing people going upstairs, I went out again and +found everyone wanting to know why the engines had stopped. No doubt +many were awakened from sleep by the sudden stopping of a vibration to +which they had become accustomed during the four days we had been on +board. Naturally, with such powerful engines as the Titanic carried, the +vibration was very noticeable all the time, and the sudden stopping +had something the same effect as the stopping of a loud-ticking +grandfather's clock in a room. + +"On going on deck again I saw that there was an undoubted list downward +from stern to bows, but, knowing nothing of what had happened, concluded +some of the front compartments had filled and weighed her down. I went +down again to put on warmer clothing, and as I dressed heard an order +shouted, 'All passengers on deck with life-belts on.' + +"We all walked slowly up, with the belts tied on over our clothing, +but even then presumed this was only a wise precaution the captain was +taking, and that we should return in a short time and retire to bed. + +"There was a total absence of any panic or any expressions of alarm, and +I suppose this can be accounted for by the exceedingly calm night and +the absence of any signs of the accident. + +"The ship was absolutely still, and except for a gentle tilt downward, +which I don't think one person in ten would have noticed at that time, +no signs of the approaching disaster were visible. She lay just as if +she were waiting the order to go on again when some trifling matter had +been adjusted. + +"But in a few moments we saw the covers lifted from the boats and the +crews allotted to them standing by and coiling up the ropes which were +to lower them by the pulley blocks into the water. + +"We then began to realize it was more serious than had been supposed, +and my first thought was to go down and get some more clothing and some +money, but, seeing people pouring up the stairs, decided it was better +to cause no confusion to people coming up. Presently we heard the order: + +"'All men stand back away from the boats, and all ladies retire to next +deck below'--the smoking-room deck or B deck. + + +MEN STOOD BACK + +"The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence leaning against +the end railings of the deck or pacing slowly up and down. + +"The boats were swung out and lowered from A deck. When they were to +the level of B deck, where all the women were collected, they got in +quietly, with the exception of some who refused to leave their husbands. + +"In some cases they were torn from them and pushed into the boats, but +in many instances they were allowed to remain because there was no one +to insist they should go. + +"Looking over the side, one saw boats from aft already in the water, +slipping quietly away into the darkness, and presently the boats near +me were lowered, and with much creaking as the new ropes slipped through +the pulley blocks down the ninety feet which separated them from the +water. An officer in uniform came up as one boat went down and shouted, +"When you are afloat row round to the companion ladder and stand by with +the other boats for orders.' + +"'Aye, aye, sir,' came up the reply; but I don't think any boat was +able to obey the order. When they were afloat and had the oars at work, +the condition of the rapidly settling boat was so much more a sight +for alarm for those in the boats than those on board, that in common +prudence the sailors saw they could do nothing but row from the sinking +ship to save at any rate some lives. They no doubt anticipated that +suction from such an enormous vessel would be more dangerous than usual +to a crowded boat mostly filled with women. + +"All this time there was no trace of any disorder; no panic or rush +to the boats and no scenes of women sobbing hysterically, such as one +generally pictures as happening at such times everyone seemed to realize +so slowly that there was imminent danger. When it was realized that we +might all be presently in the sea with nothing but our life-belts +to support us until we were picked up by passing steamers, it was +extraordinary how calm everyone was and how completely self-controlled. + +"One by one, the boats were filled with women and children, lowered and +rowed away into the night. Presently the word went round among the men, +'the men are to be put in boats on the starboard side.' + +"I was on the port side, and most of the men walked across the deck to +see if this was so I remained where I was and soon heard the call: + +"'Any more ladies?' + +"Looking over the side of the ship, I saw the boat, No. 13, swinging +level with B deck, half full of ladies. Again the call was repeated, +'Any more ladies?' + +"I saw none come on, and then one of the crew, looking up, said: + +"'Any more ladies on your deck, sir?' + +"'No,' I replied. + +"'Then you had better jump.' + +"I dropped in, and fell in the bottom, as they cried 'lower away.' As +the boat began to descend two ladies were pushed hurriedly through the +crowd on B deck and heaved over into the boat, and a baby of ten months +passed down after them. Down we went, the crew calling to those lowering +each end to 'keep her level,' until we were some ten feet from the +water, and here occurred the only anxious moment we had during the whole +of our experience from leaving the deck to reaching the Carpathia. + +"Immediately below our boat was the exhaust of the condensers, a huge +stream of water pouring all the time from the ship's side just above the +water line. It was plain we ought to be quickly away from this, not to +be swamped by it when we touched water. + + +NO OFFICER ABOARD + +"We had no officer aboard, nor petty officer or member of the crew to +take charge. So one of the stokers shouted: 'Someone find the pin which +releases the boat from the ropes and pull it up!' No one knew where it +was. We felt on the floor and sides, but found nothing, and it was hard +to move among so many people--we had sixty or seventy on board. + +"Down we went and presently floated, with our ropes still holding us, +the exhaust washing us away from the side of the vessel and the swell of +the sea urging us back against the side again. The result of all these +forces was an impetus which carried us parallel to the ship's side and +directly under boat 14, which had filled rapidly with men and was coming +down on us in a way that threatened to submerge our boat. + +"'Stop lowering 14,' our crew shouted, and the crew of No. 14, now only +twenty feet above, shouted the same. But the distance to the top was +some seventy feet and the creaking pulleys must have deadened all sound +to those above, for down she came, fifteen feet, ten feet, five feet and +a stoker and I reached up and touched her swinging above our heads. +The next drop would have brought her on our heads, but just before she +dropped another stoker sprang to the ropes, with his knife. + + +JUST ESCAPED ANOTHER BOAT + +"'One,' I heard him say, 'two,' as his knife cut through the pulley +ropes, and the next moment the exhaust stream had carried us clear, +while boat 14 dropped into the water, into the space we had the moment +before occupied, our gunwales almost touching. + +"We drifted away easily, as the oars were got out, and headed directly +away from the ship. The crew seemed to me to be mostly stewards or cooks +in white jackets, two to an oar, with a stoker at the tiller. There was +a certain amount of shouting from one end of the boat to the other, and +discussion as to which way we should go, but finally it was decided to +elect the stoker, who was steering, as captain, and for all to obey his +orders. He set to work at once to get into touch with the other boats, +calling to them and getting as close as seemed wise, so that when the +search boats came in the morning to look for us, there would be more +chance for all to be rescued by keeping together. + +"It was now about 1 A. M.; a beautiful starlight night, with no moon, +and so not very light. The sea was as calm as a pond, just a gentle +heave as the boat dipped up and down in the swell; an ideal night, +except for the bitter cold, for anyone who had to be out in the middle +of the Atlantic ocean in an open boat. And if ever there was a time when +such a night was needed, surely it was now, with hundreds of people, +mostly women and children, afloat hundreds of miles from land. + + +WATCHED THE TITANIC + +"The captain-stoker told us that he had been at sea twenty-six years, +and had never yet seen such a calm night on the Atlantic. As we rowed +away from the Titanic, we looked back from time to time to watch her, +and a more striking spectacle it was not possible for anyone to see. + +"In the distance it looked an enormous length, its great bulk outlined +in black against the starry sky, every port-hole and saloon blazing with +light. It was impossible to think anything could be wrong with such a +leviathan, were it not for that ominous tilt downward in the bows, where +the water was by now up to the lowest row of port-holes. + +"Presently, about 2 A. M., as near as I can remember, we observed it +settling very rapidly, with the bows and the bridge completely under +water, and concluded it was now only a question of minutes before it +went; and so it proved." + +Mr. Beasley went on to tell of the spectacle of the sinking of the +Titanic, the terrible experiences of the survivors in the life-boats and +their final rescue by the Carpathia as already related. + + + +CHAPTER XV. JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK + +SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD SON OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD OFFICIAL TELLS +MOVING STORY OF HIS RESCUE--TOLD MOTHER TO BE BRAVE--SEPARATED FROM +PARENTS--JUMPED WHEN VESSEL SANK--DRIFTED ON OVERTURNED BOAT PICKED UP +BY CARPATHIA + +ONE of the calmest of the passengers was: young Jack Thayer, the +seventeen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Thayer. When his mother +was put into the life-boat he kissed her and told her to be brave, +saying that he and his father would be all right. He and Mr. Thayer +stood on the deck as the small boat in which Mrs. Thayer was a passenger +made off from the side of the Titanic over the smooth sea. + +The boy's own account of his experience as told to one of his rescuers +is one of the most remarkable of all the wonderful ones that have come +from the tremendous catastrophe: + +"Father was in bed, and mother and myself were about to get into bed. +There was no great shock, I was on my feet at the time and I do not +think it was enough to throw anyone down. I put on an overcoat and +rushed up on A deck on the port side. I saw nothing there. I then went +forward to the bow to see if I could see any signs of ice. The only ice +I saw was on the well deck. I could not see very far ahead, having just +come out of a brightly lighted room. + +"I then went down to our room and my father and mother came on deck with +me, to the starboard side of A deck. We could not see anything there. +Father thought he saw small pieces of ice floating around, but I could +not see any myself. There was no big berg. We walked around to the port +side, and the ship had then a fair list to port. We stayed there looking +over the side for about five minutes. The list seemed very slowly to be +increasing. + +"We then went down to our rooms on C deck, all of us dressing quickly, +putting on all our clothes. We all put on life-preservers, and over +these we put our overcoats. Then we hurried up on deck and walked +around, looking out at different places until the women were all ordered +to collect on the port side. + + +SEPARATED FROM PARENTS + +"Father and I said good-bye to mother at the top of the stairs on A +deck. She and the maid went right out on A deck on the port side and +we went to the starboard side. As at this time we had no idea the boat +would sink we walked around A deck and then went to B deck. Then we +thought we would go back to see if mother had gotten off safely, and +went to the port side of A deck. We met the chief steward of the main +dining saloon and he told us that mother had not yet taken a boat, and +he took us to her. + +"Father and mother went ahead and I followed. They went down to B deck +and a crowd got in front of me and I was not able to catch them, and +lost sight of them. As soon as I could get through the crowd I tried to +find them on B deck, but without success. That is the last time I saw my +father. This was about one half an hour before she sank. I then went to +the starboard side, thinking that father and mother must have gotten off +in a boat. All of this time I was with a fellow named Milton C. Long, of +New York, whom I had just met that evening. + +"On the starboard side the boats were getting away quickly. Some boats +were already off in a distance. We thought of getting into one of the +boats, the last boat to go on the forward part of the starboard side, +but there seemed to be such a crowd around I thought it unwise to make +any attempt to get into it. He and I stood by the davits of one of the +boats that had left. I did not notice anybody that I knew except Mr. +Lindley, whom I had also just met that evening. I lost sight of him in a +few minutes. Long and I then stood by the rail just a little aft of the +captain's bridge. + + +THOUGHT SHIP WOULD FLOAT + +"The list to the port had been growing greater all the time. About +this time the people began jumping from the stern. I thought of jumping +myself, but was afraid of being stunned on hitting the water. Three +times I made up my mind to jump out and slide down the davit ropes and +try to make the boats that were lying off from the ship, but each time +Long got hold of me and told me to wait a while. He then sat down and +I stood up waiting to see what would happen. Even then we thought she +might possibly stay afloat. + +"I got a sight on a rope between the davits and a star and noticed that +she was gradually sinking. About this time she straightened up on an +even keel and started to go down fairly fast at an angle of about 30 +degrees. As she started to sink we left the davits and went back and +stood by the rail about even with the second funnel. + +"Long and myself said good-bye to each other and jumped up on the rail. +He put his legs over and held on a minute and asked me if I was coming. +I told him I would be with him in a minute. He did not jump clear, but +slid down the side of the ship. I never saw him again. + +"About five seconds after he jumped I jumped out, feet first. I was +clear of the ship; went down, and as I came up I was pushed away from +the ship by some force. I came up facing the ship, and one of the +funnels seemed to be lifted off and fell towards me about 15 yards away, +with a mass of sparks and steam coming out of it. I saw the ship in a +sort of a red glare, and it seemed to me that she broke in two just in +front of the third funnel. + +"This time I was sucked down, and as I came up I was pushed out again +and twisted around by a large wave, coming up in the midst of a great +deal of small wreckage. As I pushed my hand from my head it touched the +cork fender of an over- + +{illust. caption = READING ROOM OF THE TITANIC} + +{illust. caption = Copyright, 1912. International News Service. THE +SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION--ISMAY ON THE GRILL + +J. Bruce Ismay, Managing Director of the........} + + +turned life-boat. I looked up and saw some men on the top and asked them +to give me a hand. One of them, who was a stoker, helped me up. In a +short time the bottom was covered with about twenty-five or thirty men. +When I got on this I was facing the ship. + + + +{illust. caption = SKETCHES OF THE TITANIC BY "JACK" THAYER + +These sketches were outlined by John B. Thayer, Jr., on the day of the +disaster, and afterwards filled in by L. D. Skidmon, of Brooklyn.} + + + +"The stern then seemed to rise in the air and stopped at about an +angle of 60 degrees. It seemed to hold there for a time and then with a +hissing sound it shot right down out of sight with people jumping from +the stern. The stern either pivoted around towards our boat, or we were +sucked towards it, and as we only had one oar we could not keep away. +There did not seem to be very much suction and most of us managed to +stay on the bottom of our boat. + +"We were then right in the midst of fairly large wreckage, with people +swimming all around us. The sea was very calm and we kept the boat +pretty steady, but every now and then a wave would wash over it. + + +SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER + +"The assistant wireless operator was right next to me, holding on to +me and kneeling in the water. We all sang a hymn and said the Lord's +Prayer, and then waited for dawn to come. As often as we saw the other +boats in a distance we would yell, 'Ship ahoy!' But they could not +distinguish our cries from any of the others, so we all gave it up, +thinking it useless. It was very cold and none of us were able to move +around to keep warm, the water washing over her almost all the time. + +"Toward dawn the wind sprang up, roughening up the water and making it +difficult to keep the boat balanced. The wireless man raised our hopes +a great deal by telling us that the Carpathia would be up in about three +hours. About 3.30 or 4 o'clock some men on our boat on the bow sighted +her mast lights. I could not see them, as I was sitting down with a man +kneeling on my leg. He finally got up and I stood up. We had the second +officer, Mr. Lightoller, on board. We had an officer's whistle and +whistled for the boats in the distance to come up and take us off. + +"It took about an hour and a half for the boats to draw near. Two boats +came up. The first took half and the other took the balance, including +myself. We had great difficulty about this time in balancing the boat, +as the men would lean too far, but we were all taken aboard the already +crowded boat, and in about a half or three-quarters of an hour later we +were picked up by the Carpathia. + +"I have noticed Second Officer Lightoller's statement that 'J. B. Thayer +was on our overturned boat,' which would give the impression that it was +father, when he really meant it was I, as he only learned my name in +a subsequent conversation on the Carpathia, and did not know I was +'junior'." + + + +CHAPTER XVI. INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + +WOMEN FORCED INTO THE LIFE-BOATS--WHY SOME MEN WERE SAVED BEFORE +WOMEN--ASKED TO MAN LIFE-BOATS + +SURROUNDED by his wife and members of his family, James McGough, of +Philadelphia, a buyer for the Gimbel Brothers, whose fate had been in +doubt, recited a most thrilling and graphic picture of the disaster. + +As the Carpathia docked, Mrs. McGough, a brother and several friends of +the buyer, met him, and after the touching reunion had taken place the +party proceeded to Philadelphia. + +Vivid in detail, Mr. McGough's story differs essentially from one the +imagination would paint. He declared that the boat was driving at a high +rate of speed at the time of the accident, and seemed impressed by the +calmness and apathy displayed by the survivors as they tossed on the +frozen seas in the little life-boats until the Carpathia picked them up. + +The Titanic did not plunge into the water suddenly, he declared, but +settled slowly into the deep with its hundreds of passengers. + +"The collision occurred at 20 minutes of 12," said Mr. McGough. "I was +sleeping in my cabin when I felt a wrench, not severe or terrifying. + +"It seemed to me to be nothing more serious than the racing of the +screw, which often occurs when a ship plunges her bow deep into a heavy +swell, raising the stern out of water. We dressed hurriedly and ran to +the upper deck. There was little noise or tumult at the time. + +"The promenade decks being higher from the base of the ship and thus +more insecure, strained and creaked; so we went to the lower decks. +By this time the engines had been reversed, and I could feel the ship +backing off. Officers and stewards ran through the corridors, shouting +for all to be calm, that there was no danger. We were warned, however, +to dress and put life-preservers on us. I had on what clothing I could +find and had stuffed some money in my pocket. + + +PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE + +"As I passed the gymnasium I saw Colonel Astor and his young wife +together. She was clinging to him, piteously pleading that he go into +the life-boat with her. He refused almost gruffly and was attempting to +calm her by saying that all her fears were groundless, that the accident +she feared would prove a farce. It proved different, however. + +"None, I believe, knew that the ship was about to sink. I did not +realize it just then. When I reached the upper deck and saw tons of ice +piled upon our crushed bow the full realization came to me. + +"Officers stood with drawn guns ordering the women into the boats. All +feared to leave the comparative safety of a broad and firm deck for the +precarious smaller boats. Women clung to their husbands, crying that +they would never leave without them, and had to be torn away. + +"On one point all the women were firm. They would not enter a Life-boat +until men were in it first. They feared to trust themselves to the seas +in them. It required courage to step into the frail crafts as they swung +from the creaking davits. Few men were willing to take the chance. An +officer rushed behind me and shouted: + +"'You're big enough to pull an oar. Jump into this boat or we'll never +be able to get the women off.' I was forced to do so, though I admit +that the ship looked a great deal safer to me than any small boat. + +"Our boat was the second off. Forty or more persons were crowded into +it, and with myself and members of the crew at the oars, were pulled +slowly away. Huge icebergs, larger than the Pennsylvania depot at New +York, surrounded us. As we pulled away we could see boat after boat +filled and lowered to the waves. Despite the fact that they were new +and supposedly in excellent working order, the blocks jammed in many +instances, tilting the boats, loaded with people, at varying angles +before they reached the water. + + +BAND CONTINUED PLAYING + +"As the life-boats pulled away the officers ordered the bands to play, +and their music did much to quell panic. It was a heart-breaking sight +to us tossing in an eggshell three-fourths of a mile away, to see the +great ship go down. First she listed to the starboard, on which side the +collision had occurred, then she settled slowly but steadily, without +hope of remaining afloat. + +"The Titanic was all aglow with lights as if for a function. First we +saw the lights of the lower deck snuffed out. A while later and the +second deck illumination was extinguished in a similar manner. Then the +third and upper decks were darkened, and without plunging or rocking the +great ship disappeared slowly from the surface of the sea. + +"People were crowded on each deck as it lowered into the water, hoping +in vain that aid would come in time. Some of the life-boats caught in +the merciless suction were swallowed with her. + +"The sea was calm--calm as the water in a tumbler. But it was freezing +cold. None had dressed heavily, and all, therefore, suffered intensely. +The women did not shriek or grow hysterical while we waited through the +awful night for help. We men stood at the oars, stood because there +was no room for us to sit, and kept the boat headed into the swell to +prevent her capsizing. Another boat was at our side, but all the others +were scattered around the water. + +"Finally, shortly before 6 o'clock, we saw the lights of the Carpathia +approaching. Gradually she picked up the survivors in the other boats +and then approached us. When we were lifted to the deck the women fell +helpless. They were carried to whatever quarters offered themselves, +while the men were assigned to the smoking room. + +"Of the misery and suffering which was witnessed on the rescue ship I +know nothing. With the other men survivors I was glad to remain in the +smoking room until New York was reached, trying to forget the awful +experience. + +"To us aboard the Carpathia came rumors of misstatements which were +being made to the public. The details of the wreck were wofully +misunderstood. + +"Let me emphasize that the night was not foggy or cloudy. There was just +the beginning of the new moon, but every star in the sky was shining +brightly, unmarred by clouds. The boats were lowered from both sides of +the Titanic in time to escape, but there was not enough for all. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK + +STORY OF HAROLD BRIDE, THE SURVIVING WIRELESS OPERATOR OF THE TITANIC, +WHO WAS WASHED OVERBOARD AND RESCUED BY LIFE-BOAT--BAND PLAYED RAG-TIME +AND "AUTUMN" + +ONE of the most connected and detailed accounts of the horrible disaster +was that told by Harold Bride, the wireless operator. Mr. Bride said: + +"I was standing by Phillips, the chief operator, telling him to go to +bed, when the captain put his head in the cabin. + +"'We've struck an iceberg,' the captain said, 'and I'm having an +inspection made to tell what it has done for us. You better get ready to +send out a call for assistance. But don't send it until I tell you.' + +"The captain went away and in ten minutes, I should estimate the time, +he came back. We could hear a terrific confusion outside, but there was +not the least thing to indicate that there was any trouble. The wireless +was working perfectly. + +"'Send the call for assistance,' ordered the captain, barely putting +his head in the door. + +"'What call shall I send?' Phillips asked. + +"'The regulation international call for help. Just that.' + +"Then the captain was gone Phillips began to send 'C. Q. D.' He flashed +away at it and we joked while he did so. All of us made light of the +disaster. + +"The Carpathia answered our signal. We told her our position and said we +were sinking by the head. The operator went to tell the captain, and in +five minutes returned and told us that the captain of the Carpathia, was +putting about and heading for us + + +GREAT SCRAMBLE ON DECK + +"Our captain had left us at this time and Phillips told me to run and +tell him what the Carpathia had answered. I did so, and I went through +an awful mass of people to his cabin. The decks were full of scrambling +men and women. I saw no fighting, but I heard tell of it. + +"I came back and heard Phillips giving the Carpathia fuller directions. +Phillips told me to put on my clothes. Until that moment I forgot that I +was not dressed. + +"I went to my cabin and dressed. I brought an overcoat to Phillips. It +was very cold. I slipped the overcoat upon him while he worked. + +"Every few minutes Phillips would send me to the captain with little +messages. They were merely telling how the Carpathia was coming our way +and gave her speed. + +"I noticed as I came back from one trip that they were putting off +women and children in life-boats. I noticed that the list forward was +increasing. + +"Phillips told me the wireless was growing weaker. The captain came and +told us our engine rooms were taking water and that the dynamos might +not last much longer. We sent that word to the Carpathia. + +"I went out on deck and looked around. The water was pretty close up +to the boat deck. There was a great scramble aft, and how poor Phillips +worked through it right to the end I don't know. + +"He was a brave man. I learned to love him that night and I suddenly +felt for him a great reverence to see him standing there sticking to his +work while everybody else was raging about. I will never live to forget +the work of Phillips for the last awful fifteen minutes. + +"I thought it was about time to look about and see if there was anything +detached that would float. I remembered that every member of the crew +had a special life-belt and ought to know where it was. I remembered +mine was under my bunk. I went and got it. Then I thought how cold the +water was. + +"I remembered I had an extra jacket and a pair of boots, and I put them +on. I saw Phillips standing out there still sending away, giving the +Carpathia details of just how we were doing. + +"We picked up the Olympic and told her we were sinking by the head and +were about all down. As Phillips was sending the message I strapped his +life-belt to his back. I had already put on his overcoat. Every minute +was precious, so I helped him all I could. + +BAND PLAYS IN RAG-TIME + +"From aft came the tunes of the band. It was a rag-time tune, I don't +know what. Then there was 'Autumn.' Phillips ran aft and that was the +last I ever saw of him. + +"I went to the place where I had seen a collapsible boat on the boat +deck, and to my surprise I saw the boat and the men still trying to push +it off. I guess there wasn't a sailor in the crowd. They couldn't do +it. I went up to them and was just lending a hand when a large wave came +awash of the deck. + +"The big wave carried the boat off. I had hold of a row-lock and I went +off with it. The next I knew I was in the boat. + +"But that was not all. I was in the boat and the boat was upside down +and I was under it. And I remember realizing I was wet through, and that +whatever happened I must not breathe, for I was under water. + +"I knew I had to fight for it and I did. How I got out from under the +boat I do not know, but I felt a breath of air at last. + +"There were men all around me hundreds of them. The sea was dotted with +them, all depending on their life-belts. I felt I simply had to get away +from the ship. She was a beautiful sight then. + +"Smoke and sparks were rushing out of her funnel, and there must have +been an explosion, but we had heard none. We only saw the big stream of +sparks. The ship was gradually turning on her nose just like a duck does +that goes down for a dive. I had one thing on my mind--to get away from +the suction. The band was still playing, and I guess they all went down. + +"They were playing 'Autumn' then. I swam with all my might. I suppose I +was 150 feet away when the Titanic, on her nose, with her after-quarter +sticking straight up in the air, began to settle slowly. + +"When at last the waves washed over her rudder there wasn't the least +bit of suction I could feel. She must have kept going just as slowly as +she had been. + +"I forgot to mention that, besides the Olympic and Carpathia, we spoke +some German boat, I don't know which, and told them how we were. We also +spoke the Baltic. I remembered those things as I began to figure what +ships would be coming toward us. + +"I felt, after a little while, like sinking. I was very cold. I saw a +boat of some kind near me and put all my strength into an effort to swim +to it. It was hard work. I was all done when a hand reached out from the +boat and pulled me aboard. It was our same collapsible. + +"There was just room for me to roll on the edge. I lay there, not caring +what happened. Somebody sat on my legs; they were wedged in between +slats and were being wrenched. I had not the heart left to ask the man +to move. It was a terrible sight all around--men swimming and sinking. + +"I lay where I was, letting the man wrench my feet out of shape. Others +came near. Nobody gave them a hand. The bottom-up boat already had more +men than it would hold and it was sinking. + +"At first the larger waves splashed over my head and I had to breathe +when I could. + +"Some splendid people saved us. They had a right-side-up boat, and it +was full to its capacity. Yet they came to us and loaded us all into it. +I saw some lights off in the distance and knew a steamship was coming to +our aid. + +"I didn't care what happened. I just lay, and gasped when I could and +felt the pain in my feet. At last the Carpathia was alongside and the +people were being taken up a rope ladder. Our boat drew near, and one +b{y} one the men were taken off of it. + +"The way the band kept playing was a noble thing. I heard it first while +we were working wireless, when there was a rag-time tune for us, and +the last I saw of the band, when I was floating out in the sea, with my +life-belt on, it was still on deck playing 'Autumn.' How they ever did +it I cannot imagine. + +"That and the way Phillips kept sending after the captain told him his +life was his own, and to look out for himself, are two things that stand +out in my mind over all the rest." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. STORY OF THE STEWARD + +PASSENGERS AND CREW DYING WHEN TAKEN ABOARD CARPATHIA--ONE WOMAN SAVED A +DOG--ENGLISH COLONEL SWAM FOR HOURS WHEN BOAT WITH MOTHER CAPSIZED + +SOME of the most thrilling incidents connected with the rescue of the +Titanic's survivors are told in the following account given by a man +trained to the sea, a steward of the rescue ship Carpathia: + +"At midnight on Sunday, April 14th, I was promenading the deck of the +steamer Carpathia, bound for the Mediterranean and three days out from +New York, when an urgent summons came to my room from the chief steward, +E. Harry Hughes. I then learned that the White Star liner Titanic, +the greatest ship afloat, had struck an iceberg and was in serious +difficulties. + +"We were then already steaming at our greatest power to the scene of the +disaster, Captain Rostron having immediately given orders that every man +of the crew should stand by to exert his utmost efforts. Within a very +few minutes every preparation had been made to receive two or three +thousand persons. Blankets were placed ready, tables laid with hot soups +and coffee, bedding, etc., prepared, and hospital supplies laid out +ready to attend to any injured. + +"The men were then mustered in the saloon and addressed by the chief +steward. He told them of the disaster and appealed to them in a few +words to show the world what stuff Britishers were made of, and to add +a glorious page to the history of the empire; and right well did the +men respond to the appeal. Every life-boat was manned and ready to +be launched at a moment's notice. Nothing further could be done but +anxiously wait and look out for the ship's distress signal. + +"Our Marconi operator, whose unceasing efforts for many hours deserve +the greatest possible praise, was unable at this time to get any reply +to the urgent inquiries he was sending out, and he feared the worst. + +"At last a blue flare was observed, to which we replied with a rocket. +Day was just dawning when we observed a boat in the distance. + + +ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED + +"Eastward on the horizon a huge iceberg, the cause of the disaster, +majestically reared two noble peaks to heaven. Rope ladders were already +lowered and we hove to near the life-boat, which was now approaching us +as rapidly as the nearly exhausted efforts of the men at the oars could +bring her. + +"Under the command of our chief officer, who worked indefatigably at the +noble work of rescue, the survivors in + + +{illust. caption = Above: MAIN STAIRWAY ON TITANIC. TOP E DECK Below: +SECOND LANDING. C DECK. GRAND STAIRWAY} + + +{illust. caption = MRS. JOHN B. THAYER + +Mrs. Thayer and her son were....} + + +{illust. caption = JOHN B. THAYER + +Second Vice-President of the...} + + +the boat were rapidly but carefully hauled aboard and given into the +hands of the medical staff under the organization of Dr. McGee. + +"We then learned the terrible news that the gigantic vessel, the +unsinkable Titanic, had gone down one hour and ten minutes after +striking. + +"From this time onward life-boats continued to arrive at frequent +intervals. Every man of the Carpathia's crew was unsparing in his +efforts to assist, to tenderly comfort each and every survivor. In all, +sixteen boatloads were receives, containing altogether 720 persons, many +in simply their night attire, others in evening dress, as if direct from +an after-dinner reception, or concert. Most conspicuous was the coolness +and self-possession, particularly of the women. + +"Pathetic and heartrending incidents were many. There was not a man of +the rescue party who was not moved almost to tears. Women arrived and +frantically rushed from one gangway to another eagerly scanning the +fresh arrivals in the boats for a lost husband or brother. + + +A CAPSIZED BOAT + +"One boat arrived with the unconscious body of an English colonel. He +had been taking out his mother on a visit, to three others of her sons. +He had succeeded in getting her away in one of the boats and he himself +had found a place in another. When but a few-yards from the ill-fated +ship the boat containing his mother capsized before his eyes. + +"Immediately he dived into the water and commenced a frantic search for +her. But in vain. Boat after boat endeavored to take him aboard, but he +refused to give up, continuing to swim for nearly three hours until +even his great strength of body and mind gave out and he was hauled +unconscious into a passing boat and brought aboard the Carpathia. The +doctor gives little hope of his recovery. + +"There were, I understand, twelve newly married couples aboard the big +ship. The twelve brides have been saved, but of the husbands all but one +have perished. That one would not have been here, had he not been urged +to assist in manning a life-boat. Think of the self-sacrifice of these +eleven heroes, who stood on the doomed vessel and parted from their +brides forever, knowing full well that a few brief minutes would end all +things for themselves. + +"Many similar pathetic incidents could be related. Sad-eyed women roam +aimlessly about the ship still looking vainly for husband, brother +or father. To comfort them is impossible. All human efforts are being +exerted on their behalf. Their material needs are satisfied in every +way. But who can cure a broken heart? + + +SAVED HER POMERANIAN + +"One of the earliest boats to arrive was seen to contain a woman +tenderly clasping a pet Pomeranian. When assisted to the rope ladder and +while the rope was being fastened around her she emphatically refused to +give up for a second the dog which was evidently so much to her. He is +now receiving as careful and tender attention as his mistress. + +"A survivor informs me that there was on the ship a lady who was taking +out a huge great Dane dog. When the boats were rapidly filling she +appeared on deck with her canine companion and sadly entreated that he +should be taken off with her. It was impossible. Human lives, those of +women and children, were the first consideration. She was urged to seize +the opportunity to save her own life and leave the dog. She refused to +desert him and, I understand, sacrificed her life with him. + +"One elderly lady was bewailing to a steward that she had lost +everything. He indignantly replied that she should thank God her life +was spared, never mind her replaceable property. The reply was pathetic: + +"'I have lost everything--my husband,' and she broke into +uncontrollable grief. + + +FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS + +"One incident that impressed me perhaps more than any other was the +burial on Tuesday afternoon of four of the poor fellows who succeeded +in safely getting away from the doomed vessel only to perish later from +exhaustion and exposure as a result of their gallant efforts to bring +to safety the passengers placed in their charge in the life-boats. They +were: + +"W. H. Hoyte, Esq., first class passenger. + +"Abraham Hornner, third class passenger. + +"S. C. Siebert, steward. + +"P. Lyons, sailor. + +"The sailor and steward were unfortunately dead when taken aboard. The +passengers lived but a few minutes after. They were treated with the +greatest attention. The funeral service was conducted amid profound +silence and attended by a large number of survivors and rescuers. The +bodies, covered by the national flag, were reverently consigned to the +mighty deep from which they had been, alas, vainly, saved. + +"Most gratifying to the officers and men of the Carpathia is the +constantly expressive appreciation of the survivors." + +He then told of the meeting of the survivors in the cabin of the +Carpathia and of the resolution adopted, a statement of which has +already been given in another chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + +NATIONS PROSTRATE WITH GRIEF--MESSAGES FROM KINGS AND +CARDINALS--DISASTER STIRS WORLD TO NECESSITY OF STRICTER REGULATIONS + +YOUNG and old, rich and poor were prostrated by the news of the +disaster. Even Wall Street was neglected. Nor was the grief confined +to America. European nations felt the horror of the calamity and sent +expressions of sympathy. President Taft made public cablegrams received +from the King and Queen of England, and the King of Belgium, conveying +their sympathy to the American people in the sorrows which have followed +the Titanic disaster. The President's responses to both messages were +also made public. + +The following was the cablegram from King George, dated at Sandringham: + + +"The Queen and I are anxious to assure you and the American nation of +the great sorrow which we experienced at the terrible loss of life +that has occurred among the American citizens, as well as among my own +subjects, by the foundering of the Titanic. Our two countries are +so intimately allied by ties of friendship and brotherhood that any +misfortunes which affect the one must necessarily affect the other, and +on the present terrible occasion they are both equally sufferers. + +"GEORGE R. AND I." + + + +President Taft's reply was as follows: + +"In the presence of the appalling disaster to the Titanic the people +of the two countries are brought into community of grief through their +common bereavement. The American people share in the sorrow of their +kinsmen beyond the sea. On behalf of my countrymen I thank you for your +sympathetic message. + + "WILLIAM H. TAFT." + + +The message from King Albert of Belgium was as follows: + + +"I beg Your Excellency to accept my deepest condolences on the occasion +of the frightful catastrophe to the Titanic, which has caused such +mourning in the American nation." + + +The President's acknowledgment follows: + + +"I deeply appreciate your sympathy with my fellow-countrymen who have +been stricken with affliction through the disaster to the Titanic." + + +MESSAGE PROM SPAIN + +King Alfonso and Queen Victoria sent the following cablegram to +President Taft: + +"We have learned with profound grief of the catastrophe to the Titanic, +which has plunged the American nation in mourning. We send you our +sincerest condolence, and wish to assure you and your nation of the +sentiments of friendship and sympathy we feel toward you." + + +A similar telegram was sent to the King of England. + +The many expressions of grief to reach President Taft included one +signed jointly by the three American Cardinals, who were in New York +attending the meeting of the trustees of the Catholic University. It +said: + +"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + +"The archbishops of the country, in joint session with the trustees of +the Catholic University of America, beg to offer to the President of the +United States their expression of their profound grief at the awful loss +of human lives attendant upon the sinking of the steamship Titanic, and +at the same time to assure the relatives of the victims of this horrible +disaster of our deepest sympathy and condolence. + +"They wish also to attest hereby to the hope that the law-makers of the +country will see in this sad accident the obvious necessity of legal +provisions for greater security of ocean travel. + + "JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS," Archbishop of Baltimore. + "JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY," Archbishop of New York. + "WILLIAM CARDINAL O'CONNELL," Archbishop of Boston. + + +HOUSE ADJOURNED + +Formal tribute to the Titanic's dead was paid by the House of +Representatives when it adjourned for twenty-four hours. + +The prayer of the Rev. Henry N. Couden in opening the House session was, +in part: + + +"We thank Thee that though in the ordinary circumstances of life +selfishness and greed seem to be in the ascendancy, yet in times of +distress and peril, then it is that the nobility of soul, the Godlike in +man, asserts itself and makes heroes." + + +The flags on the White House and other Government buildings throughout +the country were at half-staff. + + +ROME MOURNED MAJOR BUTT + +A special telegram from Rome stated that one of the victims most +regretted was Major Butt, whose jovial, bright character made many +friends there. Besides autograph letters from the Pope and Cardinal +Merry del VaI{sic?} to President Taft, the major had with him a signed +photograph of the Pontiff, given by him personally. + +Cardinal Merry del Val had several conversations with Major Butt, who +declared that the cardinal was "the first gentleman of Europe." Shortly +before he was leaving Rome, regretting that he had not a signed picture +of Cardinal Merry del Val, Major Butt entrusted a friend to ask for +one. The cardinal willingly put an autograph dedication on a picture, +recalling their pleasant intercourse. + + +LONDON NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN LAXITY OF LAW + +British indignation, which is not easily excited, was aroused over the +knowledge that an antiquated law enables steamship companies to fail to +provide sufficient life-boats to accommodate the passengers and crew +of the largest liners in the event of such a disaster as that +which occurred to the Titanic. It will be insisted that there be an +investigation of the loss of life in the Titanic and that the shortage +of boats be gone into thoroughly. + +The newspapers commented adversely on the lack of boats and their views +were emphasized by the knowledge that no attempt has been made to change +the regulations in the face of the fact that the inadequacy of boats in +such an emergency was called to the attention of Parliament at the time +of the collision between the White Star liner Olympic and the cruiser +Hawke. It was pointed out at this time that German vessels, much smaller +in size than the Olympic, carried more boats and also that these boats +were of greater capacity. + +T. W. Moore, Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, when seen at the +guild's rooms in Liverpool, said: + +"The Titanic disaster is an example, on a colossal scale, of the +pernicious and supine system of officials, as represented by the Board +of Trade. Modern liners are so designed that they have no accommodations +for more life-boats. Among practical seamen it has long been recognized +that the modern passenger ship has nothing like adequate boat capacity. + +"The Board of Trade has its own views, and the shipowners also have +their views, which are largely based upon the economical factor. The +naval architects have their opinions, but the practical merchant seaman +is not consulted. + +"The Titanic disaster is a complete substantiation of the agitation that +our guild has carried on for nearly twenty years against the scheme that +has precluded practical seamen from being consulted with regard to boat +capacity and life-saving appliances. + + +HOUSE OF COMMONS INVESTIGATION + +Immediate and searching inquiry into the Titanic disaster was promised +on the floor of the House of Commons April 18th, by President Sidney +Buxton, of the Board of Trade, which controls all sea-going vessels. + +Buxton, in discussing the utterly inadequate life-saving equipment of +the big liner, declared that the committee of the board in charge of +life-saving precautions had recently recommended increased life-boats, +rafts and life-preservers on all big ships, but that the requirements +had been found unsatisfactory and had not been put in force. He frankly +admitted the necessity for increased equipment without delay. + +The board, he said, was utterly unable to compel the transatlantic +vessels to reduce their speed in the contest for "express train" ships. +He also said the board could not force ships to take the southerly +passage in the spring to avoid ice. + +The regulations under which the Titanic carried life-boat accommodations +for only about one-third of her passengers and crew had not been revised +by the committee since 1894. At that time the regulations were made for +ships of "10,000 tons or more." The Titanic's tonnage was 45,000, for +which the present requirements are altogether insufficient. + +WORK OF RAISING RELIEF FUNDS PROMPT + +Several foreign governments telegraphed to the British Government +messages of condolence for the sufferers. The King sent a donation of +$2625 to the Mansion House fund. Queen Mary donated $1310 and Queen +Alexandra $1000 to the same fund. + +Oscar Hammerstein proffered, and the lord mayor accepted, the use of his +opera house for an entertainment in aid of the fund. + +The Shipping Federation donated $10,500 to the Mayor of Southampton's +fund, taking care to explain that the White Star Line was not affiliated +with the Federation. + +Some public institutions also offered to take care of the orphaned +children of the crew. + +Large firms contributed liberally to the various relief funds, while +Covent Garden and other leading theaters prepared special performances +to aid in the relief work. + + +INDIGNANT GERMANY DEMANDS REFORMS + +All Germany as well as England was stunned and grieved by the magnitude +of the horror of the Titanic catastrophe. Anglo-German recriminations +for the moment ceased, as far as the Fatherland was concerned, and +profound and sincere compassion for the nation on whom the blow had +fallen more heavily was the supreme note of the hour. + +The Kaiser, with his characteristic promptitude, was one of the first +to communicate his sympathy by telegraph to King George and to the White +Star Line. Admiral Prince Henry of Prussia did likewise, and the first +act of the Reichstag, after reassembling on Tuesday, was to pass a +standing vote of condolence with the British people in their distress. + + +GERMAN LAWS ALSO INADEQUATE + +The German laws, governing the safety appliances on board trans-oceanic +vessels, seem to be as archaic and inadequate as those of the British +Board of Trade. The maximum provision contained in the German statutes +refers to vessels with the capacity of 50,000 cubic metres, which must +carry sixteen life-boats. The law also says that if this number of +life-boats be insufficient to accommodate all the persons on board, +including the crew, there shall be carried elsewhere in the vessel a +correspondingly additional number of collapsible life-boats, suitable +rafts, floating deck-chairs and life-buoys, as well as a generous supply +of life-belts. + +A vessel of 10,000 tons was a "leviathan" in the days when the German +law was passed, and it appears to have undergone no change to meet the +conditions, imposed by the construction of vessels twice or three times +10,000 tons, like the Hamburg-American Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, or the +North German Lloyd George Washington, to say nothing of the 50,000-ton +Imperator, which is to be added to the Hamburg fleet next year. + +The German lines seem, like the White Star Company, to have reckoned +simply with the practical impossibility of a ship like the Titanic +succumbing to the elements + +PERSONAL ANXIETY + +Although Germany's and Berlin's direct interest in the passengers aboard +the Titanic was less than that of London, New York or Paris, there was +the utmost concern for their fate. + +Ambassador Leishman and other members of the American Embassy were +particularly interested in hearing about Major "Archie" Butt, who passed +through Berlin, less than a month before the disaster, en route from +Russia and the Far East. Vice-president John B. Thayer and family, of +Philadelphia, were also in Berlin a fortnight ago and were guests of the +American Consul General and Mrs. Thackara. A score of other lesser +known passengers had recently stayed in Berlin hotels, and it was local +friends or kinsmen of theirs who were in a state of distressing unrest +over their fate. + +Their anxiety was aggravated by the old-fogey methods of the German +newspapers, which are invariably twelve or fifteen hours later than +journals elsewhere in Europe on world news events. Although New York, +London and Paris had the cruel truth with their morning papers on +Tuesday, it was not until the middle of the forenoon that "extras" made +the facts public in Berlin. + +William T. Stead was well and favorably known in Germany, and his fate +was keenly and particularly mourned. Germans have also noted that many +Americans of direct Teutonic ancestry or origin were among the shining +marks in the death list. Colonel John Jacob Astor is claimed as of +German, extraction, as well as Isidor Straus, Benjamin Guggenheim, +Washington Roebling and Henry B. Harris. All of them had been in Germany +frequently and had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. + +Only one well-known resident of Berlin was aboard the Titanic, Frau +Antoinette Flegenheim, whose name appears among the rescued. + + + +CHAPTER XX. BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + +ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH--BRAVE TO THE +LAST--MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE--ACTS OF HEROISM--ENGINEERS +DIED AT POSTS--NOBLE-HEARTED BAND + +IN the anxious hours of uncertainty, when the air cracked and flashed +with the story of disaster, there was never doubt in the minds of men +ashore about the master of the Titanic. Captain Smith would bring his +ship into port if human power could mend the damage the sea had wrought, +or if human power could not stay the disaster he would never come to +port. There is something Calvinistic about such men of the old-sea +breed. They go down with their ships, of their own choice. + +Into the last life-boat that was launched from the ship Captain Smith +with his own hand lifted a small child into a seat beside its mother. +As the gallant, officer performed his simple act of humanity several who +were already in the boat tried to force the captain to join them, but he +turned away resolutely toward the bridge. + +That act was significant. Courteous, kindly, of quiet demeanor and soft +words, he was known and loved by thousands of travelers. + +When the English firm, A. Gibson & Co.9 of Liverpool, purchased the +American clipper, Senator Weber, in 1869, Captain Smith, then a boy, +sailed on her. For seven years he was an apprentice on the Senator +Weber, leaving that vessel to go to the Lizzie Fennell, a square rigger, +as fourth officer. From there he went to the old Celtic of the White +Star Line as fourth officer and in 1887 he became captain of that +vessel. For a time he was in command of the freighters Cufic and Runic; +then he became skipper of the old Adriatic. Subsequently he assumed +command of the Celtic, Britannic, Coptic (which was in the Australian +trade), Germanic, Baltic, Majestic, Olympic and Titanic, an illustrious +list of vessels for one man to have commanded during his career. + +It was not easy to get Captain Smith to talk of his experiences. He had +grown up in the service, was his comment, and it meant little to him +that he had been transferred from a small vessel to a big ship and then +to a bigger ship and finally to the biggest of them all. + +"One might think that a captain taken from a small ship and put on a big +one might feel the transition," he once said. "Not at all. The skippers +of the big vessels have grown up to them, year after year, through all +these years. First there was the sailing vessel and then what we would +now call small ships--they were big in the days gone by--and finally the +giants to-day." + + +{illust. caption = VESSEL WITH BOTTOM OF HULL RIPPED OPEN + + +A view of the torpedo destroyer Tiger, taken in drydock after her +collision with the Portland Breakwater last September; the damage to +the Tiger, which is plainly shown in the photograph, is of the same +character, though on a smaller scale, as that which was done to the +Titanic.} + + +{illust. caption = A VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC + +The sister-ship of the Titanic, showing the damage done to her hull in +the collision with British war vessel, Hawke, in the British Channel.} + + +DISASTER TO OLYMPIC + +Only once during all his long years of service was he in trouble, when +the Olympic, of which he was in command, was rammed by the British +cruiser Hawke in the Solent on September 20, 1911. The Hawke came +steaming out of Portsmouth and drew alongside the giantess. According to +some of the passengers on the Olympic the Hawke swerved in the direction +of the big liner and a moment later the bow of the Hawke was crunching +steel plates in the starboard quarter of the Olympic, making a +thirty-foot hole in her. She was several months in dry dock. + +The result of a naval court inquiry was to put all the blame for the +collision on the Olympic. Captain Smith, in his testimony before the +naval court, said that he was on the bridge when he saw the Hawke +overhauling him. The Olympic began to draw ahead later or the Hawke drop +astern, the captain did not know which. Then the cruiser turned very +swiftly and struck the Olympic at right angles on the quarter. The pilot +gave the signal for the Olympic to port, which was to minimize the force +of the collision. The Olympic's engines had been stopped by order of the +pilot. + +Up to the moment the Hawke swerved, Captain Smith said, he had no +anxiety. The pilot, Bowyer, corroborated the testimony of Captain +Smith. That the line did not believe Captain Smith was at fault, +notwithstanding the verdict of the board of naval inquiry, was shown by +his retention as the admiral of the White Star fleet and by his being +given the command of the Titanic. + +Up to the time of the collision with the Hawke Captain Smith when asked +by interviewers to describe his experiences at sea would say one word, +"uneventful." Then he would add with a smile and a twinkle of his eyes: + +"Of course there have been winter gales and storms and fog and the like +in the forty years I have been on the seas, but I have never been in an +accident worth speaking of. In all my years at sea (he made this comment +a few years ago) I have seen but one vessel in distress. That was a brig +the crew of which was taken off in a boat by my third officer. I +never saw a wreck. I never have been wrecked. I have never been in a +predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort." + + +THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE OF THE SEA + +Once the interviewer stopped asking personal questions, Captain Smith +would talk of the sea, of his love for it, how its appeal to him as a +boy had never died. + +"The love of the ocean that took me to sea as a boy has never died." he +once said. "When I see a vessel plunging up and down in the trough of +the sea, fighting her way through and over great waves, and keeping her +keel and going on and on--the wonder of the thing fills me, how she +can keep afloat and get safely to port. I have never outgrown the wild +grandeur of the sea." + +When he was in command of the Adriatic, which was built before the +Olympic, Captain Smith said he did not believe a disaster with loss of +life could happen to the Adriatic. + +"I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to the Adriatic," he +said. "Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that. There will be bigger +boats. The depth of harbors seems to be the great drawback at present. I +cannot say, of course, just what the limit will be, but the larger +boat will surely come. But speed will not develop with size, so far as +merchantmen are concerned. + +"The traveling public prefers the large comfortable boat of average +speed, and anyway that is the boat that pays. High speed eats up money +mile by mile, and extreme high speed is suicidal. There will be high +speed boats for use as transports and a wise government will assist +steamship companies in paying for them, as the English Government is +now doing in the cases of the Lusitania and Mauretania, twenty-five knot +boats; but no steamship company will put them out merely as a commercial +venture." + +Captain Smith believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. + + +BRAVE TO THE LAST + +And though the ship turned out to be sinkable, the captain, by many acts +of bravery in the face of death, proved that his courage was equal to +any test. + +Captain Inman Sealby, commander of the steamer Republic, which was the +first vessel to use the wireless telegraph to save her passengers in a +collision, spoke highly of the commander of the wrecked Titanic, calling +him one of the ablest seamen in the world. + +"I am sure that Captain Smith did everything in his power to save +his passengers. The disaster is one about which he could have had no +warning. Things may happen at sea that give no warning to ships' crews +and commanders until the harm comes. I believe from what I read that +the Titanic hit an iceberg and glanced off, but that the berg struck her +from the bottom and tore a great hole." + +Many survivors have mentioned the captain's name and narrated some +incident to bring out his courage and helpfulness in the emergency; but +it was left to a fireman on board the Titanic to tell the story of his +death and to record his last message. This man had gone down with the +White Star giantess and was clinging to a piece of wreckage for about +half an hour before he finally joined several members of the Titanic's +company on the bottom of a boat which was floating about among other +wreckage near the Titanic. + +Harry Senior, the fireman, with his eight or nine companions in +distress, had just managed to get a firm hold in the upturned boat when +they saw the Titanic rearing preparatory to her final plunge. At that +moment, according to the fireman's story, Captain Smith jumped into the +sea from the promenade deck of the Titanic with a little girl clutched +in his arms. It took only a few strokes to bring him to the upturned +boat, where a dozen hands were stretched out to take the little child +from his arms and drag him to a point of safety. + +"Captain Smith was dragged onto the upturned boat," said the fireman. +"He had a life-buoy and a life-preserver. He clung there for a moment +and then he slid off again. For a second time he was dragged from the +icy water. Then he took off his life-preserver, tossed the life-buoy +on the inky waters, and slipped into the water again with the words: "I +will follow the ship." + + +OTHER FAITHFUL MEN + +Nor was the captain the only faithful man on the ship. Of the many +stories told by survivors all seem to agree that both officers and crew +behaved with the utmost gallantry and that they stuck by the ship nobly +to the last. + +"Immediately after the Titanic struck the iceberg," said one of +the survivors, "the officers were all over the ship reassuring the +passengers and calming the more excitable. They said there was no cause +for alarm. When everything was quieted they told us we might go back to +bed, as the ship was safe. There was no confusion and many returned to +their beds. + +"We did not know that the ship was in danger until a comparatively short +time before she sank. Then we were called on deck and the life-boats +were filled and lowered. + +"The behavior of the ship's officers at this time was wonderful. There +was no panic, no scramble for places in the boats." + +Later there was confusion, and according to most of the passengers' +narratives, there were more than fifty shots fired upon the deck by +officers or others in the effort to maintain the discipline. + + +FIFTH OFFICER LOWE + +A young English woman who requested that her name be omitted told a +thrilling story of her experience in one of the collapsible boats which +had been manned by eight of the crew from the Titanic. The boat was in +command of the fifth officer, H. Lowe, whose actions she described as +saving the lives of many people. Before the life-boat was launched he +passed along the port deck of the steamer, commanding the people not +to jump in the boats, and otherwise restraining them from swamping +the craft. When the collapsible was launched Officer Lowe succeeded +in putting up a mast and a small sail. He collected the other boats +together, in some cases the boats were short of adequate crews, and he +directed an exchange by which each was adequately manned. He threw lines +connecting the boats together, two by two, and thus all moved together. +Later on he went back to the wreck with the crew of one of the boats and +succeeded in picking up some of those who had jumped overboard and were +swimming about. On his way back to the Carpathia he passed one of +the collapsible boats which was on the point of sinking with thirty +passengers aboard, most of them in scant night-clothing. They were +rescued just in the nick of time. + + +ENGINEERS DIED AT POSTS + +There were brave men below deck, too. "A lot has been printed in the +papers about the heroism of the officers," said one survivor, "but +little has been said of the bravery of the men below decks. I was told +that seventeen enginemen who were drowned side by side got down on their +knees on the platform of the engine room and prayed until the water +surged up to their necks. Then they stood up, clasped hands so as to +form a circle and died together. All of these men helped rake the fires +out from ten of the forward boilers after the crash. This delayed the +explosion and undoubtedly permitted the ship to remain afloat nearly an +hour longer, and thus saved hundreds of lives." + +In the list of heroes who went down on the Titanic the names of her +engineers will have a high place, for not a single engineer was saved. +Many of them, no doubt, could not get to the deck, but they had equally +as good a chance as the firemen, sixty-nine of whom were saved. + +The supposition of those who manned the Titanic was that the engineers, +working below, were the first to know the desperate character of the +Titanic's injury. The watch called the others, and from that time until +the vessel was ready for her last plunge they were too hard at work to +note more than that there was a constant rise of water in the hull, and +that the pumps were useless. + +It was engineers who kept the lights going, saw to the proper closing of +bulkhead doors and kept the stoke hole at work until the uselessness of +the task was apparent. Most of them probably died at their post of duty. + +The Titanic carried a force of about sixty engineers, and in addition +she had at least twenty-five "guarantee" engineers, representatives of +Harland and Wolff, the builders, and those who had the contract for the +engineering work. This supplementary force was under Archie Frost, the +builders' chief engineer, and the regular force was under Chief Engineer +William Bell, of the White Star Line. + +On the line's ships there is the chief engineer, senior and junior +second, senior and junior third, and senior and junior fourth engineers. +The men are assigned each to his own task. There are hydraulic, +electric, pump and steam packing men, and the "guarantee" engineers, +representing the builders and the contractors. + +The duty of the "guarantee" engineers is to watch the working of the +great engines, and to see that they are tuned up and in working order. +They also watch the working of each part of the machinery which had +nothing to do with the actual speed of the ship, principally the +electric light dynamos and the refrigerating plant. + + +NOBLE-HEARTED BAND + + +"But what of the bandsmen? Who were they?" + +This question was asked again and again by all who read the story of +the Titanic's sinking and of how the brave musicians played to the last, +keeping up the courage of those who were obliged to go down with the +ship. + +Many efforts were made to find out who the men were, but little was +made public until the members of the orchestra of the steamship Celtic +reached shore for the first time after the disaster. One of their +first queries was about the musicians of the Titanic. Their anxiety was +greater than that of any New Yorker, for the members of the band of the +Celtic knew intimately the musicians of the ill-fated liner. + +"Not one of them saved!" cried John S. Carr, 'cellist on the Celtic. "It +doesn't seem possible they have all gone. + +"We knew most of them well. They were Englishmen, you know--every one of +them, I think. Nearly all the steamship companies hire their musicians +abroad, and the men interchange between the ships frequently, so we get +a chance to know one another pretty well. The musicians for the Titanic +were levied from a number of other White Star ships, but most of the men +who went down with the Titanic had bunked with us at some time." + +"The thing I can't realize is that happy 'Jock' Hume is dead," exclaimed +Louis Cross, a player of the bass viol. "He was the merriest, happiest +young Scotchman you ever saw. His family have been making musical +instruments in Scotland for generations. I heard him say once that they +were minstrels in the old days. It is certainly hard to believe that he +is not alive and having his fun somewhere in the world." + +At least he helped to make the deaths of many less cruel. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD + +SENDING OUT THE MACKAY-BENNETT AND MINIA--BREMEN PASSENGERS SEE +BODIES--IDENTIFYING BODIES--CONFUSION IN NAMES--RECOVERIES + +A FEW days after the disaster the cable steamer Mackay-Bennett was sent +out by the White Star Line to cruise in the vicinity of the disaster and +search for missing bodies. + +Two wireless messages addressed to J. Bruce Ismay, president of the +International Mercantile Marine Company, were received on April 21st at +the offices of the White Star Line from the cable ship Mackay-Bennett, +via Cape Race, one of which reported that the steamship Rhein had +sighted bodies near the scene of the Titanic wreck. The first message, +which was dated April 20th, read: + +"Steamer Rhein reports passing wreckage and bodies 42.1 north, 49.13 +west, eight miles west of three big icebergs. Now making for that +position. Expect to arrive 8 o'clock to-night. + + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." + + +The second message read: + +"Received further information from Bremen (presumably steamship Bremen) +and arrived on ground at 8 o'clock P. M. Start on operation to-morrow. +Have been considerably delayed on passage by dense fog. + + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." + + +After receiving these messages Mr. Ismay issued the following statement: + +"The cable ship Mackay-Bennett has been chartered by the White Star Line +and ordered to proceed to the scene of the disaster and do all she could +to recover the bodies and glean all information possible. + +"Every effort will be made to identify bodies recovered, and any news +will be sent through immediately by wireless. In addition to any +such message as these, the Mackay-Bennett will make a report of its +activities each morning by wireless, and such reports will be made +public at the offices of the White Star Line. + +"The cable ship has orders to remain on the scene of the wreck for at +least a week, but should a large number of bodies be recovered before +that time she will return to Halifax with them. The search for bodies +will not be abandoned until not a vestige of hope remains for any more +recoveries. + +"The Mackay-Bennett will not make any soundings, as they would not serve +any useful purpose, because the depth where the Titanic sank is more +than 2000 fathoms." + +On April 22d the first list of twenty-seven names of bodies recovered +was made public. It contained that of Frederick Sutton, a well-known +member of the Union League of Philadelphia. It did not contain the name +of any other prominent man who perished, although it was thought that +the name "George W. Widen" might refer to George D. Widener, son of +P. A. B. Widener, of Philadelphia. The original passenger lists of +the Titanic did not mention "Widen," which apparently established the +identity of the body as that of Mr. Widener, who, together with his son, +Harry, was lost. + +The wireless message, after listing the names, concluded, "All +preserved," presumably referring to the condition of the bodies. + +A number of the names in the list did not check up with the Titanic's +passenger list, which led to the belief that a number of the bodies +recovered were members of the Titanic's crew. + + +MINIA SENT TO ASSIST + +At noon, April 23d, there was posted on the bulletin in the White Star +office this message from the Mackay-Bennett dated Sunday, April 21st: + +"Latitude, 41.58; longitude, 49.21. Heavy southwest swell has interfered +with operations. Seventy-seven bodies recovered. All not embalmed will +be buried at sea at 8 o'clock to-night with divine service. Can bring +only embalmed bodies to port." + +To Captain Lardner, master of the Mackay-Bennett, P. A. S. Franklin, +vice-president of the White Star Line, sent an urgent message asking +that the company be advised at once of all particulars concerning the +bodies identified, and also given any information that might lead to +the identification of others. He said it was very important that every +effort be made to bring all of the bodies possible to port. + +Mr. Franklin then directed A. G. Jones, the Halifax agent of the White +Star Line, to charter the Minia and send her to the assistance of the +Mackay-Bennett. Mr. Jones answered this telegram, and said that the +Minia was ready to proceed to sea, but that a southeast gale, which +generally brings fog, might delay her departure. She left for Halifax. + + +NAMES BADLY GARBLED + +On April 24th no wireless message was received from the Mackay-Bennett, +but the White Star Line officials and telegraphers familiar with the +wireless alphabet were busy trying to reconcile some of the names +received with those of persons who went down on the Titanic. That the +body of William T. Stead, the English journalist and author, had +been recovered by the Mackay-Bennett, but through a freakish error in +wireless transmission the name of another was reported instead, was one +of the theories advanced by persons familiar with the Morse code. + + +BREMEN SIGHTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED BODIES + +When the German liner Bremen reached New York the account of its having +sighted bodies of the Titanic victims was obtained. + +From the bridge, officers of the ship saw more than a hun-dred bodies +floating on the sea, a boat upside down, together with a number of small +pieces of wood, steamer chairs and other wreckage. As the cable ship +Mackay-Bennett was in sight, and having word that her mission was to +look for bodies, no attempt was made by the Bremen's crew to pick up the +corpses. + +In the vicinity was seen an iceberg which answered the description of +the one the Titanic struck. Smaller bergs were sighted the same day, but +at some distance from where the Titanic sank. + +The officers of the Bremen did not care to talk about the tragic +spectacle, but among the passengers several were found who gave accounts +of the dismal panorama through which their ship steamed. + +Mrs. Johanna Stunke, a first-cabin passenger, described the scene from +the liner's rail. + +"It was between 4 and 5 o'clock, Saturday, April 20th," she said, "when +our ship sighted an iceberg off the bow to the starboard. As we drew +nearer, and could make out small dots floating around in the sea, a +feeling of awe and sadness crept over everyone on the ship. + +"We passed within a hundred feet of the southernmost drift of the +wreckage, and looking down over the rail we distinctly saw a number +of bodies so clearly that we could make out what they were wearing and +whether they were men or women. + +"We saw one woman in her night dress, with a baby clasped closely to +her breast. Several women passengers screamed and left the rail in a +fainting condition. There was another woman, fully dressed, with her +arms tight around the body of a shaggy dog. + +"The bodies of three men in a group, all clinging to one steamship +chair, floated near by, and just beyond them were a dozen bodies of men, +all of them encased in life-preservers, clinging together as though in +a last desperate struggle for life. We couldn't see, but imagined that +under them was some bit of wreckage to which they all clung when the +ship went down, and which didn't have buoyancy enough to support them. + +"Those were the only bodies we passed near enough to distinguish, but +we could see the white life-preservers of many more dotting the sea, all +the way to the iceberg. The officers told us that was probably the +berg hit by the Titanic, and that the bodies and ice had drifted along +together." + +Mrs. Stunke said a number of the passengers demanded that the Bremen +stop and pick up the bodies, but the officers assured them that they had +just received a wireless message saying the cable ship Mackay-Bennett +was only two hours away fron{sic} the spot, and was coming for that +express purpose. + +Other passengers corroborated Mrs. Stunke. + + +THE IDENTIFED{sic} DEAD. + +On April 25th the White Star Line officials issued a corrected list of +the identified dead. While the corrected list cleared up two or more of +the wireless confusions that caused so much speculation in the original +list, there still remained a few names that so far as the record of the +Titanic showed were not on board that ship when she foundered. + +The new list, however, established the fact that the body of George D. +Widener, of Philadelphia, was among those on the Mackay-Bennett, and two +of the bodies were identified as those of men named Butt. + + +THE MACKAY-BENNETT RETURNS TO PORT + +After completing her search the Mackay-Bennett steamed for Halifax, +reaching that port on Tuesday, April 30th. With her flag at half mast, +the death ship docked slowly. Her crew manned the rails with bared +heads, and on the aft deck were stacked the caskets with the dead. The +vessel carried on board 190 bodies, and announcement was made that 113 +other bodies had been buried at sea. + +Everybody picked up had been in a life-belt and there were no bullet +holes in any. Among those brought to port were the bodies of two women. + + +THE MINIA GIVES UP THE SEARCH + +When at last the Minia turned her bow toward shore only thirteen +additional bodies had been recovered, making a total of 316 bodies found +by the two ships. + +Further search seemed futile. Not only had the two vessels gone +thoroughly over as wide a field as might likely prove fruitful, but, +in addition, the time elapsed made it improbable that other bodies, if +found, could be brought to shore. Thus did the waves completely enforce +the payment of their terrible toll. + + +{illust. caption = ISADOR STRAUS + +The New York millionaire merchant and philanthropist who lost his life +when the giant Titanic foundered at sea after hitting an iceberg.} + + +{illust. caption = ICEBERG PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR SCENE OF DISASTER + +This photograph shows what is quite...} + + +LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD + +Following is a list of those whose identity was wholly or partially +established: + + ASTOR, JOHN JACOB. + ADONIS, J. + ALE, WILLIAM. + ARTAGAVEYTIA, RAMON. + ASHE, H. W. + ADAHL, MAURITZ. + ANDERSON, THOMAS. + ADAMS, J. + ASPALANDE, CARL. + ALLEN, H. + ANDERSON, W. Y. + ALLISON, H. J. + + BUTT, W. (seaman). + BUTT, W. (may be Major Butt). + BUTTERWORTH, ABELJ. + BAILEY, G. F. + BARKER, E. T. + BUTLER, REGINALD. + BIRNBAUM, JACOB. + BRISTOW, R. C. + BUCKLEY, KATHERINE. + + CHAPMAN, JOHN H. + CHAPMAN, CHARLES. + CONNORS, P. + CLONG, MILTON. + COX, DENTON. + CAVENDISH, TYRRELL w. + CARBINES, W. + + DUTTON, F. + DASHWOOD, WILLIAM. + DULLES, W. C. + DOUGLAS, W. D. + DRAZENOUI, YOSIP (referring probably to + Joseph Draznovic). + DONATI, ITALO (waiter). + + ENGINEER, A. E. F. + ELLIOTT, EDWARD. + + FARRELL, JAMES. + FAUNTHORPE, H. + + GILL, J. H. + GREENBERG, H. + GILINSKI, LESLIE. + GRAHAM, GEORGE. + GILES, RALPH. + GIVARD, HANS C. + + HANSEN, HENRY D. + HAYTOR, A. + HAYS, CHALES M. + HODGES, H. P. + HELL, J. C. + HEWITT, T. + HARRISON, H. H. + HALE, REG. + HENDEKERIC, TOZNAI. + HINTON, W. + HARBECK, W. H. + HOLVERDON, A. O. (probably A. M. + Halverson of Troy). + HOFFMAN, LOUIS M. + HINCKLEY, G. + Hospital Attendant, no name given. + + JOHANSEN, MALCOLM. + JOHANSEN, ERIC. + JOHANSSON, GUSTAF J. + JOHANSEN, A. F. + JONES, C. C. + + KELLY, JAMES. + + LAURENCE, A. + LOUCH, CHARLES. + LONG, MILTON C. + LILLY, A. + LINHART, WENZELL. + MARRIORTT, W. H. (no such name appears + on the list of passengers or crew). + MANGIN, MARY. + McNAMEE, MRS. N. (probably Miss + Elleen McNamee.) + MACK, MRS. + MONROE, JEAN. + McCAFFRY, THOMAS. + MORGAN, THOMAS. + MOEN, SEGURD H. + + NEWELL, T. H. + NASSER, NICOLAS. + NORMAN, ROBERT D. + + PETTY, EDWIN H. + PARTNER, AUSTIN. + PENNY, OLSEN F. + POGGI, ----. + + RAGOZZI, A. BOOTHBY. + RICE, J. R. + ROBINS, A. + ROBINSON, J. M. + ROSENSHINE, GEORGE. + + STONE, J. + STEWARD, 76. + STOKES, PHILIP J. + STANTON, W. + + STRAUS, ISIDOR. + SAGE, WILLIAM. + SHEA, ----. + SUTTON, FREDERICK. + SOTHER, SIMON. + SCHEDID, NIHIL. + SWANK, GEORGE. + SEBASTIANO, DEL CARLO. + STANBROCKE, A. + + TOMLIN, ETNEST P. + TALBOT, G. + + VILLNER, HENDRICK K. + VASSILIOS, CATALEVAS (thought to be a + confusion of two surnames). + VEAR, W. (may be W. J. Ware or W. T. + Stead). + + WIDENER, GEORGE W. + WILLIAMS, LESLIE. + WIRZ, ALBERT + WIKLUND, JACOB A. + WAILENS, ACHILLE. + WHITE, F. F. + WOODY, O. S. + WERSZ, LEOPOLD. + + ZACARIAN, MAURI DER. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. CRITICISM OF ISMAY + +CRIMINAL AND COWARDLY CONDUCT CHARGED--PROPER CAUTION NOT EXERCISED WHEN +PRESENCE OF ICEBERGS WAS KNOWN--SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON BOARD TO HELP +IN WORK OF RESCUE--SELFISH AND UNSYMPATHETIC ACTIONS ON BOARD THE +CARPATHIA--ISMAY'S DEFENSE--WILLIAM E. CARTER'S STATEMENT + +FROM the moment that Bruce Ismay's name was seen among those of the +survivors of the Titanic he became the object of acrid attacks in +every quarter where the subject of the disaster was discussed. Bitter +criticism held that he should have been the last to leave the doomed +vessel. + +His critics insisted that as managing director of the White Star Line +his responsibility was greater even than Captain Smith's, and while +granting that his survival might still be explained, they condemned his +apparent lack of heroism. Even in England his survival was held to be +the one great blot on an otherwise noble display of masculine courage. + +A prominent official of the White Star Line shook his head meaningly +when asked what he thought of Ismay's escape with the women and +children. The general feeling seemed to be that he should have stayed +aboard the sinking vessel, looking out for those who were left, playing +the man like Major Butt and many another and going down with the ship +like Captain Smith. + +He was also charged with urging a speed record and with ignoring +information received with regard to icebergs. + + +FEELING IN ENGLAND + +The belief in England was that the captain of the Carpathia had acted +under Ismay's influence in refusing to permit any account of the +disaster to be transmitted previous to the arrival of the vessel in New +York. Ismay's telegram making arrangements for the immediate deportation +of the survivors among the Titanic's crew was taken to be part of the +same scheme to delay if not to prevent their stories of the wreck from +being obtained in New York. + +Another circumstance which created a damaging impression was Ismay's +failure to give the names of the surviving crew, whose distraught +families were entitled to as much consideration as those whose relatives +occupied the most expensive suites on the Titanic. The anguish endured +by the families of members of the crew was reported as indescribable, +and Southampton was literally turned into a city of weeping and tragic +pathos. The wives of two members of the crew died of shock and suspense. + + +CRIED FOR FOOD + +Mr. Ismay's actions while on the Carpathia were also criticised as +selfish and unwarrantable. + +"For God's sake get me something to eat, I'm starved. I don't care what +it costs or what it is. Bring it to me." + +This was the first statement made by Mr. Ismay a few minutes after he +was landed on the Carpathia. It is vouched for by an officer of the +Carpathia who requested that his name be withheld. This officer gave +one of the most complete stories of the events that took place on the +Carpathia from the time she received the Titanic's appeal for assistance +until she landed the survivors at the Cunard Line pier. + +"Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the seventh life-boat," said the +officer. "I didn't know who he was, but afterward I heard the other +members of the crew discussing his desire to get something to eat the +minute he put his foot on deck. The steward who waited on him reported +that Ismay came dashing into the dining room and said. + +"'Hurry, for God's sake, and get me something to eat, I'm starved. I +don't care what it costs or what it is. Bring it to me.'" + +"The steward brought Ismay a load of stuff and when he had finished +it he handed the man a two dollar bill. 'Your money is no good on this +ship,' the steward told him. + +"'Take it,' insisted Ismay. 'I am well able to afford it. I will see +to it that the boys of the Carpathia are well rewarded for this night's +work.' + +"This promise started the steward making inquiries as to the identity of +the man he had waited on. Then we learned that he was Ismay. I did not +see Ismay after the first few hours. He must have kept to his cabin." + +REPLY TO CHARGES + +Mr. Ismay's plans had been to return immediately to England, and he +had wired that the steamer Cedric be held for himself and officers and +members of the crew; but public sentiment and subpoenas of the Senate's +investigating committee prevented. In the face of the criticism aimed +against him Mr. Ismay issued a long statement in which he not only +disclaimed responsibility for the Titanic's fatal collision, but also +sought to clear himself of blame for everything that happened after the +big ship was wrecked. + +He laid the responsibility for the tragedy on Captain Smith. + +He expressed astonishment that his own conduct in the disaster had been +made the subject of inquiry. He denied that he gave any order to Captain +Smith. His position aboard was that of any other first cabin passenger, +he insisted, and he was never consulted by the captain. He denied +telling anyone that he wished the ship to make a speed record. He +called attention to the routine clause in the instructions to White Star +captains ordering them to think of safety at all times. He did not dine +with the captain, he said, and when the ship struck the berg, he was not +sitting with the captain in the saloon. + +The managing director added that he was in his stateroom when the +collision occurred. He told of helping to send women and children away +in life-boats on the starboard side, and said there was no woman in +sight on deck when he and William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., entered +the collapsible boat--the last small craft left on that side of the +vessel. He asserted that he pulled an oar and denied that in sending the +three messages from the Carpathia, urging the White Star officials to +hold the Cedric for the survivors of the Titanic's officers and crew, he +had any intention to block investigation of the tragedy. Ismay asserted +that he did not know there was to be an investigation until the Cunarder +docked. + +Mr. William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, who, with his family, was saved, +confirmed Mr. Ismay's assertions. + +"Mr. Ismay's statement is absolutely correct," said Mr. Carter. "There +were no women on the deck when that boat was launched. We were the very +last to leave the deck, and we entered the life-boat because there were +no women to enter it. + +"The deck was deserted when the boat was launched, and Mr. Ismay and +myself decided that we might as well enter the boat and pull away from +the wreck. If he wants me, I assume that he will write to me. + +"I can say nothing, however, that he has not already said, as our +narratives are identical; the circumstances under which we were rescued +from the Titanic were similar. We left the boat together and were picked +up together, and, further than that, we were the very last to leave the +deck. + +"I am ready to go to Washington to testify to the truth of Mr. Ismay's +statement, and also to give my own account at any time I may be called +upon. If Mr. Ismay writes to me, asking that I give a detailed account +of our rescue I will do so." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. THE FINANCIAL LOSS + +TITANIC NOT FULLY INSURED--VALUABLE CARGO AND MAIL--NO CHANCE FOR +SALVAGE--LIFE INSURANCE LOSS--LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA + +SO great was the interest in the tragedy and so profound the grief at +the tremendous loss of life that for a time the financial loss was +not considered. It was, however, the biggest ever suffered by marine +insurance brokers. + +The value of the policy covering the vessel against all ordinary risks +was $5,000,000, but the whole of this amount was not insured, because +British and Continental markets were not big enough to swallow it. +The actual amount of insurance was $3,700,000, of which the owners +themselves held $750,000. + +As to the cargo, it was insured by the shippers. The company has nothing +to do with the insurance of the cargo, which, according to the company's +manifest, was conservatively estimated at about $420,000. Cargo, +however, was a secondary matter, so far as the Titanic was concerned. +The ship was built for high-priced passengers, and what little cargo +she carried was also of the kind that demanded quick transportation. +The Titanic's freight was for the most part what is known as high-class +package freight, consisting of such articles as fine laces, ostrich +feathers, wines, liquors and fancy food commodities. + + +LOST MAIL MAY COST MILLIONS + +Prior to the sailing of the vessel the postal authorities of Southampton +cabled the New York authorities that 3435 bags of mail matter were on +board. + +"In a load of 3500 bags," said Postmaster Morgan, of New York, "it is +a safe estimate to say that 200 contained registered mail. The size of +registered mail packages varies greatly, but 1000 packages for each +mail bag should be a conservative guess. That would mean that 200,000 +registered packages and letters went down with the Titanic. + +"This does not mean, however, that Great Britain will be held +financially responsible for all these losses. There were probably +thousands of registered packages from the Continent, and in such cases +the countries of origin will have to reimburse the senders. Moreover, in +the case of money being sent in great quantities, it is usual to insure +the registry over and above the limit of responsibility set by the +country of origin. + +"Probably if there were any shipping of securities mounting up to +thousands of dollars, it will be the insurance companies which will bear +the loss, and not the European post-offices at all." + +In the case of money orders, the postmaster explained, there would be +no loss, except of time, as duplicates promptly would be shipped without +further expense. + +The postmaster did not know the exact sum which the various European +countries set as the limit of their guarantee in registered mail. In +America it is $50. + +Underwriters will probably have to meet heavy claims of passengers for +luggage, including jewelry. Pearls of one American woman insured in +London were valued at $240,000. + + +NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE + +The Titanic and her valuable cargo can never be recovered, said the +White Star Line officials. + +"Sinking in mid-ocean, at the depth which prevails where the accident +occurred," said Captain James Parton, manager of the company, +"absolutely precludes any hopes of salvage." + + +LIFE INSURANCE LOSS + +In the life insurance offices there was much figuring over the lists of +those thought to be lost aboard the Titanic. Nothing but rough estimates +of the company's losses through the wreck were given out. + + +LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA + +The loss to the Carpathia, too, was considerable. It is, of course, the +habit of all good steamship lines to go out of their way and cheerfully +submit to financial loss when it comes to succoring the distressed +or the imperiled at sea. Therefore, the Cunard line in extending the +courtesies of the sea to the survivors of the Titanic asked for nothing +more than the mere acknowledgment of the little act of kindness. The +return of the Carpathia cost the line close to $10,000. + +She was delayed on her way to the Mediterranean at least ten days and +was obliged to coal and provision again, as the extra 800 odd passengers +she was carrying reduced her large allowance for her long voyage to the +Mediterranean and the Adriatic very much. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. OPINIONS OF EXPERTS + +CAPTAIN E. K. RODEN, LEWIS NIXON, GENERAL GREELY AND ROBERT H. KIRK +POINT OUT LESSONS TAUGHT BY TITANIC DISASTER AND NEEDED CHANGES IN +CONSTRUCTION + +THE tremendous loss of life necessarily aroused a discussion as to the +cause of the disaster, and the prevailing opinion seemed to be that the +present tendency in shipbuilding was to sacrifice safety to luxury. + +Captain Roden, a well-known Swedish navigator, had written an article +maintaining this theory in the Navy, a monthly service magazine, in +November, 1910. With seeming prophetic insight he had mentioned the +Titanic by name and portrayed some of the dangers to which shipbuilding +for luxury is leading. + +He pointed out that the new steamships, the Olympic and Titanic, would +be the finest vessels afloat, no expense being spared to attain every +conceivable comfort for which men or women of means could possibly +ask--staterooms with private shower-baths, a swimming pool large enough +for diving, a ballroom covering an entire upper deck, a gymnasium, +elaborate cafes, a sun deck representing a flower garden, and other +luxuries. + +After forcibly pointing out the provisions that should be made for the +protection of life, Captain Roden wrote in conclusion: + +"If the men controlling passenger ships, from the ocean liner down to +the excursion barge, were equally disposed to equip their vessels with +the best safety appliances as they are to devise and adopt implements +of comfort and luxury, the advantage to themselves as well as to their +patrons would be plainly apparent." + + +VIEW OF LEWIS NIXON + +Lewis Nixon, the eminent naval architect and designer of the battleship +Oregon, contributed a very interesting comment. He said in part: + +"Here was a vessel presumed, and I think rightly so, to be the +perfection of the naval architect's art, yet sunk in a few hours by an +accident common to North Atlantic navigation. + + +THE UNSINKABLE SHIP + +"An unsinkable ship is possible, but it would be of little use except +for flotation. It may be said that vessels cannot be built to withstand +such an accident. + +"We might very greatly subdivide the forward compartments, where much +space is lost at best, making the forward end, while amply strong for +navigation purposes, of such construction that it would collapse +and take up some of the energy of impact; then tie this to very much +stronger sections farther aft. Many such plans will be proposed by those +who do not realize the momentum of a great vessel which will snap great +cables like ribbons, when the motion of the vessel is not perceptible to +the eye. + +"The proper plan is to avoid the accident, and if an accident is +unavoidable to minimize the loss of life and property." + + +VIEW OF ROBERT H. KIRK + +The Titanic disaster was discussed by Robert H. Kirk, who installed the +compartment doors in the ships of the United States Navy. Mr. Kirk's +opinion follows: + +"The Titanic's disaster will cause endless speculation as to how similar +disasters may be avoided in the future. + + +BULKHEAD DOORS PROBABLY OPEN + +"The Titanic had bulkheads, plenty of them, for the rules of the British +Board of Trade and of Lloyds are very specific and require enough +compartments to insure floating of the ship though several may be +flooded. She also had doors in the bulkheads, and probably plenty of +them, for she was enormous and needed easy access from one compartment +to another. It will probably never be known how _FEW_ of these doors +were closed when she struck the iceberg, but the probability is that +many were open, for in the confusion attending such a crash the crews +have a multitude of duties to perform, and closing a door with water +rushing through it is more of a task than human muscle and bravery can +accomplish. + +"A Lloyds surveyor in testing one of these hand-operated doors started +two men on the main deck to close it. They worked four hours before they +had carried out his order. If all the doors on the ship had worked as +badly as this one, what would have happened in event of accident?" + + +MANIA FOR SPEED + +General Adolphus W. Greely, U. S. A., noted American traveler and Arctic +explorer, vehemently denounced the sinking of the Titanic and the loss +of over 1600 souls as a terrible sacrifice to the American mania for +speed. He gave his opinion that the Titanic came to grief through an +attempt on the part of the steamship management to establish a new +record by the vessel on her maiden voyage. + +The Titanic, General Greely declared, had absolutely no business above +Cape Race and north of Sable Island on the trip on which she went to her +doom. Choosing the northern route brought about the dire disaster, in +his mind, and it was the saving of three hours for the sake of a new +record that ended in the collision with the tragic victory for the +ghostlike monster out of the far north. + +It was the opinion of General Greely, capable of judging after his many +trips in quest of the pole, that neither Captain Smith nor any of his +officers saw the giant iceberg which encompassed their ruin until they +were right upon it. Then, the ship was plunging ahead at such frightful +velocity that the Titanic was too close to avert striking the barrier +lined up across its path. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS + +DEADLY DANGER OF ICEBERGS--DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH IN COLLISION--OTHER +DISASTERS + +THE danger of collision with icebergs has always been one of the most +deadly that confront the mariner. Indeed, so well recognized is this +peril of the Newfoundland Banks, where the Labrador current in the early +spring and summer months floats southward its ghostly argosy of +icy pinnacles detached from the polar ice caps, that the government +hydrographic offices and the maritime exchanges spare no pains to +collate and disseminate the latest bulletins on the subject. + + +THE ARIZONA + +A most remarkable case of an iceberg collision is that of the Guion +Liner, Arizona, in 1879. She was then the greyhound of the Atlantic, and +the largest ship afloat--5750 tons except the Great Eastern. Leaving New +York in November for Liverpool, with 509 souls aboard, she was coursing +across the Banks, with fair weather but dark, when, near midnight, about +250 miles east of St. John's, she rammed a monster ice island at full +speed eighteen knots. Terrific was the impact. + +The welcome word was passed along that the ship, though sorely stricken, +would still float until she could make harbor. The vast white terror had +lain across her course, + + +{illust. caption = THE SHAPE OF AN ICEBERG + +Showing the bulk and formation under water and the consequent danger +to vessels even without actual contact with the visible part of the +iceberg.} + + +stretching so far each way that, when described, it was too late to +alter the helm. Its giant shape filled the foreground, towering high +above the masts, grim and gaunt and ghastly, immovable as the adamantine +buttresses of a frowning seaboard, while the liner lurched and staggered +like a wounded thing in agony as her engines slowly drew her back from +the rampart against which she had flung herself. + +She was headed for St. John's at slow speed, so as not to strain the +bulkhead too much, and arrived there thirty-six hours later. That little +port--the crippled ship's hospital--has seen many a strange sight come +in from the sea, but never a more astounding spectacle than that which +the Arizona presented the Sunday forenoon she entered there. + +"Begob, captain!" said the pilot, as he swung himself over the rail. +"I've heard of carrying coals to Newcastle, but this is the first time +I've seen a steamer bringing a load of ice into St. John's." + +They are a grim race, these sailors, and, the danger over, the captain's +reply was: "We were lucky, my man, that we didn't all go to the bottom +in an ice box." + + +DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH + +But to the one wounded ship that survives collision with a berg, a dozen +perish. Presumably, when the shock comes, it loosens their bulkheads and +they fill and founder, or the crash may injure the boilers or engines, +which explode and tear out the sides, and the ship goes down like a +plummet. As long ago as 1841, the steamer President, with 120 people +aboard, crossing from New York to Liverpool in March, vanished from +human ken. In 1854, in the same month, the City of Glasgow left +Liverpool for Philadelphia with 480 souls, and was never again heard of. +In February, 1856, the Pacific, from Liverpool for New York, carrying +185 persons, passed away down to a sunless sea. In May, 1870, the City +of Boston, from that port for Liverpool, mustering 191 souls, met a +similar fate. It has always been thought that these ships were sunk by +collision with icebergs or floes. As shipping traffic has expanded, the +losses have been more frequent. In February, 1892, the Naronic, from +Liverpool for New York; in the same month in 1896, the State of Georgia, +from Aberdeen for Boston; in February, 1899, the Alleghany, from New +York for Dover; and once more in February, 1902, the Huronian, from +Liverpool for St. John's--all disappeared without leaving a trace. +Between February and May, the Grand Banks are most infested with ice, +and collision therewith is' the most likely explanation of the loss of +these steamers, all well manned and in splendid trim, and meeting only +the storms which scores of other ships have braved without a scathe. + + +TOLL OF THE SEA + +Among the important marine disasters recorded since 1866 are the +following: + +1866, Jan. 11.--Steamer London, on her way to Melbourne, foundered in +the Bay of Biscay; 220 lives lost. + +1866, Oct. 3.--Steamer Evening Star, from New York to New Orleans, +foundered; about 250 lives lost. + +1867, Oct. 29.--Royal Mail steamers Rhone and Wye and about fifty +other vessels driven ashore and wrecked at St Thomas, West Indies, by a +hurricane; about 1,000 lives lost. + +1873, Jan. 22.--British steamer Northfleet sunk in collision off +Dungeness; 300 lives lost + +1873, Nov. 23.--White Star liner Atlantic wrecked off Nova Scotia; 547 +lives lost. + +1873, Nov. 23.--French line Ville du Havre, from New York to Havre, in +collision with ship Locharn and sunk in sixteen minutes; 110 lives lost. + +1874, Dec. 24.--Emigrant vessel Cospatrick took fire and sank off +Auckland; 476 lives lost. + +1875, May 7.--Hamburg Mail steamer Schiller wrecked in fog on Scilly +Islands; 200 lives lost. + +1875, Nov. 4.--American steamer Pacific in collision thirty miles +southwest of Cape Flattery; 236 lives lost. + +1878, March 24.--British training ship Eurydice, a frigate, foundered +near the Isle of Wight; 300 lives lost. + +1878, Sept. 3.--British iron steamer Princess Alice sunk in the Thames +River; 700 lives lost. + +1878, Dec. 18.--French steamer Byzantin sunk in collision in the +Dardanelles with the British steamer Rinaldo; 210 lives lost. + +1879, Dec. 2.--Steamer Borussia sank off the coast of Spain; 174 lives +lost. + +1880, Jan. 31.--British trading ship Atlanta left Bermuda with 290 men +and was never heard from. + +1881, Aug. 30.--Steamer Teuton wrecked off the Cape of Good Hope; 200 +lives lost. + +1883, July 3.--Steamer Daphne turned turtle in the Clyde; 124 lives +lost. + +1884, Jan. 18.--American steamer City of Columbus wrecked off Gay Head +Light, Massachusetts; 99 lived lost. + +1884, July 23.--Spanish steamer Gijon and British steamer Lux in +collision off Finisterre; 150 lives lost. + +1887, Jan. 29.--Steamer Kapunda in collision with bark Ada Melore off +coast of Brazil; 300 lives lost. + +1887, Nov. 15.--British steamer Wah Young caught fire between Canton and +Hong Kong; 400 lives lost. + +1888, Sept. 13.--Italian steamship Sud America and steamer La France in +collision near the Canary Islands; 89 lives lost. + +1889, March 16.--United States warships Trenton, Vandalia and Nipsic and +German ships Adler and Eber wrecked on Samoan Islands; 147 lives lost. + +1890, Jan. 2.--Steamer Persia wrecked on Corsica; 130 lives lost. + +1890, Feb. 17.--British steamer Duburg wrecked in the China Sea; 400 +lives lost. + +1890, March 1.--British steamship Quetta foundered in Torres Straits; +124 lives lost. + +1890, Dec. 27.--British steamer Shanghai burned in China Seas; 101 lives +lost. + +1891, March 17.--Anchor liner Utopia in collision with British steamer +Anson off Gibraltar and sunk; 574 lives lost. + +1892, Jan. 13.--Steamer Namehow wrecked in China Sea; 414 lives lost. + +1892, Oct. 28.--Anchor liner Romania, wrecked off Portugal; 113 lives +lost. + +1893, Feb. 8.--Anchor liner Trinairia, wrecked off Spain; 115 lives +lost. + +1894, June 25.--Steamer Norge, wrecked on Rockall Reef, in the North +Atlantic; nearly 600 lives lost. + +1895, Jan. 30.--German steamer Elbe sunk in collision with British +steamer Crathie in North Sea; 335 lives lost. + +1898, July 4.--French line steamer La Bourgogne in collision with +British sailing vessel Cromartyshire; 571 lives lost. + +1898, Nov. 27.--American steamer Portland, wrecked off Cape Cod, Mass.; +157 lives lost. + +1901, April 1.--Turkish transport Aslam wrecked in the Red Sea; over 180 +lives lost. + +1902, July 21.--Steamer Primus sunk in collision with the steamer Hansa +on the Lower Elbe; 112 lives lost. + +1903, June 7.--French steamer Libau sunk in collision with steamer +Insulerre near Marseilles; 150 lives lost. + +1904, June 15. General Slocum, excursion steamboat, took fire going +through Hell Gate, East River; more than 1000 lives lost. + +1906, Jan. 21.--Brazilian battleship Aquidaban sunk near Rio Janeiro by +an explosion of the powder magazines; 212 lives lost. + +1906, Jan. 22.--American steamer Valencia lost off Cloose, Pacific +Coast; 140 lives lost. + +1906, Aug. 4.--Italian emigrant ship Sirio struck a rock off Cape Palos; +350 lives lost. + +1906, Oct. 21.--Russian steamer Variag, on leaving Vladivostock, struck +by a torpedo and sunk; 140 lives lost. + +1907, Feb. 12.--American steamer Larchmond sunk in collision off Rhode +Island coast; 131 lives lost. + +1907, July 20.--American steamers Columbia and San Pedro collided on the +Californian coast; 100 lives lost. + +1907, Nov. 26.--Turkish steamer Kaptain foundered in the North Sea; 110 +lives lost. + +1908, March 23.--Japanese steamer Mutsu Maru sunk in collision near +Hakodate; 300 lives lost. + +1908, April 30.--Japanese training cruiser Matsu Shima sunk off the +Pescadores owing to an explosion; 200 lives lost. + +1909, Jan. 24.--Collision between the Italian steamer Florida and the +White Star liner Republic, about 170 miles east of New York during a +fog; a large number of lives were saved by the arrival of the steamer +Baltic, which received the "C. Q. D.," or distress signal sent up by +wireless by the Republic January 22. The Republic sank while being +towed; 6 lives lost. + +1910, Feb. 9.--French line steamer General Chanzy off Minorca; 200 lives +lost. + +1911, Sept. 25.--French battleship Liberte sunk by explosion in Toulon +harbor; 223 lives lost. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING + +EVOLUTION OF WATER TRAVEL--INCREASES IN SIZE OF VESSELS--IS THERE ANY +LIMIT?--ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPEED--TITANIC NOT THE LAST WORD. + +THE origin of travel on water dates back to a very early period in human +history, men beginning with the log, the inflated skin, the dug-out +canoe, and upwards through various methods of flotation; while the +paddle, the oar, and finally the sail served as means of propulsion. +This was for inland water travel, and many centuries passed before the +navigation of the sea was dreamed of by adventurous mariners. + +The paintings and sculptures of early Egypt show us boats built of sawn +planks, regularly constructed and moved both by oars and sails. At +a later period we read of the Phoenicians, the most daring and +enterprising of ancient navigators, who braved the dangers of the open +sea, and are said by Herodotus to have circumnavigated Africa as early +as 604 B. C. Starting from the Red Sea, they followed the east +coast, rounded the Cape, and sailed north along the west coast to +the Mediterranean, reaching Egypt again in the third year of this +enterprise. + +The Carthaginians and Romans come next in the history of shipbuilding, +confining themselves chiefly to the Mediterranean, and using oars as +the principal means of propulsion. Their galleys ranged from one to five +banks of oars. The Roman vessels in the first Punic war were over 100 +feet long and had 300 rowers, while they carried 120 soldiers. They did +not use sails until about the beginning of the fourteenth century B. C. + +Portugal was the first nation to engage in voyages of discovery, using +vessels of small size in these adventurous journeys. Spain, which soon +became her rival in this field, built larger ships and long held the +lead. Yet the ships with which Columbus made the discovery of America +were of a size and character in which few sailors of the present day +would care to venture far from land. + +England was later in coming into the field of adventurous navigation, +being surpassed not only by the Portuguese and Spanish, but by the +Dutch, in ventures to far lands. + +Europe long held the precedence in shipbuilding and enterprise in +navigation, but the shores of America had not long been settled before +the venturous colonists had ships upon the seas. The first of these was +built at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. This was a staunch +little two-masted vessel, which was named the Virginia, supposed to have +been about sixty feet long and seventeen feet in beam. Next in time came +the Restless, built in 1614 or 1615 at New York, by Adrian Blok, a Dutch +captain whose ships had been burned while lying at Manhattan Island. +This vessel, thirty-eight feet long and of eleven feet beam, was +employed for several years in exploring the Atlantic coast. + +With the advent of the nineteenth century a new ideal in naval +architecture arose, that of the ship moved by steam-power instead of +wind-power, and fitted to combat with the seas alike in storm and calm, +with little heed as to whether the wind was fair or foul. The steamship +appeared, and grew in size and power until such giants of the wave as +the Titanic and Olympic were set afloat. To the development of this +modern class of ships our attention must now be turned. + +As the reckless cowboy of the West is fast becoming a thing of the past, +so is the daring seaman of fame and story. In his place is coming a +class of men miscalled sailors, who never reefed a sail or coiled a +cable, who do not know how to launch a life-boat or pull an oar, and +in whose career we meet the ridiculous episode of the life-boats of the +Titanic, where women were obliged to take the oars from their hands and +row the boats. Thus has the old-time hero of the waves been transformed +into one fitted to serve as a clown of the vaudeville stage. + +The advent of steam navigation came early in the nineteenth century, +though interesting steps in this direction were taken earlier. No sooner +was the steam-engine developed than men began to speculate on it as a +moving power on sea and land. Early among these were several Americans, +Oliver Evans, one of the first to project steam railway travel, and +James Rumsey and John Fitch, steamboat inventors of early date. There +were several experimenters in Europe also, but the first to produce a +practical steamboat was Robert Fulton, a native of Pennsylvania, whose +successful boat; the Clermont, made its maiden trip up the Hudson in +1807. A crude affair was the Clermont, with a top speed of about seven +miles an hour; but it was the dwarf from which the giant steamers of +to-day have grown. + +Boats of this type quickly made their way over the American rivers and +before 1820 regular lines of steamboats were running between England and +Ireland. In 1817 James Watt, the inventor of the practical steam-engine, +crossed in a steamer from England to Belgium. But these short voyages +were far surpassed by an American enterprise, that of the first ocean +steamship, the Savannah, which crossed the Atlantic from Savannah to +Liverpool in 1819. + +Twelve years passed before this enterprise was repeated, the next steam +voyage being in 1831, when the Royal William crossed from Quebec to +England. She used coal for fuel, having utilized her entire hold to +store enough for the voyage. The Savannah had burned pitch-pine under +her engines, for in America wood was long used as fuel for steam-making +purposes. As regards this matter, the problem of fuel was of leading +importance, and it was seriously questioned if a ship could be built to +cross the Atlantic depending solely upon steam power. Steam-engines in +those days were not very economical, needing four or five times as much +fuel for the same power as the engines of recent date. + +It was not until 1838 that the problem was solved. On April 23d of that +year a most significant event took place. Two steamships dropped anchor +in the harbor of New York, the Sirius and the Great Western. Both of +these had made the entire voyage under steam, the Sirius, in eighteen +and a half and the Great Western in fourteen and a half days, measuring +from Queenstown. The Sirius had taken on board 450 tons of coal, but all +this was burned by the time Sandy Hook was reached, and she had to burn +her spare spars and forty-three barrels of rosin to make her way up the +bay. The Great Western, on the contrary, had coal to spare. + +Two innovations in shipbuilding were soon introduced. These were the +building of iron instead of wooden ships and the replacing of the paddle +wheel by the screw propeller. The screw-propeller was first successfully +introduced by the famous Swede, John Ericsson, in 1835. His propeller +was tried in a small vessel, forty-five feet long and eight wide, which +was driven at the rate of ten miles an hour, and towed a large packet +ship at fair speed. Ericsson, not being appreciated in England, came +to America to experiment. Other inventors were also at work in the same +line. + +Their experiments attracted the attention of Isambard Brunel, one of +the greatest engineers of the period, who was then engaged in building +a large paddle-wheel steamer, the Great Britain. Appreciating the new +idea, he had the engines of the new ship changed and a screw propeller +introduced. This ship, a great one for the time, 322 feet long and of +3443 tons, made her first voyage from Liverpool to New York in 1845, her +average speed being 12 1/4 knots an hour, the length of the voyage 14 +days and 21 hours. + +By the date named the crossing of the Atlantic by steamships had become +a common event. In 1840 the British and Royal Mail Steam Packet Company +was organized, its chief promoter being Samuel Cunard, of Halifax, Nova +Scotia, whose name has long been attached to this famous line. + +The first fleet of the Cunard Line comprised four vessels, the +Britannia, Acadia, Caledonia and Columbia. The Unicorn, sent out by this +company as a pioneer, entered Boston harbor on June 2, 1840, being the +first steamship from Europe to reach that port. Regular trips began with +the Britannia, which left Liverpool on July 4, 1840. For a number of +years later this line enjoyed a practical monopoly of the steam carrying +trade between England and the United States. Then other companies came +into the field, chief among them being the Collins Line, started in +1849, and of short duration, and the Inman Line, instituted in 1850. + +We should say something here of the comforts and conveniences provided +for the passengers on these early lines. They differed strikingly +from those on the leviathans of recent travel and were little, if any, +superior to those on the packet ships, the active rivals at that date +of the steamers. Then there were none of the comfortable smoking rooms, +well-filled libraries, drawing rooms, electric lights, and other modern +improvements. The saloons and staterooms were in the extreme after part +of the vessel, but the stateroom of that day was little more than a +closet, with two berths, one above the other, and very little standing +room between these and the wall. By paying nearly double fare a +passenger might secure a room for himself, but the room given him +did not compare well even with that of small and unpretentious modern +steamers. + +Other ocean steamship companies gradually arose, some of which are still +in existence. But no especial change in ship-building was introduced +until 1870, when the Oceanic Company, now known as the White Star Line, +built the Britannic and Germanic. These were the largest of its early +ships. They were 468 feet long and 35 feet wide, constituting a new type +of extreme length as compared with their width. In the first White Star +ship, the Oceanic, the improvements above mentioned were introduced, the +saloons and staterooms being brought as near as possible to the center +of the ship. All the principal lines built since that date have followed +this example, thus adding much to the comfort of the first-class +passengers. + +Speed and economy in power also became features of importance, the +tubular boiler and the compound engine being introduced. These have +developed into the cylindrical, multitubular boiler and the triple +expansion engine, in which a greater percentage of the power of the +steam is utilized and four or five times the work obtained from coal +over that of the old system. The side-wheel was continued in use in the +older ships until this period, but after 1870 it disappeared. + +It has been said that the life of iron ships, barring disasters at sea, +is unlimited, that they cannot wear out. This statement has not been +tested, but the fact remains that the older passenger ships have gone +out of service and that steel has now taken the place of iron, as +lighter and more durable. + +Something should also be said here of the steam turbine engine, recently +introduced in some of the greatest liners, and of proven value in +several particulars, an important one of these being the doing away with +the vibration, an inseparable accompaniment of the old style engines. +The Olympic and Titanic engines were a combination of the turbine and +reciprocating types. In regard to the driving power, one of the recent +introductions is that of the multiple propeller. The twin screw was +first applied in the City of New York, of the Inman line, and enabled +her to make in 1890 an average speed of a little over six days from New +York to Queenstown. The best record up to October, 1891, was that of the +Teutonic, of five days, sixteen hours, and thirty minutes. Triple-screw +propellers have since then been introduced in some of the greater ships, +and the record speed has been cut down to the four days and ten hours of +the Lusitania in 1908 and the four days, six hours and forty-one minutes +of the Mauretania in 1910. + +The Titanic was not built especially for speed, but in every other way +she was the master product of the shipbuilders' art. Progress through +the centuries has been steady, and perhaps the twentieth century will +prepare a vessel that will be unsinkable as well as magnificent. Until +the fatal accident the Titanic and Olympic were considered the last +words on ship-building; but much may still remain to be spoken. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + +WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY--WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS--SUBMARINE +SIGNALS--LIFE-BOATS AND RAFTS--NIXON'S PONTOON--LIFE-PRESERVERS AND +BUOYS--ROCKETS + +THE fact that there are any survivors of the Titanic left to tell the +story of the terrible catastrophe is only another of the hundreds of +instances on record of the value of wireless telegraphy in saving life +on shipboard. Without Marconi's invention it is altogether probable that +the world would never have known of the nature of the Titanic's fate, +for it is only barely within the realm of possibility that any of the +Titanic's passengers' poorly clad, without proper provisions of food and +water, and exposed in the open boats to the frigid weather, would have +survived long enough to have been picked up by a transatlantic liner in +ignorance of the accident to the Titanic. + +Speaking (since the Titanic disaster) of the part which wireless +telegraphy has played in the salvation of distressed ships, Guglielmo +Marconi, the inventor of this wonderful science, has said: + +"Fifteen years ago the curvature of the earth was looked upon as the +one great obstacle to wireless telegraphy. By various experiments in +the Isle of Wight and at St. John's I finally succeeded in sending the +letter S 2000 miles. + +"We have since found that the fog and the dull skies in the vicinity of +England are exceptionally favorable for wireless telegraphy." + +Then the inventor told of wireless messages being transmitted 2500 +miles across the Abyssinian desert, and of preparation for similar +achievements. + +"The one necessary requirement for continued success is that governments +keep from being enveloped in political red tape," said he. + +"The fact that a message can be flashed across the wide expanse of ocean +in ten minutes has exceeded my fondest expectations. Some idea of the +progress made may be had by citing the fact that in eleven years the +range of wireless telegraphy has increased from 200 to 3000 miles. + +"Not once has wireless telegraphy failed in calling and securing help +on the high seas. A recognition of this is shown in the attitude of the +United States Government in compelling all passenger-carrying vessels +entering our ports to be equipped with wireless apparatus." + +Of the Titanic tragedy, Marconi said: + +"I know you will all understand when I say that I entertain a deep +feeling of gratitude because of the fact that wireless telegraphy has +again contributed to the saving of life." + + +WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS + +One of the most essential factors in making ships safe is the +construction of proper bulkheads to divide a ship into water-tight +compartments in case of injury to her hull. Of the modern means of +forming such compartments, and of the complete and automatic devices for +operating the watertight doors which connect them, a full explanation +has already been given in the description of the Titanic's physical +features, to which the reader is referred. A wise precaution usually +taken in the case of twin and triple screw ships is to arrange the +bulkheads so that each engine is in a separate compartment, as is also +each boiler or bank of boilers and each coal bunker. + + +SUBMARINE SIGNALS + +Then there are submarine signals to tell of near-by vessels or shores. +This signal arrangement includes a small tank on either side of the +vessel, just below the water line. Within each is a microphone with +wires leading to the bridge. If the vessel is near any other or +approaching shore, the sounds; conveyed through the water from the +distant object are heard through the receiver of the microphone. These +arrangements are called the ship's ears, and whether the sounds come +from one side of the vessel or the other, the officers can tell the +location of the shore or ship near by. If both ears record, the object +is ahead. + + +LIFEBOATS AND RAFTS + +The construction of life-boats adapts them for very rough weather. +The chief essentials, of course, are ease in launching, strength in +withstanding rough water and bumping when beached; also strength to +withstand striking against wreckage or a ship's side; carrying capacity +and lightness. Those carried on board ship are lighter than those used +in life-saving service on shore. Safety is provided by air-tight tanks +which insure buoyancy in case the boat is filled with water. They +have also self-righting power in case of being overturned; likewise +self-emptying power. Life-boats are usually of the whaleboat type, with +copper air-tight tanks along the side beneath the thwarts, and in the +ends. + +Life-boats range from twenty-four to thirty feet in length and carry +from thirty to sixty persons. The rafts carry from twenty to forty +persons. The old-fashioned round bar davits can be got for $100 to $150 +a set. The new style davits, quick launchers in type, come as low as +$400 a set. + +According to some naval constructors, an ocean steamship can carry in +davits enough boats to take care of all the passengers and crew, it +being simply a question as to whether the steamship owners are willing +to take up that much deck room which otherwise would be used for +lounging chairs or for a promenade. + +Nowadays all life-boats are equipped with air tanks to prevent sinking, +with the result that metal boats are as unsinkable as wooden ones. The +metal boats are considered in the United States Navy as superior to +wooden ones, for several reasons: They do not break or collapse; they +do not, in consequence of long storage on deck, open at the seams and +thereby spring a leak; and they are not eaten by bugs, as is the case +with wooden boats. + +Comparatively few of the transatlantic steamships have adopted metal +life-boats. Most of the boats are of wood, according to the official +United States Government record of inspection. The records show that a +considerable proportion of the entire number of so-called "life-boats" +carried by Atlantic Ocean liners are not actually life-boats at all, +but simply open boats, without air tanks or other special equipment or +construction. + + +{illust. caption = CHAMBERS COLLAPSIBLE LIFE RAFT} + + +Life-rafts are of several kinds. They are commonly used on large +passenger steamers where it is difficult to carry sufficient life-boats. +In most cases they consist of two or more hollow metal or inflated +rubber floats which support a wooden deck. The small rafts are supplied +with life-lines and oars, and the larger ones with life-lines only, or +with life-lines and sails. + +The collapsible feature of the Chambers raft consists of canvas-covered +steel frames extending up twenty-five inches from the sides to prevent +passengers from being pitched off. When the rafts are not in use these +side frames are folded down on the raft. + +The collapsible rafts are favored by the ship-owners because such boats +take up less room; they do not have to be carried in the davits, and +they can be stowed to any number required. Some of the German lines +stack their collapsible rafts one above another on deck. + + +NIXON'S PONTOON + +Lewis Nixon, the well-known ship designer, suggests the construction of +a pontoon to be carried on the after end of the vessel and to be made of +sectional air-tight compartments. One compartment would accommodate +the wireless outfit. Another compartment would hold drinking water, and +still another would be filled with food. + +The pontoon would follow the line of the ship and seem to be a part of +it. The means for releasing it before the sinking of the vessel present +no mechanical problem. It would be too large and too buoyant to be +sucked down with the wreck. + +The pontoon would accommodate, not comfortably but safely, all those who +failed to find room in the life-boats. + +It is Mr. Nixon's plan to instal a gas engine in one of the +compartments. With this engine the wireless instrument would remain in +commission and direct the rescuers after the ship itself had gone down. + + +LIFE PRESERVERS AND BUOYS + +Life-preservers are chiefly of the belt or jacket type, made to fit +about the body and rendered buoyant by slabs of cork sewed into the +garment, or by rubber-lined air-bags. The use of cork is usually +considered preferable, as the inflated articles are liable to injury, +and jackets are preferable to belts as they can be put on more quickly. + +Life-buoys are of several types, but those most common are of the ring +type, varying in size from the small one designed to be thrown by hand +to the large hollow metal buoy capable of supporting several people. +The latter are usually carried by sea-going vessels and are fitted with +lamps which are automatically lighted when the buoy is dropped into the +water. + + +ROCKETS + +American ocean-going steamers are required to have some approved means +of firing lines to the shore. Cunningham rockets and the Hunt gun are +largely used. The inaccuracy of the rocket is of less importance when +fired from a ship than when fired from shore. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORMS + +SPEED AND LUXURY OVEREMPHASIZED--SPACE NEEDED FOR LIFE-BOATS DEVOTED TO +SWIMMING POOLS AND SQUASH-COURTS--MANIA FOR SPEED RECORDS COMPELS USE OF +DANGEROUS ROUTES AND PREVENTS PROPER CAUTION IN FOGGY WEATHER--LIFE +MORE VALUABLE THAN LUXURY--SAFETY MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED--AN AROUSED +PUBLIC OPINION NECESSARY--INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED--ADEQUATE +LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE COMPULSORY--SPEED REGULATIONS IN BAD +WEATHER--COOPERATION IN ARRANGING SCHEDULES TO KEEP VESSELS WITHIN REACH +OF EACH OTHER--LEGAL REGULATIONS + +IT is a long time since any modern vessel of importance has gone down +under Nature's attack, and in general the floating city of steel laughs +at the wind and waves. She is not, however, proof against disaster. The +danger lies in her own power--in the tens of thousands of horse power +with which she may be driven into another ship or into an iceberg +standing cold and unyielding as a wall of granite. In view of this +fact it is of the utmost importance that present-day vessels should be +thoroughly provided with the most efficient life-saving devices. These +would seem more important than fireplaces, squash-courts and many other +luxuries with which the Titanic was provided. The comparatively few +survivors of the ill-fated Titanic were saved by the life-boats. The +hundreds of others who went down with the vessel perished because there +were no life-boats to carry them until rescue came. + + +SURVIVORS URGE REFORM + +The survivors urge the need of reform. In a resolution drawn up after +the disaster they said: + +"We feel it our duty to call the attention of the public to what we +consider the inadequate supply of life-saving appliances provided for +the modern passenger steamships and recommend that immediate steps +be taken to compel passenger steamers to carry sufficient boats to +accommodate the maximum number of people carried on board. The following +facts were observed and should be considered in this connection: The +insufficiency of life-boats, rafts, etc.; lack of trained seamen to man +same (stokers, stewards, etc., are not efficient boat handlers); +not enough officers to carry out emergency orders on the bridge and +superintend the launching and control of life-boats; the absence of +search lights. + +"The Board of Trade allows for entirely too many people in each boat to +permit the same to be properly handled. On the Titanic the boat deck was +about seventy-five feet from the water and consequently the passengers +were required to embark before lowering the boats, thus endangering the +operation and preventing the taking on of the maximum number the +boats would hold. Boats at all times should be properly equipped with +provisions, water, lamps, compasses, lights, etc. Life-saving boat +drills should be more frequent and thoroughly carried out and officers +should be armed at both drills. There should be greater reduction of +speed in fog and ice, as damage if collision actually occurs is liable +to be less. + + +INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED + +"In conclusion we suggest that an international conference be called to +recommend the passage of identical laws providing for the safety of all +at sea, and we urge the United States Government to take the initiative +as soon as possible." + +That ocean liners take chances with their passengers, though known to +the well informed, is newly revealed and comes with a shock of surprise +and dismay to most people. If boats are unsinkable as well as fireproof +there is no need of any life-boats at all. But no such steamship has +ever been constructed. + +That it is realized that life-boats may be necessary on the best and +newest steamships is proved by the fact that they carry them even beyond +the law's requirements. But if life-boats for one-third of those on the +ship are necessary, life-boats for all on board are equally necessary. +The law of the United States requires this, but the law and trade +regulations of England do not, and these controlled the Titanic and +caused the death of over sixteen hundred people. + +True, a steamship is rarely crowded to her capacity, and ordinarily +accommodations in life-boats for a full list would not be needed. But +that is no argument against maximum safety facilities, for when disaster +comes it comes unexpectedly, and it might come when every berth +was occupied. So there must be life-boats for use in every possible +emergency. Places must be found for them and methods for handling them +promptly. + +Suppose a vessel to be thus equipped, would safety be insured? In calm +weather such as the Titanic had, yes, for all that would be needed would +be to keep the small boats afloat until help came. The Titanic could +have saved everyone aboard. In heavy weather, no. As at present +arranged, if a vessel has a list, or, in non-nautical language, has +tipped over on one side, only the boats upon the lower side can be +dropped, for they must be swung clear of the vessel to be lowered from +the davits. + +So there is a problem which it is the duty of marine designers to solve. +They have heretofore turned their attention to the invention of some +new contrivance for comfort and luxury. Now let them grasp the far more +important question of taking every soul from a sinking ship. They can +do it, and while they are about it, it would be well to supplement +life-boats with other methods. + +We like to think and to say that nothing is impossible in these days +of ceaseless and energetic progress. Certainly it is possible for the +brains of marine designers to find a better way for rescue work. +Lewis Nixon, ship-builder and designer for years, is sure that we can +revolutionize safety appliances. He has had a plan for a long time +for the construction of a considerable section of deck that could be +detached and floated off like an immense raft. He figures that such a +deck-raft could be made to carry the bulk of the passengers. + +That may seem a bit chimerical to laymen, but Nixon is no layman. His +ideas are worthy of every consideration. Certain it is that something +radical must be done, and that the maritime nations must get together, +not only in the way of providing more life-saving facilities, but in +agreeing upon navigation routes and methods. + +Captain William S. Sims, of the United States Navy, who is in a position +to know what he is talking about, has made some very pointed comments on +the subject. He says: + +"The truth of the matter is that in case any large passenger steamship +sinks, by reason of collision or other fatal damage to her flotability, +more than half of her passengers are doomed to death, even in fair +weather, and in case there is a bit of a sea running none of the loaded +boats can long remain afloat, even if they succeed in getting safely +away from the side, and one more will be added to the long list of 'the +ships that never return.' + +"Most people accept this condition as one of the inevitable perils of +the sea, but I believe it can be shown that the terrible loss of life +occasioned by such disasters as overtook the Bourgogne and the Titanic +and many other ships can be avoided or at least greatly minimized. +Moreover, it can be shown that the steamship owners are fully aware +of the danger to their passengers; that the laws on the subject of +life-saving appliances are wholly inadequate; that the steamship +companies comply with the law, though they oppose any changes therein, +and that they decline to adopt improved appliances; because there is +no public demand for them, the demand being for high schedule speed and +luxurious conditions of travel. + +"In addition to installing efficient life-saving appliances, if the +great steamship lines should come to an agreement to fix a maximum speed +for their vessels of various classes and fix their dates and hours of +steaming so that they would cross the ocean in pairs within supporting +distances of each other, on routes clear of ice, all danger of ocean +travel would practically be eliminated. + +"The shortest course between New York and the English Channel lies +across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Consequently the shortest water +route is over seas where navigation is dangerous by reason of fog and +ice. It is a notorious fact that the transatlantic steamships are not +navigated with due regard to safety; that they steam at practically full +speed in the densest fogs. But the companies cannot properly be blamed +for this practice, because if the 'blue liners' slow down in a fog or +take a safe route, clear of ice, the public will take passage on +the 'green liners,' which take the shortest route, and keep up their +schedule time; regardless of the risks indicated." + + +PROMPT REFORMS + +The terrible sacrifice of the Titanic, however, is to have its fruit in +safety for the future. The official announcement is + + +{illust. caption = A diagrammatic map showing how...} + + +made by the International Mercantile Marine that all its ships will be +equipped with sufficient life-boats and rafts for every passenger and +every member of the crew, without regard to the regulations in this +country and England or Belgium. One of the German liners already had +this complement of life-boats, though the German marine as a whole is +sufficiently deficient at this point to induce the Reichstag to order an +investigation. + +Prompt, immediate and gratifying reform marks this action of the +International Mercantile Marine. It is doubtless true that this +precaution ought to have been taken without waiting for a loss of life +such as makes all previous marine disasters seem trivial. But the public +itself has been inert. For thirty years, since Plimsoll's day, every +intelligent passenger knew that every British vessel was deficient in +life-boats, but neither public opinion nor the public press took +this matter up. There were no questions in Parliament and no measures +introduced in Congress. Even the legislation by which the United States +permitted English vessels reaching American ports to avoid the legal +requirements of American statute law (which requires a seat in the +life-boats for every passenger and every member of the crew) attracted +no public attention, and occasional references to the subject by those +better informed did nothing to awake action. + +But this is past. Those who died bravely without complaint and with +sacrificing regard for others did not lose their lives in vain. The +safety of all travelers for all times to come under every civilized flag +is to be greater through their sac-rifice. Under modern conditions life +can be made as safe at sea as on the land. It is heartrending to stop +and think that thirty-two more life-boats, costing only about $16,000, +which could have been stowed away without being noticed on the broad +decks of the Titanic, would have saved every man, woman and child on +the steamer. There has never been so great a disaster in the history of +civilization due to the neglect of so small an expenditure. + +It would be idle to think that this was due simply to parsimony. It was +really due to the false and vicious notion that life at sea must be made +showy, sumptuous and magnificent. The absence of life-boats was not due +to their cost, but to the demand for a great promenade deck, with ample +space to look out on the sea with which a continuous row of life-boats +would have interfered, and to the general tendency to lavish money on +the luxuries of a voyage instead of first insuring its safety. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION + +PROMPT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT--SENATE COMMITTEE PROBES DISASTER AND +BRINGS OUT DETAILS--TESTIMONY OF ISMAY, OFFICERS, CREW, PASSENGERS AND +OTHER WITNESSES + +PUBLIC sentiment with regard to the Titanic disaster was reflected in +the prompt action of the United States Government. + +On April 17th the Senate, without a dissenting vote, ordered an +investigation of the wreck of the Titanic, with particular reference to +the inadequacy of life-saving boats and apparatus. The resolution also +directed inquiry into the use by the Titanic of the northern course +"over a route commonly regarded as dangerous from icebergs." + +Besides investigating the disaster, the committee was directed to +look into the feasibility of international agreements for the further +protection of ocean traffic. + +The Senate Committee on Commerce, in whose charge the investigation was +placed, immediately appointed the following sub-committee to conduct the +gathering of evidence and the examination of witnesses: + +Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan, chairman; Senator Francis +Newlands of Nevada, Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of Oregon, Senator +George C. Perkins of California, Senator Theodore E. Burton of Ohio, +Senator Furnifold McL. Simmons of North Carolina and Senator Duncan U. +Fletcher of Florida. + +The Senate Committee began its investigation in New York on Friday, +April 19th, the morning after the arrival of the Carpathia. + +Ismay, the first witness, came to the witness chair with a smile upon +his face. He was sworn and then told the committee that he made the +voyage on the Titanic only as a voluntary passenger. Nobody designated +him to come to see how the newly launched monster would behave on the +initial trip. He said that no money was spared in the construction, and +as she was built on commission there was no need for the builders to +slight the work for their own benefit. The accident had happened on +Sunday night, April 14th. + +"I was in bed and asleep," he said. "The ship was not going at +full speed, as has been printed, because full speed would be +from seventy-eight to eighty revolutions, and we were making only +seventy-five. After the impact with the iceberg I dressed and went on +deck. I asked the steward what the matter was and he told me. Then I +went to Captain Smith and asked him if the ship was in danger and he +told me he thought she was." + +Ismay said that he went on the bridge and remained there for some time +and then lent a hand in getting the life-boats ready. He helped to get +the women and children into the boats. + +Ismay said that no other executive officer of the steamship company was +on board, which practically made him the sole master of the vessel +the minute it passed beyond the control of the captain and his +fellow-officers. But Ismay, seeming to scent the drift of the questions, +said that he never interfered in any way with the handling of the ship. + +Ismay was asked to give more particulars about his departure from the +ship. He said: + +"The boat was ready to be lowered away and the officer called out if +there were any more women or children to go or any more passengers on +deck, but there was none, and I got on board." + + +CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S TESTIMONY + +Captain Rostron, of the Carpathia, followed Mr. Ismay. He said the first +message received from the Titanic was that she was in immediate danger. +"I gave the order to turn the ship around as soon as the Titanic had +given her position. I set a course to pick up the Titanic, which was +fifty-eight miles west of my position. I sent for the chief engineer, +told him to put on another watch of stokers and make all speed for the +Titanic. I told the first officer to stop all deck work, get out the +life-boats and be ready for any emergency. The chief steward and doctors +of the Carpathia I called to my office and instructed as to their +duties. The English doctor was assigned to the first class dining room, +the Italian doctor to the second class dining room, the Hungarian doctor +to the third class dining room. They were instructed to be ready with +all supplies necessary for any emergency." + + +{illust. caption = DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER STEAMSHIPS TO +THE TITANIC ON NIGHT OF DISASTER.} + + + +The captain told in detail of the arrangements made to prepare the +life-boats and the ship for the receipt of the survivors. + + +WEEPS AS HE TELLS STORY + +Then with tears filling his eyes, Captain Rostron said he called the +purser. "I told him," said Captain Rostron, "I wanted to hold a service +of prayer--thanksgiving for the living and a funeral service for the +dead. I went to Mr. Ismay. He told me to take full charge. An Episcopal +clergyman was found among the passengers and he conducted the services." + + +TITANIC WAS A "LIFE-BOAT." + +Captain Rostron said that the Carpathia had twenty lifeboats of her own, +in accordance with the British regulations. + +"Wouldn't that indicate that the regulations are out of date, your +ship being much smaller than the Titanic, which also carried twenty +life-boats?" Senator Smith asked. + +"No. The Titanic was supposed to be a life-boat herself." + + +WIRELESS FAILED + +Why so few messages came from the Carpathia was gone into. Captain +Rostron declared the first messages, all substantially the same, were +sent to the White Star Line, the Cunard Line and the Associated Press. +Then the first and second cabin passenger lists were sent, when the +wireless failed. + +Senator Smith said some complaint had been heard that the Carpathia had +not answered President Taft's inquiry for Major Butt. Captain Rostron +declared a reply was sent, "Not on board." + +Captain Rostron declared he issued orders for no messages to be sent +except upon orders from him, and for official business to go first, then +private messages from the Titanic survivors in order of filing. + +Absolutely no censorship was exercised, he said. The wire-less continued +working all the way in, the Marconi operator being constantly at the +key. + +Guglielmo Marconi, the wireless inventor, was the next witness. + +Marconi said he was chairman of the British Marconi Company. Under +instructions of the company, he said, operators must take their orders +from the captain of the ship on which they are employed. + +"Do the regulations prescribe whether one or two operators should be +aboard the ocean vessels?" + +"Yes, on ships like the late Titanic and Olympic two are carried," said +Marconi. "The Carpathia, a smaller boat, carries one. The Carpathia's +wireless apparatus is a short-distance equipment." + + +TITANIC WELL EQUIPPED + +"Do you consider that the Titanic was equipped with the latest improved +wireless apparatus?" + +"Yes; I should say that it had the very best." + +"Did you hear the captain of the Carpathia say, in his testimony, +that they caught this distress message from the Titanic almost +providentally?" asked Senator Smith. + +"Yes, I did. It was absolutely providential." + +"Is there any signal for the operator if he is not at his post?'{'} + +"I think there is none," said Marconi. + +"Ought it not be incumbent upon ships to have an operator always at the +key?" + +"Yes; but ship-owners don't like to carry two operators when they can +get along with one. The smaller boat owners do not like the expense of +two operators." + + +SECOND OFFICER TESTIFIES + +Charles Herbert Lightoller, second officer of the Titanic, followed +Marconi on the stand. Mr. Lightoller said he understood the maximum +speed of the Titanic, as shown by its trial tests, to have been +twenty-two and a half to twenty-three knots. Senator Smith asked if +the rule requiring life-saving apparatus to be in each room for each +passenger was complied with. + +"Everything was complete," said Lightoller. "Sixteen life-boats, of +which four were collapsible, were on the Titanic," he added. During the +tests, he said, Captain Clark, of the British Board of Trade, was aboard +the Titanic to inspect its life-saving equipment. + +"How thorough are these captains of the Board of Trade in inspecting +ships?" asked Senator Smith. + +"Captain Clark is so thorough that we called him a nuisance." + + +TITANIC KILLED RAPIDLY + +After testifying to the circumstances under which the life-boats were +filled and lowered, Lightoller continued. "The boat's deck was only ten +feet from the water when I lowered the sixth boat. When we lowered the +first, the distance to the water was seventy feet." + +"If the same course was pursued on the starboard side as you pursued on +the port, in filling boats, how do you account for so many members of +the crew being saved?" asked Chairman Smith. + +"I have inquired especially and have found that for every six persons +picked up, five were either firemen or stewards." + + +COTTAM TELLS HIS STORY + +Thomas Cottam, of Liverpool, the Marconi operator on the Carpathia, was +the next witness. + +Cottam said that he was about ready to retire Sunday night, having +partially removed his clothes, and was waiting for a reply to a message +to the Parisian when he heard Cape Cod trying to call the Titanic. +Cottam called the Titanic operator to inform him of the fact, and +received the reply. 'Come at once; this is a distress message. C. Q. D.' +" + +"What did you do then?" + +"I confirmed the distress message by asking the Titanic if I should +report the distress message to the captain of the Carpathia." + +"How much time elapsed after you received the Titanic's distress message +before you reported it to Captain Rostron?" + +"About a couple of minutes," Cottam answered. + + +COTTAM RECALLED + +When the committee resumed the investigation on April 20th, Cottam was +recalled to the stand. + +Senator Smith asked the witness if he had received any messages from the +time the Carpathia left the scene of the disaster until it reached New +York. The purpose of this question was to discover whether any official +had sought to keep back the news of the disaster. + +"No, sir," answered Cottam. "I reported the entire matter myself to the +steamship Baltic at 10.30 o'clock Monday morning. I told her we had been +to the wreck and had picked up as many of the passengers as we could." + +Cottam denied that he had sent any message that all passengers had been +saved, or anything on which such a report could be based. + +Cottam said he was at work Monday and until Wednesday. He repeated +his testimony of the previous day and said he had been without sleep +throughout Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and until late Wednesday afternoon +when he had been relieved by Bride. + +"Did you or Bride send any message declaring that the Titanic was being +towed into Halifax?" + +"No, sir," said the witness, with emphasis. + + +MARCONI EXPLAINS + +In an effort to determine whether the signal "C. Q. D." might not have +been misunderstood by passing ships, Senator Smith called upon Mr. +Marconi. + +"The 'C. Q.,'" said Marconi, "is an international signal which meant +that all stations should cease sending except the one using the call. +The 'D.' was added to indicate danger. The call, however, now has been +superseded by the universal call, 'S. O. S.'" + +BRIDE ON THE STAND + +Harold S. Bride, the sole surviving operator of the Titanic, was then +called. + +Bride said he knew the Frankfurt was nearer than the Carpathia when he +called for assistance, but that he ceased his efforts to communicate +with the former because her operator persisted in asking, "What is the +matter?" despite Bride's message that the ship was in distress. + +Time after time Senator Smith asked in varying forms why the Titanic did +not explain its condition to the Frankfurt. + +"Any operator receiving 'C. Q. D.' and the position of the ship, if he +is on the job," said Bride, "would tell the captain at once." + +Marconi again testified to the distress signals, and said that the +Frankfurt was equipped with Marconi wireless. He said that the receipt +of the signal "C. Q. D." by the Frankfurt's operator should have been +all-sufficient to send the Frankfurt to the immediate rescue. + + +ALL APPEALS RECEIVED + +Under questioning by Senator Smith, Bride said that undoubtedly the +Frankfurt received all of the urgent appeals for help sent subsequently +to the Carpathia. + + +INVESTIGATION CARRIED TO WASHINGTON + +The first witness when the investigation was resumed in Washington on +April 22d was P. A. S. Franklin, vice-president of the International +Mercantile Marine Company. + +Franklin testified that he had had no communication with Captain Smith +during the Titanic's voyage, nor with Ismay, except one cable from +Southampton. + +Senator Smith then showed Mr. Franklin the telegram received by +Congressman Hughes, of West Virginia, from the White Star Line, dated +New York, April 15th, and addressed to J. A. Hughes, Huntington, W. Va., +as follows: + + +"Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Passengers probably land on Wednesday. +All safe. + + (Signed) "THE WHITE STAR LINE. " + + +TELEGRAM A MYSTERY + +"I ask you," continued the senator, "whether you know about the sending +of that telegram, by whom it was authorized and from whom it was sent?" + +"I do not, sir," said Franklin. "Since it was mentioned at the Waldorf +Saturday we have had the entire passenger staff examined and we cannot +find out." + +Asked when he first knew that the Titanic had sunk, Franklin said he +first knew it about 6.27 P.M., Monday. + +Mr. Franklin then produced a thick package of telegrams which he had +received in relation to the disaster. + +"About twenty minutes of two on Monday morning," said he, "I was +awakened by a telephone bell, and was called by a reporter for some +paper who informed me that the Titanic had met with an accident and was +sinking. I asked him where he got the information. He told me that +it had come by wireless from the steamship Virginian, which had been +appealed to by the Titanic for aid." + +Mr. Franklin said he called up the White Star docks, but they had no +information, and he then appealed to the Associated Press, and there was +read to him a dispatch from Cape Race advising him of the accident. + +"I asked the Associated Press," said Mr. Franklin, "not to send out +the dispatch until we had more detailed information, in order to avoid +causing unnecessary alarm. I was told, however, that the story already +had been sent." + +The reassuring statements sent out by the line in the early hours of the +disaster next were made the subject of inquiry. + +"Tell the committee on what you based those statements," directed +Senator Smith. + +"We based them on reports and rumors received at Cape Race by +individuals and by the newspapers. They were rumors, and we could not +place our finger on anything authentic." + + +FIRST DEFINITE NEWS + +"At 6.20 or 6.30 Monday evening," Mr. Franklin continued, "a message was +received telling the fateful news that the Carpathia reached the Titanic +and found nothing but boats and wreckage; that the Titanic had foundered +at 2.20 A.M. in 41.16 north, 50.14 west; that the Carpathia picked up +all the boats and had on board about 675 Titanic survivors--passengers +and crew. + +"It was such a terrible shock that it took me several moments to think +what to do. Then I went downstairs to the reporters, I began to read the +message, holding it high in my hand. I had read only to the second line, +which said that the Titanic had sunk, when there was not a reporter +left--they were so anxious to get to the telephones. + + +SAFETY EQUIPMENT + +"The Titanic's equipment was in excess of the law," said the witness. +"It carried its clearance in the shape of a certificate from the British +Board of Trade. I might say that no vessel can leave a British port +without a certificate that it is equipped to care for human lives aboard +in case of accident. It is the law." + +"Do you know of anyone, any officer or man or any official, whom you +deem could be held responsible for the accident and its attendant loss +of life?" + +"Positively not. No one thought such an accident could happen. It was +undreamed of. I think it would be absurd to try to hold some individual +responsible. Every precaution was taken; that the precautions were of +no avail is a source of the deepest sorrow. But the accident was +unavoidable." + + +FOURTH OFFICER TESTIFIES + +J. B. Boxhall, the fourth officer, was then questioned. + +"Were there any drills or any inspection before the Titanic sailed?" he +was asked. + +"Both," said the witness. "The men were mustered and the life-boats +lowered in the presence of the inspectors from the Board of Trade." + +"How many boats were lowered?" + +"Just two, sir." + +"One on each side of the ship?" + +"No, sir. They were both on the same side. We were lying in dock." + +The witness said he did not know whether the lowering tackle ran free or +not on that occasion. + +"In lowering the life-boats at the test, did the gear work +satisfactorily?" + +"So far as I know." + +In lowering a life-boat, he said, first the boat has to be cleared, +chocks knocked down and the boat hangs free. Then the davits are screwed +out to the ship's side and the boat lowered. + +At the time of the tests all officers of the Titanic were present. + +Boxhall said that under the weather conditions experienced at the +time of the collision the life-boats were supposed to carry sixty-five +persons. Under the regulations of the British Board of Trade, in +addition to the oars, there were in the boats water breakers, water +dippers, bread, bailers, mast and sail and lights and a supply of oil. +All of these supplies, said Boxhall, were in the boats when the Titanic +left Belfast. He could not say whether they were in when the vessel left +Southampton. + +"Now," repeated Senator Smith, "suppose the weather was clear and the +sky unruffled, as it was at the time of the disaster, how many would the +boat hold?" + +"Really, I don't know. It would depend largely upon the people who +were to enter. If they did as they were told I believe each boat could +accommodate sixty-five persons." + +Boxhall testified to the sobriety and good habits of his superior and +brother officers. + + +NO TRACE OF DAMAGE INSIDE + +Boxhall said he went down to the steerage, inspected all the decks in +the vicinity of where the ship had struck, found no traces of any damage +and went directly to the bridge and so reported. + + +CARPENTER FOUND LEAKS + +"The captain ordered me to send a carpenter to sound the ship, but I +found a carpenter coming up with the announcement that the ship was +taking water. In the mail room I found mail sacks floating about while +the clerks were at work. I went to the bridge and reported, and the +captain ordered the life-boats to be made ready." + +Boxhall testified that at Captain Smith's orders he took word of the +ship's position to the wireless operators. + +"What position was that?" + +"Forty-one forty-six north, fifty fourteen west." + +"Was that the last position taken?" + +"Yes, the Titanic stood not far from there when she sank." + +After that Boxhall went back to the life-boats, where there were many +men and women. He said they had been provided with life-belts. + + +{illust. caption = THE EFFECTS OF STRIKING AN ICEBERG + +(1) Shows normal....} + + +DISTRESS ROCKETS FIRED + +"After that I was on the bridge most of the time sending out distress +signals, trying to attract the attention of boats ahead," he said. "I +sent up distress rockets until I left the ship, to try to attract the +attention of a ship directly ahead. I had seen her lights. She seemed to +be meeting us and was not far away. She got close enough, so she seemed +to me, to read our Morse electric signals." + +"Suppose you had a powerful search light on the Titanic, could you not +have thrown a beam on the vessel and have compelled her attention?" + +"We might." + +H. J. Pitman, the third officer of the ship, was the first witness on +April 23d. By a series of searching questions Senator Fletcher brought +out the fact that when the collision occurred the Titanic was going at +the greatest speed attained during the trip, even though the ship was +entering the Grand Banks and had been advised of the presence of ice. + +Frederick Fleet, a sailor and lookout man on the Titanic, followed +Pitman on the stand. Fleet said he had had five or six years' experience +at sea and was lookout on the Oceanic prior to going on the Titanic. He +was in the crow's nest at the time of the collision. + +Fleet stated that he had kept a sharp lookout for ice, and testified to +seeing the iceberg and signaling the bridge. + +Fleet acknowledged that if he had been aided in his observations by a +good glass he probably could have spied the berg into which the ship +crashed in time to have warned the bridge to avoid it. Major Arthur +Peuchen, of Toronto, a passenger who followed Fleet on the stand, also +testified to the much greater sweep of vision afforded by binoculars +and, as a yachtsman, said he believed the presence of the iceberg might +have been detected in time to escape the collision had the lookout men +been so equipped. + + +HAD ASKED FOR BINOCULARS + +It was made to appear that the blame for being without glasses did +not rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they had asked for them at +Southampton and were told there were none for them. One glass, in a +pinch, would have served in the crow's nest. + +The testimony before the committee on April 24th showed that the big +steamship was on the verge of a field of ice twenty or thirty miles +long, if she had not actually entered it, when the accident occurred. + +The committee tried to discover whether it would add to human safety if +the ships were fitted with search lights so that at night objects could +be seen at a greater distance. The testimony so far along this line had +been conflicting. Some of the witnesses thought it would be no harm to +try it, but they were all skeptical as to its value, as an iceberg would +not be especially distinguishable because its bulk is mostly below the +surface. + +One of the witnesses said that much dependence is not placed upon the +lookout, and that those lookouts who used binoculars constantly found +them detrimental. + +Harold G. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, told the committee +his part in the struggle of the survivors for life following the +catastrophe. The details of this struggle have have already been told in +a previous chapter. + + +AUTHORIZED TO SELL STORY + +In great detail Guglielmo Marconi, on April 25th, explained the +operations of his system and told how he had authorized Operator Bride +of the Titanic, and Operator Cottam, of the Carpathia, to sell their +stories of the disaster after they came ashore. + +In allowing the operator's to sell their stories, said Mr. Marconi, +there was no question of suppressing or monopolizing the news. He had +done everything he could, he said, to have the country informed as +quickly as possible of the details of the disaster. That was why he was +particularly glad for the narratives of such important witnesses as +the operators to receive publication, regardless of the papers that +published them. + +He repeated the testimony of Cottam that every effort had been made to +get legitimate dispatches ashore. The cruiser Chester, he said, had been +answered as fully as possible, though it was not known at the time that +its queries came from the President of the United States. The Salem, he +said, had never got in touch with the Carpathia operator. + +Senator Newlands suggested that the telegrams, some signed by the name +of Mr. Sammis and some with the name of Marconi, directing Cottam to +"keep his mouth shut" and hold out for four figures on his story, was +sent only as the Carpathia was entering New York harbor, when there +was no longer need for sending official or private messages from the +rescuing ship. There had been an impression before, he said, that the +messages had been sent to Cottam when the ship was far at sea, when they +might have meant that he was to hold back messages relieving the anxiety +of those on shore. + + +SAW DISTRESS ROCKETS + +Ernest Gill, a donkey engineman on the steamship Californian, was the +first witness on April 26th. He said that Captain Stanley Lord, of the +Californian, refused later to go to the aid of the Titanic, the rockets +from which could be plainly seen. He says the captain was apprised of +these signals, but made no effort to get up steam and go to the rescue. +The Californian was drifting with the floe. So indignant did he become, +said Gill, that he endeavored to recruit a committee of protest from +among the crew, but the men failed him. + +Captain Lord entered a sweeping denial of Gill's accusations and read +from the Californian's log to support his contention. Cyril Evans, the +Californian's wireless operator, however, told of hearing much talk +among the crew, who were critical of the captain's course. Gill, he +said, told him he expected to get $500 for his story when the ship +reached Boston. + +Evans told of having warned the Titanic only a brief time before the +great vessel crashed into the berg that the sea was crowded with ice. +The Titanic's operators, he said, at the time were working with the +wireless station at Cape Race, and they told him to "shut up" and keep +out. Within a half hour the pride of the sea was crumpled and sinking. + +Members of the committee who examined individually the British +sailors and stewards of the Titanic's crew prepared a report of their +investigations for the full committee. This testimony was ordered to be +incorporated in the record of the hearings. + +Most of this testimony was but a repetition of experiences similar to +the many already related by those who got away in the life-boats. + +On April 27th Captain James H. Moore, of the steamship Mount Temple, who +hurried to the Titanic in response to wireless calls for help, told of +the great stretch of field ice which held him off. Within his view +from the bridge he discerned, he said, a strange steamship, probably +a "tramp," and a schooner which was making her way out of the ice. The +lights of this schooner, he thought, probably were those seen by the +anxious survivors of the Titanic and which they were frantically trying +to reach. + + +WOMEN AT HEARING WEEP + +Steward Crawford also related a thrilling story in regard to loading +the life-boats with women first. He told of several instances that came +under his observation of women throwing their arms around their husbands +and crying out that they would not leave the ship without them. The +pathetic recital caused several women at the hearing to weep, and all +within earshot of the steward's story were thrilled. + + +ANDREWS WAS BRAVE + +Stories that Mr. Andrews, the designer of the ship, had tried to +disguise the extent of danger were absolutely denied by Henry Samuel +Etches, his bedroom steward, who told the committee how Mr. Andrews +urged women back to their cabins to dress more warmly and to put on +life-belts. + +The steward, whose duty it was to serve Major Butt and his party, told +how he did not see the Major at dinner the evening of the disaster as +he was dining with a private party in the restaurant. William Burke, a +first class steward, told of serving dinner at 7.15 o'clock to Mr. and +Mrs. Straus, and later Mrs. Straus' refusal to leave her husband +was again told to the committee. A bedroom steward told of a quiet +conversation with Benjamin Guggenheim, Senator Guggenheim's brother, +after the accident and shortly before the Titanic settled in the plunge +that was to be his death. + +On April 29th Marconi produced copies of several messages which passed +between the Marconi office and the Carpathia in an effort to get +definite information of the wreck and the survivors. + +Marconi and F. M. Sammis, chief engineer of the American Marconi +Company, both acknowledged that a mistake had been made in sending +messages to Bride and Cottam on board the Carpathia not to give out any +news until they had seen Marconi and Sammis. + +The senatorial committee investigating the Titanic disaster has served +several good purposes. It has officially established the fact that all +nations are censurable for insufficient, antiquated safety regulations +on ocean vessels, and it has emphasized the imperative necessity for +united action among all maritime countries to revise these laws and +adapt them to changed conditions. + + +The committee reported its findings as follows: + +GENERAL CONCLUSIONS + +No particular person is named as being responsible, though attention +is called to the fact that on the day of the disaster three distinct +warnings of ice were sent to Captain Smith. J. Bruce Ismay, managing +director of the White Star Line, is not held responsible for the ship's +high speed. In fact, he is barely mentioned in the report. + +Ice positions, so definitely reported to the Titanic just preceding +the accident, located ice on both sides of the lane in which she was +traveling. No discussion took place among the officers, no conference +was called to consider these warnings, no heed was given to them. The +speed was not relaxed, the lookout was not increased. + +The supposedly water-tight compartments of the Titanic were not +water-tight, because of the non-water-tight condition of the decks where +the transverse bulkheads ended. + +The steamship Californian, controlled by the same concern as the +Titanic, was nearer the sinking steamship than the nineteen miles +reported by her captain, and her officers and crew saw the distress +signals of the Titanic and failed to respond to them in accordance with +the dictates of humanity, international usage and the requirements of +law. Had assistance been promptly proffered the Californian might have +had the proud distinction of rescuing the lives of the passengers and +crew of the Titanic. + +The mysterious lights on an unknown ship, seen by the passengers on the +Titanic, undoubtedly were on the Californian, less than nineteen miles +away. + +Eight ships, all equipped with wireless, were in the vicinity of the +Titanic, the Olympic farthest away--512 miles. + +The full capacity of the Titanic's life-boats was not utilized, because, +while only 705 persons were saved, the ship's boats could have carried +1176. + +No general alarm was sounded, no whistle blown and no systematic warning +was given to the endangered passengers, and it was fifteen or twenty +minutes after the collision before Captain Smith ordered the Titanic's +wireless operator to send out a distress message. + +The Titanic's crew were only meagerly acquainted with their positions +and duties in an accident and only one drill was held before the maiden +trip. Many of the crew joined the ship only a few hours before she +sailed and were in ignorance of their positions until the following +Friday. + +Many more lives could have been saved had the survivors been +concentrated in a few life-boats, and had the boats thus released +returned to the wreck for others. + +The first official information of the disaster was the message from +Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, received by the White Star Line at +6.16 P. M., Monday, April 15. In the face of this information a message +reporting the Titanic being towed to Halifax was sent to Representative +J. A. Hughes, at Huntington, W. Va., at 7.51 P. M. that day. The message +was delivered to the Western Union office in the same building as the +White Star Line offices. + +"Whoever sent this message," says the report, "under the circumstances, +is guilty of the most reprehensible conduct." + +The wireless operator on the Carpathia was not duly vigilant in handling +his messages after the accident. + +The practice of allowing wireless operators to sell their stories should +be stopped. + + +RECOMMENDATIONS. + +It is recommended that all ships carrying more than 100 passengers shall +have two searchlights. + +That a revision be made of steamship inspection laws of foreign +countries to conform to the standard proposed in the United States. + +That every ship be required to carry sufficient life-boats for all +passengers and crew. + +That the use of wireless be regulated to prevent interference by +amateurs, and that all ships have a wireless operator on constant duty. + +Detailed recommendations are made as to water-tight bulkhead +construction on ocean-going ships. Bulkheads should be so spaced +that any two adjacent compartments of a ship might be flooded without +sinking. + +Transverse bulkheads forward and abaft the machinery should be continued +watertight to the uppermost continuous structural deck, and this deck +should be fitted water-tight. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sinking of the Titanic, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SINKING OF THE TITANIC *** + +***** This file should be named 781.txt or 781.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/781/ + +Produced by Charles Keller and Mike Lough + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + +Sinking of the Titanic +and Great Sea Disasters + +Edited by Logan Marshall + + + + +The lists of names of people need to be carefully rechecked!! +There are possible misspellings we would not be aware of. + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller with +OmniPage Professional OCR software +purchased from Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. +Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> + + + + + +Pre-Frontispiece Caption: +THE TITANIC + +The largest and finest steamship in the world; on her maiden voyage, +loaded with a human freight of over 2,300 souls, she collided with +a huge iceberg 600 miles southeast of Halifax, at 11.40 P.M. Sunday +April 14, 1912, and sank two and a half hours later, carrying over +1,600 of her passengers and crew with her. + + + +Frontispiece Caption: +CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH + +Of the ill-fated giant of the sea; a brave and seasoned commander +who was carried to his death with his last and greatest ship.} + + + +Sinking of the Titanic +and +Great Sea Disasters + +A Detailed and Accurate Account of the Most +Awful Marine Disaster in History, Constructed +from the Real Facts as Obtained from Those on +Board Who Survived .. .. .. .. .. + +ONLY AUTHORITATIVE BOOK + +INCLUDING +Records of Previous Great Disasters of the Sea, +Descriptions of the Developments of Safety and +Life-saving Appliances, a Plain Statement of +the Causes of Such Catastrophes and How to +Avoid Them, the Marvelous Development of +Shipbuilding, etc. + +With a Message of Spiritual Consolation by +REV. HENRY VAN DYKE, D.D. + +EDITED BY +LOGAN MARSHALL + +Author of "Life of Theodore Roosevelt," etc. + +ILLUSTRATED +With Numerous Authentic Photographs and Drawings + + + +Dedication + +To the 1635 souls who were lost with the +ill-fated Titanic, and especially to those +heroic men, who, instead of trying to +save themselves, stood aside that women +and children might have their chance; of +each of them let it be written, as it was +written of a Greater One-- +"He Died that Others might Live" + + +"I stood in unimaginable trance +And agony that cannot be remembered." +--COLERIDGE + + + +Dr. Van Dyke's Spiritual Consolation +to the Survivors of the Titanic + + +The Titanic, greatest of ships, has gone to her ocean +grave. What has she left behind her? Think clearly. + +She has left debts. Vast sums of money have been lost. +Some of them are covered by insurance which will be paid. +The rest is gone. All wealth is insecure. + +She has left lessons. The risk of running the northern +course when it is menaced by icebergs is revealed. The +cruelty of sending a ship to sea without enough life-boats and +life-rafts to hold her company is exhibited and underlined +in black. + +She has left sorrows. Hundreds of human hearts and +homes are in mourning for the loss of dear companions and +friends. The universal sympathy which is written in every +face and heard in every voice proves that man is more than +the beasts that perish. It is an evidence of the divine in +humanity. Why should we care? There is no reason in +the world, unless there is something in us that is different +from lime and carbon and phosphorus, something that makes +us mortals able to suffer together-- + "For we have all of us an human heart." + +But there is more than this harvest of debts, and lessons, +and sorrows, in the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. +There is a great ideal. It is clearly outlined and set before +the mind and heart of the modern world, to approve and follow, +or to despise and reject. + +It is, "Women and children first!" + +Whatever happened on that dreadful April night among +the arctic ice, certainly that was the order given by the brave +and steadfast captain; certainly that was the law obeyed by +the men on the doomed ship. But why? There is no statute +or enactment of any nation to enforce such an order. There +is no trace of such a rule to be found in the history of ancient +civilizations. There is no authority for it among the heathen +races to-day. On a Chinese ship, if we may believe the report +of an official representative, the rule would have been "Men +First, children next, and women last." + +There is certainly no argument against this barbaric +rule on physical or material grounds. On the average, a man +is stronger than a woman, he is worth more than a woman, +he has a longer prospect of life than a woman. There is no +reason in all the range of physical and economic science, no +reason in all the philosophy of the Superman, why he should +give his place in the life-boat to a woman. + +Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking +Titanic come from? It comes from God, through the faith +of Jesus of Nazareth. + +It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the +strong ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." +It is the divine revelation which is summed up in the words: +"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down +his life for his friends." + +It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic +to bring out the absolute contradiction between this ideal +and all the counsels of materialism and selfish expediency. + +I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found +in other religions. I do not say that they are against it. I +do not ask any man to accept my theology (which grows +shorter and simpler as I grow older), unless his heart leads +him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the strength of +the strong is given them to protect and save the weak, the +ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," +is in essential harmony with the spirit of Christ. + +If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this +ideal is supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find +arguments for it. The tragedy of facts sets the question +clearly before us. Think about it. Is this ideal to survive +and prevail in our civilization or not? + +Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and +dominion. But what a world to live in! + +Only through the belief that the strong are bound to +protect and save the weak because God wills it so, can we +hope to keep self-sacrifice, and love, and heroism, and all the +things that make us glad to live and not afraid to die. + +HENRY VAN DYKE. +PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I +FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY + +"The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"--Another triumph +set down to wireless telegraphy--The world goes to sleep peacefully--The +sad awakening + +CHAPTER II +THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + +Dimensions of the Titanic--Capacity--Provisions for the comfort +and entertainment of passengers--Mechanical equipment--The army of +attendants required + +CHAPTER III +THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + +Preparations for the voyage--Scenes of gayety--The boat sails-- +Incidents of the voyage--A collision narrowly averted--The boat on fire-- +Warned of icebergs + +CHAPTER IV +SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS + +Sketches of prominent men and women on board, including Major +Archibald Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, +J. Bruce Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d, +Charles M. Hays, W. T. Stead and others + +CHAPTER V +THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! + +Tardy attention to warning responsible for accident--The danger +not realized at first--An interrupted card game--Passengers joke among +themselves--The real truth dawns--Panic on board--Wireless calls for help. + +CHAPTER VI +"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" + +Cool-headed officers and crew bring order out of chaos--Filling the +life-boats--Heartrending scenes as families are parted--Four life-boats +lost--Incidents of bravery--"The boats are all filled!" + +CHAPTER VII +LEFT TO THEIR FATE + +Coolness and heroism of those left to perish--Suicide of Murdock-- +Captain Smith's end--The ship's band plays a noble hymn as the vessel +goes down. + +CHAPTER VIII +THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD + +The value of the wireless--Other ships alter their course--Rescuers +on the way. + +CHAPTER IX +IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS + +Sorrow and suffering--The survivors see the Titanic go down with +their loved ones on board--A night of agonizing suspense--Women help +to row--Help arrives--Picking up the life-boats. + +CHAPTER X +ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA + +Aid for the suffering and hysterical--Burying the dead--Vote of +thanks to Captain Rostron of the Carpathia--Identifying those saved-- +Communicating with land--The passage to New York. + +CHAPTER XI +PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS + +Police arrangements--Donations of money and supplies--Hospital +and ambulances made ready--Private houses thrown open--Waiting for +the Carpathia to arrive--The ship sighted! + +CHAPTER XII +THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING + +The Carpathia reaches New York--An intense and dramatic moment +--Hysterical reunions and crushing disappointments at the dock--Caring +for the sufferers--Final realization that all hope for others is futile--List +of survivors--Roll of the dead. + +CHAPTER XIII +THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD + +How the Titanic sank--Water strewn with dead bodies-- +Victims met death with hymn on their lips. + +CHAPTER XIV +THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + +Collision only a slight jar--Passengers could not believe the vessel +doomed--Narrow escape of life-boats--Picked up by the Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XV +JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK + +Seventeen-year-old son of Pennsylvania Railroad official tells moving +story of his rescue--Told mother to be brave--Separated from parents-- +Jumped when vessel sank--Drifted on overturned boat--Picked up by Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XVI +INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + +Women forced into the life-boats--Why some men were saved before +women--Asked to man life-boats. + +CHAPTER XVII +WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK + +Story of Harold Bride, the surviving wireless operator of the Titanic, +who was washed overboard and rescued by life-boat--Band played ragtime +and "Autumn". + +CHAPTER XVIII +STORY OF THE STEWARD + +Passengers and crew dying when taken aboard Carpathia--One woman +saved a dog--English colonel swam for hours when boat with +mother aboard capsized. + +CHAPTER XIX +HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + +Nations prostrate with grief--Messages from kings and cardinals-- +Disaster stirs world to necessity of stricter regulations. + +CHAPTER XX +BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + +Illustrious career of Captain E. J. Smith--Brave to the last-- +Maintenance of order and discipline--Acts of heroism--Engineers died at posts +--Noble-hearted band. + +CHAPTER XXI +SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD + +Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia--Bremen passengers +see bodies--Identifying bodies--Confusion in names--Recoveries. + +CHAPTER XXII +CRITICISM OF ISMAY + +Criminal and cowardly conduct charged--Proper caution not exercised +when presence of icebergs was known--Should have stayed on board +to help in work of rescue--Selfish and unsympathetic actions on board +the Carpathia--Ismay's defense--William E. Carter's statement. + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE FINANCIAL LOSS + +Titanic not fully insured--Valuable cargo and mail--No chance for +salvage--Life insurance loss--Loss to the Carpathia. + +CHAPTER XXIV +OPINIONS OF EXPERTS + +Captain E. K. Roden, Lewis Nixon, General Greely and Robert H. +Kirk point out lessons taught by Titanic disaster and needed changes +in construction. + +CHAPTER XXV +OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS. + +Deadly danger of icebergs--Dozens of ships perish in collision-- +Other disasters. + +CHAPTER XXVI +DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING + +Evolution of water travel--Increases in size of vessels-- +Is there any limit?--Achievements in speed--Titanic not the last word. + +CHAPTER XXVII +SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + +Wireless telegraphy--Water-tight bulkheads--Submarine signals-- +Life-boats and rafts--Nixon's pontoon--Life-preservers and buoys--Rockets. + +CHAPTER XXVIII +TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORM + +Speed and luxury overemphasized--Space needed for life-boats +devoted to swimming pools and squash-courts--Mania for speed records +compels use of dangerous routes and prevents proper caution in foggy +weather--Life more valuable than luxury--Safety more important than +speed--An aroused public opinion necessary--International conference +recommended--Adequate life-saving equipment should be compulsory-- +Speed regulations in bad weather--Co-operation in arranging schedules +to keep vessels within reach of each other--Legal regulations. + +CHAPTER XXIX +THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION + +Prompt action of the Government--Senate committee probes disaster +and brings out details--Testimony of Ismay, officers, crew passengers +and other witnesses. + + + +FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC + +NUMBER of persons aboard, 2340. +Number of life-boats and rafts, 20. +Capacity of each life-boat, 50 passengers and crew of 8. +Utmost capacity of life-boats and rafts, about 1100. +Number of life-boats wrecked in launching, 4. +Capacity of life-boats safely launched, 928. +Total number of persons taken in life-boats, 711. +Number who died in life-boats, 6. +Total number saved, 705. +Total number of Titanic's company lost, 1635. + +The cause of the disaster was a collision with an iceberg in latitude +41.46 north, longitude 50.14 west. The Titanic had had repeated +warnings of the presence of ice in that part of the course. +Two official warnings had been received defining the position of the +ice fields. It had been calculated on the Titanic that she would +reach the ice fields about 11 o'clock Sunday night. The collision +occurred at 11.40. At that time the ship was driving at a speed +of 21 to 23 knots, or about 26 miles, an hour. + +There had been no details of seamen assigned to each boat. + +Some of the boats left the ship without seamen enough to man +the oars. + +Some of the boats were not more than half full of passengers. + +The boats had no provisions, some of them had no water stored, +some were without sail equipment or compasses. + +In some boats, which carried sails wrapped and bound, there +was not a person with a knife to cut the ropes. In some boats the +plugs in the bottom had been pulled out and the women passengers +were compelled to thrust their hands into the holes to keep the +boats from filling and sinking. + +The captain, E. J. Smith, admiral of the White Star fleet, went +down with his ship. + + + +CHAPTER I + +FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY + +"THE TITANIC IN COLLISION, BUT EVERYBODY SAFE"-- +ANOTHER TRIUMPH SET DOWN TO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY-- +THE WORLD GOES TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY--THE SAD AWAKENING. + +LIKE a bolt out of a clear sky came the wireless message +on Monday, April 15, 1912, that on Sunday night +the great Titanic, on her maiden voyage across the +Atlantic, had struck a gigantic iceberg, but that all the +passengers were saved. The ship had signaled her distress and +another victory was set down to wireless. Twenty-one +hundred lives saved! + +Additional news was soon received that the ship had collided +with a mountain of ice in the North Atlantic, off Cape Race, +Newfoundland, at 10.25 Sunday evening, April 14th. At +4.15 Monday morning the Canadian Government Marine +Agency received a wireless message that the Titanic was sinking +and that the steamers towing her were trying to get her into +shoal water near Cape Race, for the purpose of beaching her. + +Wireless despatches up to noon Monday showed that the +passengers of the Titanic were being transferred aboard the +steamer Carpathia, a Cunarder, which left New York, April +13th, for Naples. Twenty boat-loads of the Titanic's passengers +were said to have been transferred to the Carpathia +then, and allowing forty to sixty persons as the capacity of +each life-boat, some 800 or 1200 persons had already been +transferred from the damaged liner to the Carpathia. They +were reported as being taken to Halifax, whence they would +be sent by train to New York. + +Another liner, the Parisian, of the Allan Company, which +sailed from Glasgow for Halifax on April 6th, was said to be +close at hand and assisting in the work of rescue. The Baltic, +Virginian and Olympic were also near the scene, according to +the information received by wireless. + +While badly damaged, the giant vessel was reported as +still afloat, but whether she could reach port or shoal water +was uncertain. The White Star officials declared that the +Titanic was in no immediate danger of sinking, because of +her numerous water-tight compartments. + +"While we are still lacking definite information," Mr. +Franklin, vice-president of the White Star Line, said later +in the afternoon, "we believe the Titanic's passengers will +reach Halifax, Wednesday evening. We have received no +further word from Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, or from +any of the ships in the vicinity, but are confident that there +will be no loss of life." + +With the understanding that the survivors would be taken +to Halifax the line arranged to have thirty Pullman cars, +two diners and many passenger coaches leave Boston Monday +night for Halifax to get the passengers after they were landed. +Mr. Franklin made a guess that the Titanic's passengers +would get into Halifax on Wednesday. The Department of +Commerce and Labor notified the White Star Line that customs +and immigration inspectors would be sent from Montreal +to Halifax in order that there would be as little delay as +possible in getting the passengers on trains. + +Monday night the world slept in peace and assurance. +A wireless message had finally been received, reading: + +"All Titanic's passengers safe." + +It was not until nearly a week later that the fact was +discovered that this message had been wrongly received in +the confusion of messages flashing through the air, and that +in reality the message should have read: + +"Are all Titanic's passengers safe?" + +With the dawning of Tuesday morning came the awful news +of the true fate of the Titanic. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT + +DIMENSIONS OF THE TITANIC--CAPACITY--PROVISIONS FOR +THE COMFORT AND ENTERTAINMENT OF PASSENGERS-- +MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT THE ARMY OF ATTENDANTS REQUIRED. + +THE statistical record of the great ship has news value +at this time. + +Early in 1908 officials of the White Star Company +announced that they would eclipse all previous records in +shipbuilding with a vessel of staggering dimensions. The +Titanic resulted. + +The keel of the ill-fated ship was laid in the summer of +1909 at the Harland & Wolff yards, Belfast. Lord Pirrie, +considered one of the best authorities on shipbuilding in the +world, was the designer. The leviathan was launched on +May 31, 1911, and was completed in February, 1912, at a +cost of $10,000,000. + + +SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC + +The Titanic, largest liner in commission, was a sister ship +of the Olympic. The registered tonnage of each vessel is +estimated as 45,000, but officers of the White Star Line say +that the Titanic measured 45,328 tons. The Titanic was +commanded by Captain E. J. Smith, the White Star admiral, +who had previously been on the Olympic. + +She was 882 1/2 long, or about four city blocks, and +was 5000 tons bigger than a battleship twice as large as the +dreadnought Delaware. + +Like her sister ship, the Olympic, the Titanic was a four- +funneled vessel, and had eleven decks. The distance from +the keel to the top of the funnels was 175 feet. She had an +average speed of twenty-one knots. + +The Titanic could accommodate 2500 passengers. The +steamship was divided into numerous compartments, separated +by fifteen bulkheads. She was equipped with a gymnasium, +swimming pool, hospital with operating room, and +a grill and palm garden. + + +CARRIED CREW OF 860 + +The registered tonnage was 45,000, and the displacement +tonnage 66,000. She was capable of carrying 2500 passengers +and the crew numbered 860. + +The largest plates employed in the hull were 36 feet long, +weighing 43 1/2 tons each, and the largest steel beam used was +92 feet long, the weight of this double beam being 4 tons. +The rudder, which was operated electrically, weighed 100 +tons, the anchors 15 1/2 tons each, the center (turbine) propeller +22 tons, and each of the two "wing" propellers 38 +tons each. The after "boss-arms," from which were sus- +pended the three propeller shafts, tipped the scales at 73 1/2 +tons, and the forward "boss-arms" at 45 tons. Each link +in the anchor-chains weighed 175 pounds. There were more +than 2000 side-lights and windows to light the public rooms +and passenger cabins. + +Nothing was left to chance in the construction of the +Titanic. Three million rivets (weighing 1200 tons) held the +solid plates of steel together. To insure stability in binding +the heavy plates in the double bottom, half a million rivets, +weighing about 270 tons, were used. + +All the plating of the hulls was riveted by hydraulic power, +driving seven-ton riveting machines, suspended from traveling +cranes. The double bottom extended the full +length of the vessel, varying from 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 3 +inches in depth, and lent added strength to the hull. + + +MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP + +Not only was the Titanic the largest steamship afloat but +it was the most luxurious. Elaborately furnished cabins +opened onto her eleven decks, and some of these decks were +reserved as private promenades that were engaged with the +best suites. One of these suites was sold for $4350 for the +boat's maiden and only voyage. Suites similar, but which +were without the private promenade decks, sold for $2300. + +The Titanic differed in some respects from her sister ship. +The Olympic has a lower promenade deck, but in the Titanic's +case the staterooms were brought out flush with the outside +of the superstructure, and the rooms themselves made much +larger. The sitting rooms of some of the suites on this deck +were 15 x 15 feet. + +The restaurant was much larger than that of the Olympic +and it had a novelty in the shape of a private promenade deck +on the starboard side, to be used exclusively by its patrons. +Adjoining it was a reception room, where hosts and hostesses +could meet their guests. + +Two private promenades were connected with the two most +luxurious suites on the ship. The suites were situated about +amidships, one on either side of the vessel, and each was about +fifty feet long. One of the suites comprised a sitting room, +two bedrooms and a bath. + +These private promenades were expensive luxuries. The +cost figured out something like forty dollars a front foot for +a six days' voyage. They, with the suites to which they are +attached, were the most expensive transatlantic accommodations +yet offered. + + +THE ENGINE ROOM + +The engine room was divided into two sections, one given +to the reciprocating engines and the other to the turbines. +There were two sets of the reciprocating kind, one working each +of the wing propellers through a four-cylinder triple expansion, +direct acting inverted engine. Each set could generate 15,000 +indicated horse-power at seventy-five revolutions a minute. +The Parsons type turbine takes steam from the reciprocating +engines, and by developing a horse-power of 16,000 at 165 +revolutions a minute works the third of the ship's propellers, +the one directly under the rudder. Of the four funnels of the +vessel three were connected with the engine room, and the +fourth or after funnel for ventilating the ship including the +gallery. + +Practically all of the space on the Titanic below the upper +deck was occupied by steam-generating plant, coal bunkers +and propelling machinery. Eight of the fifteen water-tight +compartments contained the mechanical part of the vessel. There +were, for instance, twenty-four double end and five single end +boilers, each 16 feet 9 inches in diameter, the larger 20 feet long +and the smaller 11 feet 9 inches long. The larger boilers had +six fires under each of them and the smaller three furnaces. +Coal was stored in bunker space along the side of the ship +between the lower and middle decks, and was first shipped +from there into bunkers running all the way across the vessel +in the lowest part. From there the stokers handed it into +the furnaces. + +One of the most interesting features of the vessel was the +refrigerating plant, which comprised a huge ice-making and +refrigerating machine and a number of provision rooms on the +after part of the lower and orlop decks. There were separate +cold rooms for beef, mutton, poultry, game, fish, vegetables, +fruit, butter, bacon, cheese, flowers, mineral water, wine, +spirits and champagne, all maintained at different temperatures +most suitable to each. Perishable freight had a compartment +of its own, also chilled by the plant. + +COMFORT AND STABILITY + +Two main ideas were carried out in the Titanic. One was +comfort and the other stability. The vessel was planned to be +an ocean ferry. She was to have only a speed of twenty-one +knots, far below that of some other modern vessels, but she was +planned to make that speed, blow high or blow low, so that +if she left one side of the ocean at a given time she could be +relied on to reach the other side at almost a certain minute +of a certain hour. + +One who has looked into modern methods for safeguarding + +{illust. caption = LIFE-BOAT AND DAVITS ON THE TITANIC + +This diagram shows very clearly the arrangement of the life-boats and +the manner in which they were launched.} + + +a vessel of the Titanic type can hardly imagine an accident +that could cause her to founder. No collision such as has +been the fate of any ship in recent years, it has been thought +up to this time, could send her down, nor could running against +an iceberg do it unless such an accident were coupled with +the remotely possible blowing out of a boiler. She would +sink at once, probably, if she were to run over a submerged +rock or derelict in such manner that both her keel plates and +her double bottom were torn away for more than half her +length; but such a catastrophe was so remotely possible that +it did not even enter the field of conjecture. + +The reason for all this is found in the modern arrangement +of water-tight steel compartments into which all ships now +are divided and of which the Titanic had fifteen so disposed +that half of them, including the largest, could be flooded +without impairing the safety of the vessel. Probably it was +the working of these bulkheads and the water-tight doors +between them as they are supposed to work that saved the +Titanic from foundering when she struck the iceberg. + +These bulkheads were of heavy sheet steel and started at the +very bottom of the ship and extended right up to the top side. +The openings in the bulkheads were just about the size of the +ordinary doorway, but the doors did not swing as in a house, +but fitted into water-tight grooves above the opening. They +could be released instantly in several ways, and once closed +formed a barrier to the water as solid as the bulkhead itself. + +In the Titanic, as in other great modern ships, these doors +were held in place above the openings by friction clutches. +On the bridge was a switch which connected with an electric +magnet at the side of the bulkhead opening. The turning +of this switch caused the magnet to draw down a heavy weight, +which instantly released the friction clutch, and allowed the +door to fall or slide down over the opening in a second. If, +however, through accident the bridge switch was rendered useless +the doors would close automatically in a few seconds. +This was arranged by means of large metal floats at the side +of the doorways, which rested just above the level of the +double bottom, and as the water entered the compartments +these floats would rise to it and directly release the clutch +holding the door open. These clutches could also be +released by hand. + +It was said of the Titanic that liner compartments could be +flooded as far back or as far forward as the engine room and +she would float, though she might take on a heavy list, or +settle considerably at one end. To provide against just such +an accident as she is said to have encountered she had set back +a good distance from the bows an extra heavy cross partition +known as the collision bulkhead, which would prevent water +getting in amidships, even though a good part of her bow should +be torn away. What a ship can stand and still float was +shown a few years ago when the Suevic of the White Star +Line went on the rocks on the British coast. The wreckers +could not move the forward part of her, so they separated her +into two sections by the use of dynamite, and after putting +in a temporary bulkhead floated off the after half of the ship, +put it in dry dock and built a new forward part for her. More +recently the battleship Maine, or what was left of her, was +floated out to sea, and kept on top of the water by her water- +tight compartments only. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC + +PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE--SCENES OF GAYETY--THE +BOAT SAILS--INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE---A COLLISION +NARROWLY AVERTED--THE BOAT ON FIRE--WARNED OF +ICEBERGS. + +EVER was ill-starred voyage more auspiciously begun +than when the Titanic, newly crowned empress of +the seas, steamed majestically out of the port of +Southampton at noon on Wednesday, April 10th, bound for +New York. + +Elaborate preparations had been made for the maiden +voyage. Crowds of eager watchers gathered to witness the +departure, all the more interested because of the notable +people who were to travel aboard her. Friends and relatives +of many of the passengers were at the dock to bid Godspeed +to their departing loved ones. The passengers themselves +were unusually gay and happy. + +Majestic and beautiful the ship rested on the water, +marvel of shipbuilding, worthy of any sea. As this new queen +of the ocean moved slowly from her dock, no one questioned +her construction: she was fitted with an elaborate system of + + +{illust. caption = STEAMER "TITANIC" COMPARED WITH THE LARGEST STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD +1. Bunker Hill Monument. Boston, 221 feet high. 2. Public + +{illust. caption = J. BRUCE ISMAY + +Managing director of the International Mercantile +Marine, and managing director of the White....} + +{illust. caption = CHARLES M. HAYS + +President of the Grand Trunk +Pacific Railways, numbered among the heroic men....} + + +water-tight compartments, calculated to make her unsinkable; +she had been pronounced the safest as well as the most sumptuous +Atlantic liner afloat. + +There was silence just before the boat pulled out--the +silence that usually precedes the leave-taking. The heavy +whistles sounded and the splendid Titanic, her flags flying +and her band playing, churned the water and plowed heavily +away. + +Then the Titanic, with the people on board waving handkerchiefs +and shouting good-byes that could be heard only +as a buzzing murmur on shore, rode away on the ocean, +proudly, majestically, her head up and, so it seemed, her +shoulders thrown back. If ever a vessel seemed to throb +with proud life, if ever a monster of the sea seemed to "feel +its oats" and strain at the leash, if ever a ship seemed to +have breeding and blue blood that would keep it going until +its heart broke, that ship was the Titanic. + +And so it was only her due that as the Titanic steamed +out of the harbor bound on her maiden voyage a thousand +"God-speeds" were wafted after her, while every other vessel +that she passed, the greatest of them dwarfed by her colossal +proportions, paid homage to the new queen regnant with the +blasts of their whistles and the shrieking of steam sirens. + + +THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN + + +In command of the Titanic was Captain E. J. Smith, +a veteran of the seas, and admiral of the White Star Line +fleet. The next six officers, in the order of their rank, were +Murdock, Lightollder,{sic} Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe and Moody. +Dan Phillips was chief wireless operator, with Harold Bride +as assistant. + +From the forward bridge, fully ninety feet above the sea, +peered out the benign face of the ship's master, cool of aspect, +deliberate of action, impressive in that quality of confidence +that is bred only of long experience in command. + +From far below the bridge sounded the strains of the ship's +orchestra, playing blithely a favorite air from "The Chocolate +Soldier." All went as merry as a wedding bell. Indeed, +among that gay ship's company were two score or more at +least for whom the wedding bells had sounded in truth not +many days before. Some were on their honeymoon tours, +others were returning to their motherland after having passed +the weeks of the honeymoon, like Colonel John Jacob Astor +and his young bride, amid the diversions of Egypt or other +Old World countries. + +What daring flight of imagination would have ventured +the prediction that within the span of six days that stately +ship, humbled, shattered and torn asunder, would lie two +thousand fathoms deep at the bottom of the Atlantic, that +the benign face that peered from the bridge would be set in +the rigor of death and that the happy bevy of voyaging brides +would be sorrowing widows? + + +ALMOST IN A COLLISION + +The big vessel had, however, a touch of evil fortune before +she cleared the harbor of Southampton. As she passed down +stream her immense bulk--she displaced 66,000 tons--drew +the waters after her with an irresistible suction that tore the +American liner New York from her moorings; seven steel +hawsers were snapped like twine. The New York floated +toward the White Star ship, and would have rammed the new +ship had not the tugs Vulcan and Neptune stopped her and +towed her back to the quay. + +When the mammoth ship touched at Cherbourg and later +at Queenstown she was again the object of a port ovation, the +smaller craft doing obeisance while thousands gazed in wonder +at her stupendous proportions. After taking aboard some +additional passengers at each port, the Titanic headed her +towering bow toward the open sea and the race for a record +on her maiden voyage was begun. + + +NEW BURST OF SPEED EACH DAY + +The Titanic made 484 miles as her first day's run, her powerful +new engines turning over at the rate of seventy revolutions. +On the second day out the speed was hit up to seventy-three +revolutions and the run for the day was bulletined as 519 +miles. Still further increasing the speed, the rate of revolution +of the engines was raised to seventy-five and the day's +run was 549 miles, the best yet scheduled. + +But the ship had not yet been speeded to her capacity +she was capable of turning over about seventy-eight revolutions. +Had the weather conditions been propitious, it was +intended to press the great racer to the full limit of her speed +on Monday. But for the Titanic Monday never came. +FIRE IN THE COAL BUNKERS + +Unknown to the passengers, the Titanic was on fire from the +day she sailed from Southampton. Her officers and crew +knew it, for they had fought the fire for days. + +This story, told for the first time by the survivors of the +crew, was only one of the many thrilling tales of the fateful +first voyage. + +"The Titanic sailed from Southampton on Wednesday, +April 10th, at noon," said J. Dilley, fireman on the Titanic. + +"I was assigned to the Titanic from the Oceanic, where I +had served as a fireman. From the day we sailed the Titanic +was on fire, and my sole duty, together with eleven other +men, had been to fight that fire. We had made no headway +against it." + + +PASSENGERS IN IGNORANCE + +"Of course," he went on, "the passengers knew nothing +of the fire. Do you think we'd have let them know about it? +No, sir. + +"The fire started in bunker No. 6. There were hundreds +of tons of coal stored there. The coal on top of the bunker +was wet, as all the coal should have been, but down at the +bottom of the bunker the coal had been permitted to get dry. + +"The dry coal at the bottom of the pile took fire, and +smoldered for days. The wet coal on top kept the flames from +coming through, but down in the bottom of the bunkers the +flames were raging. + +"Two men from each watch of stokers were tolled off, to +fight that fire. The stokers worked four hours at a time, +so twelve of us were fighting flames from the day we put out +of Southampton until we hit the iceberg. + +"No, we didn't get that fire out, and among the stokers +there was talk that we'd have to empty the big coal bunkers +after we'd put our passengers off in New York, and then call +on the fire-boats there to help us put out the fire. + +"The stokers were alarmed over it, but the officers told +us to keep our mouths shut--they didn't want to alarm the +passengers." + + +USUAL DIVERSION + +Until Sunday, April 14th, then, the voyage had apparently +been a delightful but uneventful one. The passengers had +passed the time in the usual diversions of ocean travelers, +amusing themselves in the luxurious saloons, promenading +on the boat deck, lolling at their ease in steamer chairs and +making pools on the daily runs of the steamship. The +smoking rooms and card rooms had been as well patronized +as usual, and a party of several notorious professional gamblers +had begun reaping their usual easy harvest. + +As early as Sunday afternoon the officers of the Titanic +must have known that they were approaching dangerous +ice fields of the kind that are a perennial menace to the safety +of steamships following the regular transatlantic lanes off +the Great Banks of Newfoundland. + +AN UNHEEDED WARNING + +On Sunday afternoon the Titanic's wireless operator +forwarded to the Hydrographic office in Washington, Baltimore, +Philadelphia and elsewhere the following dispatch: + +"April 14.--The German steamship Amerika (Hamburg- +American Line) reports by radio-telegraph passing two large +icebergs in latitude 41.27, longitude 50.08.--Titanic, Br. +S. S." + +Despite this warning, the Titanic forged ahead Sunday +night at her usual speed--from twenty-one to twenty-five +knots. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS + +SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD, INCLUDING +MAJOR ARCHIBALD BUTT, JOHN JACOB ASTOR, BENJAMIN +GUGGENHEIM, ISIDOR STRAWS, J. BRUCE ISMAY, GEORGE D. +WIDENER, COLONEL WASHINGTON ROEBLING, 2D, CHARLES +M. HAYS, W. T. STEAD AND OTHERS + +THE ship's company was of a character befitting the +greatest of all vessels and worthy of the occasion +of her maiden voyage. Though the major part of +her passengers were Americans returning from abroad, there +were enrolled upon her cabin lists some of the most distinguished +names of England, as well as of the younger nation. +Many of these had purposely delayed sailing, or had hastened +their departure, that they might be among the first passengers +on the great vessel. + +There were aboard six men whose fortunes ran into tens +of millions, besides many other persons of international +note. Among the men were leaders in the world of commerce, +finance, literature, art and the learned professions. +Many of the women were socially prominent in two hemispheres. + +Wealth and fame, unfortunately, are not proof against +fate, and most of these notable personages perished as pitiably +as the more humble steerage passengers. + +The list of notables included Colonel John Jacob Astor, +head of the Astor family, whose fortune is estimated at +$150,000,000; Isidor Straus, merchant and banker ($50,000,000); +J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the International +Mercantile Marine ($40,000,000); Benjamin Guggenheim, +head of the Guggenheim family ($95,000,000): +George D. Widener, son of P. A. B. Widener, traction magnate +and financier ($5,000,000); Colonel Washington Roebling, +builder of the great Brooklyn Bridge; Charles M. +Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Railway; W. T. Stead. +famous publicist; Jacques Futrelle, journalist; Henry S. +Harper, of the firm of Harper & Bros.; Henry B. Harris, +theatrical manager; Major Archibald Butt, military aide to +President Taft; and Francis D. Millet, one of the best- +known American painters. + + +MAJOR BUTT + +Major Archibald Butt, whose bravery on the sinking vessel +will not soon be forgotten, was military aide to President +Taft and was known wherever the President traveled. His +recent European mission was apparently to call on the Pope +in behalf of President Taft; for on March 21st he was received +at the Vatican, and presented to the Pope a letter from Mr. +Taft thanking the Pontiff for the creation of three new American +Cardinals. + +Major Butt had a reputation as a horseman, and it is said +he was able to keep up with President Roosevelt, be the ride +ever so far or fast. He was promoted to the rank of major +in 1911. He sailed for the Mediterranean on March 2d with +his friend Francis D. Millet, the artist, who also perished on +the Titanic. + + +COLONEL ASTOR + +John Jacob Astor was returning from a trip to Egypt with +his nineteen-year-old bride, formerly Miss Madeline Force, to +whom he was married in Providence, September 9, 1911. He +was head of the family whose name he bore and one of the +world's wealthiest men. He was not, however, one of the +world's "idle rich," for his life of forty-seven years was a well- +filled one. He had managed the family estates since 1891; +built the Astor Hotel, New York; was colonel on the staff of +Governor Levi P. Morton, and in May, 1898, was commissioned +colonel of the United States volunteers. After assisting Major- +General Breckinridge, inspector-general of the United States +army, he was assigned to duty on the staff of Major-General +Shafter and served in Cuba during the operations ending in +the surrender of Santiago. He was also the inventor of a +bicycle brake, a pneumatic road-improver, and an improved +turbine engine. + + +BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM + +Next to Colonel Astor in financial importance was Benjamin +Guggenheim, whose father founded the famous house +of M. Guggenheim and Sons. When the various Guggen- +heim interests were consolidated into the American Smelting +and Refining Company he retired from active business, +although he later became interested in the Power and Mining +Machinery Company of Milwaukee. In 1894 he married +Miss Floretta Seligman, daughter of James Seligman, the +New York banker. + +ISIDOR STRAUS + +Isidor Straus, whose wife elected to perish with him in the +ship, was a brother of Nathan and Oscar Straus, a partner +with Nathan Straus in R. H. Macy & Co. and L. Straus & +Sons, a member of the firm of Abraham & Straus in Brooklyn, +and has been well known in politics and charitable work. +He was a member of the Fifty-third Congress from 1893 to +1895, and as a friend of William L. Wilson was in constant +consultation in the matter of the former Wilson tariff bill. + +Mr. Straus was conspicuous for his works of charity and was +an ardent supporter of every enterprise to improve the condition +of the Hebrew immigrants. He was president of the +Educational Alliance, vice-president of the J. Hood Wright +Memorial Hospital, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, +on one of the visiting committees of Harvard +University, and was besides a trustee of many financial and +philanthropic institutions. + +Mr. Straus never enjoyed a college education. He was, +however, one of the best informed men of the day, his information +having been derived from extensive reading. His +library, said to be one of the finest and most extensive in +New York, was his pride and his place of special recreation. + + +{illust. caption = ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ICEBERG THAT SUNK THE TITANIC + +Lady Duff Gordon, a prominent English woman who was aboard the ...} + + +{illust. caption = HEART-BREAKING FAREWELLS + +Both men and women were loaded into the first boats, but soon the +cry of "Women first" was raised. Then came the real note of tragedy. +Husbands and wives clung to each other in farewell; some refused to be +separated.} + + +GEORGE D. WIDENER + +The best known of Philadelphia passengers aboard the +Titanic were Mr. and Mrs. George D. Widener. Mr. +Widener was a son of Peter A. B. Widener and, like his +father, was recognized as one of the foremost financiers of +Philadelphia as well as a leader in society there. Mr. +Widener married Miss Eleanor Elkins, a daughter of the +late William L. Elkins. They made their home with his +father at the latter's fine place at Eastbourne, ten miles +from Philadelphia. Mr. Widener was keenly interested in +horses and was a constant exhibitor at horse shows. In +business he was recognized as his father's chief adviser in +managing the latter's extensive traction interests. P. A. B. +Widener is a director of the International Mercantile +Marine. + +Mrs. Widener is said to be the possessor of one of the +finest collections of jewels in the world, the gift of her husband. +One string of pearls in this collection was reported +to be worth $250,000. + +The Wideners went abroad two months previous to the +disaster, Mr. Widener desiring to inspect some of his business +interests on the other side. At the opening of the +London Museum by King George on March 21st last it was +announced that Mrs. Widener had presented to the museum +thirty silver plates once the property of Nell Gwyn. Mr. +Widener is survived by a daughter, Eleanor, and a son, +George D. Widener, Jr. Harry Elkins Widener was with his +parents and went down on the ship. + +COLONEL ROEBLING + +Colonel Washington Augustus Roebling was president of +the John A. Roebling Sons' Company, manufacturers of +iron and steel wire rope. He served in the Union Army +from 1861 to 1865, resigning to assist his father in the +construction of the Cincinnati and Covington suspension bridge. +At the death of his father in 1869 he took entire charge of +the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is to his +genius that the success of that great work may be said to +be due. + +WILLIAM T. STEAD + +One of the most notable of the foreign passengers was +William T. Stead. Few names are more widely known to the +world of contemporary literature and journalism than that of +the brilliant editor of the Review of Reviews. Matthew Arnold +called him "the inventor of the new journalism in England." +He was on his way to America to take part in the Men and +Religion Forward Movement and was to have delivered an +address in Union Square on the Thursday after the disaster, +with William Jennings Bryan as his chief associate. + +Mr. Stead was an earnest advocate of peace and had written +many books. His commentary "If Christ Came to Chicago" +raised a storm twenty years ago. When he was in this country +in 1907 he addressed a session of Methodist clergymen, +and at one juncture of the meeting remarked that unless the +Methodists did something about the peace movement besides +shouting "amen" nobody "would care a damn about their +amens!" + +OTHER ENGLISHMEN ABOARD + +Other distinguished Englishmen on the Titanic were +Norman C. Craig, M.P., Thomas Andrews, a representative +of the firm of Harland & Wolff, of Belfast, the ship's builders, +and J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star +Line. + +J. BRUCE ISMAY + +Mr. Ismay is president and one of the founders of the +International Mercantile Marine. He has made it a custom +to be a passenger on the maiden voyage of every new ship +built by the White Star Line. It was Mr. Ismay who, with +J. P. Morgan, consolidated the British steamship lines under +the International Mercantile Marine's control; and it is +largely due to his imagination that such gigantic ships as the +Titanic and Olympic were made possible + +JACQUES FUTRELLE + +Jacques Futrelle was an author of short stories, some of +which have appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, and of +many novels of the same general type as "The Thinking +Machine," with which he first gained a wide popularity. +Newspaper work, chiefly in Richmond, Va., engaged his attention +from 1890 to 1909, in which year he entered the theatrical +business as a manager. In 1904 he returned to his journalistic +career. + +HENRY B. HARRIS + +Henry B. Harris, the theater manager, had been manager +of May Irwin, Peter Dailey, Lily Langtry, Amelia Bingham, +and launched Robert Edeson as star. He became the manager +of the Hudson Theater in 1903 and the Hackett Theater in +1906. Among his best known productions are "The Lion +and the Mouse," "The Traveling Salesman" and "The Third +Degree." He was president of the Henry B. Harris Company +controlling the Harris Theater. + +Young Harris had a liking for the theatrical business from a +boy. Twelve years ago Mr. Harris married Miss Rene Wallach +of Washington. He was said to have a fortune of between +$1,000,000 and $3,000,000. He owned outright the Hudson +and the Harris theaters and had an interest in two other +show houses in New York. He owned three theaters in Chicago, +one in Syracuse and one in Philadelphia. + + +HENRY S. HARPER + +Henry Sleeper Harper, who was among the survivors, is a +grandson of John Wesley Harper, one of the founders of the +Harper publishing business. H. Sleeper Harper was himself +an incorporator of Harper & Brothers when the firm became +a corporation in 1896. He had a desk in the offices of the +publishers, but his hand of late years in the management of +the business has been very slight. He has been active in the +work of keeping the Adirondack forests free from aggression. +He was in the habit of spending about half of his time in foreign +travel. His friends in New York recalled that he +had a narrow escape about ten years ago when a ship in +which he was traveling ran into an iceberg on the Grand +Banks. + +FRANCIS DAVID MILLET + +Millet was one of the best-known American painters and +many of his canvasses are found in the leading galleries of the +world. He served as a drummer boy with the Sixtieth +Massachusetts volunteers in the Civil War, and from early +manhood took a prominent part in public affairs. He was +director of the decorations for the Chicago Exposition and was, +at the time of the disaster, secretary of the American Academy +in Rome. He was a wide traveler and the author of many +books, besides translations of Tolstoi. + +CHARLES M. HAYS + +Another person of prominence was Charles Melville Hays, +president of the Grand Trunk and the Grand Trunk Pacific +railways. He was described by Sir Wilfrid Laurier at a dinner +of the Canadian Club of New York, at the Hotel Astor last +year, as "beyond question the greatest railroad genius in +Canada, as an executive genius ranking second only to the +late Edward H. Harriman." He was returning aboard the +Titanic with his wife and son-in-law and daughter; Mr. and +Mrs. Thornton Davidson, of Montreal. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! + +TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT-- +THE DANGER NOT REALIZED AT FIRST--AN INTERRUPTED +CARD GAME--PASSENGERS JOKE AMONG THEMSELVES--THE +REAL TRUTH DAWNS--PANIC ON BOARD--WIRELESS CALLS +FOR HELP + +SUNDAY night the magnificent ocean liner was plunging +through a comparatively placid sea, on the surface +of which there was much mushy ice and here and +there a number of comparatively harmless-looking floes. +The night was clear and stars visible. First Officer William +T. Murdock was in charge of the bridge The first intimation +of the presence of the iceberg that he received was from the +lookout in the crow's nest. + +Three warnings were transmitted from the crow's nest +of the Titanic to the officer on the doomed steamship's bridge +15 minutes before she struck, according to Thomas Whiteley, +a first saloon steward. + +Whiteley, who was whipped overboard from the ship by a +rope while helping to lower a life-boat, finally reported on the +Carpathia aboard one of the boats that contained, he said, +both the crow's nest lookouts. He heard a conversation between +them, he asserted, in which they discussed the warnings +given to the Titanic's bridge of the presence of the iceberg. + +Whiteley did not know the names of either of the lookout +men and believed that they returned to England with the +majority of the surviving members of the crew. + + +{illust. caption = A GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE FORCE WITH WHICH A +VESSEL STRIKES AN ICEBERG} + + + +"I heard one of them say that at 11.15 o'clock, 15 minutes +before the Titanic struck, he had reported to First Officer +Murdock, on the bridge, that he fancied he saw an iceberg!" +said Whiteley. "Twice after that, the lookout said, he warned +Murdock that a berg was ahead. They were very indignant +that no attention was paid to their warnings." + +TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT + +Murdock's tardy answering of a telephone call from the +crow's nest is assigned by Whiteley as the cause of the +disaster. + +When Murdock answered the call he received the information +that the iceberg was due ahead. This information was +imparted just a few seconds before the crash, and had the +officer promptly answered the ring of the bell it is probable that +the accident could have been avoided, or at least, been reduced +by the lowered speed. + +The lookout saw a towering "blue berg" looming up in the +sea path of the Titanic, and called the bridge on the ship's +telephone. When, after the passing of those two or three +fateful minutes an officer on the bridge lifted the telephone +receiver from its hook to answer the lookout, it was too late. +The speeding liner, cleaving a calm sea under a star-studded +sky, had reached the floating mountain of ice, which the +theoretically "unsinkable" ship struck a crashing, if glancing, +blow with her starboard bow. + +MURDOCK PAID WITH LIFE + +Had Murdock, according to the account of the tragedy +given by two of the Titanic's seamen, known how imperative +was that call from the lookout man, the men at the wheel +of the liner might have swerved the great ship sufficiently +to avoid the berg altogether. At the worst the vessel would +probably have struck the mass of ice with her stern. + +Murdock, if the tale of the Titanic sailor be true, expiated +his negligence by shooting himself within sight of all alleged +victims huddled in life-boats or struggling in the icy seas. + +When at last the danger was realized, the great ship was +so close upon the berg that it was practically impossible to +avoid collision with it + + +VAIN TRIAL TO CLEAR BERG + +The first officer did what other startled and alert commanders +would have done under similar circumstances, that is + + +{illust. caption = THE LOCATION OF THE DISASTER} + + +he made an effort by going full speed ahead on the starboard +propeller and reversing his port propeller, simultaneously +throwing his helm over, to make a rapid turn and clear the +berg. The maneuver was not successful. He succeeded in +saving his bows from crashing into the ice-cliff, but nearly +the entire length of the underbody of the great ship on the +starboard side was ripped. The speed of the Titanic, estimated +to be at least twenty-one knots, was so terrific that +the knife-like edge of the iceberg's spur protruding under +the sea cut through her like a can-opener. + +The Titanic was in 41.46 north latitude and 50.14 west +longitude when she was struck, very near the spot on the +wide Atlantic where the Carmania encountered a field of ice, +studded with great bergs, on her voyage to New York which +ended on April 14th. It was really an ice pack, due to an +unusually severe winter in the north Atlantic. No less than +twenty-five bergs, some of great height, were counted. + +The shock was almost imperceptible. The first officer did +not apparently realize that the great ship had received her +death wound, and none of the passengers had the slightest +suspicion that anything more than a usual minor sea accident +had happened. Hundreds who had gone to their berths and +were asleep were unawakened by the vibration. + + +BRIDGE GAME NOT DISTURBED + +To illustrate the placidity with which practically all the +men regarded the accident it is related that Pierre Marechal, +son of the vice-admiral of the French navy, Lucien Smith, +Paul Chevre, a French sculptor, and A. F. Ormont, a cotton +broker, were in the Cafe Parisien playing bridge. + +The four calmly got up from the table and after walking +on deck and looking over the rail returned to their game. +One of them had left his cigar on the card table, and while +the three others were gazing out on the sea he remarked +that he couldn't afford to lose his smoke, returned for his +cigar and came out again. + +They remained only for a few moments on deck, and then +resumed their game under the impression that the ship had +stopped for reasons best known to the captain and not involving +any danger to her. Later, in describing the scene +that took place, M. Marechal, who was among the survivors, +said: "When three-quarters of a mile away we stopped, +the spectacle before our eyes was in its way magnificent. +In a very calm sea, beneath a sky moonless but sown with +millions of stars, the enormous Titanic lay on the water, +illuminated from the water line to the boat deck. The bow +was slowly sinking into the black water." + +The tendency of the whole ship's company except the men +in the engine department, who were made aware of the danger +by the inrushing water, was to make light of and in some +instances even to ridicule the thought of danger to so substantial +a fabric. + + +THE CAPTAIN ON DECK + +When Captain Smith came from the chart room onto the +bridge, his first words were, "Close the emergency doors." + +"They're already closed, sir," Mr. Murdock replied. + +"Send to the carpenter and tell him to sound the ship," +was the next order. The message was sent to the carpenter, +but the carpenter never came up to report. He was probably +the first man on the ship to lose his life. + +The captain then looked at the communicator, which +shows in what direction the ship is listing. He saw that she +carried five degrees list to starboard. + +The ship was then rapidly settling forward. All the steam +sirens were blowing. By the captain's orders, given in the +next few minutes, the engines were put to work at pumping +out the ship, distress signals were sent by the Marconi, and +rockets were sent up from the bridge by Quartermaster Rowe. +All hands were ordered on deck. + + +PASSENGERS NOT ALARMED + +The blasting shriek of the sirens had not alarmed the great +company of the Titanic, because such steam calls are an incident +of travel in seas where fogs roll. Many had gone +to bed, but the hour, 11.40 P. M., was not too late for the +friendly contact of saloons and smoking rooms. It was +Sunday night and the ship's concert had ended, but there were +many hundreds up and moving among the gay lights, and +many on deck with their eyes strained toward the mysterious +west, where home lay. And in one jarring, breath-sweeping +moment all of these, asleep or awake, were at the mercy of +chance. Few among the more than 2000 aboard could have +had a thought of danger. The man who had stood up in the +smoking room to say that the Titanic was vulnerable or that +in a few minutes two-thirds of her people would be face to +face with death, would have been considered a fool or a +lunatic. No ship ever sailed the seas that gave her passengers +more confidence, more cool security. + +Within a few minutes stewards and other members of the +crew were sent round to arouse the people. Some utterly +refused to get up. The stewards had almost to force the doors +of the staterooms to make the somnolent appreciate their +peril, and many of them, it is believed, were drowned like +rats in a trap. + + +ASTOR AND WIFE STROLLED ON DECK + +Colonel and Mrs. Astor were in their room and saw the +ice vision flash by. They had not appreciably felt the gentle +shock and supposed that nothing out of the ordinary had +happened. They were both dressed and came on deck leisurely. +William T. Stead, the London journalist, wandered +on deck for a few minutes, stopping to talk to Frank Millet. +"What do they say is the trouble?" he asked. "Icebergs," +was the brief reply. "Well," said Stead, "I guess it is nothing +serious. I'm going back to my cabin to read." + +From end to end on the mighty boat officers were rushing +about without much noise or confusion, but giving orders +sharply. Captain Smith told the third officer to rush downstairs +and see whether the water was coming in very fast. +"And," he added, "take some armed guards along to see +that the stokers and engineers stay at their posts." + +In two minutes the officer returned. "It looks pretty +bad, sir," he said. "The water is rushing in and filling the +bottom. The locks of the water-tight compartments have +been sprung by the shock." + +"Give the command for all passengers to be on deck with +life-belts on." + +Through the length and breadth of the boat, upstairs and +downstairs, on all decks, the cry rang out: "All passengers +on deck with life-preservers." + + +A SUDDEN TREMOR OF FEAR + +For the first time, there was a feeling of panic. Husbands +sought for wives and children. Families gathered together. +Many who were asleep hastily caught up their clothing and +rushed on deck. A moment before the men had been joking +about the life-belts, according to the story told by Mrs. +Vera Dick, of Calgary, Canada. "Try this one," one man +said to her, "they are the very latest thing this season. +Everybody's wearing them now." + +Another man suggested to a woman friend, who had a +fox terrier in her arms, that she should put a life-saver on +the dog. "It won't fit," the woman replied, laughing. +"Make him carry it in his mouth," said the friend. + + +CONFUSION AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS + +Below, on the steerage deck, there was intense confusion. +About the time the officers on the first deck gave the order +that all men should stand to one side and all women should +go below to deck B, taking the children with them, a similar +order was given to the steerage passengers. The women +were ordered to the front, the men to the rear. Half a dozen +healthy, husky immigrants pushed their way forward and tried +to crowd into the first boat. + +"Stand back," shouted the officers who were manning the +boat. "The women come first." + +Shouting curses in various foreign languages, the immigrant +men continued their pushing and tugging to climb +into the boats. Shots rang out. One big fellow fell over the +railing into the water. Another dropped to the deck, moaning. +His jaw had been shot away. This was the story told by the +bystanders afterwards on the pier. One husky Italian told +the writer on the pier that the way in which the men were +shot down was horrible. His sympathy was with the men +who were shot. + +"They were only trying to save their lives," he said. + + +WIRELESS OPERATOR DIED AT HIS POST + +On board the Titanic, the wireless operator, with a life-belt +about his waist, was hitting the instrument that was sending +out C. Q. D., messages, "Struck on iceberg, C. Q. D." + +"Shall I tell captain to turn back and help?" flashed a +reply from the Carpathia. + +"Yes, old man," the Titanic wireless operator responded. +"Guess we're sinking." + +An hour later, when the second wireless man came into the +boxlike room to tell his companion what the situation was, +he found a negro stoker creeping up behind the operator and +saw him raise a knife over his head. He said afterwards--he +was among those rescued--that he realized at once that the +negro intended to kill the operator in order to take his life- +belt from him. The second operator pulled out his revolver +and shot the negro dead. + +"What was the trouble?" asked the operator. + +"That negro was going to kill you and steal your life-belt," +the second man replied. + +"Thanks, old man," said the operator. The second man +went on deck to get some more information. He was just in +time to jump overboard before the Titanic went down. The +wireless operator and the body of the negro who tried to steal +his belt went down together. + +On the deck where the first class passengers were quartered, +known as deck A, there was none of the confusion that was +taking place on the lower decks. The Titanic was standing +without much rocking. The captain had given an order and +the band was playing. + + +{illust. caption = WAITING FOR THE NEWS + +A Bird's eye view of the great crowds ...} + +{illust. caption = WIRELESS STATION AT CAPE RACE + +Where the first news of the Titanic disaster was received.} + + + +CHAPTER VI + +"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!" + +COOL-HEADED OFFICERS AND CREW BRING ORDER OUT OF +CHAOS--FILLING THE LIFE-BOATS--HEARTRENDING SCENES +AS FAMILIES ARE PARTED--FOUR LIFE-BOATS LOST--INCIDENTS +OF BRAVERY--"THE BOATS ARE ALL FILLED!" + +ONCE on the deck, many hesitated to enter the +swinging life-boats. Tho glassy sea, the starlit +sky, the absence, in the first few moments, of +intense excitement, gave them the feeling that there was +only some slight mishap; that those who got into the boats +would have a chilly half hour below and might, later, be +laughed at. + +It was such a feeling as this, from all accounts, which +caused John Jacob Astor and his wife to refuse the places +offered them in the first boat, and to retire to the gymnasium. +In the same way H. J. Allison, a Montreal banker, laughed at +the warning, and his wife, reassured by him, took her time +dressing. They and their daughter did not reach the Carpathia. +Their son, less than two years old, was carried into +a life-boat by his nurse, and was taken in charge by Major +Arthur Peuchen. + +THE LIFE-BOATS LOWERED + +The admiration felt by the passengers and crew for the +matchlessly appointed vessel was translated, in those first +few moments, into a confidence which for some proved +deadly. The pulsing of the engines had ceased, and the +steamship lay just as though she were awaiting the order +to go on again after some trifling matter had been adjusted. +But in a few minutes the canvas covers were lifted from +the life-boats and the crews allotted to each standing by, +ready to lower them to the water. + +Nearly all the boats that were lowered on the port side +of the ship touched the water without capsizing. Four of +the others lowered to starboard, including one collapsible, +were capsized. All, however, who were in the collapsible +boats that practically went to pieces, were rescued by the +other boats. + +Presently the order was heard: "All men stand back and +all women retire to the deck below." That was the smoking- +room deck, or the B deck. The men stood away and remained +in absolute silence, leaning against the rail or pacing up and +down the deck slowly. Many of them lighted cigars or cigarettes +and began to smoke. + + +LOADING THE BOATS + +The boats were swung out and lowered from the A deck +above. The women were marshaled quietly in lines along +the B deck, and when the boats were lowered down to the +level of the latter the women were assisted to climb into them. + +As each of the boats was filled with its quota of passengers +the word was given and it was carefully lowered down to the +dark surface of the water. + +Nobody seemed to know how Mr. Ismay got into a boat, +but it was assumed that he wished to make a presentation of +the case of the Titanic to his company. He was among those +who apparently realized that the splendid ship was doomed. +All hands in the life-boats, under instructions from officers +and men in charge, were rowed a considerable distance from +the ship herself in order to get far away from the possible +suction that would follow her foundering. + + +COOLEST MEN ON BOARD + +Captain Smith and Major Archibald Butt, military aide to +the President of the United States, were among the coolest +men on board. A number of steerage passengers were +yelling and screaming and fighting to get to the boats. +Officers drew guns and told them that if they moved towards +the boats they would be shot dead. Major Butt had a gun +in his hand and covered the men who tried to get to the boats. + +The following story of his bravery was told by Mrs. Henry +B. Harris, wife of the theatrical manager: + +"The world should rise in praise of Major Butt. That +man's conduct will remain in my memory forever. The American +army is honored by him and the way he taught some of +the other men how to behave when women and children were +suffering that awful mental fear of death. Major Butt was +near me and I noticed everything that he did. + +"When the order to man the boats came, the captain whispered +something to Major Butt. The two of them had become +friends. The major immediately became as one in supreme +command. You would have thought he was at a White +House reception. A dozen or more women became hysterical +all at once, as something connected with a life-boat went +wrong. Major Butt stepped over to them and said: + +" `Really, you must not act like that; we are all going to +see you through this thing.' He helped the sailors rearrange +the rope or chain that had gone wrong and lifted some of the +women in with a touch of gallantry. Not only was there a +complete lack of any fear in his manner, but there was the +action of an aristocrat. + +"When the time came he was a man to be feared. In one +of the earlier boats fifty women, it seemed, were about to +be lowered, when a man, suddenly panic-stricken, ran to the +stern of it. Major Butt shot one arm out, caught him by +the back of the neck and jerked him backward like a pillow. +His head cracked against a rail and he was stunned. + +" `Sorry,' said Major Butt, `women will be attended to +first or I'll break every damned bone in your body.' + + +FORCED MEN USURPING PLACES TO VACATE + +"The boats were lowered one by one, and as I stood by, my +husband said to me, `Thank God, for Archie Butt.' Perhaps +Major Butt heard it, for he turned his face towards us for a +second and smiled. Just at that moment, a young man was +arguing to get into a life-boat, and Major Butt had a hold +of the lad by the arm, like a big brother, and was telling him +to keep his head and be a man. + +"Major Butt helped those poor frightened steerage people +so wonderfully, so tenderly and yet with such cool and manly +firmness that he prevented the loss of many lives from panic. +He was a soldier to the last. He was one of God's greatest +noblemen, and I think I can say he was an example of bravery +even to men on the ship." + + +LAST WORDS OF MAJOR BUTT + +Miss Marie Young, who was a music instructor to President +Roosevelt's children and had known Major Butt during +the Roosevelt occupancy of the White House, told this +story of his heroism. + +"Archie himself put me into the boat, wrapped blankets +about me and tucked me in as carefully as if we were starting +on a motor ride. He, himself, entered the boat with me, +performing the little courtesies as calmly and with as smiling +a face as if death were far away, instead of being but a few +moments removed from him. + +"When he had carefully wrapped me up he stepped upon +the gunwale of the boat, and lifting his hat, smiled down at +me. `Good-bye, Miss Young,' he said. `Good luck to +you, and don't forget to remember me to the folks back home.' +Then he stepped back and waved his hand to me as the boat +was lowered. I think I was the last woman he had a chance +to help, for the boat went down shortly after we cleared the +suction zone." + +COLONEL ASTOR ANOTHER HERO + +Colonel Astor was another of the heroes of the awful night. +Effort was made to persuade him to take a place in one of +the life-boats, but he emphatically refused to do so until every +woman and child on board had been provided for, not excepting +the women members of the ship's company. + +One of the passengers describing the consummate courage +of Colonel Astor said: + +"He led Mrs. Astor to the side of the ship and helped her +to the life-boat to which she had been assigned. I saw that +she was prostrated and said she would remain and take her +chances with him, but Colonel Astor quietly insisted and +tried to reassure her in a few words. As she took her place +in the boat her eyes were fixed upon him. Colonel Astor +smiled, touched his cap, and when the boat moved safely +away from the ship's side he turned back to his place among +the men." + +Mrs. Ida S. Hippach and her daughter Jean, survivors of +the Titanic, said they were saved by Colonel John Jacob +Astor, who forced the crew of the last life-boat to wait for +them. + +"We saw Colonel Astor place Mrs. Astor in a boat and +assure her that he would follow later," said Mrs. Hippach. + +"He turned to us with a smile and said, `Ladies, you are +next.' The officer in charge of the boat protested that the +craft was full, and the seamen started to lower it. + +"Colonel Astor exclaimed, `Hold that boat,' in the voice +of a man accustomed to be obeyed, and they did as he ordered. +The boat had been lowered past the upper deck and the +colonel took us to the deck below and put us in the boat, +one after the other, through a port-hole." + + +{illust. caption = LOADING THE LIFE-BOATS + +Here occurred the heart- +rending separation of husbands +and wives, as the women +were given precedence in the +boats.} + + +HEART-BREAKING SCENES + +There were some terrible scenes. Fathers were parting from +their children and giving them an encouraging pat on the +shoulders; men were kissing their wives and telling them +that they would be with them shortly. One man said there +was absolutely no danger, that the boat was the finest ever +built, with water-tight compartments, and that it could not +sink. That seemed to be the general impression. + +A few of the men, however, were panic-stricken even +when the first of the fifty-six foot life-boats was being filled. +Fully ten men threw themselves into the boats already +crowded with women and children. These men were dragged +back and hurled sprawling across the deck. Six of them, +screamed with fear, struggled to their feet and made a second +attempt to rush to the boats. + +About ten shots sounded in quick succession. The six +cowardly men were stopped in their tracks, staggered and +collapsed one after another. At least two of them vainly +attempted to creep toward the boats again. The others lay +quite still. This scene of bloodshed served its purpose. +In that particular section of the deck there was no further +attempt to violate the rule of "women and children first." + +"I helped fill the boats with women," said Thomas Whiteley, +who was a waiter on the Titanic. "Collapsible boat No. 2 +on the starboard jammed. The second officer was hacking +at the ropes with a knife and I was being dragged around the +deck by that rope when I looked up and saw the boat, with all +aboard, turn turtle. In some way I got overboard myself +and clung to an oak dresser. I wasn't more than sixty feet +from the Titanic when she went down. Her big stern rose +up in the air and she went down bow first. I saw all the machinery +drop out of her." + + +HENRY B. HARRIS + +Henry B. Harris, of New York, a theatrical manager, was +one of the men who showed superb courage in the crisis. +When the life-boats were first being filled, and before there +was any panic, Mr. Harris went to the side of his wife before +the boat was lowered away. + +"Women first," shouted one of the ship's officers. Mr. +Harris glanced up and saw that the remark was addressed +to him. + +"All right," he replied coolly. "Good-bye, my dear," +he said, as he kissed his wife, pressed her a moment to his +breast, and then climbed back to the Titanic's deck. + + +THREE EXPLOSIONS + +Up to this time there had been no panic; but about one hour +before the ship plunged to the bottom there were three +separate explosions of bulkheads as the vessel filled. +These were at intervals of about fifteen minutes. From that +time there was a different scene. The rush for the remaining +boats became a stampede. + +The stokers rushed up from below and tried to beat a path +through the steerage men and women and through the sailors +and officers, to get into the boats. They had their iron bars +and shovels, and they struck down all who stood in their +way. + +The first to come up from the depths of the ship was an +engineer. From what he is reported to have said it is probable +that the steam fittings were broken and many were scalded +to death when the Titanic lifted. He said he had to dash +through a narrow place beside a broken pipe and his back +was frightfully scalded. + +Right at his heels came the stokers. The officers had pistols, +but they could not use them at first for fear of killing the +women and children. The sailors fought with their fists and +many of them took the stoke bars and shovels from the stokers +and used them to beat back the others. + +Many of the coal-passers and stokers who had been driven +back from the boats went to the rail, and whenever a boat was +filled and lowered several of them jumped overboard and +swam toward it trying to climb aboard. Several of the +survivors said that men who swam to the sides of their boats +were pulled in or climbed in. + +Dozens of the cabin passengers were witnesses of some of the +frightful scenes on the steerage deck. The steerage survivors +said that ten women from the upper decks were the +only cool passengers in the life-boat, and they tried to quiet the +steerage women, who were nearly all crazed with fear and grief. + + +OTHER HEROES + +Among the chivalrous young heroes of the Titanic disaster +were Washington A. Roebling, 2d, and Howard Case, London +representative of the Vacuum Oil Company. Both were +urged repeatedly to take places in life-boats, but scorned the +opportunity, while working against time to save the women +aboard the ill-fated ship. They went to their death, it is +said by survivors, with smiles on their faces. + +Both of these young men aided in the saving of Mrs. William +T. Graham, wife of the president of the American Can Company, +and Mrs. Graham's nineteen-year-old daughter, Margaret. + +Afterwards relating some of her experiences Mrs. Graham +said: + +"There was a rap at the door. It was a passenger whom +we had met shortly after the ship left Liverpool, and his name +was Roebling--Washington A. Roebling, 2d. He was a +gentleman and a brave man. He warned us of the danger and +told us that it would be best to be prepared for an emergency. +We heeded his warning, and I looked out of my window and +saw a great big iceberg facing us. Immediately I knew what +had happened and we lost no time after that to get out into +the saloon. + +"In one of the gangways I met an officer of the ship. + +" `What is the matter?' I asked him. + +" `We've only burst two pipes,' he said. `Everything is +all right, don't worry.' + +" `But what makes the ship list so?' I asked. + +" `Oh, that's nothing,' he replied, and walked away. + +"Mr. Case advised us to get into a boat. + +" `And what are you going to do?' we asked him. + +" `Oh,' he replied, `I'll take a chance and stay here.' + +"Just at that time they were filling up the third life-boat +on the port side of the ship. I thought at the time that it +was the third boat which had been lowered, but I found out +later that they had lowered other boats on the other side, +where the people were more excited because they were sinking +on that side. + +"Just then Mr. Roebling came up, too, and told us to +hurry and get into the third boat. Mr. Roebling and Mr. +Case bustled our party of three into that boat in less time than +it takes to tell it. They were both working hard to help the +women and children. The boat was fairly crowded when we +three were pushed into it, and a few men jumped in at the last +moment, but Mr. Roebling and Mr. Case stood at the rail +and made no attempt to get into the boat. + +"They shouted good-bye to us. What do you think Mr. +Case did then? He just calmly lighted a cigarette and waved +us good-bye with his hand. Mr. Roebling stood there, too-- +I can see him now. I am sure that he knew that the ship +would go to the bottom. But both just stood there." + + +IN THE FACE OF DEATH + +Scenes on the sinking vessel grew more tragic as the remaining +passengers faced the awful certainty that death must be the +portion of the majority, death in the darkness of a wintry sea +studded with its ice monuments like the marble shafts in +some vast cemetery. + +In that hour, when cherished illusions of possible safety +had all but vanished, manhood and womanhood aboard the +Titanic rose to their sublimest heights. It was in that crisis +of the direst extremity that many brave women deliberately +rejected life and chose rather to remain and die with the men +whom they loved. + + +DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS + +"I will not leave my husband," said Mrs. Isidor Straus. +"We are old; we can best die together," and she turned from +those who would have forced her into one of the boats and +clung to the man who had been the partner of her joys and +sorrows. Thus they stood hand in hand and heart to heart, +comforting each other until the sea claimed them, united in +death as they had been through a long life. + +"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his +life for his friends." + +Miss Elizabeth Evans fulfilled this final test of affection +laid down by the Divine Master. The girl was the niece of +the wife of Magistrate Cornell, of New York. She was placed +in the same boat with many other women. As it was about +to be lowered away it was found that the craft contained one +more than its full quota of passengers. + +The grim question arose as to which of them should surrender +her place and her chance of safety. Beside Miss +Evans sat Mrs. J. J. Brown, of Denver, the mother of several +children. Miss Evans was the first to volunteer to yield to +another. + + +GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM + +"Your need is greater than mine," said she to Mrs. Brown. +"You have children who need you, and I have none." + +So saying she arose from the boat and stepped back upon +the deck. The girl found no later refuge and was one of those +who went down with the ship. She was twenty-five years +old and was beloved by all who knew her. + +Mrs. Brown thereafter showed the spirit which had made +her also volunteer to leave the boat. There were only three +men in the boat and but one of them rowed. Mrs. Brown, +who was raised on the water, immediately picked up one +of the heavy sweeps and began to pull. + +In the boat which carried Mrs. Cornell and Mrs. Appleton +there were places for seventeen more than were carried. +This too was undermanned and the two women at once took +their places at the oars. + +The Countess of Rothes was pulling at the oars of her +boat, likewise undermanned because the crew preferred to +stay behind. + +Miss Bentham, of Rochester, showed splendid courage. +She happened to be in a life-boat which was very much +crowded--so much so that one sailor had to sit with his feet +dangling in the icy cold water, and as time went on the sufferings +of the man from the cold were apparent. Miss Bentham +arose from her place and had the man turn around while +she took her place with her feet in the water. + +Scarcely any of the life-boats were properly manned. +Two, filled with women and children, capsized immediately, +while the collapsible boats were only temporarily useful. +They soon filled with water. In one boat eighteen or +twenty persons sat in water above their knees for six hours. + + + +{illust. caption = + +In the darkness and +confusion, punctuated +by screams, sobs and +curses, the boats were +lowered after being filled +with women, children +and a few men. The +sketch, drawn from description +of eye-witnesses, +shows the lofty side of +the stricken vessel and +the laden boats descending. + +THE +LIFE-BOATS +BEING +LOWERED} + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. +LIFE-BOATS, AS SEEN FROM THE CARPATHIA + +Photographs taken from the rescue ship as she reached the first boats +carrying the Titanic's sufferers.} + + + +heard it, but have forgotten it. But I saw an order for five +pounds which this man gave to each of the crew of his boat +after they got aboard the Carpathia. It was on a piece of +ordinary paper addressed to the Coutts Bank of England. + +"We called that boat the `money boat.' It was lowered +from the starboard side and was one of the first off. Our +orders were to load the life-boats beginning forward on the +port side, working aft and then back on the starboard. +This man paid the firemen to lower a starboard boat before +the officers had given the order." + +Whiteley's own experience was a hard one. When the +uncoiling rope, which entangled his feet, threw him into the +sea, it furrowed the flesh of his leg, but he did not feel the +pain until he was safe aboard the Carpathia. + +"I floated on my life-preserver for several hours," he said, +"then I came across a big oak dresser with two men clinging +to it. I hung on to this till daybreak and the two men +dropped off. When the sun came up I saw the collapsible +raft in the distance, just black with men. They were all +standing up, and I swam to it--almost a mile, it seemed to me +--and they would not let me aboard. Mr. Lightoller, the +second officer, was one of them. + +" `It's thirty-one lives against yours,, he said, `you can't +come aboard. There's not room.' " + +"I pleaded with him in vain, and then I confess I prayed +that somebody might die, so I could take his place. It was +only human. And then some one did die, and they let me +aboard. + +"By and by, we saw seven life-boats lashed together, and +we were taken into them." + + +MEN SHOT DOWN + +The officers had to assert their authority by force, and three +foreigners from the steerage who tried to force their way in +among the women and children were shot down without +mercy. + +Robert Daniel, a Philadelphia passenger, told of terrible +scenes at this period of the disaster. He said men fought +and bit and struck one another like madmen, and exhibited +wounds upon his face to prove the assertion. Mr. Daniel +said that he was picked up naked from the ice-cold water +and almost perished from exposure before he was rescued. +He and others told how the Titanic's bow was completely +torn away by the impact with the berg. + +K. Whiteman, of Palmyra, N. J., the Titanic's barber, +was lowering boats on deck after the collision, and declared +the officers on the bridge, one of them First Officer Murdock, +promptly worked the electrical apparatus for closing the water- +tight compartments. He believed the machinery was in some +way so damaged by the crash that the front compartments +failed to close tightly, although the rear ones were secure. + +Whiteman's manner of escape was unique. He was blown +off the deck by the second of the two explosions of the boilers, +and was in the water more than two hours before he was +picked up by a raft. + +"The explosions," Whiteman said; "were caused by the +rushing in of the icy water on the boilers. A bundle of deck +chairs, roped together, was blown off the deck with me, and I +struck my back, injuring my spine, but it served as a temporary +raft. + +"The crew and passengers had faith in the bulkhead system +to save the ship and we were lowering a collapsible boat, +all confident the ship would get through, when she took a +terrific dip forward and the water swept over the deck and +into the engine rooms. + +"The bow went clean down, and I caught the pile of chairs +as I was washed up against the rim. Then came the explosions +which blew me fifteen feet. + +"After the water had filled the forward compartments, +the ones at the stern could not save her, although they did +delay the ship's going down. If it wasn't for the compartments +hardly anyone could have got away." + + +A SAD MESSAGE + +One of the Titanic's stewards, Johnson by name, carried +this message to the sorrowing widow of Benjamin Guggenheim: + +"When Mr. Guggenheim realized that there was grave +danger," said the room steward, "he advised his secretary, +who also died, to dress fully and he himself did the same. +Mr. Guggenheim, who was cool and collected as he was pulling +on his outer garments, said to the steward:-- + + +PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY + +" `I think there is grave doubt that the men will get off +safely. I am willing to remain and play the man's game, if +there are not enough boats for more than the women and +children. I won't die here like a beast. I'll meet my end as +man.' + +"There was a pause and then Mr. Guggenheim continued: + +" `Tell my wife, Johnson, if it should happen that my secretary +and I both go down and you are saved, tell her I played +the game out straight and to the end. No woman shall be +left aboard this ship because Ben Guggenheim was a coward. + +" `Tell her that my last thoughts will be of her and of our +girls, but that my duty now is to these unfortunate women +and children on this ship. Tell her I will meet whatever fate +is in store for me, knowing she will approve of what I do.' " + +In telling the story the room steward said the last he saw +of Mr. Guggenheim was when he stood fully dressed upon +the upper deck talking calmly with Colonel Astor and Major +Butt. + +Before the last of the boats got away, according to some of +the passengers' narratives, there were more than fifty shots +fired upon the decks by officers or others in the effort to maintain +the discipline that until then had been well preserved. + + +THE SINKING VESSEL + +Richard Norris Williams, Jr., one of the survivors of the +Titanic, saw his father killed by being crushed by one of the +tremendous funnels of the sinking vessel. + +"We stood on deck watching the life-boats of the Titanic +being filled and lowered into the water," said Mr. Williams. +"The water was nearly up to our waists and the ship was +about at her last. Suddenly one of the great funnels fell. +I sprang aside, endeavoring to pull father with me. A +moment later the funnel was swept overboard and the body +of father went with it. + +"I sprang overboard and swam through the ice to a life- +raft, and was pulled aboard. There were five men and one +woman on the raft. Occasionally we were swept off into the +sea, but always managed to crawl back. + +"A sailor lighted a cigarette and flung the match carelessly +among the women. Several screamed, fearing they would +be set on fire. The sailor replied: `We are going to hell anyway +and we might as well be cremated now as then.' " + +A huge cake of ice was the means of aiding Emile Portaleppi, +of Italy, in his hairbreadth escape from death when +the Titanic went down. Portaleppi, a second class passenger, +was awakened by the explosion of one of the bulkheads of +the ship. He hurried to the deck, strapped a life-preserver +around him and leaped into the sea. With the aid of the +preserver and by holding to a cake of ice he managed to +keep afloat until one of the life-boats picked him up. There +were thirty-five other people in the boat, he said, when he was +hauled aboard. + +THE COWARD + +Somewhere in the shadow of the appalling Titanic disaster +slinks--still living by the inexplicable grace of God--a cur +in human shape, to-day the most despicable human being in +all the world. + +In that grim midnight hour, already great in history, he +found himself hemmed in by the band of heroes whose watchword +and countersign rang out across the deep--"Women +and children first!" + +What did he do? He scuttled to the stateroom deck, put +on a woman's skirt, a woman's hat and a woman's veil, and +picking his crafty way back among the brave and chivalric +men who guarded the rail of the doomed ship, he filched a +seat in one of the life-boats and saved his skin. + +His name is on that list of branded rescued men who were +neither picked up from the sea when the ship went down +nor were in the boats under orders to help get them safe away. +His identity is not yet known, though it will be in good time. +So foul an act as that will out like murder. + +The eyes of strong men who have read this crowded record +of golden deeds, who have read and re-read that deathless +roll of honor of the dead, are still wet with tears of pity and +of pride. This man still lives. Surely he was born and saved +to set for men a new standard by which to measure infamy +and shame. + +It is well that there was sufficient heroism on board the +Titanic to neutralize the horrors of the cowardice. When +the first order was given for the men to stand back, there were +a dozen or more who pushed forward and said that men would +be needed to row the life-boats and that they would volunteer +for the work. + +The officers tried to pick out the ones that volunteered +merely for service and to eliminate those who volunteered +merely to save their own lives. This elimination process +however, was not wholly successful. + + +THE DOOMED MEN + +As the ship began to settle to starboard, heeling at an angle +of nearly forty-five degrees, those who had believed it was all +right to stick by the ship began to have doubts, and a few +jumped into the sea. They were followed immediately by +others, and in a few minutes there were scores swimming +around. Nearly all of them wore life-preservers. One man, +who had a Pomeranian dog, leaped overboard with it and +striking a piece of wreckage was badly stunned. He recovered +after a few minutes and swam toward one of the life-boats +and was taken aboard. + +Said one survivor, speaking of the men who remained on +the ship. "There they stood--Major Butt, Colonel Astor +waving a farewell to his wife, Mr. Thayer, Mr. Case, +Mr. Clarence Moore, Mr. Widener, all multimillionaires, and +hundreds of other men, bravely smiling at us all. Never have I +seen such chivalry and fortitude. Such courage in the face of +fate horrible to contemplate filled us even then with wonder +and admiration." + +Why were men saved? ask: others who seek to make the +occasional male survivor a hissing scorn; and yet the testimony +makes it clear that for a long time during that ordeal +the more frightful position seemed to many to be in the frail +boats in the vast relentless sea, and that some men had to be +tumbled into the boats under orders from the officers. Others +express the deepest indignation that 210 sailors were rescued, +the testimony shows that most of these sailors were in the +welter of ice and water into which they had been thrown from +the ship's deck when she sank; they were human beings and +so were picked up and saved. + + +"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" + +The one alleviating circumstance in the otherwise immitigable +tragedy is the fact that so many of the men stood aside +really with out the necessity for the order, "Women and +children first," and insisted that the weaker sex should first +have places in the boats. + +There were men whose word of command swayed boards +of directors, governed institutions, disposed of millions. They +were accustomed merely to pronounce a wish to have it gratified. +Thousands "posted at their bidding"; the complexion +of the market altered hue when they nodded; they bought +what they wanted, and for one of the humblest fishing smacks +or a dory they could have given the price that was paid to +build and launch the ship that has become the most imposing +mausoleum that ever housed the bones of men since the +Pyramids rose from the desert sands. + +But these men stood aside--one can see them!--and gave +place not merely to the delicate and the refined, but to the +scared Czech woman from the steerage, with her baby at her +breast; the Croatian with a toddler by her side, coming +through the very gate of Death and out of the mouth of Hell +to the imagined Eden of America. + +To many of those who went it was harder to go than to +stay there on the vessel gaping with its mortal wounds and +ready to go down. It meant that tossing on the waters they +must wait in suspense, hour after hour even after the lights of +the ship were engulfed in appalling darkness, hoping against +hope for the miracle of a rescue dearer to them than their +own lives. + +It was the tradition of Anglo-Saxon heroism that was fulfilled +in the frozen seas during the black hours of Sunday +night. The heroism was that of the women who went, as well +as of the men who remained! + + + +CHAPTER VII + +LEFT TO THEIR FATE + +COOLNESS AND HEROISM OF THOSE LEFT TO PERISH--SUICIDE +OF MURDOCK--CAPTAIN SMITH'S END--THE SHIP'S BAND +PLAYS A NOBLE HYMN AS THE VESSEL GOES DOWN + +THE general feeling aboard the ship after the boats +had left her sides was that she would not survive +her wound, but the passengers who remained aboard +displayed the utmost heroism. + +William T. Stead, the famous English journalist, was so +litt{l}e alarmed that he calmly discussed with one of the passengers +the probable height of the iceberg after the Titanic +had shot into it. + +Confidence in the ability of the Titanic to remain afloat +doubtlessly led many of the passengers to death. The theory +that the great ship was unsinkable remained with hundreds +who had entrusted themselves to the gigantic hulk, long +after the officers knew that the vessel could not survive. + +The captain and officers behaved with superb gallantry, +and there was perfect order and discipline among those who +were aboard, even after all hope had been abandoned for the +salvation of the ship. + +Many women went down, steerage women who were unable +to get to the upper decks where the boats were launched, +maids who were overlooked in the confusion, cabin passengers +who refused to desert their husbands or who reached the decks +after the last of the life-boats was gone and the ship was +settling for her final plunge to the bottom of the Atlantic. + +Narratives of survivors do not bear out the supposition +that the final hours upon the vessel's decks were passed in +darkness. They say the electric lighting plant held out +until the last, and that even as they watched the ship sink, +from their places in the floating life-boats, her lights were +gleaming in long rows as she plunged under by the head. +Just before she sank, some of the refugees say, the ship broke +in two abaft the engine room after the bulkhead explosions +had occurred. + +COLONEL ASTOR'S DEATH + + +To Colonel Astor's death Philip Mock bears this testimony. + +"Many men were hanging on to rafts in the sea. William +T. Stead and Colonel Astor were among them. Their +feet and hands froze and they had to let go. Both were +drowned." + +The last man among the survivors to speak to Colonel +Astor was K. Whiteman, the ship's barber. + +"I shaved Colonel Astor Sunday afternoon," said Whiteman. +"He was a pleasant, affable man, and that awful +night when I found myself standing beside him on the passenger +deck, helping to put the women into the boats, I +spoke to him. + +" `Where is your life-belt?' I asked him. + +" `I didn't think there would be any need of it,' he said. + +" `Get one while there is time,' I told him. `The last boat +is gone, and we are done for.' + +" `No,' he said, `I think there are some life-boats to be +launched, and we may get on one of them.' + +" `There are no life-rafts,' I told him, `and the ship is going +to sink. I am going to jump overboard and take a chance +on swimming out and being picked up by one of the boats. +Better come along.' + +" `No, thank you,' he said, calmly, `I think I'll have to +stick.' + +"I asked him if he would mind shaking hands with me. +He said, `With pleasure,' gave me a hearty grip, and then I +climbed up on the rail and jumped overboard. I was in the +water nearly four hours before one of the boats picked me up." + + +CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD + +Murdock's last orders were to Quartermaster Moody and +a few other petty officers who had taken their places in the +rigid discipline of the ship and were lowering the boats. +Captain Smith came up to him on the bridge several times +and then rushed down again. They spoke to one another +only in monosyllables. + +There were stories that Captain Smith, when he saw the +ship actually going down, had committed suicide. There is +no basis for such tales. The captain, according to the testimony +of those who were near him almost until the last, was +admirably cool. He carried a revolver in his hand, ready +to use it on anyone who disobeyed orders. + +"I want every man to act like a man for manhood's sake," +he said, "and if they don't, a bullet awaits the coward." + +With the revolver in his hand--a fact that undoubtedly +gave rise to the suicide theory--the captain moved up and +down the deck. He gave the order for each life-boat to make +off and he remained until every boat was gone. Standing +on the bridge he finally called out the order: "Each man +save himself." At that moment all discipline fled. It was +the last call of death. If there had been any hope among +those on board before, the hope now had fled. + +The bearded admiral of the White Star Line fleet, with +every life-saving device launched from the decks, was returning +to the deck to perform the sacred office of going down +with his ship when a wave dashed over the side and tore +him from the ladder. + +The Titanic was sinking rapidly by the head, with the +twisting sidelong motion that was soon to aim her on her +course two miles down. Murdock saw the skipper swept out; +but did not move. Captain Smith was but one of a multitude +of lost at that moment. Murdock may have known that the +last desperate thought of the gray mariner was to get upon +his bridge and die in command. That the old man could not +have done this may have had something to do with Murdock's +suicidal inspiration. Of that no man may say or safely guess. + +The wave that swept the skipper out bore him almost to the +thwart of a crowded life-boat. Hands reached out, but he +wrenched himself away, turned and swam back toward the +ship. + +Some say that he said, "Good-bye, I'm going back to the +ship." + +He disappeared for a moment, then reappeared where a +rail was slipping under water. Cool and courageous to the +end, loyal to his duty under the most difficult circumstances, +he showed himself a noble captain, and he died a noble +death. + + +SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH + +Quartermaster Moody saw all this, watched the skipper +scramble aboard again onto the submerged decks, and then +vanish altogether in a great billow. + +As Moody's eye lost sight of the skipper in this confusion +of waters it again shifted to the bridge, and just in time to see +Murdock take his life. The man's face was turned toward +him, Moody said, and he could not mistake it. There were +still many gleaming lights on the ship, flickering out like +little groups of vanishing stars, and with the clear starshine +on the waters there was nothing to cloud or break the quartermaster's +vision. + +"I saw Murdock die by his own hand," said Moody, "saw +the flash from his gun, heard the crack that followed the +flash and then saw him plunge over on his face." + +Others report hearing several pistol shots on the decks +below the bridge, but amid the groans and shrieks and cries, +shouted orders and all that vast orchestra of sounds that broke +upon the air they must have been faint periods of punctuation + +BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE + +The band had broken out in the strains of "Nearer, My +God, to Thee," some minutes before Murdock lifted the +revolver to his head, fired and toppled over on his face. +Moody saw all this in a vision that filled his brain, while his +ears drank in the tragic strain of the beautiful hymn that +the band played as their own dirge, even to the moment when +the waters sucked them down. + +Wherever Murdock's eye swept the water in that instant, +before he drew his revolver, it looked upon veritable seas of +drowning men and women. From the decks there came to +him the shrieks and groans of the caged and drowning, for +whom all hope of escape was utterly vanished. He evidently +never gave a thought to the possibility of saving himself, his +mind freezing with the horrors he beheld and having room +for just one central idea--swift extinction. + +The strains of the hymn and the frantic cries of the dying +blended in a symphony of sorrow. + +Led by the green light, under the light of stars, the boats +drew away, and the bow, then the quarter, then the stacks +and last the stern of the marvel ship of a few days before +passed beneath the waters. The great force of the ship's +sinking was unaided by any violence of the elements, and the +suction, not so great as had been feared, rocked but mildly +the group of boats now a quarter of a mile distant from it. + +Just before the Titanic disappeared from view men and +women leaped from the stern. More than a hundred men, +according to Colonel Gracie, jumped at the last. Gracie +was among the number and he and the second officer were +of the very few who were saved. + +As the vessel disappeared, the waves drowned the majestic + + +{illust. caption = DEPTH OF OCEAN WHERE THE TITANIC WENT DOWN + +The above etching shows a diagram of the ocean depths between the +shore of Newfoundland (shown at the top to the left, by the heavily shaded +part) to 800 miles out, where the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. Over +the Great Bank of Newfoundland the greatest depth is about 35 fathoms, or +210 feet. Then there is a sudden drop to 105 fathoms, or 630 feet, and then +there is a falling away to 1650 fathoms or 9900 feet, then 2000 fathoms or +12,000 feet, and about where the Titanic sank 2760 fathoms or 16,560 feet.} + + +hymn which the musicians played as they went to their watery +grave. The most authentic accounts agree that this hymn +was not "Nearer, My God, to Thee," which it seems had been + + + +{illust. caption = CARPATHIA + +The Cunard liner which brought the survivors of the Titanic to New York.} + +{illust. caption = THE HERO WIRELESS OPERATOR OF THE TITANIC + +Photograph of Harold ...} + + +played shortly before, but "Autumn," which is found in +the Episcopal hymnal and which fits appropriately the +situation on the Titanic in the last moments of pain and +darkness there. One line, "Hold me up in mighty waters," +particularly may have suggested the hymn to some minister +aboard the doomed vessel, who, it has been thought, thereupon +asked the remaining passengers to join in singing the +hymn, in a last service aboard the sinking ship, soon to be +ended by death itself. + +Following is the hymn: + + God of mercy and compassion! + Look with pity on my pain: + Hear a mournful, broken spirit + Prostrate at Thy feet complain; + Many are my foes, and mighty; + Strength to conquer I have none; + Nothing can uphold my goings + But Thy blessed Self alone. + + Saviour, look on Thy beloved; + Triumph over all my foes; + Turn to heavenly joy my mourning, + Turn to gladness all my woes; + Live or die, or work or suffer, + Let my weary soul abide, + In all changes whatsoever + Sure and steadfast by Thy side. + When temptations fierce assault me, + When my enemies I find, + Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, + All against my soul combined, + Hold me up in mighty waters, + Keep my eyes on things above, + Righteousness, divine Atonement, + Peace, and everlasting Love. + + +It was a little lame schoolmaster, Tyrtaeus, who aroused the +Spartans by his poetry and led them to victory against the +foe. + +It was the musicians of the band of the Titanic--poor men, +paid a few dollars a week--who played the music to keep up +the courage of the souls aboard the sinking ship. + +"The way the band kept playing was a noble thing," says +the wireless operator. "I heard it first while we were working +the wireless, when there was a rag-time tune for us, and the +last I saw of the band, when I was floating, struggling in the +icy water, it was still on deck, playing `Autumn.' How those +brave fellows ever did it I cannot imagine." + +Perhaps that music, made in the face of death, would not +have satisfied the exacting critical sense. It may be that the +chilled fingers faltered on the pistons of the cornet or at the +valves of the French horn, that the time was irregular and +that by an organ in a church, with a decorous congregation, +the hymns they chose would have been better played and +sung. But surely that music went up to God from the souls +of drowning men, and was not less acceptable than the song +of songs no mortal ear may hear, the harps of the seraphs +and the choiring cherubim. Under the sea the music-makers +lie, still in their fingers clutching the broken and battered +means of melody; but over the strident voice of warring +winds and the sound of many waters there rises their chant +eternally; and though the musicians lie hushed and cold at +the sea's heart, their music is heard forevermore. + + +LAST MOMENTS + +That great ship, which started out as proudly, went down +to her death like some grime silent juggernaut, drunk with +carnage and anxious to stop the throbbing of her own heart +at the bottom of the sea. Charles H. Lightoller, second +officer of the Titanic, tells the story this way: + +"I stuck to the ship until the water came up to my ankles. +There had been no lamentations, no demonstrations either +from the men passengers as they saw the last life-boat go, +and there was no wailing or crying, no outburst from the men +who lined the ship's rail as the Titanic disappeared from sight. + +"The men stood quietly as if they were in church. They +knew that they were in the sight of God; that in a moment +judgment would be passed upon them. Finally, the ship +took a dive, reeling for a moment, then plunging. I was +sucked to the side of the ship against the grating over the +blower for the exhaust. There was an explosion. It blew +me to the surface again, only to be sucked back again by the +water rushing into the ship + +"This time I landed against the grating over the pipes, +which furnish a draught for the funnels, and stuck there. +There was another explosion, and I came to the surface. The +ship seemed to be heaving tremendous sighs as she went down. +I found myself not many feet from the ship, but on the other +side of it. The ship had turned around while I was under +the water. + +"I came up near a collapsible life-boat and grabbed it. +Many men were in the water near me. They had jumped +at the last minute. A funnel fell within four inches of me +and killed one of the swimmers. Thirty clung to the capsized +boat, and a life-boat, with forty survivors in it already, +finally took them off. + +"George D. Widener and Harry Elkins Widener were among +those who jumped at the last minute. So did Robert Williams +Daniel. The three of them went down together. Daniel +struck out, lashing the water with his arms until he had made +a point far distant from the sinking monster of the sea. Later +he was picked up by one of the passing life-boats. + +"The Wideners were not seen again, nor was John B. Thayer, +who went down on the boat. `Jack' Thayer, who was literally +thrown off the Titanic by an explosion, after he had +refused to leave the men to go with his mother, floated around +on a raft for an hour before he was picked up." + + +AFLOAT WITH JACK THAYER + +Graphic accounts of the final plunge of the Titanic were +related by two Englishmen, survivors by the merest chance. +One of them struggled for hours to hold himself afloat on an +overturned collapsible life-boat, to one end of which John B. +Thayer, Jr., of Philadelphia, whose father perished, hung +until rescued. + +The men gave their names as A. H. Barkworth, justice of +the peace of East Riding, Yorkshire, England, and W. J. +Mellers, of Christ Church Terrace, Chelsea, London. The +latter, a young man, had started for this country with his +savings to seek his fortune, and lost all but his life. + +Mellers, like Quartermaster Moody, said Captain Smith +did not commit suicide. The captain jumped from the bridge, +Mellers declares, and he heard him say to his officers and crew: +"You have done your duty, boys. Now every man for himself." +Mellers and Barkworth, who say their names have +been spelled incorrectly in most of the lists of survivors, both +declare there were three distinct explosions before the Titanic +broke in two, and bow section first, and stern part last, settled +with her human cargo into the sea. + +Her four whistles kept up a deafening blast until the explosions, +declare the men. The death cries from the shrill throats +of the blatant steam screechers beside the smokestacks so +rent the air that conversation among the passengers was possible +only when one yelled into the ear of a fellow-unfortunate. + +"I did not know the Thayer family well," declared Mr. +Barkworth, "but I had met young Thayer, a clear-cut chap, +and his father on the trip. The lad and I struggled in the +water for several hours endeavoring to hold afloat by grabbing +to the sides and end of an overturned life-boat. Now and +again we lost our grip and fell back into the water. I did +not recognize young Thayer in the darkness, as we struggled +for our lives, but I did recall having met him before when +we were picked up by a life-boat. We were saved by the +merest chance, because the survivors on a life-boat that +rescued us hesitated in doing so, it seemed, fearing perhaps +that additional burdens would swamp the frail craft. + +"I considered my fur overcoat helped to keep me afloat. +I had a life preserver over it, under my arms, but it would +not have held me up so well out of the water but for the +coat. The fur of the coat seemed not to get wet through, +and retained a certain amount of air that added to buoyance. +I shall never part with it. + +"The testimony of J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of +the White Star Line, that he had not heard explosions before +the Titanic settled, indicates that he must have gotten some +distance from her in his life-boat. There were three distinct +explosions and the ship broke in the center. The bow settled +headlong first, and the stern last. I was looking toward +her from the raft to which young Thayer and I had clung." + + +HOW CAPTAIN SMITH DIED + +Barkworth jumped, just before the Titanic went down. +He said there were enough life-preservers for all the +passengers, but in the confusion many may not have known +where to look for them. Mellers, who had donned a life- +preserver, was hurled into the air, from the bow of the ship +by the force of the explosion, which he believed caused the +Titanic to part in the center. + +"I was not far from where Captain Smith stood on the +bridge, giving full orders to his men," said Mellers. "The +brave old seaman was crying, but he had stuck heroically +to the last. He did not shoot himself. He jumped from +the bridge when he had done all he could. I heard his final +instructions to his crew, and recall that his last words were: +`You have done your duty, boys. Now every man for himself.' + +"I thought I was doomed to go down with the rest. I +stood on the deck, awaiting my fate, fearing to jump from +the ship. Then came a grinding noise, followed by two +others, and I was hurled into the deep. Great waves engulfed +me, but I was not drawn toward the ship, so that I believe +there was little suction. I swam about for more than one +hour before I was picked up by a boat." + + +A FAITHFUL OFFICER + +Charles Herbert Lightoller, previously mentioned, stood +by the ship until the last, working to get the passengers +away, and when it appeared that he had made his last trip +he went up high on the officers' quarters and made the best +dive he knew how to make just as the ship plunged down to +the depths. This is an excerpt from his testimony before +the Senate investigating committee: + +"What time did you leave the ship?" + +"I didn't leave it." + +"Did it leave you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Children shall hear that episode sung in after years and +his own descendants shall recite it to their bairns. Mr. +Lightoller acted as an officer and gentleman should, and he +was not the only one. + + +A MESSAGE FROM A NOTORIOUS GAMBLER + +That Jay Yates, gambler, confidence man and fugitive +from justice, known to the police and in sporting circles as +J. H. Rogers, went down with the Titanic after assisting many +women aboard life-boats, became known when a note, written +on a blank page torn from a diary: was delivered to his +sister. Here is a fac-simile of the note: + + +{illust.} + + + +This note was given by Rogers to a woman he was helping +into a life-boat. The woman, who signed herself "Survivor," +inclosed the note with the following letter. + +"You will find note that was handed to me as I was leaving +the Titanic. Am stranger to this man, but think he was +a card player. He helped me aboard a life-boat and I saw +him help others. Before we were lowered I saw him jump +into the sea. If picked up I did not recognize him on the +Carpathia. I don't think he was registered on the ship under +his right name." + +Rogers' mother, Mrs. Mary A. Yates, an old woman, +broke down when she learned son had perished. + +"Thank God I know where he is now," she sobbed. "I +have not heard from him for two years. The last news I +had from him he was in London." + + +FIFTY LADS MET DEATH + +Among the many hundreds of heroic souls who went bravely +and quietly to their end were fifty happy-go-lucky youngsters +shipped as bell boys or messengers to serve the first cabin +passengers. James Humphreys, a quartermaster, who commanded +life-boat No. 11, told a li{t}tle story that shows +how these fifty lads met death. + +Humphreys said the boys were called to their regular posts +in the main cabin entry and taken in charge by their captain, +a steward. They were ordered to remain in the cabin and not +get in the way. Throughout the first hour of confusion and +terror these lads sat quietly on their benches in various parts +of the first cabin. + +Then, just toward the end when the order was passed around +that the ship was going down and every man was free to save +himself, if he kept away from the life-boats in which the women + +{illust. caption = + "WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND."--Isaiah XL:xii} + + +were being taken, the bell boys scattered to all parts of the +ship. + +Humphreys said he saw numbers of them smoking cigarettes +and joking with the passengers. They seemed to think that +their violation of the rule against smoking while on duty was +a sufficient breach of discipline. + +Not one of them attempted to enter a life-boat. Not one +of them was saved. + + +THE HEROES WHO REMAINED + +The women who left the ship; the men who remained-- +there is little to choose between them for heroism. Many of +the women compelled to take to the boats would have stayed, +had it been possible, to share the fate of their nearest and +dearest, without whom their lives are crippled, broken and +disconsolate. + +The heroes who remained would have said, with Grenville. +"We have only done our duty, as a man is bound to do." +They sought no palms or crowns of martyrdom. "They also +serve who only stand and wait," and their first action was +merely to step aside and give places in the boats to women +and children, some of whom were too young to comprehend +or to remember. + +There was no debate as to whether the life of a financier, +a master of business, was rated higher in the scale of values +than that of an ignorant peasant mother. A woman was a +woman, whether she wore rags or pearls. A life was given for +a life, with no assertion that one was priceless and the other +comparatively valueless. + +Many of those who elected to remain might have escaped. +"Chivalry" is a mild appellation for their conduct. Some +of the vaunted knights of old were desperate cowards by comparison. +A fight in the open field, or jousting in the tournament, +did not call out the manhood in a man as did the waiting +till the great ship took the final plunge, in the knowledge that +the seas round about were covered with loving and yearning +witnesses whose own salvation was not assured. + +When the roll is called hereafter of those who are "purged +of pride because they died, who know the worth of their days," +let the names of the men who went down with the Titanic +be found written there in the sight of God and men. + + +THE OBVIOUS LESSON + +And, whatever view of the accident be taken, whether the +moralist shall use it to point the text of a solemn or denunciatory +warning, or whether the materialist, swinging to the +other extreme, scouts any other theory than that of the +"fortuitous concurrence of atoms," there is scarcely a thinking +mortal who has heard of what happened who has not been +deeply stirred, in the sense of a personal bereavement, to a +profound humility and the conviction of his own insignificance +in the greater universal scheme. + +Many there are whom the influences of religion do not move, +and upon whose hearts most generous sentiments knock in +vain, who still are overawed and bowed by the magnitude of +this catastrophe. No matter what they believe about it, +the effect is the same. The effect is to reduce a man from the +swaggering braggart--the vainglorious lord of what he sees-- +the self-made master of fate, of nature, of time, of space, of +everything--to his true microscopic stature in the cosmos. +He goes in tears to put together again the fragments of the +few, small, pitiful things that belonged to him. + + "Though Love may pine, and Reason chafe, + There came a Voice without reply." + + +The only comfort, all that can bring surcease of sorrow, is +that men fashioned in the image of their Maker rose to the +emergency like heroes, and went to their grave as bravely as +any who have given their lives at any time in war. The hearts +of those who waited on the land, and agonized, and were impotent +to save, have been laid upon the same altars of sacrifice. +The mourning of those who will not be comforted rises from +alien lands together with our own in a common broken intercession. +How little is the 882 feet of the "monster" that we +launched compared with the arc of the rainbow we can see +even in our grief spanning the frozen boreal mist! + "The best of what we do and are, + Just God, forgive!" + + +THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE + +And still our work must go on. It is the business of men +and women neither to give way to unavailing grief nor to +yield to the crushing incubus of despair, but to find hope +that is at the bottom of everything, even at the bottom +of the sea where that glorious virgin of the ocean is dying. + "And when she took unto herself a mate + She must espouse the everlasting sea." + + +Even so, for any progress of the race, there must be the +ancient sacrifice of man's own stubborn heart, and all his pride. +He must forever "lay in dust life's glory dead." He cannot +rise to the height it was intended he should reach till he has +plumbed the depths, till he has devoured the bread of the +bitterest affliction, till he has known the ache of hopes deferred, +of anxious expectation disappointed, of dreams that are not +to be fulfilled this side of the river that waters the meads of +Paradise. There still must be a reason why it is not an unhappy +thing to be taken from "the world we know to one a +wonder still," and so that we go bravely, what does it matter, +the mode of our going? It was not only those who stood +back, who let the women and children go to the boats, that +died. There died among us on the shore something of the +fierce greed of bitterness, something of the sharp hatred of +passion, something of the mad lust of revenge and of knife- +edge competition. Though we are not aware of it, perhaps, +we are not quite the people that we were before out of the +mystery an awful hand was laid upon us all, and what we had +thought the colossal power of wealth was in a twinkling shown +to be no more than the strength of an infant's little finger, +or the twining tendril of a plant. + + "Lest we forget; lest we forget!" + +{"illustration", really "music" Lyrics = + +God of mercy and compassion, Look with pity on my pain; +Hear a mournful, broken spirit Prostrate at Thy feet complain; +Many are my foes and mighty; Strength to conquer I have none; +Nothing can uphold my goings But they blessed Self alone. AMEN + +{2nd Stanza} +Saviour, look on Thy beloved, +Triumph over all my foes, +Turn to heavenly joy my mourning, +Turn to gladness all my woes; +Live or die, or work or suffer +Let my weary soul abide, +In all changes whatsoever, +Sure and steadfast by Thy side: + +{3rd Stanza} +When temptations fierce assault me, +When my enemies I find, +Sin and guilt, and death and Satan, +All against my soul combined, +Hold me up in mighty waters, +Keep my eyes on things above-- +Rightousness,{sic} divine atonement +Peace and everlasting love,} + + +{illust. caption = LATITUDE 41.46 NORTH, LONGITUDE 50.14 WEST +WHERE MANHOOD PERISHED NOT} + +{illust. caption = LOWERING OF THE LIFE-BOATS FROM THE TITANIC + +It is easy to understand why...} + +{illust. caption = PASSENGERS LEAVING THE TITANIC IN THE LIFE-BOATS + +The agony and despair which possessed the occupants of these boats +as they were carried away from the doomed giant, leaving husbands and +brothers behind, is almost beyond description. It is little wonder that the +strain of these moments, with the physical and mental suffering which +followed during the early morning hours, left many of the women still +hysterical when they reached New York.} + + + +WHERE MANHOOD PERISHED NOT + + Where cross the lines of forty north + And fifty-fourteen west + There rolls a wild and greedy sea + With death upon its crest. + No stone or wreath from human hands + Will ever mark the spot + Where fifteen hundred men went down, + But Manhood perished not. + + Old Ocean takes but little heed + Of human tears or woe. + No shafts adorn the ocean graves, + Nor weeping willows grow. + Nor is there need of marble slab + To keep in mind the spot + Where noble men went down to death, + But manhood perished not! + + Those men who looked on death and smiled, + And trod the crumbling deck, + Have saved much more than precious lives + From out that awful wreck. + Though countless joys and hopes and fears + Were shattered at a breath, + 'Tis something that the name of Man + Did not go down to death. + + 'Tis not an easy thing to die, + E'en in the open air, + Twelve hundred miles from home and friends, + In a shroud of black despair. + A wreath to crown the brow of man, + And hide a former blot + Will ever blossom o'er the waves + Where Manhood perished not. + HARVEY P. THEW{spelling uncertain due to poor printing} + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD + +THE VALUE OF THE WIRELESS--OTHER SHIPS ALTER THEIR +COURSE--RESCUERS ON THE WAY + +"WE have struck an iceberg. Badly damaged. +Rush aid." + +Seaward and landward, J. G. Phillips, the +Titanic's wireless man, had hurled the appeal for help. By fits +and starts--for the wireless was working unevenly and blurringly +--Phillips reached out to the world, crying the Titanic's +peril. A word or two, scattered phrases, now and then a +connected sentence, made up the message that sent a thrill +of apprehension for a thousand miles east, west and south +of the doomed liner. + +The early despatches from St. John's, Cape Race, and +Montreal, told graphic tales of the race to reach the Titanic, +the wireless appeals for help, the interruption of the calls, then +what appeared to be a successful conclusion of the race when +the Virginian was reported as having reached the giant liner. + + +MANY LINES HEAR THE CALL + +Other rushing liners besides the Virginian heard the call +and became on the instant something more than cargo carriers +and passenger greyhounds. The big Baltic, 200 miles to the +eastward and westbound, turned again to save life, as she did +when her sister of the White Star fleet, the Republic, was +cut down in a fog in January, 1909. The Titanic's mate, the +Olympic, the mightiest of the seagoers save the Titanic herself, +turned in her tracks. All along the northern lane the miracle +of the wireless worked for the distressed and sinking White +Star ship. The Hamburg-American Cincinnati, the Parisian +from Glasgow, the North German Lloyd Prinz Friedrich +Wilhelm, the Hamburg-American liners Prinz Adelbert and +Amerika, all heard the C. Q. D. and the rapid, condensed +explanation of what had happened. + + +VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE + +But the Virginian was nearest, barely 170 miles away, and +was the first to know of the Titanic's danger. She went about +and headed under forced draught for the spot indicated in one +of the last of Phillips' messages--latitude 41.46 N. and longitude +50.14 W. She is a fast ship, the Allan liner, and her +wireless has told the story of how she stretched through the +night to get up to the Titanic in time. There was need for +all the power of her engines and all the experience and skill +of her captain. The final fluttering Marconigrams that were +released from the Titanic made it certain that the great ship +with 2340 souls aboard was filling and in desperate peril. + +Further out at sea was the Cunarder, Carpathia, which +left New York for the Mediterranean on April 13th. Round +she went and plunged back westward to take a hand in +saving life. And the third steamship within short sailing of +the Titanic was the Allan liner Parisian away to the eastward, +on her way from Glasgow to Halifax. + +While they sped in the night with all the drive that steam +could give them, the Titanic's call reached to Cape Race and +the startled operator there heard at midnight a message +which quickly reached New York: + +"Have struck an iceberg. We are badly damaged. Titanic +latitude 41.46 N., 50.14 W." + +Cape Race threw the appeal broadcast wherever his apparatus +could carry. + +Then for hours, while the world waited for a crumb of news +as to the safety of the great ship's people, not one thing more +was known save that she was drifting, broken and helpless +and alone in the midst of a waste of ice. And it was not until +seventeen hours after the Titanic had sunk that the words +came out of the air as to her fate. There was a confusion +and tangle of messages--a jumble of rumors. Good tidings +were trodden upon by evil. And no man knew clearly what +was taking place in that stretch of waters where the giant +icebergs were making a mock of all that the world knew best +in ship-building. + + +TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS + +It was at 12.17 A. M., while the Virginian was still plunging +eastward, that all communication from the Titanic ceased. +The Virginian's operator, with the Virginian's captain at his +elbow, fed the air with blue flashes in a desperate effort to +know what was happening to the crippled liner, but no message +came back. The last word from the Titanic was that +she was sinking. Then the sparking became fainter. The +call was dying to nothing. The Virginian's operator labored +over a blur of signals. It was hopeless. So the Allan ship +strove on, fearing that the worst had happened. + +It was this ominous silence that so alarmed the other +vessels hurrying to the Titanic and that caused so much +suspense here. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS + +SORROW AND SUFFERING--THE SURVIVORS SEE THE TITANIC +GO DOWN WITH THEIR LOVED ONES ON BOARD--A NIGHT +OF AGONIZING SUSPENSE--WOMEN HELP TO ROW--HELP +ARRIVES--PICKING UP THE LIFE-BOATS + +SIXTEEN boats were in the procession which entered +on the terrible hours of rowing, drifting and suspense. +Women wept for lost husbands and sons, sailors sobbed +for the ship which had been their pride. Men choked back +tears and sought to comfort the widowed. Perhaps, they +said, other boats might have put off in another direction. +They strove, though none too sure themselves, to convince +the women of the certainty that a rescue ship would appear. + +In the distance the Titanic looked an enormous length, +her great bulk outlined in black against the starry sky, every +port-hole and saloon blazing with light. It was impossible +to think anything could be wrong with such a leviathan, were +it not for that ominous tilt downwards in the bows, where +the water was now up to the lowest row of port-holes. Presently, +about 2 A. M., as near as can be determined, those in +the life-boats observed her settling very rapidly with the +bows and the bridge completely under water, and concluded +it was now only a question of minutes before she went. So +it proved She slowly tilted straight on end with the stern +vertically upwards, and as she did, the lights in the cabins +and saloons, which until then had not flickered for a moment, +died out, came on again for a single flash, and finally went +altogether. At the same time the machinery roared down +through the vessel with a rattle and a groaning that could +be heard for miles, the weirdest sound surely that could be +heard in the middle of the ocean, a thousand miles away from +land. But this was not yet quite the end. + + +TITANIC STOOD UPRIGHT + +To the amazement of the awed watchers in the life-boats, +the doomed vessel remained in that upright position for a time +estimated at five minutes; some in the boat say less, but it +was certainly some minutes that at least 150 feet of the Titanic +towered up above the level of the sea and loomed black against +the sky. + + +SAW LAST OF BIG SHIP + +Then with a quiet, slanting dive she disappeared beneath +the waters, and the eyes of the helpless spectators had looked +for the last time upon the gigantic vessel on which they had +set out from Southampton. And there was left to the survivors +only the gently heaving sea, the life-boats filled +with men and women in every conceivable condition of +dress and undress, above the perfect sky of brilliant stars +with not a cloud, all tempered with a bitter cold that made +each man and woman long to be one of the crew who toiled +away with the oars and kept themselves warm thereby--a +curious, deadening; bitter cold unlike anything they had +felt before. + + +"ONE LONG MOAN" + +And then with all these there fell on the ear the most appalling +noise that human being has ever listened to--the cries of +hundreds of fellow-beings struggling in the icy cold water, +crying for help with a cry that could not be answered. + +Third Officer Herbert John Pitman, in charge of one of +the boats, described this cry of agony in his testimony before +the Senatorial Investigating Committee, under the questioning +of Senator Smith: + +"I heard no cries of distress until after the ship went +down," he said. + +"How far away were the cries from your life-boat?" + +"Several hundred yards, probably, some of them." + +"Describe the screams." + +"Don't, sir, please! I'd rather not talk about it." + +"I'm sorry to press it, but what was it like? Were the +screams spasmodic?" + +"It was one long continuous moan." + +The witness said the moans and cries continued an hour. + +Those in the life-boats longed to return and pick up some of +the poor drowning souls, but they feared this would mean +swamping the boats and a further loss of life. + +Some of the men tried to sing to keep the women from hearing +the cries, and rowed hard to get away from the scene of +the wreck, but the memory of those sounds will be one of the +things the rescued will find it difficult to forget. + +The waiting sufferers kept a lookout for lights, and several +times it was shouted that steamers' lights were seen, but they +turned out to be either a light from another boat or a star +low down on the horizon. It was hard to keep up hope. + + +WOMEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE + +"Let me go back--I want to go back to my husband--I'll +jump from the boat if you don't," cried an agonized voice +in one life-boat. + +"You can do no good by going back--other lives will be +lost if you try to do it. Try to calm yourself for the sake of +the living. It may be that your husband will be picked up +somewhere by one of the fishing boats." + +The woman who pleaded to go back, according to Mrs. +Vera Dick, of Calgary, Canada, later tried to throw herself +from the life-boat. Mrs. Dick, describing the scenes in the +life-boats, said there were half a dozen women in that one boat +who tried to commit suicide when they realized that the +Titanic had gone down. + +"Even in Canada, where we have such clear nights," said +Mrs. Dick, "I have never seen such a clear sky. The stars +were very bright and we could see the Titanic plainly, like a +great hotel on the water. Floor after floor of the lights went +out as we watched. It was horrible, horrible. I can't bear +to think about it. From the distance, as we rowed away, +we could hear the band playing `Nearer, My God to Thee.' + +"Among the life-boats themselves, however, there were +scenes just as terrible, perhaps, but to me nothing could outdo +the tragic grandeur with which the Titanic went to its death. +To realize it, you would have to see the Titanic as I saw it +the day we set sail--with the flags flying and the bands playing. +Everybody on board was laughing and talking about the +Titanic being the biggest and most luxurious boat on the ocean +and being unsinkable. To think of it then and to think of it +standing out there in the night, wounded to death and gasping +for life, is almost too big for the imagination. + + +SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN IN LIFE-BOATS + +"The women on our boat were in nightgowns and bare feet +--some of them--and the wealthiest women mingled with the +poorest immigrants. One immigrant woman kept shouting: +`My God, my poor father! He put me in this boat and would +not save himself. Oh, why didn't I die, why didn't I die? +Why can't I die now?' + +"We had to restrain her, else she would have Jumped over- +board. It was simply awful. Some of the men apparently +had said they could row just to get into the boats. We paid +no attention to cowardice, however. We were all busy with +our own troubles. My heart simply bled for the women who +were separated from their husbands. + +"The night was frightfully cold, although clear. We had +to huddle together to keep warm. Everybody drank sparingly +of the water and ate sparingly of the bread. We did not +know when we would be saved. Everybody tried to remain +cool, except the poor creatures who could think of nothing +but their own great loss. Those with the most brains seemed +to control themselves best." + + +PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HEROINES + +How Mrs. George D. Widener, whose husband and son +perished after kissing her good-bye and helping her into one of +the boats, rowed when exhausted seamen were on the verge +of collapse, was told by Emily Geiger, maid of Mrs. Widener, +who was saved with her. + +The girl said Mrs. Widener bravely toiled throughout the +night and consoled other women who had broken down under +the strain. + +Mrs. William E. Carter and Mrs. John B. Thayer were in +the same life-boat and worked heroically to keep it free from +the icy menace. Although Mrs. Thayer's husband remained +aboard the Titanic and sank with it, and although she had +no knowledge of the safety of her son until they met, hours +later, aboard the Carpathia, Mrs. Thayer bravely labored at +the oars throughout the night. + +In telling of her experience Mrs. Carter said: + +"When I went over the side with my children and got in +the boat there were no seamen in it. Then came a few men, +but there were oars with no one to use them. The boat had +been filled with passengers, and there was nothing else for +me to do but to take an oar. + +"We could see now that the time of the ship had come. She +was sinking, and we were warned by cries from the men above +to pull away from the ship quickly. Mrs. Thayer, wife of +the vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was in my +boat, and she, too, took an oar. + +"It was cold and we had no time to clothe ourselves with +warm overcoats. The rowing warmed me. We started to +pull away from the ship. We could see the dim outlines of the +decks above, but we could not recognize anybody." + + +MANY WOMEN ROWING + +Mrs. William R. Bucknell's account of the part women +played in the rowing is as follows: + +"There were thirty-five persons in the boat in which the +captain placed me. Three of these were ordinary seamen, +supposed to manage the boat, and a steward. + +"One of these men seemed to think that we should not +start away from the sinking ship until it could be learned +whether the other boats would accommodate the rest of the +women. He seemed to think that; more could be crowded +into ours, if necessary. + +" `I would rather go back and go down with the ship than +leave under these circumstances.' he cried. + +"The captain shouted to him to obey orders and to pull +for a little light that could just be discerned miles in the +distance. I do not know what this little light was. It may have +been a passing fishing vessel, which, of course could not know +our predicament. Anyway, we never reached it. + +"We rowed all night, I took an oar and sat beside the Countess +de Rothes. Her maid had an our and so did mine. The +air was freezing cold, and it was not long before the only man +that appeared to know anything about rowing commenced +to complain that his hands were freezing: A woman back of +him handed him a shawl from about her shoulders. + +"As we rowed we looked back at the lights of the Titanic. +There was not a sound from her, only the lights began to get +lower and lower, and finally she sank. Then we heard a +muffled explosion and a dull roar caused by the great suction +of water. + +"There was not a drop of water on our boat. The last +minute before our boat was launched Captain Smith threw +aboard a bag of bread. I took the precaution of taking a good +drink of water before we started, so I suffered no inconvenience +from thirst." + +Mrs. Lucien Smith, whose young husband perished, was +another heroine. It is related by survivors that she took +turns at the oars, and then, when the boat was in danger of +sinking, stood ready to plug a hole with her finger if the cork +stopper became loose. + +In another boat Mrs. Cornell and her sister, who had a +slight knowledge of rowing, took turns at the oars, as did +other women. + +The boat in which Mrs. J. J. Brown, of Denver, Col., was +saved contained only three men in all, and only one rowed. +He was a half-frozen seaman who was tumbled into the boat +at the last minute. The woman wrapped him in blankets +and set him at an oar to start his blood. The second man +was too old to be of any use. The third was a coward. + +Strange to say, there was room in this boat for ten other +people. Ten brave men would have received the warmest +welcome of their lives if they had been there. The coward, +being a quartermaster and the assigned head of the boat, +sat in the stern and steered. He was terrified, and the women +had to fight against his pessimism while they tugged at the +oars. + +The women sat two at each oar. One held the oar in place, +the other did the pulling. Mrs. Brown coached them and +cheered them on. She told them that the exercise would +keep the chill out of their veins, and she spoke hopefully of +the likelihood that some vessel would answer the wireless calls. +Over the frightful danger of the situation the spirit of this +woman soared. + + +THE PESSIMIST + +And the coward sat in his stern seat, terrified, his tongue +loosened with fright. He assured them there was no chance +in the world. He had had fourteen years' experience, and he +knew. First, they would have to row one and a half miles +at least to get out of the sphere of the suction, if they did not +want to go down. They would be lost, and nobody would +ever find them. + +"Oh, we shall be picked up sooner or later," said some of +the braver ones. No, said the man, there was no bread in +the boat, no water; they would starve--all that big boatload +wandering the high seas with nothing to eat, perhaps for days. + +"Don't," cried Mrs. Brown. "Keep that to yourself, +if you feel that way. For the sake of these women and chil- +dren, be a man. We have a smooth sea and a fighting chance. +Be a man." + +But the coward only knew that there was no compass and +no chart aboard. They sighted what they thought was a +fishing smack on the horizon, showing dimly in the early +dawn. The man at the rudder steered toward it, and the +women bent to their oars again. They covered several miles +in this way--but the smack faded into the distance. They +could not see it any longer. And the coward said that everything +was over. + +They rowed back nine weary miles. Then the coward +thought they must stop rowing, and lie in the trough of the +waves until the Carpathia should appear. The women tried +it for a few moments, and felt the cold creeping into their +bodies. Though exhausted from the hard physical labor they +thought work was better than freezing. + +"Row again!" commanded Mrs. Brown. + +"No, no, don't," said the coward. + +"We shall freeze," cried several of the women together. +"We must row. We have rowed all this time. We must +keep on or freeze." + +When the coward still demurred, they told him plainly +and once for all that if he persisted in wanting them to stop +rowing, they were going to throw him overboard and be done +with him for good. Something about the look in the eye of +that Mississippi-bred oarswoman, who seemed such a force +among her fellows, told him that he had better capitulate. +And he did. + +COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN + +Miss Alice Farnam Leader, a New York physician, escaped +from the Titanic on the same boat which carried the Countess +Rothes. "The countess is an expert oarswoman," said +Doctor Leader, "and thoroughly at home on the water. She +practically took command of our boat when it was found that +the seaman who had been placed at the oars could not row +skilfully. Several of the women took their place with the +countess at the oars and rowed in turns, while the weak and +unskilled stewards sat quietly in one end of the boat." + + + +MEN COULD NOT ROW + +"With nothing on but a nightgown I helped row one of the +boats for three hours," said Mrs. Florence Ware, of Bristol, +England. + +"In our boat there were a lot of women, a steward and a +fireman. None of the men knew anything about managing +a small boat, so some of the women who were used to boats +took charge. + +"It was cold and I worked as hard as I could at an oar +until we were picked up. There was nothing to eat or drink +on our boat." + + +DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS + +"The temperature must have been below freezing," testified +another survivor, "and neither men nor women in my boat +were warmly clothed. Several of them died. The officer +in charge of the life-boat decided it was better to bury the + + +{illust. caption = SURVIVORS OF THE GREAT MARINE DISASTER + +The first authentic photograph, ...} + + +{illust. caption = +Copyright by Campbell Studio. N. Y. + +COLONEL AND MRS. JOHN JACOB ASTOR + +Mrs, Astor, nee Miss Madeline Force, was rescued. Colonel Astor +who bravely refused to take a place in the life-boats, went down with the +Titanic.} + + +bodies. Soon they were weighted so they would sink and were +put overboard. We could also see similar burials taking +place from other life-boats that were all around us." + + +GAMBLERS WERE POLITE + +In one boat were two card sharps. With the same cleverness +that enabled them to win money on board they obtained +places in the boats with the women. + +In the boat with the gamblers were women in their night- +gowns and women in evening dress. None of the boats were +properly equipped with food, but all had enough bread and +water to keep the rescued from starving until the expected +arrival of help. + +To the credit of the gamblers who managed to escape, it +should be said that they were polite and showed the women +every courtesy. All they wanted was to be sure of getting +in a boat. That once accomplished, they reverted to their +habitual practice of politeness and suavity. They were even +willing; to do a little manual labor, refusing to let women do +any rowing. + +The people on that particular boat were a sad group. +Fathers had kissed their daughters good-bye and husbands +had parted from their wives. The card sharps, however +philosophized wonderfully about the will of the Almighty and +how strange His ways. They said that one must be prepared +for anything; that good always came from evil, and that +every cloud had a silvery lining{.} + +"Who knows?" said one. "It may be that everybody on +board will be saved." Another added: "Our duty is to the +living. You women owe it to your relatives and friends not +to allow this thing to wreck your reason or undermine your +health." And they took pains to see that all the women who +were on the life-boat had plenty of covering to keep them from +the icy blasts of the night. + +HELP IN SIGHT + +The survivors were in the life-boats until about 5.30 A. M. +About 3 A. M. faint lights appeared in the sky and all rejoiced +to see what was supposed to be the coming dawn, but after +watching for half an hour and seeing no change in the intensity +of the light, the disappointed sufferers realized it was the Northern +Lights. Presently low down on the horizon they saw a +light which slowly resolved itself into a double light, and they +watched eagerly to see if the two lights would separate and +so prove to be only two of the boats, or whether these lights +would remain together, in which case they should expect +them to be the lights of a rescuing steamer. + +To the inexpressible joy of all, they moved as one! Immediately +the boats were swung around and headed for the lights. +Someone shouted: "Now, boys, sing!" and everyone not +too weak broke into song with "Row for the shore, boys." +Tears came to the eyes of all as they realized that safety was +at hand. The song was sung, but it was a very poor imitation +of the real thing, for quavering voices make poor songs. A +cheer was given next, and that was better--you can keep in +tune for a cheer. + +THE "LUCKY THIRTEEN" + +"Our rescuer showed up rapidly, and as she swung round +we saw her cabins all alight, and knew she must be a large +steamer. She was now motionless and we had to row to her. +Just then day broke, a beautiful quiet dawn with faint pink +clouds just above the horizon, and a new moon whose crescent +just touched the horizon. `Turn your money over, boys,' +said our cheery steersman, `that is, if you have any with you,' +he added. + +"We laughed at him for his superstition at such a time, but +he countered very neatly by adding: `Well, I shall never +say again that 13 is an unlucky number; boat 13 has been the +best friend we ever had.' Certainly the 13 superstition is +killed forever in the minds of those who escaped from the +Titanic in boat 13. + +"As we neared the Carpathia we saw in the dawning light +what we thought was a full-rigged schooner standing up near +her, and presently behind her another, all sails set, and we +said: `They are fisher boats from the Newfoundland bank +and have seen the steamer lying to and are standing by to +help.' But in another five minutes the light shone pink on +them and we saw they were icebergs towering many feet in +the air, huge, glistening masses, deadly white, still, and peaked +in a way that had easily suggested a schooner. We glanced +round the horizon and there were others wherever the eye +could reach. The steamer we had to reach was surrounded +by them and we had to make a detour to reach her, for between +her and us lay another huge berg." + +A WONDERFUL DAWN + +Speaking of the moment when the Carpathia was sighted. +Mrs. J. J. Brown, who had cowed the driveling quartermaster, +said: + +"Then, knowing that we were safe at last, I looked about +me. The most wonderful dawn I have ever seen came upon +us. I have just returned from Egypt. I have been all over +the world, but I have never seen anything like this. First +the gray and then the flood of light. Then the sun came up +in a ball of red fire. For the first time we saw where we were. +Near us was open water, but on every side was ice. Ice ten +feet high was everywhere, and to the right and left and back +and front were icebergs. Some of them were mountain high. +This sea of ice was forty miles wide, they told me. We did +not wait for the Carpathia to come to us, we rowed to it. +We were lifted up in a sort of nice little sling that was lowered +to us. After that it was all over. The passengers of the +Carpathia were so afraid that we would not have room enough +that they gave us practically the whole ship to ourselves." + +It had been learned that some of the passengers, in fact all +of the women passengers of the Titanic who were rescued, +refer to "Lady Margaret," as they called Mrs. Brown as the +strength of them all. + + +TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED + +Officers of the Carpathia report that when they reached +the scene of the Titanic's wreck there were fifty bodies or +more floating in the sea. Only one mishap attended the transfer +of the rescued from the life-boats. One large collapsible +life-boat, in which thirteen persons were seated, turned turtle +just as they were about to save it, and all in it were lost. + + + +THE DOG HERO + +Not the least among the heroes of the Titanic disaster was +Rigel, a big black Newfoundland dog, belonging to the first +officer, who went down with the ship. But for Rigel the fourth +boat picked up might have been run down by the Carpathia. +For three hours he swam in the icy water where the Titanic +went down, evidently looking for his master, and was instrumental +in guiding the boatload of survivors to the gangway +of the Carpathia. + +Jonas Briggs, a seaman abroad the Carpathia, now has +Rigel and told the story of the dog's heroism. The Carpathia +was moving slowly about, looking for boats, rafts or anything +which might be afloat. Exhausted with their efforts, weak +from lack of food and exposure to the cutting wind and terror- +stricken, the men and women in the fourth boat had drifted +under the Carpathia's starboard bow. They were dangerously +close to the steamship, but too weak to shout a warning loud +enough to reach the bridge. + +The boat might not have been seen were it not for the sharp +barking of Rigel, who was swimming ahead of the craft, and +valiantly announcing his position. The barks attracted the +attention of Captain Rostron; and he went to the starboard +end of the bridge to see where they came from and saw the +boat. He immediately ordered the engines stopped, and the +boat came alongside the starboard gangway. + +Care was taken to get Rigel aboard, but he appeared little +affected by his long trip through the ice-cold water. He +stood by the rail and barked until Captain Rostron called +Briggs and had him take the dog below. + + +A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE + +Mr. Wallace Bradford, of San Francisco, a passenger +aboard the Carpathia, gave the following thrilling account +of the rescue of the Titanic's passengers. + +"Since half-past four this morning I have experienced one +of those never-to-be-forgotten circumstances that weighs +heavy on my soul and which shows most awfully what poor +things we mortals are. Long before this reaches you the news +will be flashed that the Titanic has gone down and that our +steamer, the Carpathia, caught the wireless message when +seventy-five miles away, and so far we have picked up twenty +boats estimated to contain about 750 people. + +"None of us can tell just how many, as they have been +hustled to various staterooms and to the dining saloons to be +warmed up. I was awakened by unusual noises and imagined +that I smelled smoke. I jumped up and looked out of my +port-hole, and saw a huge iceberg looming up like a rock off +shore. It was not white, and I was positive that it was a +rock, and the thought flashed through my mind, how in the +world can we be near a rock when we are four days out +from New York in a southerly direction and in mid-ocean. + +"When I got out on deck the first man I encountered told +me that the Titanic had gone down and we were rescuing the +passengers. The first two boats from the doomed vessel +were in sight making toward us. Neither of them was crowded. +This was accounted for later by the fact that it was impossible +to get many to leave the steamer, as they would not believe +that she was going down. It was a glorious, clear morning +and a quiet sea. Off to the starboard was a white area of ice +plain, from whose even surface rose mammoth forts, castles +and pyramids of solid ice almost as real as though they had +been placed there by the hand of man. + +"Our steamer was hove to about two and a half miles from +the edge of this huge iceberg. The Titanic struck about +11.20 P. M. and did not go down until two o'clock. Many +of the passengers were in evening dress when they came +aboard our ship, and most of these were in a most bedraggled +condition. Near me as I write is a girl about eighteen years +old in a fancy dress costume of bright colors, while in another +seat near by is a women in a white dress trimmed with lace +and covered with jaunty blue flowers. + +"As the boats came alongside after the first two all of them +contained a very large proportion of women. In fact, one +of the boats had women at the oars, one in particular containing, +as near as I could estimate, about forty-five women and +only about six men. In this boat two women were handling +one of the oars. All of the engineers went down with the +steamer. Four bodies have been brought aboard. One +is that of a fireman, who is said to have been shot by one +of the officers because he refused to obey orders. Soon after +I got on deck I could, with the aid of my glasses, count seven +boats headed our way, and they continued to come up to half +past eight o'clock. Some were in sight for a long time and +moved very slowly, showing plainly that the oars were being +handled by amateurs or by women. + +"No baggage of any kind was brought by the survivors. +In fact, the only piece of baggage that reached the Carpathia +from the Titanic is a small closed trunk about twenty-four +inches square, evidently the property of an Irish female +immigrant. While some seemed fully dressed, many of the +men having their overcoats and the women sealskin and other +coats, others came just as they had jumped from their berths, +clothed in their pajamas and bath robes." + + +THE SORROW OF THE LIVING + +Of the survivors in general it may be said that they escaped +death and they gained life. Life is probably sweet to them as it +is to everyone, but what physical and mental torture has been +the price of life to those who were brought back to land on the +Carpathia--the hours in life-boats, amid the crashing of ice, +the days of anguish that have succeeded, the horrors of body +and mind still experienced and never to he entirely absent +until death affords them its relief. + +The thought of the nation to-day is for the living. They +need our sympathy, our consolation more than do the dead, +and, perhaps, in the majority of the cases they need our +protecting care as well. + + + +CHAPTER X + +ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA + +AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL--BURYING THE DEAD +--VOTE OF THANKS TO CAPTAIN ROSTRON OF THE CARPATHIA-- +IDENTIFYING THOSE SAVED--COMMUNICATING WITH LAND-- +THE PASSAGE TO NEW YORK. + +IF the scenes in the life-boats were tear-bringing, hardly +less so was the arrival of the boats at the Carpathia +with their bands of terror-stricken, grief-ridden survivors, +many of them too exhausted to know that safety was +at hand. Watchers on the Carpathia were moved to tears. + +"The first life-boat reached the Carpathia about half-past +five o'clock in the morning," recorded one of the passengers +on the Carpathia. "And the last of the sixteen boats was +unloaded before nine o'clock. Some of the life-boats were +only half filled, the first one having but two men and eleven +women, when it had accommodations for at least forty. +There were few men in the boats. The women were the gamest +lot I have ever seen. Some of the men and women were in +evening clothes, and others among those saved had nothing +on but night clothes and raincoats." + +After the Carpathia had made certain that there were no +more passengers of the Titanic to be picked up, she threaded +her way out of the ice fields for fifty miles. It was dangerous +work, but it was managed without trouble. + + +AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL + +The shrieks and cries of the women and men picked up in +life-boats by the Carpathia were horrible. The women were +clothed only in night robes and wrappers. The men were in +their night garments. One was lifted on board entirely nude. +All the passengers who could bear nourishment were taken +into the dining rooms and cabins by Captain Rostron and given +food and stimulants. Passengers of the Carpathia gave up +their berths and staterooms to the survivors. + +As soon as they were landed on the Carpathia many of the +women became hysterical, but on the whole they behaved +splendidly. Men and women appeared to be stunned all day +Monday, the full force of the disaster not reaching them until +Tuesday night. After being wrapped up in blankets and +filled with brandy and hot coffee, the first thoughts were for +their husbands and those at home. Most of them imagined +that their husbands had been picked up by other vessels, and +they began flooding the wireless rooms with messages. It +was almost certain that those who were not on board the Carpathia +had gone down to death. + +One of the most seriously injured was a woman who had +lost both her children. Her limbs had been severely torn; +but she was very patient. + +WOMEN SEEKING NEWS + +In the first cabin library women of wealth and refinement +mingled their grief and asked eagerly for news of the possible +arrival of a belated boat, or a message from other steamers +telling of the safety of their husbands. Mrs. Henry B. Harris, +wife of a New York theatrical manager, checked her tears +long enough to beg that some message of hope be sent to her +father-in-law. Mrs. G. Thorne, Miss Marie Young, Mrs +Emil Taussig and her daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Martin Rothschild, +Mrs. William Augustus Spencer, Mrs. J. Stewart White +and Mrs. Walter M. Clark were a few of those who lay back, +exhausted, on the leather cushions and told in shuddering +sentences of their experiences. + +Mrs. John Jacob Astor and the Countess of Rothes had been +taken to staterooms soon after their arrival on shipboard. + +Before noon, at the captain's request, the first cabin +passengers of the Titanic gathered in the saloon and the passengers +of other classes in corresponding places on the rescue ship. +Then the collecting of names was begun by the purser and +the stewards. A second table was served in both cabins for +the new guests, and the Carpathia's second cabin, being +better filled than its first, the second class arrivals had be to +sent to the steerage. + + +TEARS THEIR ONLY RELIEF + +Mrs. Jacques Futrelle, wife of the novelist, herself a writer +of note, sat dry eyed in the saloon, telling her friends that she +had given up hope for her husband. She joined with the rest +in inquiries as to the chances of rescue by another ship, and +no one told her what soon came to be the fixed opinion of the +men--that all those saved were on the Carpathia. + +"I feel better," Mrs. Futrelle said hours afterward, "for +I can cry now." + +Among the men conversation centered on the accident +and the responsibility for it. Many expressed the belief +that the Titanic, in common with other vessels, had had +warning of the ice packs, but that in the effort to establish +a record on the maiden run sufficient heed had not been paid +to the warnings + +"God knows I'm not proud to be here," said a rich New +York man. "I got on a boat when they were about to lower +it and when, from delays below, there was no woman to take +the vacant place. I don't think any man who was saved is +deserving of censure, but I realize that, in contrast with those +who went down, we may be viewed unfavorably." He showed +a picture of his baby boy as he spoke. + + +PITIFUL SCENES OF GRIEF + +As the day passed the fore part of the ship assumed some +degree of order and comfort, but the crowded second sabin +and rear decks gave forth the incessant sound of lamentation. +A bride of two months sat on the floor and moaned her widowhood. +An Italian mother shrieked the name of her lost son. + +A girl of seven wept over the loss of her Teddy bear and +two dolls, while her mother, with streaming eyes, dared not +tell the child that her father was lost too, and that the money +for which their home in England had been sold had gone down +with him. Other children clung to the necks of the fathers +who, because carrying them, had been permitted to take the +boats. + +In the hospital and the public rooms lay, in blankets, several +others who had been benumbed by the water. Mrs. +Rosa Abbott, who was in the water for hours, was restored +during the day. K. Whiteman, the Titanic's barber, who +declared he was blown off the ship by the second of the two +explosions after the crash, was treated for bruises. A passenger, +who was thoroughly ducked before being picked up, +caused much amusement on this ship, soon after the doctors +were through with him, by demanding a bath. + + +SURVIVORS AID THE DESTITUTE + +Storekeeper Prentice, the last man off the Titanic to reach +this ship, was also soon over the effects of his long swim in +the icy waters into which he leaped from the poop deck. + +The physicians of the Carpathia were praised, as was Chief +Steward Hughes, for work done in making the arrivals comfortable +and averting serious illness. + +Monday night on the Carpathia was one of rest. The wailing +and sobbing of the day were hushed as widows and orphans +slept. Tuesday, save for the crowded condition of the ship, +matters took somewhat their normal appearance. + +The second cabin dining room had been turned into a +hospital to care for the injured, and the first, second and third +class dining rooms were used for sleeping rooms at night for +women, while the smoking rooms were set aside for men. +All available space was used, some sleeping in chairs and some +on the floor, while a few found rest in the bathrooms. + +Every cabin had been filled, and women and children were +sleeping on the floors in the dining saloon, library and smoking +rooms. The passengers of the Carpathia had divided their +clothes with the shipwrecked ones until they had at least +kept warm. It is true that many women had to appear on +deck in kimonos and some in underclothes with a coat thrown +over them, but their lives had been spared and they had not +thought of dress. Some children in the second cabin were +entirely without clothes, but the women had joined together, +and with needles and thread they could pick up from passenger +to passenger, had made warm clothes out of the blankets +belonging to the Carpathia. + + +WOMEN BEFRIENDED ONE ANOTHER + +The women aboard the Carpathia did what they could by +word and act to relieve the sufferings of the rescued. Most +of the survivors were in great need of clothing, and this the +women of the Carpathia supplied to them as long as their +surplus stock held out. + +J. A. Shuttleworth, of Louisville, Ky., befriended Mrs. +Lucien Smith, whose husband went down with the Titanic. +Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss Eloise Hughes, daughter of +Representative and Mrs. James A. Hughes, of Huntington, W. +Va., and was on her wedding trip. Mr. Shuttleworth asked +her if there wasn't something he could do for her. She said +that all the money she had was lost on the Titanic, so +Mr. Shuttleworth gave her $500 + + +DEATHS ON THE CARPATHIA + +Two of the rescued from the Titanic died from shock and +exposure before they reached the Carpathia, and another +died a few minutes after being taken on board. The dead +were W. H. Hoyte, first cabin; Abraham Hormer, third +class, and S. C. Sirbert, steward, and they were buried at +sea the morning of April 15th, latitude 41.14 north, +longitude 51.24 west. P. Lyon, able seaman, died and +was buried at sea the following morning. + +An assistant steward lost his mind upon seeing one of the +Titanic's rescued firemen expire after being lifted to the deck +of the Carpathia. + +An Episcopal bishop and a Catholic priest from Montreal +read services of their respective churches over the dead. + +The bodies were sewed up in sacks, heavily weighted at the +feet, and taken to an opening in the side of the ship on the +lower deck not far above the water line. A long plank tilted +at one end served as the incline down which the weighted +sacks slid into the sea. + +"After we got the Titanic's passengers on board our ship," +said one of the Carpathia's officers, "it was a question as to +where we should take them. Some said the Olympic would +come out and meet us and take them on to New York, but +others said they would die if they had to be lowered again +into small boats to be taken up by another, so we finally +turned toward New York, delaying the Carpathia's passengers +eight days in reaching Gibraltar." + + +SURVIVORS WATCH NEW BOATS + +There were several children on board, who had lost their +parents--one baby of eleven months with a nurse who, coming +on board the Carpathia with the first boat, watched with +eagerness and sorrow for each incoming boat, but to no avail. +The parents had gone down. + +There was a woman in the second cabin who lost seven +children out of ten, and there were many other losses quite as +horrible. + + +MR. ISMY "PITIABLE SIGHT" + +Among the rescued ones who came on board the Carpathia +was the president of the White Star Line. + +"Mr. Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the tenth +life-boat," said an officer. "I didn't know who he was, but +afterward heard the others of the crew discussing his desire +to get something to eat the minute he put his foot on deck. +The steward who waited on him, McGuire, from London, +says Mr. Ismay came dashing into the dining room, and throwing +himself in a chair, said: `Hurry, for God's sake, and get +me something to eat; I'm starved. I don't care what it +costs or what it is; bring it to me.' + +"McGuire brought Mr. Ismay a load of stuff and when he +had finished it, he handed McGuire a two dollar bill. `Your +money is no good on this ship,' McGuire told him. `Take it,' + + + +{illust. caption = DIAGRAM OF THE TITANIC'S ARRANGEMENT AND EQUIPMENT + +The Titanic was far and away the largest and finest vessel ever built, +excepting only her sister-ship, the Olympic. Her dimensions were: Length, +882 1/2 feet; Beam, 92 feet, Depth (from keel to tops of funnels), 175 feet +Tonnage, 45,000. Her huge hull, divided into thirty watertight compartments, +contained nine steel decks, and provided accommodation for 2,500 +passengers, besides a crew of 890.} + +{illust. caption = UPPER DECK OF THE TITANIC, LOOKING FORWARD} + + +insisted Mr. Ismay, shoving the bill in McGuire's hand. I +am well able to afford it. I will see to it that the boys of the +Carpathia are well rewarded for this night's work.' This +promise started McGuire making inquiries as to the identity +of the man he had waited on. Then we learned that he was +Mr. Ismay. I did not see Mr. Ismay after the first few hours. +He must have kept to his cabin." + +A passenger on the Carpathia said there was no wonder +that none of the wireless telegrams addressed to Mr. Ismay +were answered until the one that he sent yesterday afternoon +to his line, the White Star. + +"Mr. Ismay was beside himself," said this woman passenger, +"and on most of the voyage after we had picked him up +he was being quieted with opiates on orders of the ship's +doctor. + + +FIVE DOGS AND ONE PIG SAVED + +"Five women saved their pet dogs, carrying them in their +arms. Another woman saved a little pig, which she said +was her mascot. Though her husband is an Englishman and +she lives in England she is an American and was on her way +to visit her folks here. How she cared for the pig aboard ship +I do not know, but she carried it up the side of the ship in a +big bag. I did not mind the dogs so much, but it seemed to +me to be too much when a pig was saved and human beings +went to death. + +"It was not until noon on Monday that we cleared the last +of the ice, and Monday night a dense fog came up and con- +tinued until the following morning, then a strong wind, a +heavy sea, a thunderstorm and a dense fog Tuesday night, +caused some uneasiness among the more unnerved, the fog +continuing all of Tuesday. + +"A number of whales were sighted as the Carpathia was +clearing the last of the ice, one large one being close by, and +all were spouting like geysers." + + +VOTE OF THANKS TO CARPATHIA + +"On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of the uninjured survivors +was called in the main saloon for the purpose of devising +means of assisting the more unfortunate, many of whom had +lost relatives and all their personal belongings, and thanking +Divine Providence for their deliverance. The meeting was +called to order and Mr. Samuel Goldenberg was elected chairman. +Resolutions were then passed thanking the officers, surgeons, +passengers and crew of the Carpathia for their splendid +services in aiding the rescued and like resolutions for the +admirable work done by the officers, surgeons and crew of the +Titanic. + +"A committee was then appointed to raise funds on board +the Carpathia to relieve the immediate wants of the destitute +and assist them in reaching their destinations and also +to present a loving cup to the officers of the Carpathia and also +a loving cup to the surviving officers of the Titanic. + +"Mr. T. G. Frauenthal, of New York, was made chairman +of the Committee on Subscriptions. + +"A committee, consisting of Mrs. J. J. Brown, Mrs William +Bucknell and Mrs. George Stone, was appointed to look after +the destitute. There was a subscription taken up and up +to Wednesday the amount contributed totaled $15,000. + +"The work of the crew on board the Carpathia in rescuing +was most noble and remarkable, and these four days that the +ship has been overcrowded with its 710 extra passengers +could not have been better handled. The stewards have +worked with undying strength--although one was overcome +with so much work and died and was put to his grave at sea. + +"I have never seen or felt the benefits of such royal treatment. +I have heard the captain criticised because he did not +answer telegrams, but all that I can say is that he showed us +every possible courtesy, and if we had been on our own boats, +having paid our fares there, we could not have had better +food or better accommodations. + +"Men who had paid for the best staterooms on the +Carpathia left their rooms so that we might have them. They +fixed up beds in the smoking rooms, and mattresses everywhere. +All the women who were rescued were given the best +staterooms, which were surrendered by the regular passengers. +None of the regular passengers grumbled because their trip +to Europe was interrupted, nor did they complain that they +were put to the inconvenience of receiving hundreds of strangers. + +"The women on board the Carpathia were particularly +kind. It shows that for every cruelty of nature there is a +kindness, for every misfortune there is some goodness. The +men and women took up collections on board for the rescued +steerage passengers. Mrs. Astor, I believe, contributed $2000, +her check being cashed by the Carpathia. Altogether something +like $15,000 was collected and all the women were provided +with sufficient money to reach their destination after +they were landed in New York." + +Under any other circumstances the suffering would +have been intolerable. But the Good Samaritans on the +Carpathia gave many women heart's-ease. + +The spectacle on board the Carpathia on the return trip +to New York at times was heartrending, while at other times +those on board were quite cheerful. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS + +POLICE ARRANGEMENTS--DONATIONS OF MONEY AND SUPPLIES +--HOSPITALS AND AMBULANCES MADE READY--PRIVATE +HOUSES THROWN OPEN--WAITING FOR THE CARPATHIA TO +ARRIVE--THE SHIP SIGHTED! + +NEW YORK CITY, touched to the heart by the great +ocean calamity and desiring to do what it could +to lighten the woes and relieve the sufferings of +the pitiful little band of men and women rescued from the +Titanic, opened both its heart and its purse. + +The most careful and systematic plans were made for the +reception and transfer to homes, hotels or institutions of the +Titanic's survivors. Mayor Gaynor, with Police Commissioner +Waldo, arranged to go down the bay on the police boat +Patrol, to come up with the Carpathia and take charge of +the police arrangements at the pier. + +In anticipation of the enormous number that would, for +a variety of reasons, creditable or otherwise, surge about the +Cunard pier at the coming of the Carpathia, Mayor Gaynor +and the police commissioner had seen to it that the streets +should be rigidly sentineled by continuous lines of policemen +Under Inspector George McClusky, the man of most experience, +perhaps, in handling large crowds, there were 200 men, +including twelve mounted men and a number in citizens' +clothes. For two blocks to the north, south and east of the +docks lines were established through which none save those +bearing passes from the Government and the Cunard Line +could penetrate. + +With all arrangements made that experience or information +could suggest, the authorities settled down to await the docking +of the Carpathia. No word had come to either the White +Star Line or the Cunard Line, they said, that any of the Titanic's +people had died on that ship or that bodies had been +recovered from the sea, but in the afternoon Mayor Gaynor +sent word to the Board of Coroners that it might be well for +some of that body to meet the incoming ship. Coroners +Feinberg and Holtzhauser with Coroner's Physician Weston +arranged to go down the bay on the Patrol, while Coroner +Hellenstein waited at the pier. An undertaker was notified +to be ready if needed. Fortunately there was no such need. + + +EVERY POSSIBLE MEASURE THOUGHT OF + +Every possible measure of relief for the survivors that +could be thought of by officials of the city, of the Federal +Government, by the heads of hospitals and the Red Cross +and relief societies was arranged for. The Municipal Lodging +House, which has accommodations for 700 persons, agreed +to throw open its doors and furnish lodging and food to any +of the survivors as long as they should need it. Commis- +sioner of Charities Drummond did not know, of course, +just how great the call would be for the services of his +department. He went to the Cunard pier to direct his part +of the work in person. Meanwhile he had twenty ambulances +ready for instant movement on the city's pier at the +foot of East Twenty-sixth Street. They were ready to take +patients to the reception hospital connected with Bellevue +or the Metropolitan Hospital on Blackwell's Island. +Ambulances from the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn were +also there to do their share. All the other hospitals in the +city stood ready to take the Titanic's people and those that +had ambulances promised to send them. The Charities +ferryboat, Thomas S. Brennan, equipped as a hospital craft, +lay off the department pier with nurses and physicians ready +to be called to the Cunard pier on the other side of the city. +St. Vincent's Hospital had 120 beds ready, New York Hospital +twelve, Bellevue and the reception hospital 120 and Flower +Hospital twelve. + +The House of Shelter maintained by the Hebrew Sheltering +and Immigrant Aid Society announced that it was able to +care for at least fifty persons as long as might be necessary. +The German Society of New York, the Irish Immigrant +Society, the Italian Society, the Swedish Immigrant Society +and the Young Men's Christian Association were among the +organizations that also offered to see that no needy survivor +would go without shelter. + +Mrs. W. A. Bastede, whose husband is a member of the +staff of St. Luke's Hospital, offered to the White Star Line +the use of the newly opened ward at St. Luke's, +which will accommodate from thirty to sixty persons. She +said the hospital would send four ambulances with nurses +and doctors and that she had collected clothing enough for +fifty persons. The line accepted her offer and said that the +hospital would be kept informed as to what was needed. +A trustee of Bellevue also called at the White Star offices to +offer ambulances. He said that five or six, with two or three +doctors and nurses on each, would be sent to the pier if required. + +Many other hospitals as well as individuals called at the +mayor's office, expressing willingness to take in anybody +that should be sent to them. A woman living in Fiftieth +Street just off Fifth Avenue wished to put her home at +the disposal of the survivors. D. H. Knott, of 102 Waverley +Place, told the mayor that he could take care of 100 and give +them both food and lodging at the Arlington, Holly and Earl +Hotels. Commissioner Drummond visited the City Hall +and arranged with the mayor the plans for the relief to be +extended directly by the city. Mr. Drummond said that +omnibuses would be provided to transfer passengers from the +ship to the Municipal Lodging House. + + +MRS. VANDERBILT'S EFFORTS + +Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., spent the day telephoning to +her friends, asking them to let their automobiles be used to +meet the Carpathia and take away those who needed surgical +care. It was announced that as a result of Mrs. +Vanderbilt's efforts 100 limousine automobiles and all the Fifth +Avenue and Riverside Drive automobile buses would be at +the Cunard pier. + +Immigration Commissioner Williams said that he +would be at the pier when the Carpathia came in. There +was to be no inspection of immigrants at Ellis Island. Instead, +the commissioner sent seven or eight inspectors to +the pier to do their work there and he asked them to do it +with the greatest possible speed and the least possible bother +to the shipwrecked aliens. The immigrants who had no +friends to meet them were to be provided for until their cases +could be disposed of. Mr. Williams thought that some of +them who had lost everything might have to be sent back +to their homes. Those who were to be admitted to the United +States were to be cared for by the Women's Relief Committee. + + +RED CROSS RELIEF + +Robert W. de Forest, chairman of the Red Cross Relief +Committee of the Charity Organization Society, after +conferring with Mayor Gaynor, said that in addition to an +arrangement that all funds received by the mayor should +be paid to Jacob H. Schiff, the New York treasurer of +the American Red Cross, the committee had decided +that it could turn over all the immediate relief work to the +Women's Relief Committee. + +The Red Cross Committee announced that careful plans +had been made to provide for every possible emergency. + +The emergency committee received a telegram that Ernest +P. Bicknell, director of the American Red Cross, was coming +from Washington. The Red Cross Emergency Relief Committee +was to have several representatives at the pier to look +out for the passengers on the Carpathia. Mr. Persons and Dr. +Devine were to be there and it was planned to have others. + +The Salvation Army offered, through the mayor's office, +accommodation for thirty single men at the Industrial Home, +533 West Forty-eighth Street, and for twenty others at its +hotel, 18 Chatham Square. The army's training school at +124 West Fourteenth Street was ready to take twenty or +thirty survivors. R. H. Farley, head of the White Star +Line's third class department, said that the line would give all +the steerage passengers railroad tickets to their destination. + +Mayor Gaynor estimated that more than 5000 persons +could be accommodated in quarters offered through his orders. +Most of these offers of course would have to be rejected. +The mayor also said that Colonel Conley of the Sixty-ninth +Regiment offered to turn out his regiment to police the pier, +but it was thought that such service would be unnecessary. + + +CROWDS AT THE DOCKS + +Long before dark on Thursday night a few people passed +the police lines and with a yellow card were allowed to go on +the dock; but reports had been published that the Carpathia +would not be in till midnight, and by 8 o'clock there were +not more than two hundred people on the pier. In the next +hour the crowd with passes trebled in number. By 9 o'clock +the pier held half as many as it could comfortably contain. +The early crowd did not contain many women relatives of the +survivors. Few nervous people could be seen, but here and +there was a woman, usually supported by two male escorts, +weeping softly to herself. + +On the whole it was a frantic, grief-crazed crowd. Laborers +rubbed shoulders with millionaires. + +The relatives of the rich had taxicabs waiting outside the +docks. The relatives of the poor went there on foot in the +rain, ready to take their loved ones. + +A special train was awaiting Mrs. Charles M. Hays, widow +of the president of the Grand Trunk Railroad. A private +car also waited Mrs. George D. Widener. + + +EARLY ARRIVALS AT PIER + +Among the first to arrive at the pier was a committee from +the Stock Exchange, headed by R. H. Thomas, and composed +of Charles Knoblauch, B. M. W. Baruch, Charles Holzderber +and J. Carlisle. Mr. Thomas carried a long black +box which contained $5000 in small bills, which was to be +handed out to the needy steerage survivors of the Titanic +as they disembarked. + +With the early arrivals at the pier were the relatives of +Frederick White, who was not reported among the survivors, +though Mrs. White was; Harry Mock, who came to look +for a brother and sister; and Vincent Astor, who arrived in a +limousine with William A. Dobbyn, Colonel Astor's secretary, +and two doctors. The limousine was kept waiting outside +to take Mrs. Astor to the Astor home on Fifth Avenue. + +EIGHT LIMOUSINE CARS + +The Waldorf-Astoria had sent over eight limousine car +to convey to the hotel these survivors: + +Mrs. Mark Fortune and three daughters, Mrs. Lucien P. +Smith, Mrs. J. Stewart White, Mrs. Thornton Davidson, Mrs. +George C. Douglass, Mrs. George D. Widener and maid, Mrs. +George Wick, Miss Bonnell, Miss E. Ryerson, Mrs. Susan +P. Ryerson, Mrs. Arthur Ryerson, Miss Mary Wick, the Misses +Howell, Mrs. John P. Snyder and Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Bishop. + + +THIRTY-FIVE AMBULANCES AT THE PIER + +At one time there were thirty-five ambulances drawn up; +outside the Cunard pier. Every hospital in Manhattan, +Brooklyn and the Bronx was represented. Several of the +ambulances came from as far north as the Lebanon Hospital, +in the Bronx, and the Brooklyn Hospital, in Brooklyn. + +Accompanying them were seventy internes and surgeons +from the staffs of the hospitals, and more than 125 male and +female nurses. + +St. Vincent's sent the greatest number of ambulances, at +one time, eight of them from this hospital being in line at the +pier. + +Miss Eva Booth, direct head of the Salvation Army, was +at the pier, accompanied by Miss Elizabeth Nye and a corps +of her officers, ready to aid as much as possible. The Sheltering +Society and various other similar organizations also were +represented, all ready to take care of those who needed them. + +An officer of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, N. G. N. Y., offered +the White Star Line officials, the use of the regiment's armory +for any of the survivors. + +Mrs. Thomas Hughes, Mrs. August Belmont and Mgrs. +Lavelle and McMahon, of St. Patrick's Cathedral, together +with a score of black-robed Sisters of Charity, representing +the Association of Catholic Churches, were on the pier long +before the Carpathia was made fast, and worked industriously +in aiding the injured and ill. + +The Rev. Dr. William Carter, pastor of the Madison Avenue +Reformed Church, was one of those at the pier with a +private ambulance awaiting Miss Sylvia Caldwell, one of +the survivors, who is known in church circles as a mission +worker in foreign fields + + +FREE RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION + +The Pennsylvania Railroad sent representatives to the pier, +who said that the railroad had a special train of nine cars in +which it would carry free any passenger who wanted to go +immediately to Philadelphia or points west. The Pennsylvania +also had eight taxicabs at the pier for conveyance of +the rescued to the Pennsylvania Station, in Thirty-third +Street. + +Among those who later arrived at the pier before the Carpathia +docked were P. A. B. Widener, of Philadelphia, two +women relatives of J. B. Thayer, William Harris, Jr., the +theatrical man, who was accompanied by Dr Dinkelspiel, and +Henry Arthur Jones, the playwright. + +RELATIVES OF SAVED AND LOST + +Commander Booth, of the Salvation Army, was there +especially to meet Mrs. Elizabeth Nye and Mrs. Rogers +Abbott, both Titanic survivors. Mrs. Abbott's two sons were +supposed to be among the lost. Miss Booth had received a +cablegram from London saying that other Salvation Army +people were on the Titanic. She was eager to get news of +them. + +Also on the pier was Major Blanton, U. S. A., stationed at +Washington, who was waiting for tidings of Major Butt, +supposedly at the instance of President Taft. + +Senator William A. Clark and Mrs. Clark were also in the +company. Dr. John R. MacKenty was waiting for Mr. and +Mrs. Henry S. Harper. Ferdinand W. Roebling and Carl G. +Roebling, cousins of Washington A. Roebling, Jr., whose +name is among the list of dead, went to the pier to see what +they could learn of his fate. + +J. P. Morgan, Jr., arrived at the pier about half an hour +before the Carpathia docked. He said he had many friends +on the Titanic and was eagerly awaiting news of all of them. + +Fire Commissioner Johnson was there with John Peel, of +Atlanta, Gal, a brother of Mrs. Jacques Futrelle. Mrs. Futrelle +has a son twelve years old in Atlanta, and a daughter +Virginia, who has been in school in the North and is at present +with friends in this city, ignorant of her father's death. + + +A MAN IN HYSTERICS + +There was one man in that sad waiting company who +startled those near him about 9 o'clock by dancing across the +pier and back. He seemed to be laughing, but when he was +stopped it was found that he was sobbing. He said that he +had a relative on the Titanic and had lost control of his nerves. + +H. H. Brunt, of Chicago, was at the gangplank waiting +for A. Saalfeld, head of the wholesale drug firm of Sparks, +White & Co., of London, who was coming to this country on +the Titanic on a business trip and whose life was saved. + + +WAITING FOR CARPATHIA + +During the afternoon and evening tugboats, motor boats +and even sailing craft, had been waiting off the Ambrose +Light for the appearance of the Carpathia. + +Some of the waiting craft contained friends and anxious +relatives of the survivors and those reported as missing. + +The sea was rough and choppy, and a strong east wind was +blowing. There was a light fog, so that it was possible to +see at a distance of only a few hundred yards. This lifted +later in the evening. + +First to discover the incoming liner with her pitiful cargo +was one of the tugboats. From out of the mist there loomed +far out at sea the incoming steamer. + + +RESCUE BOAT SIGHTED + +"Liner ahead!" cried the lookout on the tug to the captain. + +"She must be the Carpathia," said the captain, and then +he turned the nose of his boat toward the spot on t he horizon. + +Then the huge black hull and one smokestack could be +distinguished. + +"It's the Carpathia," said the captain. "I can tell her +by the stack." + +The announcement sent a thrill through those who heard +it. Here, at the gate of New York, was a ship whose record +for bravery and heroic work would be a famuliar{sic} name in +history. + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by G. V. Buck. +MRS. LUCIEN P. SMITH + +Formerly Miss Eloise Hughes, daughter of Representative and Mrs. +James A. Hughes, of West Virginia. Mrs. Smith and her husband were +passengers on the Titanic. Mrs. Smith was saved, but her husband went +to a watery grave. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married only a few months +ago.} + + +{illust. caption = MAJOR ARCHIBALD BUTT + +Military Aide to President Taft. Of Major Butt, who was one of the +victims of the Titanic, one of the survivors said: "Major Butt was the real +leader in all of that rescue work. He made the men stand back and helped +the women and children into the boats. He was surely one of God's +noblemen."} + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING + +THE CARPATHIA REACHES NEW YORK--AN INTENSE AND +DRAMATIC MOMENT--HYSTERICAL REUNIONS AND CRUSHING +DISAPPOINTMENTS AT THE DOCK--CARING FOR THE SUFFERERS +--FINAL REALIZATION THAT ALL HOPE FOR OTHERS IS +FUTILE--LIST OF SURVIVORS--ROLL OF THE DEAD + +IT was a solemn moment when the Carpathia heaved in +sight. There she rested on the water, a blur of black-- +huge, mysterious, awe-inspiring--and yet withal a thing +to send thrills of pity and then of admiration through the +beholder. + +It was a few minutes after seven o'clock when she arrived +at the entrance to Ambrose Channel. She was coming fast +steaming at better than fifteen knots an hour, and she was +sighted long before she was expected. Except for the usual +side and masthead lights she was almost dark, only the upper +cabins showing a glimmer here and there. + +Then began a period of waiting, the suspense of which +proved almost too much for the hundreds gathered there +to greet friends and relatives or to learn with certainty at +last that those for whom they watched would never come +ashore. + +There was almost complete silence on the pier. Doctors +and nurses, members of the Women's Relief Committee, city +and government officials, as well as officials of the line, moved +nervously about. + +Seated where they had been assigned beneath the big +customs letters corresponding to the initials of the names of +the survivors they came to meet, sat the mass of 2000 on the +pier. + +Women wept, but they wept quietly, not hysterically, and +the sound of the sobs made many times less noise than the +hum and bustle which is usual on the pier among those +awaiting an incoming liner. + +Slowly and majestically the ship slid through the water, +still bearing the details of that secret of what happened and +who perished when the Titanic met her fate. + +Convoying the Carpathia was a fleet of tugs bearing men +and women anxious to learn the latest news. The Cunarder +had been as silent for days as though it, too, were a ship of +the dead. A list of survivors had been given out from its +wireless station and that was all. Even the approximate +time of its arrival had been kept a secret. + + +NEARING PORT + +There was no response to the hail from one tug, and as +others closed in, the steamship quickened her speed a little +and left them behind as she swung up the channel. + +There was an exploding of flashlights from some of the +tugs, answered seemingly by sharp stabs of lightning in the +northwest that served to accentuate the silence and absence +of light aboard the rescue ship. Five or six persons, apparently +members of the crew or the ship's officers, were seen along +the rail; but otherwise the boat appeared to be deserted. + +Off quarantine the Carpathia slowed down and, hailing +the immigration inspection boat, asked if the health officer +wished to board. She was told that he did, and came to a +stop while Dr. O'Connell and two assistants climbed on +board. Again the newspaper men asked for some word of +the catastrophe to the Titanic, but there was no answer, +and the Carpathia continued toward her pier. + +As she passed the revenue cutter Mohawk and the derelict +destroyer Seneca anchored off Tompkinsville the wireless on +the Government vessels was seen to flash, but there was no +answering spark from the Carpathia. Entering the North +River she laid her course close to the New Jersey side in +order to have room to swing into her pier. + +By this time the rails were lined with men and women. +They were very silent. There were a few requests for news +from those on board and a few answers to questions shouted +from the tugs. + +The liner began to slacken her speed, and the tugboat soon +was alongside. Up above the inky blackness of the hull +figures could be made out, leaning over the port railing, as +though peering eagerly at the little craft which was bearing +down on the Carpathia. + +Some of them, perhaps, had passed through that inferno +of the deep sea which sprang up to destroy the mightiest +steamship afloat. + +"Carpathia, ahoy!" was shouted through a megaphone. + +There was an interval of a few seconds, and then, "Aye, +aye," came the reply. + +"Is there any assistance that can be rendered?" was the +next question. + +"Thank you, no," was the answer in a tone that carried +emotion with it. Meantime the tugboat was getting nearer +and nearer to the Carpathia, and soon the faces of those leaning +over the railing could be distinguished. + + +TALK WITH SURVIVORS + +More faces appeared, and still more. + +A woman who called to a man on the tugboat was asked? +"Are you one the Titanic survivors?" + +"Yes," said the voice, hesitatingly. + +"Do you need help?" + +"No," after a pause. + +"If there is anything you want done it will be attended to." + +"Thank you. I have been informed that my relatives will +meet me at the pier." + +"Is it true that some of the life-boats sank with the Titanic?" + +"Yes. There was some trouble in manning them. They +were not far enough away from her." + +All of this questioning and receiving replies was carried +on with the greatest difficulty. The pounding of the liner's +engines, the washing of the sea, the tugboat's engines, made it +hard to understand the woman's replies. + + +ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD + +"Were the women properly cared for after the crash?" +she was asked. + +"Oh, yes," came the shrill reply. "The men were brave-- +very brave." Here her voice broke and she turned and left +the railing, to reappear a few moments later and cry: + +"Please report me as saved." + +"What name?" was asked. She shouted a name that could +not be understood, and, apparently believing that it had been, +turned away again and disappeared. + +"Nearly all of us are very ill," cried another woman. Here +several other tugboats appeared, and those standing at the +railing were besieged with questions. + +"Did the crash come without warning?" a voice on one of +the smaller boats megaphoned. + +"Yes," a woman answered. "Most of us had retired. We +saved a few of our belongings." + +"How long did it take the boat to sink?" asked the voice. + + +TITANIC CREW HEROES + +"Not long," came the reply? "The crew and the men were +very brave. Oh, it is dreadful--dreadful to think of!" + +"Is Mr. John Jacob Astor on board?" + +"No." + +"Did he remain on the Titanic after the collision?" + +"I do not know." + +Questions of this kind were showered at the few survivors +who stood at the railing, but they seemed too confused to +answer them intelligibly, and after replying evasively to some +they would disappear. + + +RUSHES ON TO DOCK + +"Are you going to anchor for the night?" Captain Rostron +was asked by megaphone as his boat approached Ambrose +Light. It was then raining heavily. + +"No," came the reply. "I am going into port. There +are sick people on board." + +"We tried to learn when she would dock," said Dr. Walter +Kennedy, head of the big ambulance corps on the mist- +shrouded pier, "and we were told it would not be before midnight +and that most probably it would not be before dawn +to-morrow. The childish deception that has been practiced +for days by the people who are responsible for the Titanic has +been carried up to the very moment of the landing of the +survivors." + +She proceeded past the Cunard pier, where 2000 persons +were waiting her, and steamed to a spot opposite the White +Star piers at Twenty-first Street. + +The ports in the big inclosed pier of the Cunard Line were +opened, and through them the waiting hundreds, almost +frantic with anxiety over what the Carpathia might reveal, +watched her as with nerve-destroying leisure she swung about +in the river, dropping over the life-boats of the Titanic that +they might be taken to the piers of the White Star Line. + +THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS + +It was dark in the river, but the lowering away of the life- +boats could be seen from the Carpathia's pier, and a deep +sigh arose from the multitude there as they caught this first +glance of anything associated with the Titanic. + +Then the Carpathia started for her own pier. As she +approached it the ports on the north side of pier 54 were +closed that the Carpathia might land there, but through the +two left open to accommodate the forward and after gangplanks +of the big liner the watchers could see her looming +larger and larger in the darkness till finally she was directly +alongside the pier. + +As the boats were towed away the picture taking and shouting +of questions began again. John Badenoch, a buyer for +Macy & Co., called down to a representative of the firm that +neither Mr. nor Mrs. Isidor Straus were among the rescued +on board the Carpathia. An officer of the Carpathia called +down that 710 of the Titanic's passengers were on board, but +refused to reply to other questions. + +The heavy hawsers were made fast without the customary +shouting of ship's officers and pier hands. From the +crowd on the pier came a long, shuddering murmur. In it +were blended sighs and hundreds of whispers. The burden +of it all was: "Here they come." + + +ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN + +About each gangplank a portable fence had been put in +place, marking off some fifty feet of the pier, within which +stood one hundred or more customs officials. Next to the +fence, crowded close against it, were anxious men and women, +their gaze strained for a glance of the first from the ship, +their mouths opened to draw their breaths in spasmodic, +quivering gasps, their very bodies shaking with suppressed +excitement, excitement which only the suspense itself was +keeping in subjection. + +These were the husbands and wives, children, parents, +sweethearts and friends of those who had sailed upon the +Titanic on its maiden voyage. + +They pressed to the head of the pier, marking the boats +of the wrecked ship as they dangled at the side of the Carpathia +and were revealed in the sudden flashes of the photographers +upon the tugs. They spoke in whispers, each group +intent upon its own sad business. Newspaper writers, with +pier passes showing in their hat bands, were everywhere. + +A sailor hurried outside the fence and disappeared, +apparently on a mission for his company. There was a deep- +drawn sigh as he walked away, shaking his head toward +those who peered eagerly at him. Then came a man and +woman of the Carpathia's own passengers, as their orderly +dress showed them to be. + +Again a sigh like a sob swept over the crowd, and again +they turned back to the canopied gangplank. + + +THE FIRST SURVIVORS + +Several minutes passed and then out of the first cabin +gangway; tunneled by a somber awning, streamed the first +survivors. A young woman, hatless, her light brown hair +disordered and the leaden weight of crushing sorrow heavy +upon eyes and sensitive mouth, was in the van. She stopped, +perplexed, almost ready to drop with terror and exhaustion, +and was caught by a customs official. + +"A survivor?" he questioned rapidly, and a nod of the +head answering him, he demanded: + +"Your name." + +The answer given, he started to lead her toward that section +of the pier where her friends would be waiting. + +When she stepped from the gangplank there was quiet +on the pier. The answers of the woman could almost be +heard by those fifty feet away, but as she staggered, rather +than walked, toward the waiting throng outside the fence, a +low wailing sound arose from the crowd. + +"Dorothy, Dorothy!" cried a man from the number. He +broke through the double line of customs inspectors as though +it was composed of wooden toys and caught the woman to +his breast. She opened her lips inarticulately, weakly raised +her arms and would have pitched forward upon her face had +she not been supported. Her fair head fell weakly to one +side as the man picked her up in his arms, and, with tears +streaming down his face, stalked down the long avenue of +the pier and down the long stairway to a waiting taxicab. + +The wailing of the crowd--its cadences, wild and weird-- +grew steadily louder and louder till they culminated in a +mighty shriek, which swept the whole big pier as though at +the direction of some master hand. + +RUMORS AFLOAT + +The arrival of the Carpathia was the signal for the most +sensational rumors to circulate through the crowd on the +pier. + +First, Mrs. John Jacob Astor was reported to have died +at 8.06 o'clock, when the Carpathia was on her way up the +harbor. + +Captain Smith and the first engineer were reported to +have shot themselves when they found that the Titanic was +doomed to sink. Afterward it was learned that Captain +Smith and the engineer went down with their ship in perfect +courage and coolness. + +Major Archibald Butt, President Taft's military aide, was +said to have entered into an agreement with George D. +Widener, Colonel John Jacob Astor and Isidor Straus to +kill them first and then shoot himself before the boat sank. +It was said that this agreement had been carried out. +Later it was shown that, like many other men on the ship, +they had gone down without the exhibition of a sign of fear. + + +MRS. CORNELL SAFE + +Magistrate Cornell's wife and her two sisters were among +the first to leave the ship. They were met at the first cabin +pier entrance by Magistrate Cornell and a party of friends. +None of the three women had hats. One of those who met +them was Magistrate Cornell's son. One of Mrs. Cornell's +sisters was overheard to remark that "it would be a dreadful +thing when the ship began really to unload." + +The three women appeared to be in a very nervous state. +Their hair was more or less dishevelled. They were apparently +fully dressed save for their hats. Clothing had been +supplied them in their need and everything had been done +to make them comfortable. One of the party said that the +collision occurred at 9.45. + +Following closely the Cornell party was H. J. Allison of +Montreal, who came to meet his family. One of the party, +who was weeping bitterly as he left the pier, explained that +the only one of the family that was rescued was the young +brother. + + +MRS. ASTOR APPEARED + +In a few minutes young Mrs. Astor with her maid +appeared. She came down the gangplank unassisted. She +was wearing a white sweater. Vincent Astor and William +Dobbyn, Colonel Astor's secretary, greeted her and hurried +her to a waiting limousine which contained clothing and +other necessaries of which it was thought she might be in +need. The young woman was white-faced and silent. +Nobody cared to intrude upon her thoughts. Her stepson +said little to her. He did not feel like questioning her at +such a time, he said. + + +LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR + +Walter M. Clark, a nephew of the senator, said that he +had seen Colonel Astor put his wife in a boat, after assuring +her that he would soon follow her in another. Mr. Clark +and others said that Colonel and Mrs. Astor were in their +suite when the crash came, and that they appeared quietly +on deck a few minutes afterward. + +Here and there among the passengers of the Carpathia +and from the survivors of the Titanic the story was gleaned +of the rescue. Nothing in life will ever approach the joy +felt by the hundreds who were waiting in little boats on the +spot where the Titanic foundered when the lights of the +Carpathia were first distinguished. That was at 4 o'clock +on Monday morning. + + +DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED + +Efforts were made to learn from Dr. Henry Franenthal{sic} +something about the details of how he was rescued. Just +then, or as he was leaving the pier, beaming with evident +delight, he was surrounded by a big crowd of his friends. + +"There's Harry! There he is!" they yelled and made a +rush for him. + +All the doctor's face that wasn't covered with red beard +was aglow with smiles as his friends hugged him and slapped +him on the back. They rushed him off bodily through the +crowd and he too was whirled home. + + +A SAD STORY + +How others followed--how heartrending stories of partings +and of thrilling rescues were poured out in an amazing stream-- +this has all been told over and over again in the news that +for days amazed, saddened and angered the entire world. +It is the story of a disaster that nations, it is hoped, will make +impossible in the years to come. + +In the stream of survivors were a peer of the realm, Sir +Cosmo Duff Gordon, and his secretary, side by side with +plain Jack Jones, of Birmingham, able seaman, millionaires +and paupers, women with bags of jewels and others with nightgowns +their only property. + + +MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS + +More than seventy widows were in the weeping company. +The only large family that was saved in its entirety was that +of the Carters, of Philadelphia. Contrasting with this remarkable +salvage of wealthy Pennsylvanians was the sleeping +eleven-months-old baby of the Allisons, whose father, mother +and sister went down to death after it and its nurse had been +placed in a life-boat. + +Millionaire and pauper, titled grandee and weeping immigrant, +Ismay, the head of the White Star Company, and Jack +Jones from the stoke hole were surrounded instantly. Some +would gladly have escaped observation. Every man among +the survivors acted as though it were first necessary to explain +how he came to be in a life-boat. Some of the stories smacked +of Munchausen. Others were as plain and unvarnished as +a pike staff. Those that were most sincere and trustworthy +had to be fairly pulled from those who gave their sad testimony. + +Far into the night the recitals were made. They were +told in the rooms of hotels, in the wards of hospitals and upon +trains that sped toward saddened homes. It was a symposium +of horror and heroism, the like of which has not been known +in the civilized world since man established his dominion over +the sea. + + +STEERAGE PASSENGERS + +The two hundred and more steerage passengers did not +leave the ship until 11 o'clock. They were in a sad condition. +The women were without wraps and the few men there were +wore very little clothing. A poor Syrian woman who said +she was Mrs. Habush, bound for Youngstown, Ohio, carried +in her arms a six-year-old baby girl. This woman had lost +her husband and three brothers. "I lost four of my men +folks," she cried. + + +TWO LITTLE BOYS + +Among the survivors who elicited a large measure of sympathy +were two little French boys who were dropped, almost +naked, from the deck of the sinking Titanic into a life-boat. +From what place in France did they come and to what place +in the New World were they bound? There was not one iota +of information to be had as to the identity of the waifs of the +deep, the orphans of the Titanic. + +The two baby boys, two and four years old, respectively, +were in charge of Miss Margaret Hays, who is a fluent speaker +of French, and she had tried vainly to get from the lisping lips +of the two little ones some information that would lead to +the finding of their relatives. + +Miss Hays, also a survivor of the Titanic, took charge of +the almost naked waifs on the Carpathia. She became +warmly attached to the two boys, who unconcernedly played +about, not understanding the great tragedy that had come +into their lives. + +The two little curly-heads did not understand it all. Had +not their pretty nineteen-year-old foster mother provided +them with pretty suits and little white shoes and playthings +a-plenty? Then, too, Miss Hays had a Pom dog that she +brought with her from Paris and which she carried in her +arms when she left the Titanic and held to her bosom +through the long night in the life-boat, and to which the +children became warmly attached. All three became aliens +on an alien shore. + +Miss Hays, unable to learn the names of the little fellows, +had dubbed the older Louis and the younger "Lump." +"Lump" was all that his name implies, for he weighed almost +as much as his brother. They were dark-eyed and brown +curly-haired children, who knew how to smile as only French +children can. + +On the fateful night of the Titanic disaster and just as the +last boats were pulling away with their human freight, a +man rushed to the rail holding the babes under his arms. +He cried to the passengers in one of the boats and held the +children aloft. Three or four sailors and passengers held up +their arms. The father dropped the older boy. He was +safely caught. Then he dropped the little fellow and saw +him folded in the arms of a sailor. Then the boat pulled +away. + +The last seen of the father, whose last living act was +to save his babes, he was waving his hand in a final parting. +Then the Titanic plunged to the ocean's bed. + + +BABY TRAVERS + +Still more pitiable in one way was the lot of the baby survivor, +eleven-months-old Travers Allison, the only member +of a family of four to survive the wreck. His father, H. J. +Allison, and mother and Lorraine, a child of three, were +victims of the catastrophe. Baby Travers, in the excitement +following the crash, was separated from the rest of the family +just before the Titanic went down. With the party were +two nurses and a maid. + +Major Arthur Peuchen, of Montreal, one of the survivors, +standing near the little fellow, who, swathed in blankets, +lay blinking at his nurse, described the death of Mrs. Allison. +She had gone to the deck without her husband, and, frantically +seeking him, was directed by an officer to the other +side of the ship. + +She failed to find Mr. Allison and was quickly hustled +into one of the collapsible life-boats, and when last seen by +Major Peuchen she was toppling out of the half-swamped +boat. J. W. Allison, a cousin of H. J. Allison, was at the +pier to care for Baby Travers and his nurse. They were +taken to the Manhattan Hotel. + +Describing the details of the perishing of the Allison family, +the rescued nurse said they were all in bed when the Titanic +hit the berg. + +"We did not get up immediately," said she, "for we had + + +{illust. caption = WHITE STAR STEAMER TITANIC GYMNASIUM} + +{illust. caption = +Copyright, 1912, Underwood & Underwood. +CAPTAIN A. H. ROSTROM + +Commander of the Carpathia, which rescued the survivors of the Titanic +from the life-boats in the open sea and brought them to New York. After +the Senatorial Investigating Committee had examined Captain Rostrom, at +which time this specially posed photograph was taken, Senator William +Alden Smith, chairman of the committee, said of Captain Rostrom: "His +conduct of the rescue shows that he is not only an efficient seaman, but one +of nature's noblemen."} + + +not thought of danger. Later we were told to get up, and +I hurriedly dressed the baby. We hastened up on deck, +and confusion was all about. With other women and children +we clambered to the life-boats, just as a matter of precaution, +believing that there was no immediate danger. In +about an hour there was an explosion and the ship appeared +to fall apart. We were in the life-boat about six hours before +we were picked up." + + +THE RYERSON FAMILY + +Probably few deaths have caused more tears than Arthur +Ryerson's, in view of the sad circumstances which called him +home from a lengthy tour in Europe. Mr. Ryerson's eldest +son, Arthur Larned Ryerson, a Yale student, was killed in +an automobile accident Easter Monday, 1912. + +A cablegram announcing the death plunged the Ryerson +family into mourning and they boarded the first steamship +for this country. If{sic} happened to be the Titanic, and the +death note came near being the cause of the blotting out of +the entire family. + +The children who accompanied them were Miss Susan P. +Ryerson, Miss Emily B. Ryerson and John Ryerson. The +latter is 12 years old. + +They did not know their son intended to spend the Easter +holidays at their home at Haverford, Pa. until they were +informed of his death. John Lewis Hoffman, also of Haverford +and a student of Yale, was killed with young Ryerson. + +The two were hurrying to Philadelphia to escort a fellow- +student to his train. In turning out of the road to pass a cart +the motor car crashed into a pole in front of the entrance to the +estate of Mrs. B. Frank Clyde. The college men were picked +up unconscious and died in the Bryn Mawr Hospital. + +G. Heide Norris of Philadelphia, who went to New York +to meet the surviving members of the Ryerson family, told +of a happy incident at the last moment as the Carpathia +swung close to the pier. There had been no positive information +that young "Jack" Ryerson was among those saved-- +indeed, it was feared that he had gone down with the Titanic, +like his father, Arthur Ryerson. + +Mr. Norris spoke of the feeling of relief that came over +him as, watching from the pier, he saw "Jack" Ryerson +come from a cabin and stand at the railing. The name of +the boy was missing from some of the lists and for two days +it was reported that he had perished. + + +CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S REPORT + +Less than 24 hours after the Cunard Line steamship Carpathia +came in as a rescue ship with survivors of the Titanic +disaster, she sailed again for the Mediterranean cruise which +she originally started upon last week. Just before the liner +sailed, H. S. Bride, the second Marconi wireless operator of +the Titanic, who had both of his legs crushed on a life-boat, +was carried off on the shoulders of the ship's officers to St. +Vincent's Hospital. + +Captain A. H. Rostron, of the Carpathia, addressed an +official report, giving his account of the Carpathia's rescue +work, to the general manager of the Cunard Line, Liverpool. +The report read: "I beg to report that at 12.35 A. M. Monday +18th inst. I was informed of urgent message from Titanic +with her position. I immediately ordered ship turned around +and put her in course for that position, we being then 58 +miles S. 52--E. `T' from her; had heads of all departments +called and issued what I considered the necessary orders, to +be in preparation for any emergency. + +"At 2.40 A. M. saw flare half a point on port bow. Taking +this for granted to be ship, shortly after we sighted our first +iceberg. I had previously had lookouts doubled, knowing +that Titanic had struck ice, and so took every care and precaution. +We soon found ourselves in a field of bergs, and had +to alter course several times to clear bergs; weather fine, and +clear, light air on sea, beautifully clear night, though dark. + +"We stopped at 4 A. M., thus doing distance in three hours +and a half, picking up the first boat at 4.10 A. M.; boat in charge +of officer, and he reported that Titanic had foundered. At +8.30 A. M. last boat picked up. All survivors aboard and all +boats accounted for, viz., fifteen life-boats, one boat abandoned, +two Berthon boats alongside (saw one floating upwards +among wreckage), and according to second officer (senior officer +saved) one Berthon boat had not been launched, it having +got jammed, making sixteen life-boats and four Berthon boats +accounted for. By the time we had cleared first boat it was +breaking day, and I could see all within area of four miles. +We also saw that we were surrounded by icebergs, large and +small, huge field of drift ice with large and small bergs in it, +the ice field trending from N. W. round W. and S. to S. E., as +far as we could see either way. + +"At 8 A. M. the Leyland S. S. California came up. I gave +him the principal news and asked him to search and I would +proceed to New York; at 8.50 proceeded full speed while +researching over vicinity of disaster, and while we were getting +people aboard I gave orders to get spare hands along and swing +in all our boats, disconnect the fall and hoist up as many +Titanic boats as possible in our davits; also get some on forecastle +heads by derricks. We got thirteen lifeboats, six on forward +deck and seven in davits. After getting all survivors aboard +and while searching I got a clergyman to offer a short prayer +of thankfulness for those saved, and also a short burial service +for their loss, in saloon. + +"Before deciding definitely where to make for, I conferred +with Mr. Ismay, and as he told me to do what I thought +best, I informed him, I considered New York best. I knew +we should require clean blankets, provisions and clean linen, +even if we went to the Azores, as most of the passsengers{sic} +saved were women and children, and they hysterical, not +knowing what medical attention they might require. I +thought it best to go to New York. I also thought it would +be better for Mr. Ismay to go to New York or England as +soon as possible, and knowing I should be out of wireless +communication very soon if I proceeded to Azores, it left +Halifax, Boston and New York, so I chose the latter. + +"Again, the passengers were all hysterical about ice, and I +pointed out to Mr. Ismay the possibilities of seeing ice if I +went to Halifax. Then I knew it would be best to keep in +touch with land stations as best I could. We have experienced +great difficulty in transmitting news, also names of survivors. +Our wireless is very poor, and again we have had so +many interruptions from other ships and also messages from +shore (principally press, which we ignored). I gave instructions +to send first all official messages, then names of passengers, then +survivors' private messages. We had haze early Tuesday +morning for several hours; again more or less all Wednesday +from 5.30 A. M. to 5 P. M.; strong south-southwesterly +winds and clear weather Thursday, with moderate rough sea. + +"I am pleased to say that all survivors have been very +plucky. The majority of women, first, second and third +class, lost their husbands, and, considering all, have been +wonderfully well. Tuesday our doctor reported all survivors +physically well. Our first class passengers have behaved +splendidly, given up their cabins voluntarily and supplied +the ladies with clothes, etc. We all turned out of our cabins +and gave them to survivors--saloon, smoking room, library, +etc., also being used for sleeping accommodation. Our crew, +also turned out to let the crew of the Titanic take their +quarters. I am pleased to state that owing to preparations made +for the comfort of survivors, none were the worse for exposure, +etc. I beg to specially mention how willing and cheerful the +whole of the ship's company behaved, receiving the highest +praise from everybody. And I can assure you I am very +proud to have such a company under my command. + "A. H. ROSTRON." + + +The following list of the survivors and dead contains the latest revisions and +corrections of the White Star Line officials, and was furnished by them exclusively +for this book. + +LIST OF SURVIVORS +FIRST CABIN + +ANDERSON, HARRY. +ANTOINETTE, MISS. +APPIERANELT, MISS. +APPLETON. MRS. E. D. +ABBOTT, MRS. ROSE. +ALLISON, MASTER, and nurse. +ANDREWS, MISS CORNELIA I. +ALLEN, MISS. E. W. +ASTOR, MRS. JOHN JACOB, and maid. +AUBEART, MME. N., and maid. + +BARRATT, KARL B. +BESETTE, MISS. +BARKWORTH, A. H. +BUCKNELL, MRS. W. +BOWERMAN, MISS E. +BROWN, MRS. J. J. +BURNS, MISS C. M. +BISHOP, MR. AND MRS. D. H. +BLANK, H. +BESSINA, MISS A. +BAXTER, MRS. JAMES. +BRAYTON, GEORGE. +BONNELL, MISS LILY. +BROWN, MRS. J. M. +BOWEN, MISS G. C. +BECKWITH, MR. AND MRS. R. L. +BISLEY, MR. AND MRS. +BONNELL, MISS C. + +CASSEBEER, MRS. H. A. +CARDEZA, MRS. J. W. +CANDELL, MRS. CHURCHILL. +CASE, HOWARD B. +CAMARION, KENARD. +CASSEBORO, MISS D. D. +CLARK, MRS. W. M. + +CHIBINACE, MRS. B. C. +CHARLTON, W. M. +CROSBY, MRS E. G. +CARTER, MISS LUCILLE. +CALDERHEAD, E. P. +CHANDANSON, MISS VICTOTRINE. +CAVENDISH, MRS. TURRELL, and maid. +CHAFEE, MRS. H. I. +CARDEZA, MR. THOMAS. +CUMMINGS, MRS. J. +CHEVRE, PAUL. +CHERRY, MISS GLADYS. +CHAMBERS, MR. AND MRS. N. C. +CARTER, MR. AND MRS. W. E. +CARTER, MASTER WILLIAM. +COMPTON, MRS. A. T. +COMPTON, MISS S. R. +CROSBY, MRS. E. G. +CROSBY, MISS HARRIET. +CORNELL, MRS. R. C. +CHIBNALL, MRS. E. + +DOUGLAS, MRS. FRED. +DE VILLIERS, MME. +DANIEL, MISS SARAH. +DANIEL, ROBERT W. +DAVIDSON, MR. AND MRS. THORNTON, + and family. +DOUGLAS, MRS. WALTER, and maid. +DODGE, MISS SARAH. +DODGE, MRS. WASHINGTON, and son. +DICK, MR. AND MRS. A. A. +DANIELL, H. HAREN. +DRACHENSTED, A. +DALY, PETER D. + +ENDRES, MISS CAROLINE. +ELLIS, MISS + + +LIST OF SURVIVORS--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + +EARNSHAW, MRS. BOULTON. +EUSTIS, MISS E. +EMMOCK, PHILIP E. + +FLAGENHEIM, MRS. ANTOINETTE. +FRANICATELLI, MISY. +FYNN, J. I. +FORTUNE, MISS ALICE +FORTUNE, MISS ETHEL. +FORTUNE, MRS. MARK. +FORTUNE, MISS MABEL. +FRAUENTHAL, DR. AND MRS. H. W. +FRAUENTHAL, MR. AND MRS. T. G +FROLICHER, MISS MABGARET. +FROLICHER, MAY AND MRS. +FROLICHER, MISS N. +FUTRELLE, MRS. JACQUES. + +GRACIE, COLONEL ARCHIBALD. +GRAHAM, MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM. +GRAHAM, MISS M. +GORDON, SIR COSMO DUFF. +GORDON, LADY. +GIBSON, MISS DOROTHY. +GOLDENBERG, MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL. +GOLDENBERG, MISS ELLA. +GREENFIELD, MRS. L. P. +GREENFIELD, G. B. +GREENFIELD, WILLIAM. +GIBSON, MRS. LEONARD. +GOOGHT, JAMES. + +HAVEN, MR. HENRY B. +HARRIS, MRS. H. B. +HOLVERSON, MRS. ALEX. +HOGEBOOM, MRS. J. C. +HAWKSFORD, W. J. +HARPER, HENRY, and man servant. +HARPER, MRS. H. S. +HOLD, MISS J. A. +HOPE, NINA. +HOYT, MR. AND Mrs. FRED. +HORNER, HENRY R. +HARDER, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. +HAYS, MRS. CHARLES M., and daughter. +HIPPACH, MISS JEAN. +HIPPACH, MRS. IDA S. + +ISMAY, J. BRUCE. + +JENASCO, MRS. J. + +KIMBALL, MR. AND MRS. ED. N. +KENNYMAN, F. A. +KENCHEN, MISS EMILE. + +LONGLEY, MISS G. F. +LEADER, MRS. A. F. +LEAHY, MISS NORA. +LAVORY, MISS BERTHA. +LINES, MRS. ERNEST. +LINES, MISS MARY. +LINDSTROM, MRS. SINGIRD. +LESNEUR, GUSTAVE, JR. + +MADILL, MISS GEORGETTE A. +MAHAN, MRS. +MELICARD, MME. +MENDERSON, MISS LETTA. +MAIAIMY, MISS ROBERTA. +MARVIN, MRS. D. W. +MARECHELL, PIERRE. +MARONEY, MRS. R. +MEYER, MRS. E. I. +MOCK, MR. P. E. +MIDDLE, MME. M. OIJVE. +MINAHAN, MISS DAISY. +MINAHAN, MRS. W. E. +MCGOUGH, JAMES. + +NEWELL, MISS ALICE. +NEWELL, MISS MADELINE. +NEWELL, WASHINGTON. +NEWSON, MISS HELEN. + +O'CONNELL, MISS R. +OSTBY, E. C. + +LIST OF SURVIVORS--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + +OSTBY, MISS HELEN. +OMUND, FIEUNAM. + +PANHART, MISS NINETTE. +PEARS, MRS. E. +POMROY, MISS ELLEN. +POTTER, MRS. THOMAS, JR. +PEUCHEN, MAJOR ARTHUR. +PEERCAULT, MISS A. + +RYERSON, JOHN. +RENAGO, MRS. MAMAM. +RANELT, MISS APPIE. +ROTHSCHILD, MRS. LORD MARTIN. +ROSENBAHM, MISS EDITH. +RHEIMS, MR. AND MRS GEORGE. +ROSIBLE, MISS H. +ROTHES, COUNTESS. +ROBERT, MRS. EDNA. +ROLMANE, C. +RYERSON, AIISS SUSAN P. +RYERSON, MISS EMILY. +RYERSON, MRS. ARTHUR, and maid. + +STONE, MRS. GEORGE M. +SKELLER, MRS. WILLIAM. +SEGESSER, MISS EMMA. +SEWARD, FRED. K. +SHUTTER, MISS. +SLOPER, WILLIAM T. +SWIFT, MRS. F. JOEL. +SCHABERT, MRS. PAUL. +SHEDDEL, ROBERT DOUGLASS. +SNYDER, MR. AND MRS. JOHN. +SEREPECA, AIISS AUGHSTA. +SILVERTIIORN, R. SPENCER. +SAALFELD, ADOLF. +STAHELIN, MAX. +SIMOINUS, ALFONSIU8. +SMITH, MRS. LUCIEN P. +STEPHENSON, MRS. WALTER. +SOLOMON, ABRAHAM. +SILVEY, MRS. WILLIAM B +STENMEL, MR. AND MRS. HELEERY +SPENCER, MBS. W. A., and maid. +SLAYTER, MISS HILDA. +SPEDDEN, MR. AND MRS. F. O., and child. +STEFFANSON, H. B. +STRAUS, MRS., maid of. +SCHABERT, MRS. EMMA. +SLINTER, MRS. E. +SIMMONS, A. + +TAYLOR, MISS. +TUCKER, MRS., and maid. +THAYER, MBS. J. B. +THAYER, J. B., JR. +TAUSSIG, MISS RHTH. +TAUSSIG. MRS. E. +THOR, MISS ELLA. +THORNE, MRS. G. +TAYLOR, MR. AND MRS. E. Z +TROUT, MISS JESSIE. +TUCKER, GILBERT. + +WOOLNER, HUGH. +WARD, MISS ANNA. +WILLIAMS, RICHARD M., JB. +WARREN, MRS. P. +WILSON, MISS HELEN A. +WILLIARD, MISS C. +WICK, MISS MARY. +WICK, GEO. +WIDENER, valet of. +WIDENER, MRS. GEORGE D., and maid. +WHITE, MRS. J. STUART. + +YOUNG, MISS MARIE. + + +LIST OF SURVIVORS--SECOND CABIN + +ABESSON, MRS. MANNA. +ABBOTT, MRS. R. +ARGENIA, MRS., and two children. +ANGEL, F. +ANGLE, WILLIAM. + +BAUMTHORPE, MRS. L. +BALLS, MRS. ADA E. +BUSS, MISS KATE. +BECKER, MRS. A. O., and three children +BEANE, EDWARD. +BEANE, MRS. ETHEL, +BRYHI, MISS D. +BEESLEY, MR. L. +BROWN, MR. T. W. S. +BROWN, MISS E. +BROWN, MRS. +BENTHAN, LILLIAN W. +BYSTRON, KAROLINA +BRIGHT, DAGMAR. +BRIGHT, DAISY. + +CLARKE, MRS. ADA. +CAMERON, MISS. C. +CALDWELL, ALBERT F. +CALDWELL, MRS. SYLVAN +CALDWELL, ALDEN, infant. +CRISTY, MR. AND MRS. +COLLYER, MRS. CHARLOTTE. +COLLYER, MISS MARJORIE +CHRISTY, MRS. ALICE. +COLLET, STITART. +CHRISTA, MISS DIJCIA. +CHARLES, WILLIAM. +CROFT, MILLIE MALL. + +DOLING, MRS. ELSIE. +DREW, MRS. LULU. +DAVIS, MRS. AGNES. +DAVIS, MISS MARY. +DAVIS, JOHN M. +DUVAN, FLORENTINE. +DUVAN, MIBS A. +DAVIDSON, MISS MARY. +DOLING, MISS ADA. +DRISCOLL, MRS. B. +DEYSTROM, CAROLINE. + +EMCARMACION, MRS. RINALDO. + +FAUNTHORPE, MRS. LIZZIE +FORMERY, MISS ELLEN. + +GARSIDE, ETHEL. +GERRECAI, MRS. MARCY. +GENOVESE, ANGERE. + +HART, MRS. ESTHER. +HART, EVA. +HARRIS, GEORGE. +HEWLETT, MRS. MARY. +HEBBER, MISS S. +HOFFMAN, LOLA. +HOFFMAN, LOUIS. +HARPER, NINA. +HOLD, STEPHEN. +HOLD, MRS. ANNA. +HOSONO, MASABTJMI. +HOCKING, MR. AND MRS. GEORGE. +HOCKING, MISS NELLIE. +HERMAN, MRS. JANE, 2 daughters +HEALY, NORA. +HANSON, JENNIE. +HAMATAINEN, W. +HAMATAINEN, ANNA. +HARNLIN, ANNA, and Chjld + +ILETT, BERTHA. + +JACKSON, MRS. AMY. +JULIET, LlnVCHE. +JERWAN, MARY. +JUHON, PODRO. +JACOBSON, MRS. + +KEANE, MISS NORA H. +KELLY, MRS. F. +KANTAR, MRS. S. + +LEITCH, JESSIE. +LAROCHE, MRS. AND MISS SIMMONE. + +LIST OF SURVIVORS--SECOND CABIN (CONTINITED) + +LAROCHE, MISS LOUISE. +LEHMAN, BERTHA. +LAUCH, MRS. ALEX. +LANIORE, AMELIA. +LYSTROM, MRS. C. + +MELLINGER, ELIZABETH. +MELLINGER, child. +MARSHALL, MRS. KATE. +MALLETT, A. +MALLETT, MRS. and child. +MANGE, PAULA. +MARE, MRS. FLORENCE. +MELLOR, W. J. +McDEARMONT, MISS LELA. +McGOWAN, ANNA. + +NYE, ELTZABETB. +NASSER, MRS. DELIA. +NUSSA, MRS. A. + +OXENHAM, PEBCY J. + +PHILLIPS, ALICE. +PALLAS, EMILIO. +PADRO, JITLIAN. +PRINSKY, ROSA. +PORTALTTPPI, EMILIO. +PARSH, MRS. L. +PLETT, B. + +QUICK, MRS. JANE. +QUICK, MRS. VERA W. +QUICK, MISS PHYLLIS. + +REINARDO, MISS E. +RIDSDALE, LUCY. +RENOUF, MRS. LILY. +RUGG, MISS EMILY. +RICHARDS, M. +ROGERS, MISS SELINA. +RICHARDS, MRS. EMILIA, two boys, and + MR. RICHARDS, JR. + +SIMPSON, MISS. +SINCOCK, MISS MAUDE. +SINKKONNEN, ANNA. +SMITH, MISS MARION. +SILVEN, LYLLE. + +TRANT, MRS J. +TOOMEY, MISS. E. +TROUTT, MISS E. +TROUTT, MISS CECELIA. + +WARE, MISS H. +WATTER, MISS N. +WILHELM, CB AS. +WAT, MRS. A., and two children. +WILLIAMS, RICBARD M., JR. +WEISZ, MATBILDE. +WEBBER, MISS SIJSDD. +WRIGHT, MISS MARION. +WATT, MISS BESSIE. +WATT, MISS BEKTHA. +WEST, MRS. E. A. +WEST, MISS CONSTANCE. +WEST, MISS BARBARA. +WELLS, ADDIE. +WELLS, MASTER. + + + +A list of surviving third cabin passengers and crew is omitted owing to the impossibility +of obtaining the correct names of many. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD +FIRST CABIN + +ALLISON, H. J. +ALLISON, MRS., and maid. +ALLISON, MISS. +ANDREWS, THOMAS. +ARTAGAVEYTIA, MR. RAMON. +ASTOR, COL. J. J., and servant. +ANDERSON, WALKER. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + +BEATTIE, T. +BRANDEIS, E. +BVCKNELL, MRS. WlLLIAM, maid of. +BAHMANN, J. +BAXTER, MR. AND MRS. QUIGG. +BJORNSTROM, H. +BIRNBAHM, JACOB. +BLACKWELL, S. W. +BOREBANK, J. J. +BOWEN, MISS. +BRADY, JOHN B. +BREWE, ARLBLIR J. +BUTT, MAJOR A. + +CLARK, WALTER M. +CLLFFORD, GEORGE Q. +COLLEY, E. P. +CARDEZA, T. D. M., servant of. +CARDEZA, MRS. J. W., maid of. +CARLSON, FRANK. +CORRAN, F. M. +CORRAN, J. P. +CHAFEE, MR. H. I. +CHISHOLM, ROBERT. +COMPTON, A. T. +CRAFTON, JOHN B. +CROSBY, EDWARD G. +CUMMINGS, JOBN BRADLEY. + +DULLES, WILLIAM C. +DOUGLAS, W. D. +DOUGLAS, MASTER R., nurse of. + +EVANS, MISS E. + +FORTUNE, MARK. +FOREMAN, B. L. +FORTUNE, CHARLES. +FRANKLIN, T. P. +FUTRELLE, J. + +GEE, ARTHUR. +GOLDENBERG, E. L. +GOLDSCHMIDT, G. B. +GIGLIO, VICTOR. +GUGGENHEIM, BENJAMIN, + +HAYS, CHARLES M. +HAYS, MRS. CHARLES, maid of. +HEAD, CHRISTOPITER. +HILLIARD, H. H. +HIPKINS, W. E. +HOGENHEIM, MRS. A. +HARRI3, HENRY B. +HARP, MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. +HARP, MISS MARGARET, and maid. +HOLVERSON, A. M. + +ISLAM, MISS A. E. +ISMAY, J. BRUCE, servant of. + +JULIAN, H. F. +JONES, C. C. + +KENT, EDWARD A. +KENYON, MR. AND MRS. F. R. +KLABER, HERMAN. + +LAMBERTH, WILLIAM, F. F. +LAWRENCE, ARTHUR. +LONG, MILTON. +LEWY, E. G. +LOPING, J. H. +LINGREY, EDWARD. + +MAGUIRE, J. E. +McCAFFRY, T. +McCAFFRY, T., JR. +McCARTHY, T. +MIDDLETON, J. C. +MILLET, FRANK D. +MINAHAN, DR. +MEYER, EDGAR J. +MOLSON, H. M. +MOORE, C., servant. + +NATSCH, CHARLES. +NEWALL, MISS T. +NICHOLSON, A. S. + +OVIES, S. +OBNOUT, ALFRED T. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD--FIRST CABIN (CONTINUED) + +PARR, M. H. W. +PEARS, MR. AND MRS. THOMAS. +PENASCO, MR. AND MRS. VICTOR. +PARTNER, M. A. +PAYNE, Y. +POND, FLORENCE, and maid. +PORTER, WALTER. +PUFFER, C. C. + +REUCHLIN, J. +ROBERT, MRS. E., maid of. +ROEBLING, WASHINGTON A., 2d. +ROOD, HUGH R. +ROES, J. HUGO. +ROTHES, COUNTESS, maid of. +ROTHSCHILD, M. +ROWE, ARTHUR. +RYERSON, A. + +SILVEY, WILLIAM B. +SPEDDEN, MRS. F. O., maid of +SPENCER, W. A. +STEAD, W. T. +STEHLI, MR. AND MRS. MAX FBOLICHER. +STONE, MRS. GEORGE, maid of. +STRAUS, MR. AND MRS. ISIDOR. +SUTTON, FREDERICK. +SMART, JOHN M. +SMITH, CLINCH. +SMITET, R. W. +SMITH, L. P. + +TAUSSIC,, EMIL. +THAYER, MRS., maid of. +THAYER, JOHN B. +THORNE, G. + +VANDERHOOF, WYCKOFF. + +WALKER, W. A. +WARREN, F. M. +WHITE, PERCIVAL A. +WHITE, RICHARD F. +WIDENER, G. D. +WIDENER, HARRY. +WOOD, MR. AND MRS. FRANK P. +WEIR, J. +WILLIAMS, DUANE. +WRIGHT, GEORGE. + + +SECOND CABIN + +ABELSON, SAMSON. +ANDREW, FRANK. +ASHBY, JOHN. +ALDWORTH, C. +ANDREW, EDGAR. + +BRACKEN, JAMES H. +BROWN, MRS. +BANFIELD, FRED. +BRIGHT, NARL. +BRAILY, bandsman. +BREICOUX, bandsman. +BAILEY, PERCY. +BAINBRIDGE, C. R. +BYLES, THE REV. THOMAS. +BEAUCHAMP, H. J. +BERG, MISS E. +BENTHAN, I. +BATEMAN, ROBERT J. +BUTLER, REGINALD. +BOTSFORD, HULL. +BOWEENER, SOLOMON. +BERRIMAN, WILLIAM. + +CLARKE, CHARLES. +CLARK, bandsman. +COREY, MRS. C. P. +CARTER, THE REV. ERNEST. +CARTER, MRS. +COLERIDGE, REGINALD, +CHAPMAN, CHARLES. +CUNNINGHAM, ALFRED. +CAMPBELL, WILLIAM. +COLLYER, HARVEY. +CORBETT, MRS. IRENE. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD--SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + +CHAPMAN, JOHN E. +CHAPMAN, MRS. E. +COLANDER, ERIC. +COTTERILL, HARBY. + +DEACON, PERCY. +DAVIS, CHARLES. +DIBBEN, WILLIAM. +DE BRITO, JOSE. +DENBORNY, H. +DREW, JAMES. +DREW, MASTER M. +DAVID, MASTER J. W. +DOUNTON, W. J. +DEL VARLO, S. +DEL VARLO, MRS. + +ENANDER, INGVAR. +EITEMILLER, G. F. + +FROST, A. +FYNNERY, MR. +FAUNTHORPE, H. +FILLBROOK, C. +FUNK, ANNIE. +FAHLSTROM, A. +FOX, STANLEY W. + +GREENBERG, S. +GILES, RALPH. +GASKELL, ALFRED. +GILLESPIE, WILLIAM. +GILBERT, WILLIAM. +GALL, S. +GLLL, JOHN. +GILES, EDGAR. +GILES, FRED. +GALE, HARRY. +GALE, PHADRUCH. +GARVEY, LAWRENCE, + +HICKMAN, LEONARD. +HICKMAN, LENVIS. +HUME, bandsman. +HICKMAN, STANLEY. +HOOD, AMBROSE, +HODGES, HENRY P. +HART, BENJAMIN. +HARRIS, WALTER. +HARPER, JOHN. +HARBECK, W. H. +HOFFMAN, MR. +HERMAN, MRS. S. +HOWARD, B. +HOWARD, MRS. E. T. +HALE, REGINALD. +HILTUNEN, M. +HUNT, GEORGE. + +JACOBSON, MR. +JACOBSON, SYDNEY. +JEFFERY, CLIFFORD. +JEFFERY, ERNEST. +JENKIN, STEPHEN. +JARVIS, JOHN D. + +KEANE, DANIEL. +KIRKLAND, REV. C. +KARNES, MRS. F. G. +KEYNALDO, MISS. +KRILLNER, J. H. +KRINS, bandsman. +KARINES, MRS. +KANTAR, SELNA. +KNIGHT, R. + +LENGAM, JOHN. +LEVY, R. J. +LAHTIMAN, WILLIAM. +LAUCH, CHARLES. +LEYSON, R. W. N. +LAROCHE, JOSEPH. +LAMB, J. J + +McKANE, PETER. +MILLING, JACOB. +MANTOILA, JOSEPEI, +MALACHARD, NOLL. +MORAWECK, DR. + +ROLL OF THE DEAD--SECOND CABIN (CONTINUED) + +MANGIOVACCHI, E. +McCRAE, ARTHUR G. +McCRIE, JAMES M. +McKANE, PETER D. +MUDD, THOMAS. +MACK, MRS. MARY. +MARSHALL, HENRY. +MAYBERG, FRANK H. +MEYER, AUGUST. +MYLES, THOMAS. +MITCHELL, HENRY. +MATTHEWS, W. J. + +NESSEN, ISRAEL. +NICHOLLS, JOSEPH C. +NORMAN, ROBERT D. + +OTTER, RICHARD. + +PHILLIPS, ROBERT. +PONESELL, MARTIN. +PAIN, DB. ALFRED. +PARKES, FRANK. +PENGELLY, F. +PERNOT, RENE. +PERUSCHITZ, REV. +PARKER, CLIFFORD. +PULBAUM, FRANK + +RENOUF, PETER H. +ROGERS, HARRY. +REEVES, DAVID. + +SLEMEN, R. J. +SOBEY, HAYDEN. +SLATTER, MISS H. M. +STANTON, WARD. +SWORD, HANS K. +STOKES, PHILIP J. +SHARP, PERCIVAL. +SEDGWICK, MR. F. W. +SMITH, AUGUSTUS. +SWEET, GEORGE. +SJOSTEDT, ERNST. + +TAYLOR, bandsman. +TURPIN, WILLIAM J. +TURPIN, MRS. DOROTHY. +TURNER, JOHN H. +TROUPIANSKY, M. +TIRVAN, MRS. A. + +VEALE, JAMES. + +WATSON, E. +WOODWARD, bandsman. +WARE, WILLIAM J. +WEISZ, LEOPOLD. +WHEADON, EDWARD. +WARE, JOHN J. +WEST, E. ARTHUR. +WHEELER, EDWIN. +WERMAN, SAMUEL. + +The total death list was 1635. Third cabin passengers and crew are not included +in the list here given owing to the impossibility of obtaining the exact names of many. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD + +HOW THE TITANIC SANK--WATER STREWN WITH DEAD BODIES +--VICTIMS MET DEATH WITH HYMN ON THEIR LIPS + +THE Story of how the Titanic sank is told by Charles +F. Hurd, who was a passenger on the Carpathia. + +He praised highly the courage of the crew, hundreds +of whom gave their lives with a heroism which equaled +but could not exceed that of John Jacob Astor, Henry B. +Harris, Jacques Futrelle and others in the long list of first- +cabin passengers. The account continues: + +"The crash against the iceberg, which had been sighted +at only a quarter mile distance, came almost simultaneously +with the click of the levers operated from the bridge, which +stopped the engines and closed the water-tight doors. Captain +Smith was on the bridge a moment later, summoning all on +board to put on life preservers and ordering the life-boats +lowered. + +"The first boats had more male passengers, as the men +were the first to reach the deck. When the rush of frightened +men and women and crying children to the decks began, the +`women first' rule was rigidly enforced. + +"Officers drew revolvers, but in most cases there was no +use for them. Revolver shots heard shortly before the Titanic +went down caused many rumors, one that Captain Smith +had shot himself, another that First Officer Murdock had +ended his life, but members of the crew discredit these rumors. + +"Captain Smith was last seen on the bridge just before the +ship sank, leaping only after the decks had been washed +away. + +"What became of the men with the life-preservers was a +question asked by many since the disaster. Many of these +with life-preservers were seen to go down despite the preservers, +and dead bodies floated on the surface as the boats moved +away. + +"Facts which I have established by inquiries on the Carpathia, +as positively as they could be established in view of the +silence of the few surviving officers, are: + +"That the Titanic's officers knew, several hours before the +crash, of the possible nearness of the icebergs. + +"That the Titanic's speed, nearly 23 knots an hour, was +not slackened. + +"That the number of life-boats on the Titanic was insufficient +to accommodate more than one-third of the passengers, +to say nothing of the crew. Most members of the crew say +there were sixteen life-boats and two collapsibles; none say +there were more than twenty boats in all. The 700 escaped +filled most of the sixteen life-boats and the one collapsible +which got away, to the limit of their capacity. + +"Had the ship struck the iceberg head on at whatever + + +{illust. caption = MRS. GEORGE D. WIDENER + +Mrs. Widener was saved,....} + +{illust. caption = George D. WIDENER + +Who with his son....} + + +{illust. caption = Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. +WILLIAM T. STEAD + +The great English writer, who was a passenger on board the ill-fated +White Star Line Steamer Titanic.} + + +speed and with whatever resulting shock, the bulkhead system +of water-tight compartments would probably have saved the +vessel. As one man expressed it, it was the impossible that +happened when, with a shock unbelievably mild, the ship's +side was torn for a length which made the bulkhead system +ineffective." + +After telling of the shock and the lowering of the boats +the account continues: + +"Some of the boats, crowded too full to give rowers a +chance, drifted for a time. Few had provisions or water, +there was lack of covering from the icy air, and the only +lights were the still undimmed arcs and incandescents of the +settling ship, save for one of the first boats. There a steward, +who explained to the passengers that he had been shipwrecked +twice before, appeared carrying three oranges and +a green light. + +"That green light, many of the survivors say, was to the +shipwrecked hundreds as the pillar of fire by night. Long +after the ship had disappeared, and while confusing false +lights danced about the boats, the green lantern kept them +together on the course which led them to the Carpathia. + +"As the end of the Titanic became manifestly but a matter +of moments, the oarsmen pulled their boats away, and the +chilling waters began to echo splash after splash as passengers +and sailors in life-preservers leaped over and started +swimming away to escape the expected suction. + +"Only the hardiest of constitutions could endure for more +than a few moments such a numbing bath. The first vigor- +ous strokes gave way to heart-breaking cries of `Help! Help!' +and stiffened forms were seen floating on the water all +around us. + +"Led by the green light, under the light of the stars, the +boats drew away, and the bow, then the quarter, then the +stacks and at last the stern of the marvel-ship of a few days +before, passed beneath the waters. The great force of the +ship's sinking was unaided by any violence of the elements, +and the suction, not so great as had been feared, rocked but +mildly the group of boats now a quarter of a mile distant +from it. + +"Early dawn brought no ship, but not long after 5 A. M. +the Carpathia, far out of her path and making eighteen knots, +instead of her wonted fifteen, showed her single red and black +smokestack upon the horizon. In the joy of that moment, +the heaviest griefs were forgotten. + +"Soon afterward Captain Rostron and Chief Steward +Hughes were welcoming the chilled and bedraggled arrivals +over the Carpathia's side. + +"Terrible as were the San Francisco, Slocum and Iroquois +disasters, they shrink to local events in comparison with this +world-catastrophe. + +"True, there were others of greater qualifications and +longer experience than I nearer the tragedy--but they, by +every token of likelihood, have become a part of the tragedy. +The honored--must I say the lamented--Stead, the adroit +Jacques Futrelle, what might they not tell were their hands +able to hold pencil? + +"The silence of the Carpathia's engines, the piercing cold, +the clamor of many voices in the companionways, caused me +to dress hurriedly and awaken my wife, at 5.40 A. M. Monday. +Our stewardess, meeting me outside, pointed to a +wailing host in the rear dining room and said. `From the +Titanic. She's at the bottom of the ocean.' + +"At the ship's side, a moment later, I saw the last of the +line of boats discharge their loads, and saw women, some +with cheap shawls about their heads, some with the costliest +of fur cloaks, ascending the ship's side. And such joy as the +first sight of our ship may have given them had disappeared +from their faces, and there were tears and signs of faltering +as the women were helped up the ladders or hoisted aboard +in swings. For lack of room to put them, several of the +Titanic's boats, after unloading, were set adrift. + +"At our north was a broad ice field, the length of hundreds +of Carpathias. Around us on other sides were sharp and +glistening peaks. One black berg, seen about 10 A. M., was +said to be that which sunk the Titanic." + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY + +COLLISION ONLY A SLIGHT JAR--PASSENGERS COULD NOT +BELIEVE THE VESSEL DOOMED--NARROW ESCAPE OF LIFE- +BOATS--PICKED UP BY THE CARPATHIA + +AMONG the most connected and interesting stories +related by the survivors was the one told by L. Beasley, +of Cambridge, England. He said: + +"The voyage from Queenstown had been quite uneventful; +very fine weather was experienced, and the sea was quite +calm. The wind had been westerly to southwesterly the +whole way, but very cold, particularly the last day; in fact +after dinner on Saturday evening it was almost too cold to +be out on deck at all. + + +ONLY A SLIGHT JAR + +"I had been in my berth for about ten minutes, when, +at about 11.15 P. M., I felt a slight jar, and then soon after a +second one, but not sufficiently violent to cause any anxiety +to anyone, however nervous they may have been. However, +the engines stopped immediately afterward, and my first, +thought was, `She has lost a propeller.' + +"I went up on the top (boat) deck in a dressing gown, +and found only a few persons there, who had come up similarly +to inquire why we had stopped, but there was no sort of +anxiety in the minds of anyone. + +"We saw through the smoking room window a game of +cards going on, and went in to inquire if they knew anything; +it seems they felt more of the jar, and, looking through the +window, had seen a huge iceberg go by close to the side of +the boat. They thought we had just grazed it with a glancing +blow, and that the engines had been stopped to see if +any damage had been done. No one, of course, had any +conception that the vessel had been pierced below by part +of the submerged iceberg. + +"The game went on without any thought of disaster and +I retired to my cabin, to read until we went on again. I +never saw any of the players or the onlookers again. + + +SOME WERE AWAKENED + +"A little later, hearing people going upstairs, I went out +again and found everyone wanting to know why the engines +had stopped. No doubt many were awakened from sleep +by the sudden stopping of a vibration to which they had +become accustomed during the four days we had been on +board. Naturally, with such powerful engines as the +Titanic carried, the vibration was very noticeable all the time, +and the sudden stopping had something the same effect as +the stopping of a loud-ticking grandfather's clock in a +room. + +"On going on deck again I saw that there was an undoubted +list downward from stern to bows, but, knowing nothing of +what had happened, concluded some of the front compartments +had filled and weighed her down. I went down again to put +on warmer clothing, and as I dressed heard an order shouted, +`All passengers on deck with life-belts on.' + +"We all walked slowly up, with the belts tied on over our +clothing, but even then presumed this was only a wise precaution +the captain was taking, and that we should return +in a short time and retire to bed. + +"There was a total absence of any panic or any expressions +of alarm, and I suppose this can be accounted for by the +exceedingly calm night and the absence of any signs of the +accident. + +"The ship was absolutely still, and except for a gentle +tilt downward, which I don't think one person in ten would +have noticed at that time, no signs of the approaching disaster +were visible. She lay just as if she were waiting the order +to go on again when some trifling matter had been adjusted. + +"But in a few moments we saw the covers lifted from the +boats and the crews allotted to them standing by and coiling +up the ropes which were to lower them by the pulley blocks +into the water. + +"We then began to realize it was more serious than had been +supposed, and my first thought was to go down and get some +more clothing and some money, but, seeing people pouring +up the stairs, decided it was better to cause no confusion to +people coming up. Presently we heard the order: + +" `All men stand back away from the boats, and all ladies +retire to next deck below'--the smoking-room deck or B deck. + + +MEN STOOD BACK + +"The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence +leaning against the end railings of the deck or pacing slowly +up and down. + +"The boats were swung out and lowered from A deck. +When they were to the level of B deck, where all the women +were collected, they got in quietly, with the exception of some +who refused to leave their husbands. + +"In some cases they were torn from them and pushed into +the boats, but in many instances they were allowed to remain +because there was no one to insist they should go. + +"Looking over the side, one saw boats from aft already in +the water, slipping quietly away into the darkness, and +presently the boats near me were lowered, and with much +creaking as the new ropes slipped through the pulley blocks +down the ninety feet which separated them from the water. +An officer in uniform came up as one boat went down and +shouted, "When you are afloat row round to the companion +ladder and stand by with the other boats for orders.' + +" `Aye, aye, sir,' came up the reply; but I don't think +any boat was able to obey the order. When they were afloat +and had the oars at work, the condition of the rapidly settling +boat was so much more a sight for alarm for those in the boats +than those on board, that in common prudence the sailors saw +they could do nothing but row from the sinking ship to save +at any rate some lives. They no doubt anticipated that +suction from such an enormous vessel would be more dangerous +than usual to a crowded boat mostly filled with women. + +"All this time there was no trace of any disorder; no panic +or rush to the boats and no scenes of women sobbing hysterically, +such as one generally pictures as happening at such +times everyone seemed to realize so slowly that there was +imminent danger. When it was realized that we might all +be presently in the sea with nothing but our life-belts to +support us until we were picked up by passing steamers, it +was extraordinary how calm everyone was and how completely +self-controlled. + +"One by one, the boats were filled with women and children, +lowered and rowed away into the night. Presently the word +went round among the men, `the men are to be put in boats +on the starboard side.' + +"I was on the port side, and most of the men walked across +the deck to see if this was so I remained where I was and +soon heard the call: + +" `Any more ladies?' + +"Looking over the side of the ship, I saw the boat, No. 13, +swinging level with B deck, half full of ladies. Again the +call was repeated, `Any more ladies?' + +"I saw none come on, and then one of the crew, looking up, +said: + +" `Any more ladies on your deck, sir?' + +" `No,' I replied. + +" `Then you had better jump.' + +"I dropped in, and fell in the bottom, as they cried `lower +away.' As the boat began to descend two ladies were pushed +hurriedly through the crowd on B deck and heaved over into +the boat, and a baby of ten months passed down after them. +Down we went, the crew calling to those lowering each end +to `keep her level,' until we were some ten feet from the water, +and here occurred the only anxious moment we had during +the whole of our experience from leaving the deck to reaching +the Carpathia. + +"Immediately below our boat was the exhaust of the condensers, +a huge stream of water pouring all the time from the +ship's side just above the water line. It was plain we ought +to be quickly away from this, not to be swamped by it when +we touched water. + + +NO OFFICER ABOARD + +"We had no officer aboard, nor petty officer or member of +the crew to take charge. So one of the stokers shouted: +`Someone find the pin which releases the boat from the ropes +and pull it up!' No one knew where it was. We felt on +the floor and sides, but found nothing, and it was hard to +move among so many people--we had sixty or seventy on +board. + +"Down we went and presently floated, with our ropes still +holding us, the exhaust washing us away from the side of +the vessel and the swell of the sea urging us back against the +side again. The result of all these forces was an impetus +which carried us parallel to the ship's side and directly under +boat 14, which had filled rapidly with men and was coming +down on us in a way that threatened to submerge our boat. + +" `Stop lowering 14,' our crew shouted, and the crew of +No. 14, now only twenty feet above, shouted the same. But +the distance to the top was some seventy feet and the creaking +pulleys must have deadened all sound to those above, for +down she came, fifteen feet, ten feet, five feet and a stoker +and I reached up and touched her swinging above our heads. +The next drop would have brought her on our heads, but just +before she dropped another stoker sprang to the ropes, with +his knife. + + +JUST ESCAPED ANOTHER BOAT + +" `One,' I heard him say, `two,' as his knife cut through the +pulley ropes, and the next moment the exhaust stream had +carried us clear, while boat 14 dropped into the water, into +the space we had the moment before occupied, our gunwales +almost touching. + +"We drifted away easily, as the oars were got out, and +headed directly away from the ship. The crew seemed to +me to be mostly stewards or cooks in white jackets, two to +an oar, with a stoker at the tiller. There was a certain +amount of shouting from one end of the boat to the other, +and discussion as to which way we should go, but finally it +was decided to elect the stoker, who was steering, as captain, +and for all to obey his orders. He set to work at once to get +into touch with the other boats, calling to them and getting +as close as seemed wise, so that when the search boats came +in the morning to look for us, there would be more chance +for all to be rescued by keeping together. + +"It was now about 1 A. M.; a beautiful starlight night, with +no moon, and so not very light. The sea was as calm as a +pond, just a gentle heave as the boat dipped up and down +in the swell; an ideal night, except for the bitter cold, for +anyone who had to be out in the middle of the Atlantic +ocean in an open boat. And if ever there was a time when +such a night was needed, surely it was now, with hundreds +of people, mostly women and children, afloat hundreds of +miles from land. + + +WATCHED THE TITANIC + +"The captain-stoker told us that he had been at sea twenty- +six years, and had never yet seen such a calm night on the +Atlantic. As we rowed away from the Titanic, we looked +back from time to time to watch her, and a more striking +spectacle it was not possible for anyone to see. + +"In the distance it looked an enormous length, its great +bulk outlined in black against the starry sky, every port-hole +and saloon blazing with light. It was impossible to think +anything could be wrong with such a leviathan, were it not +for that ominous tilt downward in the bows, where the water +was by now up to the lowest row of port-holes. + +"Presently, about 2 A. M., as near as I can remember, we +observed it settling very rapidly, with the bows and the +bridge completely under water, and concluded it was now +only a question of minutes before it went; and so it proved." + +Mr. Beasley went on to tell of the spectacle of the sinking +of the Titanic, the terrible experiences of the survivors in +the life-boats and their final rescue by the Carpathia as already +related. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK + +SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD SON OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD OFFICIAL +TELLS MOVING STORY OF HIS RESCUE--TOLD MOTHER TO +BE BRAVE--SEPARATED FROM PARENTS--JUMPED WHEN +VESSEL SANK--DRIFTED ON OVERTURNED BOAT PICKED UP +BY CARPATHIA + +ONE of the calmest of the passengers was: young Jack +Thayer, the seventeen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. +John B. Thayer. When his mother was put into +the life-boat he kissed her and told her to be brave, saying +that he and his father would be all right. He and Mr. Thayer +stood on the deck as the small boat in which Mrs. Thayer +was a passenger made off from the side of the Titanic over +the smooth sea. + +The boy's own account of his experience as told to one of +his rescuers is one of the most remarkable of all the wonderful +ones that have come from the tremendous catastrophe: + +"Father was in bed, and mother and myself were about +to get into bed. There was no great shock, I was on my +feet at the time and I do not think it was enough to throw +anyone down. I put on an overcoat and rushed up on A +deck on the port side. I saw nothing there. I then went +forward to the bow to see if I could see any signs of ice. The +only ice I saw was on the well deck. I could not see very +far ahead, having just come out of a brightly lighted room. + +"I then went down to our room and my father and mother +came on deck with me, to the starboard side of A deck. +We could not see anything there. Father thought he saw +small pieces of ice floating around, but I could not see any +myself. There was no big berg. We walked around to the +port side, and the ship had then a fair list to port. We stayed +there looking over the side for about five minutes. The list +seemed very slowly to be increasing. + +"We then went down to our rooms on C deck, all of us +dressing quickly, putting on all our clothes. We all put on +life-preservers, and over these we put our overcoats. Then +we hurried up on deck and walked around, looking out at +different places until the women were all ordered to collect +on the port side. + + +SEPARATED FROM PARENTS + +"Father and I said good-bye to mother at the top of the +stairs on A deck. She and the maid went right out on A +deck on the port side and we went to the starboard side. +As at this time we had no idea the boat would sink we walked +around A deck and then went to B deck. Then we thought +we would go back to see if mother had gotten off safely, and +went to the port side of A deck. We met the chief steward +of the main dining saloon and he told us that mother had +not yet taken a boat, and he took us to her. + +"Father and mother went ahead and I followed. They +went down to B deck and a crowd got in front of me and +I was not able to catch them, and lost sight of them. As +soon as I could get through the crowd I tried to find them +on B deck, but without success. That is the last time I +saw my father. This was about one half an hour before +she sank. I then went to the starboard side, thinking that +father and mother must have gotten off in a boat. All of +this time I was with a fellow named Milton C. Long, of +New York, whom I had just met that evening. + +"On the starboard side the boats were getting away quickly. +Some boats were already off in a distance. We thought of +getting into one of the boats, the last boat to go on the forward +part of the starboard side, but there seemed to be such +a crowd around I thought it unwise to make any attempt +to get into it. He and I stood by the davits of one of the +boats that had left. I did not notice anybody that I knew +except Mr. Lindley, whom I had also just met that evening. +I lost sight of him in a few minutes. Long and I then stood +by the rail just a little aft of the captain's bridge. + + +THOUGHT SHIP WOULD FLOAT + +"The list to the port had been growing greater all the time. +About this time the people began jumping from the stern. +I thought of jumping myself, but was afraid of being stunned +on hitting the water. Three times I made up my mind to +jump out and slide down the davit ropes and try to make the +boats that were lying off from the ship, but each time Long +got hold of me and told me to wait a while. He then sat down +and I stood up waiting to see what would happen. Even +then we thought she might possibly stay afloat. + +"I got a sight on a rope between the davits and a star and +noticed that she was gradually sinking. About this time she +straightened up on an even keel and started to go down +fairly fast at an angle of about 30 degrees. As she started +to sink we left the davits and went back and stood by the rail +about even with the second funnel. + +"Long and myself said good-bye to each other and jumped +up on the rail. He put his legs over and held on a minute +and asked me if I was coming. I told him I would be with +him in a minute. He did not jump clear, but slid down the +side of the ship. I never saw him again. + +"About five seconds after he jumped I jumped out, feet +first. I was clear of the ship; went down, and as I came up +I was pushed away from the ship by some force. I came up +facing the ship, and one of the funnels seemed to be lifted off +and fell towards me about 15 yards away, with a mass of +sparks and steam coming out of it. I saw the ship in a sort +of a red glare, and it seemed to me that she broke in two just +in front of the third funnel. + +"This time I was sucked down, and as I came up I was +pushed out again and twisted around by a large wave, coming +up in the midst of a great deal of small wreckage. As I pushed +my hand from my head it touched the cork fender of an over- + + +{illust. caption = READING ROOM OF THE TITANIC} + +{illust. caption = Copyright, 1912. International News Service. +THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION--ISMAY ON THE GRILL + +J. Bruce Ismay, Managing Director of the........} + + +turned life-boat. I looked up and saw some men on the +top and asked them to give me a hand. One of them, who was +a stoker, helped me up. In a short time the bottom was covered +with about twenty-five or thirty men. When I got on +this I was facing the ship. + + + +{illust. caption = SKETCHES OF THE TITANIC BY "JACK" THAYER + +These sketches were outlined by John B. Thayer, Jr., on the day of the +disaster, and afterwards filled in by L. D. Skidmon, of Brooklyn.} + + + +"The stern then seemed to rise in the air and stopped at +about an angle of 60 degrees. It seemed to hold there for a +time and then with a hissing sound it shot right down out +of sight with people jumping from the stern. The stern +either pivoted around towards our boat, or we were sucked +towards it, and as we only had one oar we could not keep +away. There did not seem to be very much suction and most +of us managed to stay on the bottom of our boat. + +"We were then right in the midst of fairly large wreckage, +with people swimming all around us. The sea was very calm +and we kept the boat pretty steady, but every now and then +a wave would wash over it. + + +SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER + +"The assistant wireless operator was right next to me, holding +on to me and kneeling in the water. We all sang a hymn +and said the Lord's Prayer, and then waited for dawn to come. +As often as we saw the other boats in a distance we would +yell, `Ship ahoy!' But they could not distinguish our cries +from any of the others, so we all gave it up, thinking it useless. +It was very cold and none of us were able to move around to +keep warm, the water washing over her almost all the time. + +"Toward dawn the wind sprang up, roughening up the +water and making it difficult to keep the boat balanced. The +wireless man raised our hopes a great deal by telling us that +the Carpathia would be up in about three hours. About +3.30 or 4 o'clock some men on our boat on the bow sighted +her mast lights. I could not see them, as I was sitting down +with a man kneeling on my leg. He finally got up and I stood +up. We had the second officer, Mr. Lightoller, on board. +We had an officer's whistle and whistled for the boats in the +distance to come up and take us off. + +"It took about an hour and a half for the boats to draw +near. Two boats came up. The first took half and the other +took the balance, including myself. We had great difficulty +about this time in balancing the boat, as the men would +lean too far, but we were all taken aboard the already crowded +boat, and in about a half or three-quarters of an hour later +we were picked up by the Carpathia. + +"I have noticed Second Officer Lightoller's statement that +`J. B. Thayer was on our overturned boat,' which would give +the impression that it was father, when he really meant it was +I, as he only learned my name in a subsequent conversation +on the Carpathia, and did not know I was `junior'." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH + +WOMEN FORCED INTO THE LIFE-BOATS--WHY SOME MEN +WERE SAVED BEFORE WOMEN--ASKED TO MAN LIFE- +BOATS + +SURROUNDED by his wife and members of his family, +James McGough, of Philadelphia, a buyer for the Gimbel +Brothers, whose fate had been in doubt, recited a +most thrilling and graphic picture of the disaster. + +As the Carpathia docked, Mrs. McGough, a brother and +several friends of the buyer, met him, and after the touching +reunion had taken place the party proceeded to Philadelphia. + +Vivid in detail, Mr. McGough's story differs essentially +from one the imagination would paint. He declared that the +boat was driving at a high rate of speed at the time of the +accident, and seemed impressed by the calmness and apathy +displayed by the survivors as they tossed on the frozen seas +in the little life-boats until the Carpathia picked them up. + +The Titanic did not plunge into the water suddenly, he +declared, but settled slowly into the deep with its hundreds of +passengers. + +"The collision occurred at 20 minutes of 12," said Mr. +McGough. "I was sleeping in my cabin when I felt a wrench, +not severe or terrifying. + +"It seemed to me to be nothing more serious than the +racing of the screw, which often occurs when a ship plunges +her bow deep into a heavy swell, raising the stern out of water. +We dressed hurriedly and ran to the upper deck. There was +little noise or tumult at the time. + +"The promenade decks being higher from the base of the +ship and thus more insecure, strained and creaked; so we went +to the lower decks. By this time the engines had been reversed, +and I could feel the ship backing off. Officers and +stewards ran through the corridors, shouting for all to be calm, +that there was no danger. We were warned, however, to dress +and put life-preservers on us. I had on what clothing I +could find and had stuffed some money in my pocket. + + +PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE + +"As I passed the gymnasium I saw Colonel Astor and his +young wife together. She was clinging to him, piteously +pleading that he go into the life-boat with her. He refused +almost gruffly and was attempting to calm her by saying that +all her fears were groundless, that the accident she feared +would prove a farce. It proved different, however. + +"None, I believe, knew that the ship was about to sink. +I did not realize it just then. When I reached the upper +deck and saw tons of ice piled upon our crushed bow the full +realization came to me. + +"Officers stood with drawn guns ordering the women into +the boats. All feared to leave the comparative safety of a +broad and firm deck for the precarious smaller boats. Women +clung to their husbands, crying that they would never leave +without them, and had to be torn away. + +"On one point all the women were firm. They would not +enter a Life-boat until men were in it first. They feared to +trust themselves to the seas in them. It required courage to +step into the frail crafts as they swung from the creaking +davits. Few men were willing to take the chance. An officer +rushed behind me and shouted: + +" `You're big enough to pull an oar. Jump into this boat +or we'll never be able to get the women off.' I was forced to +do so, though I admit that the ship looked a great deal safer +to me than any small boat. + +"Our boat was the second off. Forty or more persons were +crowded into it, and with myself and members of the crew at +the oars, were pulled slowly away. Huge icebergs, larger than +the Pennsylvania depot at New York, surrounded us. As we +pulled away we could see boat after boat filled and lowered +to the waves. Despite the fact that they were new and supposedly +in excellent working order, the blocks jammed in +many instances, tilting the boats, loaded with people, at +varying angles before they reached the water. + + +BAND CONTINUED PLAYING + +"As the life-boats pulled away the officers ordered the bands +to play, and their music did much to quell panic. It was a +heart-breaking sight to us tossing in an eggshell three-fourths +of a mile away, to see the great ship go down. First she listed +to the starboard, on which side the collision had occurred, then +she settled slowly but steadily, without hope of remaining +afloat. + +"The Titanic was all aglow with lights as if for a function. +First we saw the lights of the lower deck snuffed out. A +while later and the second deck illumination was extinguished +in a similar manner. Then the third and upper decks were +darkened, and without plunging or rocking the great ship +disappeared slowly from the surface of the sea. + +"People were crowded on each deck as it lowered into the +water, hoping in vain that aid would come in time. Some of +the life-boats caught in the merciless suction were swallowed +with her. + +"The sea was calm--calm as the water in a tumbler. But +it was freezing cold. None had dressed heavily, and all, +therefore, suffered intensely. The women did not shriek or +grow hysterical while we waited through the awful night for +help. We men stood at the oars, stood because there was no +room for us to sit, and kept the boat headed into the swell to +prevent her capsizing. Another boat was at our side, but all +the others were scattered around the water. + +"Finally, shortly before 6 o'clock, we saw the lights of the +Carpathia approaching. Gradually she picked up the survivors +in the other boats and then approached us. When we +were lifted to the deck the women fell helpless. They were +carried to whatever quarters offered themselves, while the +men were assigned to the smoking room. + +"Of the misery and suffering which was witnessed on the +rescue ship I know nothing. With the other men survivors +I was glad to remain in the smoking room until New York +was reached, trying to forget the awful experience. + +"To us aboard the Carpathia came rumors of misstatements +which were being made to the public. The details of the wreck +were wofully misunderstood. + +"Let me emphasize that the night was not foggy or cloudy. +There was just the beginning of the new moon, but every star +in the sky was shining brightly, unmarred by clouds. The +boats were lowered from both sides of the Titanic in time to +escape, but there was not enough for all. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK + +STORY OF HAROLD BRIDE, THE SURVIVING WIRELESS OPERATOR +OF THE TITANIC, WHO WAS WASHED OVERBOARD AND RESCUED +BY LIFE-BOAT--BAND PLAYED RAG-TIME AND "AUTUMN" + +ONE of the most connected and detailed accounts of +the horrible disaster was that told by Harold Bride, +the wireless operator. Mr. Bride said: + +"I was standing by Phillips, the chief operator, telling +him to go to bed, when the captain put his head in the cabin. + +" `We've struck an iceberg,' the captain said, `and I'm +having an inspection made to tell what it has done for us. +You better get ready to send out a call for assistance. But +don't send it until I tell you.' + +"The captain went away and in ten minutes, I should +estimate the time, he came back. We could hear a terrific +confusion outside, but there was not the least thing to indicate +that there was any trouble. The wireless was working +perfectly. + +" `Send the call for assistance,' ordered the captain, barely +putting his head in the door. + +" `What call shall I send?' Phillips asked. + +" `The regulation international call for help. Just that.' + +"Then the captain was gone Phillips began to send `C. +Q. D.' He flashed away at it and we joked while he did so. +All of us made light of the disaster. + +"The Carpathia answered our signal. We told her our +position and said we were sinking by the head. The operator +went to tell the captain, and in five minutes returned and told +us that the captain of the Carpathia, was putting about and +heading for us + + +GREAT SCRAMBLE ON DECK + +"Our captain had left us at this time and Phillips told +me to run and tell him what the Carpathia had answered. +I did so, and I went through an awful mass of people to his +cabin. The decks were full of scrambling men and women. +I saw no fighting, but I heard tell of it. + +"I came back and heard Phillips giving the Carpathia +fuller directions. Phillips told me to put on my clothes. +Until that moment I forgot that I was not dressed. + +"I went to my cabin and dressed. I brought an overcoat +to Phillips. It was very cold. I slipped the overcoat upon +him while he worked. + +"Every few minutes Phillips would send me to the captain +with little messages. They were merely telling how the +Carpathia was coming our way and gave her speed. + +"I noticed as I came back from one trip that they were +putting off women and children in life-boats. I noticed that +the list forward was increasing. + +"Phillips told me the wireless was growing weaker. The +captain came and told us our engine rooms were taking +water and that the dynamos might not last much longer. +We sent that word to the Carpathia. + +"I went out on deck and looked around. The water was +pretty close up to the boat deck. There was a great scramble +aft, and how poor Phillips worked through it right to the end +I don't know. + +"He was a brave man. I learned to love him that night +and I suddenly felt for him a great reverence to see him standing +there sticking to his work while everybody else was raging +about. I will never live to forget the work of Phillips for +the last awful fifteen minutes. + +"I thought it was about time to look about and see if there +was anything detached that would float. I remembered +that every member of the crew had a special life-belt and +ought to know where it was. I remembered mine was under +my bunk. I went and got it. Then I thought how cold +the water was. + +"I remembered I had an extra jacket and a pair of boots, +and I put them on. I saw Phillips standing out there +still sending away, giving the Carpathia details of just how +we were doing. + +"We picked up the Olympic and told her we were sinking +by the head and were about all down. As Phillips was sending +the message I strapped his life-belt to his back. I had +already put on his overcoat. Every minute was precious, so +I helped him all I could. + +BAND PLAYS IN RAG-TIME + +"From aft came the tunes of the band. It was a rag-time +tune, I don't know what. Then there was `Autumn.' Phillips +ran aft and that was the last I ever saw of him. + +"I went to the place where I had seen a collapsible boat on +the boat deck, and to my surprise I saw the boat and the men +still trying to push it off. I guess there wasn't a sailor in the +crowd. They couldn't do it. I went up to them and was just +lending a hand when a large wave came awash of the deck. + +"The big wave carried the boat off. I had hold of a row- +lock and I went off with it. The next I knew I was in the +boat. + +"But that was not all. I was in the boat and the boat was +upside down and I was under it. And I remember realizing +I was wet through, and that whatever happened I must not +breathe, for I was under water. + +"I knew I had to fight for it and I did. How I got out from +under the boat I do not know, but I felt a breath of air at last. + +"There were men all around me hundreds of them. The +sea was dotted with them, all depending on their life-belts. +I felt I simply had to get away from the ship. She was a +beautiful sight then. + +"Smoke and sparks were rushing out of her funnel, and there +must have been an explosion, but we had heard none. We only +saw the big stream of sparks. The ship was gradually turning +on her nose just like a duck does that goes down for a dive. +I had one thing on my mind--to get away from the suction. +The band was still playing, and I guess they all went down. + +"They were playing `Autumn' then. I swam with all my +might. I suppose I was 150 feet away when the Titanic, +on her nose, with her after-quarter sticking straight up in +the air, began to settle slowly. + +"When at last the waves washed over her rudder there +wasn't the least bit of suction I could feel. She must have +kept going just as slowly as she had been. + +"I forgot to mention that, besides the Olympic and Carpathia, +we spoke some German boat, I don't know which, +and told them how we were. We also spoke the Baltic. I +remembered those things as I began to figure what ships would +be coming toward us. + +"I felt, after a little while, like sinking. I was very cold. +I saw a boat of some kind near me and put all my strength +into an effort to swim to it. It was hard work. I was all +done when a hand reached out from the boat and pulled me +aboard. It was our same collapsible. + +"There was just room for me to roll on the edge. I lay there, +not caring what happened. Somebody sat on my legs; they +were wedged in between slats and were being wrenched. I +had not the heart left to ask the man to move. It was a terrible +sight all around--men swimming and sinking. + +"I lay where I was, letting the man wrench my feet out +of shape. Others came near. Nobody gave them a hand. +The bottom-up boat already had more men than it would +hold and it was sinking. + +"At first the larger waves splashed over my head and I had +to breathe when I could. + +"Some splendid people saved us. They had a right-side- +up boat, and it was full to its capacity. Yet they came to us +and loaded us all into it. I saw some lights off in the distance +and knew a steamship was coming to our aid. + +"I didn't care what happened. I just lay, and gasped when +I could and felt the pain in my feet. At last the Carpathia +was alongside and the people were being taken up a rope +ladder. Our boat drew near, and one b{y} one the men were +taken off of it. + +"The way the band kept playing was a noble thing. I +heard it first while we were working wireless, when there was a +rag-time tune for us, and the last I saw of the band, when I +was floating out in the sea, with my life-belt on, it was still +on deck playing `Autumn.' How they ever did it I cannot +imagine. + +"That and the way Phillips kept sending after the captain +told him his life was his own, and to look out for himself, are +two things that stand out in my mind over all the rest." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +STORY OF THE STEWARD + +PASSENGERS AND CREW DYING WHEN TAKEN ABOARD CARPATHIA +--ONE WOMAN SAVED A DOG--ENGLISH COLONEL +SWAM FOR HOURS WHEN BOAT WITH MOTHER CAPSIZED + +SOME of the most thrilling incidents connected with the +rescue of the Titanic's survivors are told in the following +account given by a man trained to the sea, a +steward of the rescue ship Carpathia: + +"At midnight on Sunday, April 14th, I was promenading +the deck of the steamer Carpathia, bound for the Mediterranean +and three days out from New York, when an urgent +summons came to my room from the chief steward, E. Harry +Hughes. I then learned that the White Star liner Titanic, +the greatest ship afloat, had struck an iceberg and was in +serious difficulties. + +"We were then already steaming at our greatest power to +the scene of the disaster, Captain Rostron having immediately +given orders that every man of the crew should stand by to +exert his utmost efforts. Within a very few minutes every +preparation had been made to receive two or three thousand +persons. Blankets were placed ready, tables laid with hot +soups and coffee, bedding, etc., prepared, and hospital +supplies laid out ready to attend to any injured. + +"The men were then mustered in the saloon and addressed +by the chief steward. He told them of the disaster and +appealed to them in a few words to show the world what stuff +Britishers were made of, and to add a glorious page to the +history of the empire; and right well did the men respond +to the appeal. Every life-boat was manned and ready to be +launched at a moment's notice. Nothing further could be +done but anxiously wait and look out for the ship's distress +signal. + +"Our Marconi operator, whose unceasing efforts for many +hours deserve the greatest possible praise, was unable at +this time to get any reply to the urgent inquiries he was +sending out, and he feared the worst. + +"At last a blue flare was observed, to which we replied +with a rocket. Day was just dawning when we observed a +boat in the distance. + + +ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED + +"Eastward on the horizon a huge iceberg, the cause of +the disaster, majestically reared two noble peaks to heaven. +Rope ladders were already lowered and we hove to near the +life-boat, which was now approaching us as rapidly as the +nearly exhausted efforts of the men at the oars could bring +her. + +"Under the command of our chief officer, who worked +indefatigably at the noble work of rescue, the survivors in + + +{illust. caption = +Above: MAIN STAIRWAY ON TITANIC. TOP E DECK +Below: SECOND LANDING. C DECK. GRAND STAIRWAY} + + +{illust. caption = MRS. JOHN B. THAYER + +Mrs. Thayer and her son were....} + + +{illust. caption = JOHN B. THAYER + +Second Vice-President of the...} + + +the boat were rapidly but carefully hauled aboard and given +into the hands of the medical staff under the organization +of Dr. McGee. + +"We then learned the terrible news that the gigantic vessel, +the unsinkable Titanic, had gone down one hour and ten +minutes after striking. + +"From this time onward life-boats continued to arrive at +frequent intervals. Every man of the Carpathia's crew was +unsparing in his efforts to assist, to tenderly comfort each +and every survivor. In all, sixteen boatloads were receives, +containing altogether 720 persons, many in simply their +night attire, others in evening dress, as if direct from an +after-dinner reception, or concert. Most conspicuous was +the coolness and self-possession, particularly of the women. + +"Pathetic and heartrending incidents were many. There +was not a man of the rescue party who was not moved almost +to tears. Women arrived and frantically rushed from one +gangway to another eagerly scanning the fresh arrivals in +the boats for a lost husband or brother. + + +A CAPSIZED BOAT + +"One boat arrived with the unconscious body of an English +colonel. He had been taking out his mother on a visit, +to three others of her sons. He had succeeded in getting +her away in one of the boats and he himself had found a +place in another. When but a few-yards from the ill-fated +ship the boat containing his mother capsized before his eyes. + +"Immediately he dived into the water and commenced a +frantic search for her. But in vain. Boat after boat endeavored +to take him aboard, but he refused to give up, continuing +to swim for nearly three hours until even his great +strength of body and mind gave out and he was hauled unconscious +into a passing boat and brought aboard the Carpathia. +The doctor gives little hope of his recovery. + +"There were, I understand, twelve newly married couples +aboard the big ship. The twelve brides have been saved, +but of the husbands all but one have perished. That one +would not have been here, had he not been urged to assist +in manning a life-boat. Think of the self-sacrifice of these +eleven heroes, who stood on the doomed vessel and parted +from their brides forever, knowing full well that a few brief +minutes would end all things for themselves. + +"Many similar pathetic incidents could be related. Sad- +eyed women roam aimlessly about the ship still looking +vainly for husband, brother or father. To comfort them is +impossible. All human efforts are being exerted on their +behalf. Their material needs are satisfied in every way. +But who can cure a broken heart? + + +SAVED HER POMERANIAN + +"One of the earliest boats to arrive was seen to contain a +woman tenderly clasping a pet Pomeranian. When assisted +to the rope ladder and while the rope was being fastened +around her she emphatically refused to give up for a second +the dog which was evidently so much to her. He is now +receiving as careful and tender attention as his mistress. + +"A survivor informs me that there was on the ship a lady +who was taking out a huge great Dane dog. When the +boats were rapidly filling she appeared on deck with her +canine companion and sadly entreated that he should be +taken off with her. It was impossible. Human lives, those +of women and children, were the first consideration. She +was urged to seize the opportunity to save her own life and +leave the dog. She refused to desert him and, I understand, +sacrificed her life with him. + +"One elderly lady was bewailing to a steward that she +had lost everything. He indignantly replied that she should +thank God her life was spared, never mind her replaceable +property. The reply was pathetic: + +" `I have lost everything--my husband,' and she broke +into uncontrollable grief. + + +FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS + +"One incident that impressed me perhaps more than any +other was the burial on Tuesday afternoon of four of the +poor fellows who succeeded in safely getting away from the +doomed vessel only to perish later from exhaustion and +exposure as a result of their gallant efforts to bring to safety +the passengers placed in their charge in the life-boats. They +were: + +"W. H. Hoyte, Esq., first class passenger. + +"Abraham Hornner, third class passenger. + +"S. C. Siebert, steward. + +"P. Lyons, sailor. + +"The sailor and steward were unfortunately dead when +taken aboard. The passengers lived but a few minutes +after. They were treated with the greatest attention. The +funeral service was conducted amid profound silence and +attended by a large number of survivors and rescuers. The +bodies, covered by the national flag, were reverently consigned +to the mighty deep from which they had been, alas, vainly, +saved. + +"Most gratifying to the officers and men of the Carpathia +is the constantly expressive appreciation of the survivors." + +He then told of the meeting of the survivors in the cabin +of the Carpathia and of the resolution adopted, a statement +of which has already been given in another chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS + +NATIONS PROSTRATE WITH GRIEF--MESSAGES FROM KINGS +AND CARDINALS--DISASTER STIRS WORLD TO NECESSITY +OF STRICTER REGULATIONS + +YOUNG and old, rich and poor were prostrated by the +news of the disaster. Even Wall Street was neglected. +Nor was the grief confined to America. European +nations felt the horror of the calamity and sent expressions of +sympathy. President Taft made public cablegrams received +from the King and Queen of England, and the King of Belgium, +conveying their sympathy to the American people in +the sorrows which have followed the Titanic disaster. The +President's responses to both messages were also made public. + +The following was the cablegram from King George, dated +at Sandringham: + + +"The Queen and I are anxious to assure you and the American +nation of the great sorrow which we experienced at +the terrible loss of life that has occurred among the American +citizens, as well as among my own subjects, by the foundering +of the Titanic. Our two countries are so intimately +allied by ties of friendship and brotherhood that any mis- +fortunes which affect the one must necessarily affect the +other, and on the present terrible occasion they are both +equally sufferers. + "GEORGE R. AND I." + + + +President Taft's reply was as follows: + + +"In the presence of the appalling disaster to the Titanic +the people of the two countries are brought into community +of grief through their common bereavement. The American +people share in the sorrow of their kinsmen beyond the sea. +On behalf of my countrymen I thank you for your sympathetic +message. + "WILLIAM H. TAFT." + + +The message from King Albert of Belgium was as follows: + + +"I beg Your Excellency to accept my deepest condolences +on the occasion of the frightful catastrophe to the Titanic, +which has caused such mourning in the American nation." + + +The President's acknowledgment follows: + + +"I deeply appreciate your sympathy with my fellow-countrymen +who have been stricken with affliction through the +disaster to the Titanic." + + +MESSAGE PROM SPAIN + +King Alfonso and Queen Victoria sent the following cablegram +to President Taft: + +"We have learned with profound grief of the catastrophe +to the Titanic, which has plunged the American nation in +mourning. We send you our sincerest condolence, and wish +to assure you and your nation of the sentiments of friendship +and sympathy we feel toward you." + + +A similar telegram was sent to the King of England. + +The many expressions of grief to reach President Taft +included one signed jointly by the three American Cardinals, +who were in New York attending the meeting of the trustees +of the Catholic University. It said: + +"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: + +"The archbishops of the country, in joint session with the +trustees of the Catholic University of America, beg to offer +to the President of the United States their expression of their +profound grief at the awful loss of human lives attendant +upon the sinking of the steamship Titanic, and at the same +time to assure the relatives of the victims of this horrible disaster +of our deepest sympathy and condolence. + +"They wish also to attest hereby to the hope that the law- +makers of the country will see in this sad accident the obvious +necessity of legal provisions for greater security of ocean travel. + "JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS," Archbishop of Baltimore. + "JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY," Archbishop of New York. + "WILLIAM CARDINAL O'CONNELL," Archbishop of Boston. + + +HOUSE ADJOURNED + +Formal tribute to the Titanic's dead was paid by the House +of Representatives when it adjourned for twenty-four hours. + +The prayer of the Rev. Henry N. Couden in opening the +House session was, in part: + + +"We thank Thee that though in the ordinary circumstances +of life selfishness and greed seem to be in the ascendancy, +yet in times of distress and peril, then it is that the nobility +of soul, the Godlike in man, asserts itself and makes heroes." + + +The flags on the White House and other Government +buildings throughout the country were at half-staff. + + +ROME MOURNED MAJOR BUTT + +A special telegram from Rome stated that one of the victims +most regretted was Major Butt, whose jovial, bright +character made many friends there. Besides autograph +letters from the Pope and Cardinal Merry del VaI{sic?} to President +Taft, the major had with him a signed photograph of the +Pontiff, given by him personally. + +Cardinal Merry del Val had several conversations with +Major Butt, who declared that the cardinal was "the first +gentleman of Europe." Shortly before he was leaving Rome, +regretting that he had not a signed picture of Cardinal Merry +del Val, Major Butt entrusted a friend to ask for one. The +cardinal willingly put an autograph dedication on a picture, +recalling their pleasant intercourse. + + +LONDON NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN LAXITY OF LAW + +British indignation, which is not easily excited, was aroused +over the knowledge that an antiquated law enables steamship +companies to fail to provide sufficient life-boats to accommodate +the passengers and crew of the largest liners in the event of +such a disaster as that which occurred to the Titanic. It will +be insisted that there be an investigation of the loss of life +in the Titanic and that the shortage of boats be gone into +thoroughly. + +The newspapers commented adversely on the lack of boats +and their views were emphasized by the knowledge that no +attempt has been made to change the regulations in the face +of the fact that the inadequacy of boats in such an emergency +was called to the attention of Parliament at the time of the +collision between the White Star liner Olympic and the cruiser +Hawke. It was pointed out at this time that German vessels, +much smaller in size than the Olympic, carried more boats +and also that these boats were of greater capacity. + +T. W. Moore, Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, +when seen at the guild's rooms in Liverpool, said: + +"The Titanic disaster is an example, on a colossal scale, +of the pernicious and supine system of officials, as represented +by the Board of Trade. Modern liners are so designed that +they have no accommodations for more life-boats. Among +practical seamen it has long been recognized that the modern +passenger ship has nothing like adequate boat capacity. + +"The Board of Trade has its own views, and the shipowners +also have their views, which are largely based upon the economical +factor. The naval architects have their opinions, +but the practical merchant seaman is not consulted. + +"The Titanic disaster is a complete substantiation of the +agitation that our guild has carried on for nearly twenty +years against the scheme that has precluded practical seamen +from being consulted with regard to boat capacity and +life-saving appliances. + + +HOUSE OF COMMONS INVESTIGATION + +Immediate and searching inquiry into the Titanic disaster +was promised on the floor of the House of Commons April +18th, by President Sidney Buxton, of the Board of Trade, +which controls all sea-going vessels. + +Buxton, in discussing the utterly inadequate life-saving +equipment of the big liner, declared that the committee of +the board in charge of life-saving precautions had recently +recommended increased life-boats, rafts and life-preservers +on all big ships, but that the requirements had been found +unsatisfactory and had not been put in force. He frankly +admitted the necessity for increased equipment without +delay. + +The board, he said, was utterly unable to compel the transatlantic +vessels to reduce their speed in the contest for "express +train" ships. He also said the board could not force +ships to take the southerly passage in the spring to avoid ice. + +The regulations under which the Titanic carried life-boat +accommodations for only about one-third of her passengers +and crew had not been revised by the committee since 1894. +At that time the regulations were made for ships of "10,000 +tons or more." The Titanic's tonnage was 45,000, for which +the present requirements are altogether insufficient. + +WORK OF RAISING RELIEF FUNDS PROMPT + +Several foreign governments telegraphed to the British +Government messages of condolence for the sufferers. The +King sent a donation of $2625 to the Mansion House fund. +Queen Mary donated $1310 and Queen Alexandra $1000 +to the same fund. + +Oscar Hammerstein proffered, and the lord mayor accepted, +the use of his opera house for an entertainment in aid of the +fund. + +The Shipping Federation donated $10,500 to the Mayor +of Southampton's fund, taking care to explain that the White +Star Line was not affiliated with the Federation. + +Some public institutions also offered to take care of the +orphaned children of the crew. + +Large firms contributed liberally to the various relief funds, +while Covent Garden and other leading theaters prepared +special performances to aid in the relief work. + + +INDIGNANT GERMANY DEMANDS REFORMS + +All Germany as well as England was stunned and grieved +by the magnitude of the horror of the Titanic catastrophe. +Anglo-German recriminations for the moment ceased, as far +as the Fatherland was concerned, and profound and sincere +compassion for the nation on whom the blow had fallen more +heavily was the supreme note of the hour. + +The Kaiser, with his characteristic promptitude, was one +of the first to communicate his sympathy by telegraph to +King George and to the White Star Line. Admiral Prince +Henry of Prussia did likewise, and the first act of the +Reichstag, after reassembling on Tuesday, was to pass a +standing vote of condolence with the British people in their +distress. + + +GERMAN LAWS ALSO INADEQUATE + +The German laws, governing the safety appliances on board +trans-oceanic vessels, seem to be as archaic and inadequate +as those of the British Board of Trade. The maximum +provision contained in the German statutes refers to vessels +with the capacity of 50,000 cubic metres, which must carry +sixteen life-boats. The law also says that if this number of +life-boats be insufficient to accommodate all the persons on +board, including the crew, there shall be carried elsewhere +in the vessel a correspondingly additional number of collapsible +life-boats, suitable rafts, floating deck-chairs and life-buoys, +as well as a generous supply of life-belts. + +A vessel of 10,000 tons was a "leviathan" in the days when +the German law was passed, and it appears to have undergone +no change to meet the conditions, imposed by the construction +of vessels twice or three times 10,000 tons, like the +Hamburg-American Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, or the North +German Lloyd George Washington, to say nothing of the +50,000-ton Imperator, which is to be added to the Hamburg +fleet next year. + +The German lines seem, like the White Star Company, to +have reckoned simply with the practical impossibility of a +ship like the Titanic succumbing to the elements + +PERSONAL ANXIETY + +Although Germany's and Berlin's direct interest in the +passengers aboard the Titanic was less than that of London, +New York or Paris, there was the utmost concern for their +fate. + +Ambassador Leishman and other members of the American +Embassy were particularly interested in hearing about Major +"Archie" Butt, who passed through Berlin, less than a month +before the disaster, en route from Russia and the Far East. +Vice-president John B. Thayer and family, of Philadelphia, +were also in Berlin a fortnight ago and were guests of the +American Consul General and Mrs. Thackara. A score of +other lesser known passengers had recently stayed in Berlin +hotels, and it was local friends or kinsmen of theirs who were +in a state of distressing unrest over their fate. + +Their anxiety was aggravated by the old-fogey methods of +the German newspapers, which are invariably twelve or fifteen +hours later than journals elsewhere in Europe on world news +events. Although New York, London and Paris had the +cruel truth with their morning papers on Tuesday, it was +not until the middle of the forenoon that "extras" made the +facts public in Berlin. + +William T. Stead was well and favorably known in Germany, +and his fate was keenly and particularly mourned. +Germans have also noted that many Americans of direct +Teutonic ancestry or origin were among the shining +marks in the death list. Colonel John Jacob Astor is claimed +as of German, extraction, as well as Isidor Straus, Benjamin +Guggenheim, Washington Roebling and Henry B. Harris. +All of them had been in Germany frequently and had a wide +circle of friends and acquaintances. + +Only one well-known resident of Berlin was aboard the +Titanic, Frau Antoinette Flegenheim, whose name appears +among the rescued. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW + +ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF CAPTAIN E. J. SMITH--BRAVE TO THE +LAST--MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE--ACTS OF +HEROISM--ENGINEERS DIED AT POSTS--NOBLE-HEARTED +BAND + +IN the anxious hours of uncertainty, when the air cracked +and flashed with the story of disaster, there was never +doubt in the minds of men ashore about the master of +the Titanic. Captain Smith would bring his ship into port +if human power could mend the damage the sea had wrought, +or if human power could not stay the disaster he would never +come to port. There is something Calvinistic about such men +of the old-sea breed. They go down with their ships, of their +own choice. + +Into the last life-boat that was launched from the ship Captain +Smith with his own hand lifted a small child into a seat +beside its mother. As the gallant, officer performed his simple +act of humanity several who were already in the boat tried +to force the captain to join them, but he turned away resolutely +toward the bridge. + +That act was significant. Courteous, kindly, of quiet +demeanor and soft words, he was known and loved by thousands +of travelers. + +When the English firm, A. Gibson & Co.9 of Liverpool, +purchased the American clipper, Senator Weber, in 1869, +Captain Smith, then a boy, sailed on her. For seven years +he was an apprentice on the Senator Weber, leaving that vessel +to go to the Lizzie Fennell, a square rigger, as fourth officer. +From there he went to the old Celtic of the White Star Line +as fourth officer and in 1887 he became captain of that vessel. +For a time he was in command of the freighters Cufic and +Runic; then he became skipper of the old Adriatic. +Subsequently he assumed command of the Celtic, Britannic, +Coptic (which was in the Australian trade), Germanic, Baltic, +Majestic, Olympic and Titanic, an illustrious list of vessels +for one man to have commanded during his career. + +It was not easy to get Captain Smith to talk of his +experiences. He had grown up in the service, was his comment, +and it meant little to him that he had been transferred from a +small vessel to a big ship and then to a bigger ship and finally +to the biggest of them all. + +"One might think that a captain taken from a small ship +and put on a big one might feel the transition," he once said. +"Not at all. The skippers of the big vessels have grown up +to them, year after year, through all these years. First there +was the sailing vessel and then what we would now call small +ships--they were big in the days gone by--and finally the +giants to-day." + + +{illust. caption = VESSEL WITH BOTTOM OF HULL RIPPED OPEN + + +A view of the torpedo destroyer Tiger, taken in drydock after her +collision with the Portland Breakwater last September; the damage to the +Tiger, which is plainly shown in the photograph, is of the same character, +though on a smaller scale, as that which was done to the Titanic.} + + +{illust. caption = A VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC + +The sister-ship of the Titanic, showing the damage done to her hull in +the collision with British war vessel, Hawke, in the British Channel.} + + +DISASTER TO OLYMPIC + +Only once during all his long years of service was he in +trouble, when the Olympic, of which he was in command, was +rammed by the British cruiser Hawke in the Solent on September +20, 1911. The Hawke came steaming out of Portsmouth +and drew alongside the giantess. According to some +of the passengers on the Olympic the Hawke swerved in the +direction of the big liner and a moment later the bow of the +Hawke was crunching steel plates in the starboard quarter +of the Olympic, making a thirty-foot hole in her. She was +several months in dry dock. + +The result of a naval court inquiry was to put all the blame +for the collision on the Olympic. Captain Smith, in his testimony +before the naval court, said that he was on the bridge +when he saw the Hawke overhauling him. The Olympic +began to draw ahead later or the Hawke drop astern, the +captain did not know which. Then the cruiser turned very +swiftly and struck the Olympic at right angles on the quarter. +The pilot gave the signal for the Olympic to port, which was +to minimize the force of the collision. The Olympic's engines +had been stopped by order of the pilot. + +Up to the moment the Hawke swerved, Captain Smith +said, he had no anxiety. The pilot, Bowyer, corroborated +the testimony of Captain Smith. That the line did not believe +Captain Smith was at fault, notwithstanding the verdict of +the board of naval inquiry, was shown by his retention as the +admiral of the White Star fleet and by his being given the +command of the Titanic. + +Up to the time of the collision with the Hawke Captain +Smith when asked by interviewers to describe his experiences +at sea would say one word, "uneventful." Then he would +add with a smile and a twinkle of his eyes: + +"Of course there have been winter gales and storms and +fog and the like in the forty years I have been on the seas, but +I have never been in an accident worth speaking of. In all +my years at sea (he made this comment a few years ago) I +have seen but one vessel in distress. That was a brig the crew +of which was taken off in a boat by my third officer. I never +saw a wreck. I never have been wrecked. I have never been +in a predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any +sort." + + +THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE OF THE SEA + +Once the interviewer stopped asking personal questions, +Captain Smith would talk of the sea, of his love for it, how its +appeal to him as a boy had never died. + +"The love of the ocean that took me to sea as a boy has +never died." he once said. "When I see a vessel plunging up +and down in the trough of the sea, fighting her way through +and over great waves, and keeping her keel and going on and +on--the wonder of the thing fills me, how she can keep afloat +and get safely to port. I have never outgrown the wild +grandeur of the sea." + +When he was in command of the Adriatic, which was built +before the Olympic, Captain Smith said he did not believe a +disaster with loss of life could happen to the Adriatic. + +"I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to the +Adriatic," he said. "Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond +that. There will be bigger boats. The depth of harbors +seems to be the great drawback at present. I cannot say, of +course, just what the limit will be, but the larger boat will +surely come. But speed will not develop with size, so far as +merchantmen are concerned. + +"The traveling public prefers the large comfortable boat +of average speed, and anyway that is the boat that pays. +High speed eats up money mile by mile, and extreme high +speed is suicidal. There will be high speed boats for use as +transports and a wise government will assist steamship companies +in paying for them, as the English Government is now +doing in the cases of the Lusitania and Mauretania, twenty- +five knot boats; but no steamship company will put them out +merely as a commercial venture." + +Captain Smith believed the Titanic to be unsinkable. + + +BRAVE TO THE LAST + +And though the ship turned out to be sinkable, the captain, +by many acts of bravery in the face of death, proved that his +courage was equal to any test. + +Captain Inman Sealby, commander of the steamer Republic, +which was the first vessel to use the wireless telegraph to +save her passengers in a collision, spoke highly of the commander +of the wrecked Titanic, calling him one of the ablest +seamen in the world. + +"I am sure that Captain Smith did everything in his power +to save his passengers. The disaster is one about which he +could have had no warning. Things may happen at sea that +give no warning to ships' crews and commanders until the +harm comes. I believe from what I read that the Titanic hit +an iceberg and glanced off, but that the berg struck her from +the bottom and tore a great hole." + +Many survivors have mentioned the captain's name and +narrated some incident to bring out his courage and helpfulness +in the emergency; but it was left to a fireman on +board the Titanic to tell the story of his death and to record +his last message. This man had gone down with the White +Star giantess and was clinging to a piece of wreckage for +about half an hour before he finally joined several members of +the Titanic's company on the bottom of a boat which was +floating about among other wreckage near the Titanic. + +Harry Senior, the fireman, with his eight or nine companions +in distress, had just managed to get a firm hold in the +upturned boat when they saw the Titanic rearing preparatory +to her final plunge. At that moment, according to the fireman's +story, Captain Smith jumped into the sea from the +promenade deck of the Titanic with a little girl clutched in +his arms. It took only a few strokes to bring him to the +upturned boat, where a dozen hands were stretched out to take +the little child from his arms and drag him to a point of +safety. + +"Captain Smith was dragged onto the upturned boat," said +the fireman. "He had a life-buoy and a life-preserver. He +clung there for a moment and then he slid off again. For a +second time he was dragged from the icy water. Then he took +off his life-preserver, tossed the life-buoy on the inky waters, +and slipped into the water again with the words: "I will +follow the ship." + + +OTHER FAITHFUL MEN + +Nor was the captain the only faithful man on the ship. Of +the many stories told by survivors all seem to agree that both +officers and crew behaved with the utmost gallantry and that +they stuck by the ship nobly to the last. + +"Immediately after the Titanic struck the iceberg," said +one of the survivors, "the officers were all over the ship +reassuring the passengers and calming the more excitable. +They said there was no cause for alarm. When everything +was quieted they told us we might go back to bed, as the ship +was safe. There was no confusion and many returned to +their beds. + +"We did not know that the ship was in danger until a +comparatively short time before she sank. Then we were called +on deck and the life-boats were filled and lowered. + +"The behavior of the ship's officers at this time was wonderful. +There was no panic, no scramble for places in the boats." + +Later there was confusion, and according to most of the +passengers' narratives, there were more than fifty shots fired +upon the deck by officers or others in the effort to maintain +the discipline. + + +FIFTH OFFICER LOWE + +A young English woman who requested that her name be +omitted told a thrilling story of her experience in one of the +collapsible boats which had been manned by eight of the crew +from the Titanic. The boat was in command of the fifth +officer, H. Lowe, whose actions she described as saving the +lives of many people. Before the life-boat was launched he +passed along the port deck of the steamer, commanding the +people not to jump in the boats, and otherwise restraining +them from swamping the craft. When the collapsible was +launched Officer Lowe succeeded in putting up a mast and a +small sail. He collected the other boats together, in some +cases the boats were short of adequate crews, and he directed +an exchange by which each was adequately manned. He +threw lines connecting the boats together, two by two, and +thus all moved together. Later on he went back to the wreck +with the crew of one of the boats and succeeded in picking up +some of those who had jumped overboard and were swimming +about. On his way back to the Carpathia he passed one of +the collapsible boats which was on the point of sinking with +thirty passengers aboard, most of them in scant night-clothing. +They were rescued just in the nick of time. + + +ENGINEERS DIED AT POSTS + +There were brave men below deck, too. "A lot has been +printed in the papers about the heroism of the officers," said +one survivor, "but little has been said of the bravery of the +men below decks. I was told that seventeen enginemen who +were drowned side by side got down on their knees on the +platform of the engine room and prayed until the water surged +up to their necks. Then they stood up, clasped hands so as +to form a circle and died together. All of these men helped +rake the fires out from ten of the forward boilers after the +crash. This delayed the explosion and undoubtedly permitted +the ship to remain afloat nearly an hour longer, and +thus saved hundreds of lives." + +In the list of heroes who went down on the Titanic the +names of her engineers will have a high place, for not a single +engineer was saved. Many of them, no doubt, could not get +to the deck, but they had equally as good a chance as the +firemen, sixty-nine of whom were saved. + +The supposition of those who manned the Titanic was that +the engineers, working below, were the first to know the desperate +character of the Titanic's injury. The watch called +the others, and from that time until the vessel was ready for +her last plunge they were too hard at work to note more than +that there was a constant rise of water in the hull, and that +the pumps were useless. + +It was engineers who kept the lights going, saw to the proper +closing of bulkhead doors and kept the stoke hole at work +until the uselessness of the task was apparent. Most of them +probably died at their post of duty. + +The Titanic carried a force of about sixty engineers, and in +addition she had at least twenty-five "guarantee" engineers, +representatives of Harland and Wolff, the builders, and those +who had the contract for the engineering work. This supplementary +force was under Archie Frost, the builders' chief +engineer, and the regular force was under Chief Engineer William +Bell, of the White Star Line. + +On the line's ships there is the chief engineer, senior and +junior second, senior and junior third, and senior and junior +fourth engineers. The men are assigned each to his own task. +There are hydraulic, electric, pump and steam packing men, +and the "guarantee" engineers, representing the builders and +the contractors. + +The duty of the "guarantee" engineers is to watch the +working of the great engines, and to see that they are tuned up +and in working order. They also watch the working of each +part of the machinery which had nothing to do with the actual +speed of the ship, principally the electric light dynamos and +the refrigerating plant. + + +NOBLE-HEARTED BAND + + +"But what of the bandsmen? Who were they?" + +This question was asked again and again by all who read +the story of the Titanic's sinking and of how the brave musicians +played to the last, keeping up the courage of those who +were obliged to go down with the ship. + +Many efforts were made to find out who the men were, but +little was made public until the members of the orchestra of +the steamship Celtic reached shore for the first time after the +disaster. One of their first queries was about the musicians +of the Titanic. Their anxiety was greater than that of any +New Yorker, for the members of the band of the Celtic knew +intimately the musicians of the ill-fated liner. + +"Not one of them saved!" cried John S. Carr, 'cellist on +the Celtic. "It doesn't seem possible they have all gone. + +"We knew most of them well. They were Englishmen, you +know--every one of them, I think. Nearly all the steamship +companies hire their musicians abroad, and the men interchange +between the ships frequently, so we get a chance to +know one another pretty well. The musicians for the Titanic +were levied from a number of other White Star ships, but +most of the men who went down with the Titanic had bunked +with us at some time." + +"The thing I can't realize is that happy `Jock' Hume is +dead," exclaimed Louis Cross, a player of the bass viol. "He +was the merriest, happiest young Scotchman you ever saw. +His family have been making musical instruments in Scotland +for generations. I heard him say once that they were +minstrels in the old days. It is certainly hard to believe that +he is not alive and having his fun somewhere in the world." + +At least he helped to make the deaths of many less cruel. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD + +SENDING OUT THE MACKAY-BENNETT AND MINIA--BREMEN +PASSENGERS SEE BODIES--IDENTIFYING BODIES--CONFUSION +IN NAMES--RECOVERIES + +A FEW days after the disaster the cable steamer Mackay- +Bennett was sent out by the White Star Line to +cruise in the vicinity of the disaster and search for +missing bodies. + +Two wireless messages addressed to J. Bruce Ismay, president +of the International Mercantile Marine Company, were +received on April 21st at the offices of the White Star Line +from the cable ship Mackay-Bennett, via Cape Race, one of +which reported that the steamship Rhein had sighted bodies +near the scene of the Titanic wreck. The first message, +which was dated April 20th, read: + +"Steamer Rhein reports passing wreckage and bodies 42.1 +north, 49.13 west, eight miles west of three big icebergs. Now +making for that position. Expect to arrive 8 o'clock to-night. + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." + + +The second message read: + +"Received further information from Bremen (presumably +steamship Bremen) and arrived on ground at 8 o'clock P. M. +Start on operation to-morrow. Have been considerably +delayed on passage by dense fog. + (Signed) "MACKAY-BENNETT." + +After receiving these messages Mr. Ismay issued the following +statement: + +"The cable ship Mackay-Bennett has been chartered by +the White Star Line and ordered to proceed to the scene of +the disaster and do all she could to recover the bodies and +glean all information possible. + +"Every effort will be made to identify bodies recovered, +and any news will be sent through immediately by wireless. +In addition to any such message as these, the Mackay-Bennett +will make a report of its activities each morning by wireless, +and such reports will be made public at the offices of the +White Star Line. + +"The cable ship has orders to remain on the scene of the +wreck for at least a week, but should a large number of +bodies be recovered before that time she will return to +Halifax with them. The search for bodies will not be +abandoned until not a vestige of hope remains for any more +recoveries. + +"The Mackay-Bennett will not make any soundings, as +they would not serve any useful purpose, because the depth +where the Titanic sank is more than 2000 fathoms." + +On April 22d the first list of twenty-seven names of bodies +recovered was made public. It contained that of Frederick +Sutton, a well-known member of the Union League of Philadelphia. +It did not contain the name of any other prominent +man who perished, although it was thought that the +name "George W. Widen" might refer to George D. Widener, +son of P. A. B. Widener, of Philadelphia. The original passenger +lists of the Titanic did not mention "Widen," which +apparently established the identity of the body as that of +Mr. Widener, who, together with his son, Harry, was lost. + +The wireless message, after listing the names, concluded, +"All preserved," presumably referring to the condition +of the bodies. + +A number of the names in the list did not check up with +the Titanic's passenger list, which led to the belief that a +number of the bodies recovered were members of the Titanic's +crew. + + +MINIA SENT TO ASSIST + +At noon, April 23d, there was posted on the bulletin in the +White Star office this message from the Mackay-Bennett +dated Sunday, April 21st: + +"Latitude, 41.58; longitude, 49.21. Heavy southwest swell +has interfered with operations. Seventy-seven bodies recovered. +All not embalmed will be buried at sea at 8 o'clock +to-night with divine service. Can bring only embalmed +bodies to port." + +To Captain Lardner, master of the Mackay-Bennett, +P. A. S. Franklin, vice-president of the White Star Line, sent +an urgent message asking that the company be advised at +once of all particulars concerning the bodies identified, and +also given any information that might lead to the identification +of others. He said it was very important that every effort +be made to bring all of the bodies possible to port. + +Mr. Franklin then directed A. G. Jones, the Halifax agent +of the White Star Line, to charter the Minia and send her to +the assistance of the Mackay-Bennett. Mr. Jones answered +this telegram, and said that the Minia was ready to proceed +to sea, but that a southeast gale, which generally brings fog, +might delay her departure. She left for Halifax. + + +NAMES BADLY GARBLED + +On April 24th no wireless message was received from the +Mackay-Bennett, but the White Star Line officials and telegraphers +familiar with the wireless alphabet were busy trying +to reconcile some of the names received with those of +persons who went down on the Titanic. That the body of +William T. Stead, the English journalist and author, had been +recovered by the Mackay-Bennett, but through a freakish +error in wireless transmission the name of another was reported +instead, was one of the theories advanced by persons +familiar with the Morse code. + + +BREMEN SIGHTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED BODIES + +When the German liner Bremen reached New York the +account of its having sighted bodies of the Titanic victims was +obtained. + +From the bridge, officers of the ship saw more than a hun- +dred bodies floating on the sea, a boat upside down, together +with a number of small pieces of wood, steamer chairs and +other wreckage. As the cable ship Mackay-Bennett was in +sight, and having word that her mission was to look for bodies, +no attempt was made by the Bremen's crew to pick up the +corpses. + +In the vicinity was seen an iceberg which answered the +description of the one the Titanic struck. Smaller bergs +were sighted the same day, but at some distance from where +the Titanic sank. + +The officers of the Bremen did not care to talk about the +tragic spectacle, but among the passengers several were found +who gave accounts of the dismal panorama through which +their ship steamed. + +Mrs. Johanna Stunke, a first-cabin passenger, described the +scene from the liner's rail. + +"It was between 4 and 5 o'clock, Saturday, April 20th," +she said, "when our ship sighted an iceberg off the bow to +the starboard. As we drew nearer, and could make out small +dots floating around in the sea, a feeling of awe and sadness +crept over everyone on the ship. + +"We passed within a hundred feet of the southernmost +drift of the wreckage, and looking down over the rail we distinctly +saw a number of bodies so clearly that we could make +out what they were wearing and whether they were men or +women. + +"We saw one woman in her night dress, with a baby clasped +closely to her breast. Several women passengers screamed +and left the rail in a fainting condition. There was another +woman, fully dressed, with her arms tight around the body +of a shaggy dog. + +"The bodies of three men in a group, all clinging to one +steamship chair, floated near by, and just beyond them were +a dozen bodies of men, all of them encased in life-preservers, +clinging together as though in a last desperate struggle for +life. We couldn't see, but imagined that under them was +some bit of wreckage to which they all clung when the ship +went down, and which didn't have buoyancy enough to +support them. + +"Those were the only bodies we passed near enough to +distinguish, but we could see the white life-preservers of many +more dotting the sea, all the way to the iceberg. The officers +told us that was probably the berg hit by the Titanic, and that +the bodies and ice had drifted along together." + +Mrs. Stunke said a number of the passengers demanded +that the Bremen stop and pick up the bodies, but the officers +assured them that they had just received a wireless message +saying the cable ship Mackay-Bennett was only two hours +away fron{sic} the spot, and was coming for that express purpose. + +Other passengers corroborated Mrs. Stunke. + + +THE IDENTIFED{sic} DEAD. + +On April 25th the White Star Line officials issued a corrected +list of the identified dead. While the corrected list cleared +up two or more of the wireless confusions that caused so +much speculation in the original list, there still remained a +few names that so far as the record of the Titanic showed +were not on board that ship when she foundered. + +The new list, however, established the fact that the body +of George D. Widener, of Philadelphia, was among those on +the Mackay-Bennett, and two of the bodies were identified +as those of men named Butt. + + +THE MACKAY-BENNETT RETURNS TO PORT + +After completing her search the Mackay-Bennett steamed +for Halifax, reaching that port on Tuesday, April 30th. +With her flag at half mast, the death ship docked slowly. +Her crew manned the rails with bared heads, and on the aft +deck were stacked the caskets with the dead. The vessel +carried on board 190 bodies, and announcement was made +that 113 other bodies had been buried at sea. + +Everybody picked up had been in a life-belt and there were +no bullet holes in any. Among those brought to port were +the bodies of two women. + + +THE MINIA GIVES UP THE SEARCH + +When at last the Minia turned her bow toward shore only +thirteen additional bodies had been recovered, making a total +of 316 bodies found by the two ships. + +Further search seemed futile. Not only had the two vessels +gone thoroughly over as wide a field as might likely +prove fruitful, but, in addition, the time elapsed made it +improbable that other bodies, if found, could be brought to +shore. Thus did the waves completely enforce the payment of +their terrible toll. + + +{illust. caption = ISADOR STRAUS + +The New York millionaire merchant and philanthropist who lost his +life when the giant Titanic foundered at sea after hitting an iceberg.} + + +{illust. caption = ICEBERG PHOTOGRAPHED NEAR SCENE OF DISASTER + +This photograph shows what is quite...} + + +LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD + +Following is a list of those whose identity was wholly or +partially established: + +ASTOR, JOHN JACOB. +ADONIS, J. +ALE, WILLIAM. +ARTAGAVEYTIA, RAMON. +ASHE, H. W. +ADAHL, MAURITZ. +ANDERSON, THOMAS. +ADAMS, J. +ASPALANDE, CARL. +ALLEN, H. +ANDERSON, W. Y. +ALLISON, H. J. + +BUTT, W. (seaman). +BUTT, W. (may be Major Butt). +BUTTERWORTH, ABELJ. +BAILEY, G. F. +BARKER, E. T. +BUTLER, REGINALD. +BIRNBAUM, JACOB. +BRISTOW, R. C. +BUCKLEY, KATHERINE. + +CHAPMAN, JOHN H. +CHAPMAN, CHARLES. +CONNORS, P. +CLONG, MILTON. +COX, DENTON. +CAVENDISH, TYRRELL w. +CARBINES, W. + +DUTTON, F. +DASHWOOD, WILLIAM. +DULLES, W. C. +DOUGLAS, W. D. +DRAZENOUI, YOSIP (referring probably to + Joseph Draznovic). +DONATI, ITALO (waiter). + +ENGINEER, A. E. F. +ELLIOTT, EDWARD. + +FARRELL, JAMES. +FAUNTHORPE, H. + +GILL, J. H. +GREENBERG, H. +GILINSKI, LESLIE. +GRAHAM, GEORGE. +GILES, RALPH. +GIVARD, HANS C. + +HANSEN, HENRY D. +HAYTOR, A. +HAYS, CHALES M. +HODGES, H. P. +HELL, J. C. +HEWITT, T. +HARRISON, H. H. +HALE, REG. +HENDEKERIC, TOZNAI. +HINTON, W. +HARBECK, W. H. +HOLVERDON, A. O. (probably A. M. + Halverson of Troy). +HOFFMAN, LOUIS M. +HINCKLEY, G. +Hospital Attendant, no name given. + +JOHANSEN, MALCOLM. +JOHANSEN, ERIC. +JOHANSSON, GUSTAF J. +JOHANSEN, A. F. +JONES, C. C. + +KELLY, JAMES, + +LAURENCE, A. +LOUCH, CHARLES. +LONG, MILTON C. +LILLY, A. +LINHART, WENZELL. +MARRIORTT, W. H. (no such name appears + on the list of passengers or crew). +MANGIN, MARY. +McNAMEE, MRS. N. (probably Miss + Elleen McNamee.) +MACK, MRS. +MONROE, JEAN. +McCAFFRY, THOMAS. +MORGAN, THOMAS. +MOEN, SEGURD H. + +NEWELL, T. H. +NASSER, NICOLAS. +NORMAN, ROBERT D. + +PETTY, EDWIN H. +PARTNER, AUSTIN. +PENNY, OLSEN F. +POGGI, ----. + +RAGOZZI, A. BOOTHBY. +RICE, J. R. +ROBINS, A. +ROBINSON, J. M. +ROSENSHINE, GEORGE. + +STONE, J. +STEWARD, 76. +STOKES, PHILIP J. +STANTON, W. + +STRAUS, ISIDOR. +SAGE, WILLIAM. +SHEA, ----. +SUTTON, FREDERICK. +SOTHER, SIMON. +SCHEDID, NIHIL. +SWANK, GEORGE. +SEBASTIANO, DEL CARLO. +STANBROCKE, A. + +TOMLIN, ETNEST P. +TALBOT, G. + +VILLNER, HENDRICK K. +VASSILIOS, CATALEVAS (thought to be a + confusion of two surnames). +VEAR, W. (may be W. J. Ware or W. T. + Stead). + +WIDENER, GEORGE W. +WILLIAMS, LESLIE. +WIRZ, ALBERT +WIKLUND, JACOB A. +WAILENS, ACHILLE. +WHITE, F. F. +WOODY, O. S. +WERSZ, LEOPOLD. + +ZACARIAN, MAURI DER. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CRITICISM OF ISMAY + +CRIMINAL AND COWARDLY CONDUCT CHARGED--PROPER CAUTION +NOT EXERCISED WHEN PRESENCE OF ICEBERGS WAS +KNOWN--SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON BOARD TO HELP IN +WORK OF RESCUE--SELFISH AND UNSYMPATHETIC ACTIONS +ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA--ISMAY'S DEFENSE--WILLIAM E. +CARTER'S STATEMENT + +FROM the moment that Bruce Ismay's name was seen +among those of the survivors of the Titanic he became +the object of acrid attacks in every quarter +where the subject of the disaster was discussed. Bitter +criticism held that he should have been the last to leave the +doomed vessel. + +His critics insisted that as managing director of the White +Star Line his responsibility was greater even than Captain +Smith's, and while granting that his survival might still be +explained, they condemned his apparent lack of heroism. +Even in England his survival was held to be the one great +blot on an otherwise noble display of masculine courage. + +A prominent official of the White Star Line shook his head +meaningly when asked what he thought of Ismay's escape +with the women and children. The general feeling seemed +to be that he should have stayed aboard the sinking vessel, +looking out for those who were left, playing the man like +Major Butt and many another and going down with the +ship like Captain Smith. + +He was also charged with urging a speed record and with +ignoring information received with regard to icebergs. + + +FEELING IN ENGLAND + +The belief in England was that the captain of the Carpathia +had acted under Ismay's influence in refusing to permit any +account of the disaster to be transmitted previous to the arrival +of the vessel in New York. Ismay's telegram making arrangements +for the immediate deportation of the survivors among +the Titanic's crew was taken to be part of the same scheme to +delay if not to prevent their stories of the wreck from being +obtained in New York. + +Another circumstance which created a damaging impression +was Ismay's failure to give the names of the surviving crew, +whose distraught families were entitled to as much consideration +as those whose relatives occupied the most expensive +suites on the Titanic. The anguish endured by the families +of members of the crew was reported as indescribable, and +Southampton was literally turned into a city of weeping and +tragic pathos. The wives of two members of the crew died of +shock and suspense. + + +CRIED FOR FOOD + +Mr. Ismay's actions while on the Carpathia were also +criticised as selfish and unwarrantable. + +"For God's sake get me something to eat, I'm starved. +I don't care what it costs or what it is. Bring it to me." + +This was the first statement made by Mr. Ismay a few +minutes after he was landed on the Carpathia. It is vouched +for by an officer of the Carpathia who requested that his name +be withheld. This officer gave one of the most complete +stories of the events that took place on the Carpathia from +the time she received the Titanic's appeal for assistance until +she landed the survivors at the Cunard Line pier. + +"Ismay reached the Carpathia in about the seventh life- +boat," said the officer. "I didn't know who he was, but afterward +I heard the other members of the crew discussing his +desire to get something to eat the minute he put his foot on +deck. The steward who waited on him reported that Ismay +came dashing into the dining room and said. + +" `Hurry, for God's sake, and get me something to eat, I'm +starved. I don't care what it costs or what it is. Bring it to +me.' " + +"The steward brought Ismay a load of stuff and when he +had finished it he handed the man a two dollar bill. `Your +money is no good on this ship,' the steward told him. + +" `Take it,' insisted Ismay. `I am well able to afford it. +I will see to it that the boys of the Carpathia are well rewarded +for this night's work.' + +"This promise started the steward making inquiries as to the +identity of the man he had waited on. Then we learned that +he was Ismay. I did not see Ismay after the first few hours. +He must have kept to his cabin." + +REPLY TO CHARGES + +Mr. Ismay's plans had been to return immediately to +England, and he had wired that the steamer Cedric be held +for himself and officers and members of the crew; but public +sentiment and subpoenas of the Senate's investigating committee +prevented. In the face of the criticism aimed against +him Mr. Ismay issued a long statement in which he not +only disclaimed responsibility for the Titanic's fatal collision, +but also sought to clear himself of blame for everything that +happened after the big ship was wrecked. + +He laid the responsibility for the tragedy on Captain +Smith. + +He expressed astonishment that his own conduct in the +disaster had been made the subject of inquiry. He denied +that he gave any order to Captain Smith. His position aboard +was that of any other first cabin passenger, he insisted, and +he was never consulted by the captain. He denied telling +anyone that he wished the ship to make a speed record. He +called attention to the routine clause in the instructions to +White Star captains ordering them to think of safety at all +times. He did not dine with the captain, he said, and when +the ship struck the berg, he was not sitting with the captain +in the saloon. + +The managing director added that he was in his stateroom +when the collision occurred. He told of helping to send +women and children away in life-boats on the starboard side, +and said there was no woman in sight on deck when he and +William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., entered the collapsible +boat--the last small craft left on that side of the vessel. He +asserted that he pulled an oar and denied that in sending the +three messages from the Carpathia, urging the White Star +officials to hold the Cedric for the survivors of the Titanic's +officers and crew, he had any intention to block investigation +of the tragedy. Ismay asserted that he did not know there +was to be an investigation until the Cunarder docked. + +Mr. William E. Carter, of Bryn Mawr, who, with his +family, was saved, confirmed Mr. Ismay's assertions. + +"Mr. Ismay's statement is absolutely correct," said Mr. +Carter. "There were no women on the deck when that +boat was launched. We were the very last to leave the deck, +and we entered the life-boat because there were no women +to enter it. + +"The deck was deserted when the boat was launched, +and Mr. Ismay and myself decided that we might as well +enter the boat and pull away from the wreck. If he wants +me, I assume that he will write to me. + +"I can say nothing, however, that he has not already said, +as our narratives are identical; the circumstances under +which we were rescued from the Titanic were similar. We +left the boat together and were picked up together, and, further +than that, we were the very last to leave the deck. + +"I am ready to go to Washington to testify to the truth +of Mr. Ismay's statement, and also to give my own account +at any time I may be called upon. If Mr. Ismay writes to +me, asking that I give a detailed account of our rescue I +will do so." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE FINANCIAL LOSS + +TITANIC NOT FULLY INSURED--VALUABLE CARGO AND MAIL +--NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE--LIFE INSURANCE LOSS--LOSS +TO THE CARPATHIA + +SO great was the interest in the tragedy and so profound +the grief at the tremendous loss of life that for a time +the financial loss was not considered. It was, however, +the biggest ever suffered by marine insurance brokers. + +The value of the policy covering the vessel against all +ordinary risks was $5,000,000, but the whole of this amount +was not insured, because British and Continental markets +were not big enough to swallow it. The actual amount of +insurance was $3,700,000, of which the owners themselves +held $750,000. + +As to the cargo, it was insured by the shippers. The +company has nothing to do with the insurance of the cargo, +which, according to the company's manifest, was conservatively +estimated at about $420,000. Cargo, however, was a +secondary matter, so far as the Titanic was concerned. The +ship was built for high-priced passengers, and what little +cargo she carried was also of the kind that demanded quick +transportation. The Titanic's freight was for the most part +what is known as high-class package freight, consisting of +such articles as fine laces, ostrich feathers, wines, liquors +and fancy food commodities. + + +LOST MAIL MAY COST MILLIONS + +Prior to the sailing of the vessel the postal authorities of +Southampton cabled the New York authorities that 3435 +bags of mail matter were on board. + +"In a load of 3500 bags," said Postmaster Morgan, of New +York, "it is a safe estimate to say that 200 contained registered +mail. The size of registered mail packages varies greatly, +but 1000 packages for each mail bag should be a conservative +guess. That would mean that 200,000 registered packages +and letters went down with the Titanic. + +"This does not mean, however, that Great Britain will be +held financially responsible for all these losses. There were +probably thousands of registered packages from the Continent, +and in such cases the countries of origin will have to +reimburse the senders. Moreover, in the case of money +being sent in great quantities, it is usual to insure the registry +over and above the limit of responsibility set by the country +of origin. + +"Probably if there were any shipping of securities mounting +up to thousands of dollars, it will be the insurance companies +which will bear the loss, and not the European post- +offices at all." + +In the case of money orders, the postmaster explained, +there would be no loss, except of time, as duplicates promptly +would be shipped without further expense. + +The postmaster did not know the exact sum which the +various European countries set as the limit of their guarantee +in registered mail. In America it is $50. + +Underwriters will probably have to meet heavy claims of +passengers for luggage, including jewelry. Pearls of one +American woman insured in London were valued at $240,000. + + +NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE + +The Titanic and her valuable cargo can never be recovered, +said the White Star Line officials. + +"Sinking in mid-ocean, at the depth which prevails where +the accident occurred," said Captain James Parton, manager +of the company, "absolutely precludes any hopes of salvage." + + +LIFE INSURANCE LOSS + +In the life insurance offices there was much figuring over +the lists of those thought to be lost aboard the Titanic. +Nothing but rough estimates of the company's losses through +the wreck were given out. + + +LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA + +The loss to the Carpathia, too, was considerable. It is, of +course, the habit of all good steamship lines to go out of their +way and cheerfully submit to financial loss when it comes +to succoring the distressed or the imperiled at sea. Therefore, +the Cunard line in extending the courtesies of the sea to the +survivors of the Titanic asked for nothing more than the mere +acknowledgment of the little act of kindness. The return +of the Carpathia cost the line close to $10,000. + +She was delayed on her way to the Mediterranean at least +ten days and was obliged to coal and provision again, as the +extra 800 odd passengers she was carrying reduced her large +allowance for her long voyage to the Mediterranean and the +Adriatic very much. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +OPINIONS OF EXPERTS + +CAPTAIN E. K. RODEN, LEWIS NIXON, GENERAL GREELY AND +ROBERT H. KIRK POINT OUT LESSONS TAUGHT BY TITANIC +DISASTER AND NEEDED CHANGES IN CONSTRUCTION + +THE tremendous loss of life necessarily aroused a discussion +as to the cause of the disaster, and the +prevailing opinion seemed to be that the present +tendency in shipbuilding was to sacrifice safety to luxury. + +Captain Roden, a well-known Swedish navigator, had +written an article maintaining this theory in the Navy, a +monthly service magazine, in November, 1910. With seeming +prophetic insight he had mentioned the Titanic by name +and portrayed some of the dangers to which shipbuilding for +luxury is leading. + +He pointed out that the new steamships, the Olympic and +Titanic, would be the finest vessels afloat, no expense being +spared to attain every conceivable comfort for which men or +women of means could possibly ask--staterooms with private +shower-baths, a swimming pool large enough for diving, a +ballroom covering an entire upper deck, a gymnasium, +elaborate cafes, a sun deck representing a flower garden, +and other luxuries. + +After forcibly pointing out the provisions that should be +made for the protection of life, Captain Roden wrote in +conclusion: + +"If the men controlling passenger ships, from the ocean +liner down to the excursion barge, were equally disposed to +equip their vessels with the best safety appliances as they +are to devise and adopt implements of comfort and luxury, +the advantage to themselves as well as to their patrons would +be plainly apparent." + + +VIEW OF LEWIS NIXON + +Lewis Nixon, the eminent naval architect and designer of +the battleship Oregon, contributed a very interesting comment. +He said in part: + +"Here was a vessel presumed, and I think rightly so, to be +the perfection of the naval architect's art, yet sunk in a few +hours by an accident common to North Atlantic navigation. + + +THE UNSINKABLE SHIP + +"An unsinkable ship is possible, but it would be of little +use except for flotation. It may be said that vessels cannot +be built to withstand such an accident. + +"We might very greatly subdivide the forward compartments, +where much space is lost at best, making the forward +end, while amply strong for navigation purposes, of such +construction that it would collapse and take up some of the energy +of impact; then tie this to very much stronger sections farther +aft. Many such plans will be proposed by those who do not +realize the momentum of a great vessel which will snap great +cables like ribbons, when the motion of the vessel is not perceptible +to the eye. + +"The proper plan is to avoid the accident, and if an accident +is unavoidable to minimize the loss of life and property." + + +VIEW OF ROBERT H. KIRK + +The Titanic disaster was discussed by Robert H. Kirk, who +installed the compartment doors in the ships of the United +States Navy. Mr. Kirk's opinion follows: + +"The Titanic's disaster will cause endless speculation as to +how similar disasters may be avoided in the future. + + +BULKHEAD DOORS PROBABLY OPEN + +"The Titanic had bulkheads, plenty of them, for the rules +of the British Board of Trade and of Lloyds are very specific +and require enough compartments to insure floating of the +ship though several may be flooded. She also had doors in +the bulkheads, and probably plenty of them, for she was +enormous and needed easy access from one compartment to +another. It will probably never be known how _FEW_ of these +doors were closed when she struck the iceberg, but the probability +is that many were open, for in the confusion attending +such a crash the crews have a multitude of duties to perform, +and closing a door with water rushing through it is more of a +task than human muscle and bravery can accomplish. + +"A Lloyds surveyor in testing one of these hand-operated +doors started two men on the main deck to close it. They +worked four hours before they had carried out his order. If +all the doors on the ship had worked as badly as this one, +what would have happened in event of accident?" + + +MANIA FOR SPEED + +General Adolphus W. Greely, U. S. A., noted American +traveler and Arctic explorer, vehemently denounced the sinking +of the Titanic and the loss of over 1600 souls as a terrible +sacrifice to the American mania for speed. He gave his +opinion that the Titanic came to grief through an attempt on +the part of the steamship management to establish a new +record by the vessel on her maiden voyage. + +The Titanic, General Greely declared, had absolutely no +business above Cape Race and north of Sable Island on the +trip on which she went to her doom. Choosing the northern +route brought about the dire disaster, in his mind, and it was +the saving of three hours for the sake of a new record that +ended in the collision with the tragic victory for the ghostlike +monster out of the far north. + +It was the opinion of General Greely, capable of judging +after his many trips in quest of the pole, that neither Captain +Smith nor any of his officers saw the giant iceberg which +encompassed their ruin until they were right upon it. Then, the +ship was plunging ahead at such frightful velocity that the +Titanic was too close to avert striking the barrier lined up +across its path. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS + +DEADLY DANGER OF ICEBERGS--DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH IN +COLLISION--OTHER DISASTERS + +THE danger of collision with icebergs has always been +one of the most deadly that confront the mariner. +Indeed, so well recognized is this peril of the +Newfoundland Banks, where the Labrador current in the +early spring and summer months floats southward its ghostly +argosy of icy pinnacles detached from the polar ice caps, that +the government hydrographic offices and the maritime exchanges +spare no pains to collate and disseminate the latest +bulletins on the subject. + + +THE ARIZONA + +A most remarkable case of an iceberg collision is that of the +Guion Liner, Arizona, in 1879. She was then the greyhound of +the Atlantic, and the largest ship afloat--5750 tons except +the Great Eastern. Leaving New York in November for +Liverpool, with 509 souls aboard, she was coursing across the +Banks, with fair weather but dark, when, near midnight, +about 250 miles east of St. John's, she rammed a monster +ice island at full speed eighteen knots. Terrific was the +impact. + +The welcome word was passed along that the ship, though +sorely stricken, would still float until she could make +harbor. The vast white terror had lain across her course, + + +{illust. caption = THE SHAPE OF AN ICEBERG + +Showing the bulk and formation under water and the consequent danger +to vessels even without actual contact with the visible part of the iceberg.} + + +stretching so far each way that, when described, it was too +late to alter the helm. Its giant shape filled the foreground, +towering high above the masts, grim and gaunt and ghastly, +immovable as the adamantine buttresses of a frowning seaboard, +while the liner lurched and staggered like a wounded +thing in agony as her engines slowly drew her back from the +rampart against which she had flung herself. + +She was headed for St. John's at slow speed, so as not to +strain the bulkhead too much, and arrived there thirty-six +hours later. That little port--the crippled ship's hospital-- +has seen many a strange sight come in from the sea, but never +a more astounding spectacle than that which the Arizona +presented the Sunday forenoon she entered there. + +"Begob, captain!" said the pilot, as he swung himself over +the rail. "I've heard of carrying coals to Newcastle, but this +is the first time I've seen a steamer bringing a load of ice into +St. John's." + +They are a grim race, these sailors, and, the danger over, +the captain's reply was: "We were lucky, my man, that we +didn't all go to the bottom in an ice box." + + +DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH + +But to the one wounded ship that survives collision with a +berg, a dozen perish. Presumably, when the shock comes, it +loosens their bulkheads and they fill and founder, or the crash +may injure the boilers or engines, which explode and tear out +the sides, and the ship goes down like a plummet. As long +ago as 1841, the steamer President, with 120 people aboard, +crossing from New York to Liverpool in March, vanished +from human ken. In 1854, in the same month, the City of +Glasgow left Liverpool for Philadelphia with 480 souls, and +was never again heard of. In February, 1856, the Pacific, +from Liverpool for New York, carrying 185 persons, passed +away down to a sunless sea. In May, 1870, the City of Boston, +from that port for Liverpool, mustering 191 souls, met a +similar fate. It has always been thought that these ships +were sunk by collision with icebergs or floes. As shipping +traffic has expanded, the losses have been more frequent. In +February, 1892, the Naronic, from Liverpool for New York; +in the same month in 1896, the State of Georgia, from Aberdeen +for Boston; in February, 1899, the Alleghany, from New +York for Dover; and once more in February, 1902, the +Huronian, from Liverpool for St. John's--all disappeared without +leaving a trace. Between February and May, the Grand +Banks are most infested with ice, and collision therewith is' +the most likely explanation of the loss of these steamers, all +well manned and in splendid trim, and meeting only the storms +which scores of other ships have braved without a scathe. + + +TOLL OF THE SEA + +Among the important marine disasters recorded since 1866 +are the following: + +1866, Jan. 11.--Steamer London, on her way to Melbourne, +foundered in the Bay of Biscay; 220 lives lost. + +1866, Oct. 3.--Steamer Evening Star, from New York to +New Orleans, foundered; about 250 lives lost. + +1867, Oct. 29.--Royal Mail steamers Rhone and Wye and +about fifty other vessels driven ashore and wrecked at St +Thomas, West Indies, by a hurricane; about 1,000 lives lost. + +1873, Jan. 22.--British steamer Northfleet sunk in collision +off Dungeness; 300 lives lost + +1873, Nov. 23.--White Star liner Atlantic wrecked off +Nova Scotia; 547 lives lost. + +1873, Nov. 23.--French line Ville du Havre, from New +York to Havre, in collision with ship Locharn and sunk in +sixteen minutes; 110 lives lost. + +1874, Dec. 24.--Emigrant vessel Cospatrick took fire and +sank off Auckland; 476 lives lost. + +1875, May 7.--Hamburg Mail steamer Schiller wrecked +in fog on Scilly Islands; 200 lives lost. + +1875, Nov. 4.--American steamer Pacific in collision thirty +miles southwest of Cape Flattery; 236 lives lost. + +1878, March 24.--British training ship Eurydice, a frigate, +foundered near the Isle of Wight; 300 lives lost. + +1878, Sept. 3.--British iron steamer Princess Alice sunk +in the Thames River; 700 lives lost. + +1878, Dec. 18.--French steamer Byzantin sunk in collision +in the Dardanelles with the British steamer Rinaldo; 210 +lives lost. + +1879, Dec. 2.--Steamer Borussia sank off the coast of Spain; +174 lives lost. + +1880, Jan. 31.--British trading ship Atlanta left Bermuda +with 290 men and was never heard from. + +1881, Aug. 30.--Steamer Teuton wrecked off the Cape of +Good Hope; 200 lives lost. + +1883, July 3.--Steamer Daphne turned turtle in the Clyde; +124 lives lost. + +1884, Jan. 18.--American steamer City of Columbus +wrecked off Gay Head Light, Massachusetts; 99 lived lost. + +1884, July 23.--Spanish steamer Gijon and British steamer +Lux in collision off Finisterre; 150 lives lost. + +1887, Jan. 29.--Steamer Kapunda in collision with bark +Ada Melore off coast of Brazil; 300 lives lost. + +1887, Nov. 15.--British steamer Wah Young caught fire +between Canton and Hong Kong; 400 lives lost. + +1888, Sept. 13.--Italian steamship Sud America and steamer +La France in collision near the Canary Islands; 89 lives +lost. + +1889, March 16.--United States warships Trenton, Vandalia +and Nipsic and German ships Adler and Eber wrecked +on Samoan Islands; 147 lives lost. + +1890, Jan. 2.--Steamer Persia wrecked on Corsica; 130 +lives lost. + +1890, Feb. 17.--British steamer Duburg wrecked in the +China Sea; 400 lives lost. + +1890, March 1.--British steamship Quetta foundered in +Torres Straits; 124 lives lost. + +1890, Dec. 27.--British steamer Shanghai burned in China +Seas; 101 lives lost. + +1891, March 17.--Anchor liner Utopia in collision with +British steamer Anson off Gibraltar and sunk; 574 lives lost. + +1892, Jan. 13.--Steamer Namehow wrecked in China Sea; +414 lives lost. + +1892, Oct. 28.--Anchor liner Romania, wrecked off Portugal; +113 lives lost. + +1893, Feb. 8.--Anchor liner Trinairia, wrecked off Spain; +115 lives lost. + +1894, June 25.--Steamer Norge, wrecked on Rockall Reef, +in the North Atlantic; nearly 600 lives lost. + +1895, Jan. 30.--German steamer Elbe sunk in collision with +British steamer Crathie in North Sea; 335 lives lost. + +1898, July 4.--French line steamer La Bourgogne in collision +with British sailing vessel Cromartyshire; 571 lives lost. + +1898, Nov. 27.--American steamer Portland, wrecked off +Cape Cod, Mass.; 157 lives lost. + +1901, April 1.--Turkish transport Aslam wrecked in the +Red Sea; over 180 lives lost. + +1902, July 21.--Steamer Primus sunk in collision with the +steamer Hansa on the Lower Elbe; 112 lives lost. + +1903, June 7.--French steamer Libau sunk in collision with +steamer Insulerre near Marseilles; 150 lives lost. + +1904, June 15. General Slocum, excursion steamboat, took +fire going through Hell Gate, East River; more than 1000 +lives lost. + +1906, Jan. 21.--Brazilian battleship Aquidaban sunk near +Rio Janeiro by an explosion of the powder magazines; 212 +lives lost. + +1906, Jan. 22.--American steamer Valencia lost off Cloose, +Pacific Coast; 140 lives lost. + +1906, Aug. 4.--Italian emigrant ship Sirio struck a rock off +Cape Palos; 350 lives lost. + +1906, Oct. 21.--Russian steamer Variag, on leaving Vladivostock, +struck by a torpedo and sunk; 140 lives lost. + +1907, Feb. 12.--American steamer Larchmond sunk in collision +off Rhode Island coast; 131 lives lost. + +1907, July 20.--American steamers Columbia and San +Pedro collided on the Californian coast; 100 lives lost. + +1907, Nov. 26.--Turkish steamer Kaptain foundered in the +North Sea; 110 lives lost. + +1908, March 23.--Japanese steamer Mutsu Maru sunk in +collision near Hakodate; 300 lives lost. + +1908, April 30.--Japanese training cruiser Matsu Shima +sunk off the Pescadores owing to an explosion; 200 lives lost. + +1909, Jan. 24.--Collision between the Italian steamer +Florida and the White Star liner Republic, about 170 miles +east of New York during a fog; a large number of lives were +saved by the arrival of the steamer Baltic, which received the +"C. Q. D.," or distress signal sent up by wireless by the +Republic January 22. The Republic sank while being towed; +6 lives lost. + +1910, Feb. 9.--French line steamer General Chanzy off +Minorca; 200 lives lost. + +1911, Sept. 25.--French battleship Liberte sunk by explosion +in Toulon harbor; 223 lives lost. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING + +EVOLUTION OF WATER TRAVEL--INCREASES IN SIZE OF VESSELS +--IS THERE ANY LIMIT?--ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPEED--TITANIC +NOT THE LAST WORD. + +THE origin of travel on water dates back to a very +early period in human history, men beginning with +the log, the inflated skin, the dug-out canoe, and +upwards through various methods of flotation; while the +paddle, the oar, and finally the sail served as means of +propulsion. This was for inland water travel, and many +centuries passed before the navigation of the sea was dreamed +of by adventurous mariners. + +The paintings and sculptures of early Egypt show us boats +built of sawn planks, regularly constructed and moved both +by oars and sails. At a later period we read of the Phoenicians, +the most daring and enterprising of ancient navigators, +who braved the dangers of the open sea, and are said by +Herodotus to have circumnavigated Africa as early as 604 +B. C. Starting from the Red Sea, they followed the east +coast, rounded the Cape, and sailed north along the west +coast to the Mediterranean, reaching Egypt again in the +third year of this enterprise. + +The Carthaginians and Romans come next in the history +of shipbuilding, confining themselves chiefly to the Mediterranean, +and using oars as the principal means of propulsion. +Their galleys ranged from one to five banks of oars. The +Roman vessels in the first Punic war were over 100 feet +long and had 300 rowers, while they carried 120 soldiers. +They did not use sails until about the beginning of the fourteenth +century B. C. + +Portugal was the first nation to engage in voyages of discovery, +using vessels of small size in these adventurous journeys. +Spain, which soon became her rival in this field, built +larger ships and long held the lead. Yet the ships with which +Columbus made the discovery of America were of a size and +character in which few sailors of the present day would care +to venture far from land. + +England was later in coming into the field of adventurous +navigation, being surpassed not only by the Portuguese and +Spanish, but by the Dutch, in ventures to far lands. + +Europe long held the precedence in shipbuilding and enterprise +in navigation, but the shores of America had not long +been settled before the venturous colonists had ships upon +the seas. The first of these was built at the mouth of the +Kennebec River in Maine. This was a staunch little two- +masted vessel, which was named the Virginia, supposed to +have been about sixty feet long and seventeen feet in beam. +Next in time came the Restless, built in 1614 or 1615 at +New York, by Adrian Blok, a Dutch captain whose ships +had been burned while lying at Manhattan Island. This +vessel, thirty-eight feet long and of eleven feet beam, was +employed for several years in exploring the Atlantic coast. + +With the advent of the nineteenth century a new ideal in +naval architecture arose, that of the ship moved by steam- +power instead of wind-power, and fitted to combat with the +seas alike in storm and calm, with little heed as to whether +the wind was fair or foul. The steamship appeared, and grew +in size and power until such giants of the wave as the Titanic +and Olympic were set afloat. To the development of this +modern class of ships our attention must now be turned. + +As the reckless cowboy of the West is fast becoming a thing +of the past, so is the daring seaman of fame and story. In his +place is coming a class of men miscalled sailors, who never +reefed a sail or coiled a cable, who do not know how to launch +a life-boat or pull an oar, and in whose career we meet the +ridiculous episode of the life-boats of the Titanic, where women +were obliged to take the oars from their hands and row the +boats. Thus has the old-time hero of the waves been transformed +into one fitted to serve as a clown of the vaudeville +stage. + +The advent of steam navigation came early in the nineteenth +century, though interesting steps in this direction +were taken earlier. No sooner was the steam-engine developed +than men began to speculate on it as a moving power on sea +and land. Early among these were several Americans, Oliver +Evans, one of the first to project steam railway travel, and +James Rumsey and John Fitch, steamboat inventors of early +date. There were several experimenters in Europe also, but +the first to produce a practical steamboat was Robert Fulton, +a native of Pennsylvania, whose successful boat; the Clermont, +made its maiden trip up the Hudson in 1807. A crude +affair was the Clermont, with a top speed of about seven +miles an hour; but it was the dwarf from which the giant +steamers of to-day have grown. + +Boats of this type quickly made their way over the American +rivers and before 1820 regular lines of steamboats were +running between England and Ireland. In 1817 James Watt, +the inventor of the practical steam-engine, crossed in a steamer +from England to Belgium. But these short voyages were far +surpassed by an American enterprise, that of the first ocean +steamship, the Savannah, which crossed the Atlantic from +Savannah to Liverpool in 1819. + +Twelve years passed before this enterprise was repeated, +the next steam voyage being in 1831, when the Royal William +crossed from Quebec to England. She used coal for fuel, +having utilized her entire hold to store enough for the voyage. +The Savannah had burned pitch-pine under her engines, for +in America wood was long used as fuel for steam-making +purposes. As regards this matter, the problem of fuel was of +leading importance, and it was seriously questioned if a ship +could be built to cross the Atlantic depending solely upon +steam power. Steam-engines in those days were not very +economical, needing four or five times as much fuel for the +same power as the engines of recent date. + +It was not until 1838 that the problem was solved. On +April 23d of that year a most significant event took place. +Two steamships dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, +the Sirius and the Great Western. Both of these had made the +entire voyage under steam, the Sirius, in eighteen and a half +and the Great Western in fourteen and a half days, measuring +from Queenstown. The Sirius had taken on board 450 tons +of coal, but all this was burned by the time Sandy Hook was +reached, and she had to burn her spare spars and forty-three +barrels of rosin to make her way up the bay. The Great +Western, on the contrary, had coal to spare. + +Two innovations in shipbuilding were soon introduced. +These were the building of iron instead of wooden ships and the +replacing of the paddle wheel by the screw propeller. The +screw-propeller was first successfully introduced by the famous +Swede, John Ericsson, in 1835. His propeller was tried in a +small vessel, forty-five feet long and eight wide, which was +driven at the rate of ten miles an hour, and towed a large +packet ship at fair speed. Ericsson, not being appreciated +in England, came to America to experiment. Other inventors +were also at work in the same line. + +Their experiments attracted the attention of Isambard +Brunel, one of the greatest engineers of the period, who was +then engaged in building a large paddle-wheel steamer, the +Great Britain. Appreciating the new idea, he had the engines +of the new ship changed and a screw propeller introduced. +This ship, a great one for the time, 322 feet long and of +3443 tons, made her first voyage from Liverpool to New York +in 1845, her average speed being 12 1/4 knots an hour, the +length of the voyage 14 days and 21 hours. + +By the date named the crossing of the Atlantic by steamships +had become a common event. In 1840 the British +and Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was organized, its +chief promoter being Samuel Cunard, of Halifax, Nova +Scotia, whose name has long been attached to this famous +line. + +The first fleet of the Cunard Line comprised four vessels, +the Britannia, Acadia, Caledonia and Columbia. The Unicorn, +sent out by this company as a pioneer, entered Boston +harbor on June 2, 1840, being the first steamship from Europe +to reach that port. Regular trips began with the Britannia, +which left Liverpool on July 4, 1840. For a number of +years later this line enjoyed a practical monopoly of the +steam carrying trade between England and the United States. +Then other companies came into the field, chief among them +being the Collins Line, started in 1849, and of short duration, +and the Inman Line, instituted in 1850. + +We should say something here of the comforts and conveniences +provided for the passengers on these early lines. +They differed strikingly from those on the leviathans of recent +travel and were little, if any, superior to those on the packet +ships, the active rivals at that date of the steamers. Then +there were none of the comfortable smoking rooms, well- +filled libraries, drawing rooms, electric lights, and other modern +improvements. The saloons and staterooms were in the +extreme after part of the vessel, but the stateroom of that +day was little more than a closet, with two berths, one above +the other, and very little standing room between these and +the wall. By paying nearly double fare a passenger might +secure a room for himself, but the room given him did not +compare well even with that of small and unpretentious +modern steamers. + +Other ocean steamship companies gradually arose, some +of which are still in existence. But no especial change in ship- +building was introduced until 1870, when the Oceanic Company, +now known as the White Star Line, built the Britannic +and Germanic. These were the largest of its early ships. +They were 468 feet long and 35 feet wide, constituting +a new type of extreme length as compared with their +width. In the first White Star ship, the Oceanic, the +improvements above mentioned were introduced, the saloons +and staterooms being brought as near as possible to the center +of the ship. All the principal lines built since that date have +followed this example, thus adding much to the comfort of +the first-class passengers. + +Speed and economy in power also became features of +importance, the tubular boiler and the compound engine +being introduced. These have developed into the cylindrical, +multitubular boiler and the triple expansion engine, in which +a greater percentage of the power of the steam is utilized and +four or five times the work obtained from coal over that of the +old system. The side-wheel was continued in use in the older +ships until this period, but after 1870 it disappeared. + +It has been said that the life of iron ships, barring disasters +at sea, is unlimited, that they cannot wear out. This +statement has not been tested, but the fact remains that the +older passenger ships have gone out of service and that steel +has now taken the place of iron, as lighter and more durable. + +Something should also be said here of the steam turbine +engine, recently introduced in some of the greatest liners, and of +proven value in several particulars, an important one of these +being the doing away with the vibration, an inseparable +accompaniment of the old style engines. The Olympic and +Titanic engines were a combination of the turbine and reciprocating +types. In regard to the driving power, one of the recent +introductions is that of the multiple propeller. The twin +screw was first applied in the City of New York, of the Inman +line, and enabled her to make in 1890 an average speed of a +little over six days from New York to Queenstown. The best +record up to October, 1891, was that of the Teutonic, +of five days, sixteen hours, and thirty minutes. Triple-screw +propellers have since then been introduced in some of the +greater ships, and the record speed has been cut down to the +four days and ten hours of the Lusitania in 1908 and the +four days, six hours and forty-one minutes of the Mauretania +in 1910. + +The Titanic was not built especially for speed, but in every +other way she was the master product of the shipbuilders' art. +Progress through the centuries has been steady, and perhaps +the twentieth century will prepare a vessel that will be unsinkable +as well as magnificent. Until the fatal accident the +Titanic and Olympic were considered the last words on ship- +building; but much may still remain to be spoken. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES + +WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY--WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS--SUBMARINE +SIGNALS--LIFE-BOATS AND RAFTS--NIXON'S PONTOON +--LIFE-PRESERVERS AND BUOYS--ROCKETS + +THE fact that there are any survivors of the Titanic +left to tell the story of the terrible catastrophe is +only another of the hundreds of instances on record +of the value of wireless telegraphy in saving life on shipboard. +Without Marconi's invention it is altogether probable that +the world would never have known of the nature of the +Titanic's fate, for it is only barely within the realm of +possibility that any of the Titanic's passengers' poorly clad, +without proper provisions of food and water, and exposed +in the open boats to the frigid weather, would have survived +long enough to have been picked up by a transatlantic liner +in ignorance of the accident to the Titanic. + +Speaking (since the Titanic disaster) of the part which +wireless telegraphy has played in the salvation of distressed +ships, Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of this wonderful +science, has said: + +"Fifteen years ago the curvature of the earth was looked +upon as the one great obstacle to wireless telegraphy. By +various experiments in the Isle of Wight and at St. John's +I finally succeeded in sending the letter S 2000 miles. + +"We have since found that the fog and the dull skies in +the vicinity of England are exceptionally favorable for wireless +telegraphy." + +Then the inventor told of wireless messages being transmitted +2500 miles across the Abyssinian desert, and of preparation +for similar achievements. + +"The one necessary requirement for continued success is +that governments keep from being enveloped in political red +tape," said he. + +"The fact that a message can be flashed across the wide +expanse of ocean in ten minutes has exceeded my fondest +expectations. Some idea of the progress made may be had +by citing the fact that in eleven years the range of wireless +telegraphy has increased from 200 to 3000 miles. + +"Not once has wireless telegraphy failed in calling and +securing help on the high seas. A recognition of this is shown +in the attitude of the United States Government in compelling +all passenger-carrying vessels entering our ports to be equipped +with wireless apparatus." + +Of the Titanic tragedy, Marconi said: + +"I know you will all understand when I say that I entertain +a deep feeling of gratitude because of the fact that wireless +telegraphy has again contributed to the saving of life." + + +WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS + +One of the most essential factors in making ships safe is +the construction of proper bulkheads to divide a ship into +water-tight compartments in case of injury to her hull. Of +the modern means of forming such compartments, and of +the complete and automatic devices for operating the watertight +doors which connect them, a full explanation has already +been given in the description of the Titanic's physical features, +to which the reader is referred. A wise precaution usually +taken in the case of twin and triple screw ships is to arrange the +bulkheads so that each engine is in a separate compartment, +as is also each boiler or bank of boilers and each coal bunker. + + +SUBMARINE SIGNALS + +Then there are submarine signals to tell of near-by vessels +or shores. This signal arrangement includes a small tank +on either side of the vessel, just below the water line. Within +each is a microphone with wires leading to the bridge. If +the vessel is near any other or approaching shore, the sounds; +conveyed through the water from the distant object are +heard through the receiver of the microphone. These arrangements +are called the ship's ears, and whether the sounds come +from one side of the vessel or the other, the officers can tell the +location of the shore or ship near by. If both ears record, +the object is ahead. + + +LIFEBOATS AND RAFTS + +The construction of life-boats adapts them for very rough +weather. The chief essentials, of course, are ease in launching, +strength in withstanding rough water and bumping when +beached; also strength to withstand striking against wreckage +or a ship's side; carrying capacity and lightness. Those +carried on board ship are lighter than those used in life-saving +service on shore. Safety is provided by air-tight tanks which +insure buoyancy in case the boat is filled with water. They +have also self-righting power in case of being overturned; likewise +self-emptying power. Life-boats are usually of the whaleboat +type, with copper air-tight tanks along the side beneath +the thwarts, and in the ends. + +Life-boats range from twenty-four to thirty feet in length +and carry from thirty to sixty persons. The rafts carry from +twenty to forty persons. The old-fashioned round bar +davits can be got for $100 to $150 a set. The new style davits, +quick launchers in type, come as low as $400 a set. + +According to some naval constructors, an ocean steamship +can carry in davits enough boats to take care of all the passengers +and crew, it being simply a question as to whether the +steamship owners are willing to take up that much deck room +which otherwise would be used for lounging chairs or for a +promenade. + +Nowadays all life-boats are equipped with air tanks to +prevent sinking, with the result that metal boats are as +unsinkable as wooden ones. The metal boats are considered +in the United States Navy as superior to wooden ones, for +several reasons: They do not break or collapse; they do not, +in consequence of long storage on deck, open at the seams and +thereby spring a leak; and they are not eaten by bugs, as is +the case with wooden boats. + +Comparatively few of the transatlantic steamships have +adopted metal life-boats. Most of the boats are of wood, +according to the official United States Government record +of inspection. The records show that a considerable +proportion of the entire number of so-called "life-boats" +carried by Atlantic Ocean liners are not actually life-boats +at all, but simply open boats, without air tanks or other special +equipment or construction. + + +{illust. caption = CHAMBERS COLLAPSIBLE LIFE RAFT} + + +Life-rafts are of several kinds. They are commonly used +on large passenger steamers where it is difficult to carry sufficient +life-boats. In most cases they consist of two or more +hollow metal or inflated rubber floats which support a wooden +deck. The small rafts are supplied with life-lines and oars, +and the larger ones with life-lines only, or with life-lines and +sails. + +The collapsible feature of the Chambers raft consists of +canvas-covered steel frames extending up twenty-five inches +from the sides to prevent passengers from being pitched off. +When the rafts are not in use these side frames are folded +down on the raft. + +The collapsible rafts are favored by the ship-owners because +such boats take up less room; they do not have to be carried +in the davits, and they can be stowed to any number required. +Some of the German lines stack their collapsible rafts one +above another on deck. + + +NIXON'S PONTOON + +Lewis Nixon, the well-known ship designer, suggests the +construction of a pontoon to be carried on the after end of the +vessel and to be made of sectional air-tight compartments. +One compartment would accommodate the wireless outfit. +Another compartment would hold drinking water, and still +another would be filled with food. + +The pontoon would follow the line of the ship and seem to +be a part of it. The means for releasing it before the sinking of +the vessel present no mechanical problem. It would be too +large and too buoyant to be sucked down with the wreck. + +The pontoon would accommodate, not comfortably but +safely, all those who failed to find room in the life-boats. + +It is Mr. Nixon's plan to instal a gas engine in one of the +compartments. With this engine the wireless instrument +would remain in commission and direct the rescuers after the +ship itself had gone down. + + +LIFE PRESERVERS AND BUOYS + +Life-preservers are chiefly of the belt or jacket type, made +to fit about the body and rendered buoyant by slabs of cork +sewed into the garment, or by rubber-lined air-bags. The +use of cork is usually considered preferable, as the inflated +articles are liable to injury, and jackets are preferable to belts +as they can be put on more quickly. + +Life-buoys are of several types, but those most common +are of the ring type, varying in size from the small one designed +to be thrown by hand to the large hollow metal buoy capable +of supporting several people. The latter are usually carried +by sea-going vessels and are fitted with lamps which are +automatically lighted when the buoy is dropped into the water. + + +ROCKETS + +American ocean-going steamers are required to have some +approved means of firing lines to the shore. Cunningham +rockets and the Hunt gun are largely used. The inaccuracy +of the rocket is of less importance when fired from a ship than +when fired from shore. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORMS + +SPEED AND LUXURY OVEREMPHASIZED--SPACE NEEDED FOR +LIFE-BOATS DEVOTED TO SWIMMING POOLS AND SQUASH- +COURTS--MANIA FOR SPEED RECORDS COMPELS USE OF DANGEROUS +ROUTES AND PREVENTS PROPER CAUTION IN FOGGY +WEATHER--LIFE MORE VALUABLE THAN LUXURY--SAFETY +MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED--AN AROUSED PUBLIC OPINION +NECESSARY--INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED-- +ADEQUATE LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE +COMPULSORY--SPEED REGULATIONS IN BAD WEATHER-- +COOPERATION IN ARRANGING SCHEDULES TO KEEP VESSELS +WITHIN REACH OF EACH OTHER--LEGAL REGULATIONS + +IT is a long time since any modern vessel of importance +has gone down under Nature's attack, and in general +the floating city of steel laughs at the wind and waves. +She is not, however, proof against disaster. The danger +lies in her own power--in the tens of thousands of horse power +with which she may be driven into another ship or into an +iceberg standing cold and unyielding as a wall of granite. +In view of this fact it is of the utmost importance that +present-day vessels should be thoroughly provided with the +most efficient life-saving devices. These would seem more +important than fireplaces, squash-courts and many other +luxuries with which the Titanic was provided. The comparatively +few survivors of the ill-fated Titanic were saved +by the life-boats. The hundreds of others who went down +with the vessel perished because there were no life-boats to +carry them until rescue came. + + +SURVIVORS URGE REFORM + +The survivors urge the need of reform. In a resolution +drawn up after the disaster they said: + +"We feel it our duty to call the attention of the public to +what we consider the inadequate supply of life-saving appliances +provided for the modern passenger steamships and +recommend that immediate steps be taken to compel passenger +steamers to carry sufficient boats to accommodate the +maximum number of people carried on board. The following +facts were observed and should be considered in this connection: +The insufficiency of life-boats, rafts, etc.; lack of +trained seamen to man same (stokers, stewards, etc., are not +efficient boat handlers); not enough officers to carry out +emergency orders on the bridge and superintend the launching +and control of life-boats; the absence of search lights. + +"The Board of Trade allows for entirely too many people +in each boat to permit the same to be properly handled. On +the Titanic the boat deck was about seventy-five feet from +the water and consequently the passengers were required to +embark before lowering the boats, thus endangering the +operation and preventing the taking on of the maximum +number the boats would hold. Boats at all times should be +properly equipped with provisions, water, lamps, compasses, +lights, etc. Life-saving boat drills should be more frequent +and thoroughly carried out and officers should be armed at +both drills. There should be greater reduction of speed in fog +and ice, as damage if collision actually occurs is liable to be +less. + + +INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED + +"In conclusion we suggest that an international conference +be called to recommend the passage of identical laws providing +for the safety of all at sea, and we urge the United States +Government to take the initiative as soon as possible." + +That ocean liners take chances with their passengers, +though known to the well informed, is newly revealed and +comes with a shock of surprise and dismay to most people. +If boats are unsinkable as well as fireproof there is no need +of any life-boats at all. But no such steamship has ever been +constructed. + +That it is realized that life-boats may be necessary on +the best and newest steamships is proved by the fact that they +carry them even beyond the law's requirements. But if +life-boats for one-third of those on the ship are necessary, +life-boats for all on board are equally necessary. The law of +the United States requires this, but the law and trade regulations +of England do not, and these controlled the Titanic +and caused the death of over sixteen hundred people. + +True, a steamship is rarely crowded to her capacity, and +ordinarily accommodations in life-boats for a full list would +not be needed. But that is no argument against maximum +safety facilities, for when disaster comes it comes unexpectedly, +and it might come when every berth was occupied. So there +must be life-boats for use in every possible emergency. Places +must be found for them and methods for handling them +promptly. + +Suppose a vessel to be thus equipped, would safety be +insured? In calm weather such as the Titanic had, yes, for +all that would be needed would be to keep the small boats +afloat until help came. The Titanic could have saved everyone +aboard. In heavy weather, no. As at present arranged, +if a vessel has a list, or, in non-nautical language, has tipped +over on one side, only the boats upon the lower side can be +dropped, for they must be swung clear of the vessel to be +lowered from the davits. + +So there is a problem which it is the duty of marine +designers to solve. They have heretofore turned their attention +to the invention of some new contrivance for comfort and +luxury. Now let them grasp the far more important question +of taking every soul from a sinking ship. They can do it, +and while they are about it, it would be well to supplement +life-boats with other methods. + +We like to think and to say that nothing is impossible in +these days of ceaseless and energetic progress. Certainly +it is possible for the brains of marine designers to find a better +way for rescue work. Lewis Nixon, ship-builder and designer +for years, is sure that we can revolutionize safety appliances. +He has had a plan for a long time for the construction of a +considerable section of deck that could be detached and +floated off like an immense raft. He figures that such a deck- +raft could be made to carry the bulk of the passengers. + +That may seem a bit chimerical to laymen, but Nixon is +no layman. His ideas are worthy of every consideration. +Certain it is that something radical must be done, and that +the maritime nations must get together, not only in the way +of providing more life-saving facilities, but in agreeing upon +navigation routes and methods. + +Captain William S. Sims, of the United States Navy, who is +in a position to know what he is talking about, has made some +very pointed comments on the subject. He says: + +"The truth of the matter is that in case any large passenger +steamship sinks, by reason of collision or other fatal +damage to her flotability, more than half of her passengers +are doomed to death, even in fair weather, and in case there +is a bit of a sea running none of the loaded boats can long +remain afloat, even if they succeed in getting safely away +from the side, and one more will be added to the long list +of `the ships that never return.' + +"Most people accept this condition as one of the inevitable +perils of the sea, but I believe it can be shown that the terrible +loss of life occasioned by such disasters as overtook the Bourgogne +and the Titanic and many other ships can be avoided +or at least greatly minimized. Moreover, it can be shown +that the steamship owners are fully aware of the danger to +their passengers; that the laws on the subject of life-saving +appliances are wholly inadequate; that the steamship companies +comply with the law, though they oppose any changes +therein, and that they decline to adopt improved appliances; +because there is no public demand for them, the demand +being for high schedule speed and luxurious conditions of +travel. + +"In addition to installing efficient life-saving appliances, +if the great steamship lines should come to an agreement to +fix a maximum speed for their vessels of various classes and +fix their dates and hours of steaming so that they would cross +the ocean in pairs within supporting distances of each other, +on routes clear of ice, all danger of ocean travel would practically +be eliminated. + +"The shortest course between New York and the English +Channel lies across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Consequently +the shortest water route is over seas where navigation +is dangerous by reason of fog and ice. It is a notorious +fact that the transatlantic steamships are not navigated with +due regard to safety; that they steam at practically full +speed in the densest fogs. But the companies cannot properly +be blamed for this practice, because if the `blue liners' slow +down in a fog or take a safe route, clear of ice, the public will +take passage on the `green liners,' which take the shortest +route, and keep up their schedule time; regardless of the risks +indicated." + + +PROMPT REFORMS + +The terrible sacrifice of the Titanic, however, is to have its +fruit in safety for the future. The official announcement is + + +{illust. caption = A diagrammatic map showing how...} + + +made by the International Mercantile Marine that all its +ships will be equipped with sufficient life-boats and rafts +for every passenger and every member of the crew, without +regard to the regulations in this country and England or Belgium. +One of the German liners already had this complement +of life-boats, though the German marine as a whole is sufficiently +deficient at this point to induce the Reichstag to order +an investigation. + +Prompt, immediate and gratifying reform marks this action +of the International Mercantile Marine. It is doubtless +true that this precaution ought to have been taken without +waiting for a loss of life such as makes all previous marine +disasters seem trivial. But the public itself has been inert. +For thirty years, since Plimsoll's day, every intelligent passenger +knew that every British vessel was deficient in life- +boats, but neither public opinion nor the public press took +this matter up. There were no questions in Parliament and +no measures introduced in Congress. Even the legislation +by which the United States permitted English vessels reaching +American ports to avoid the legal requirements of American +statute law (which requires a seat in the life-boats for every +passenger and every member of the crew) attracted no public +attention, and occasional references to the subject by those +better informed did nothing to awake action. + +But this is past. Those who died bravely without complaint +and with sacrificing regard for others did not lose their +lives in vain. The safety of all travelers for all times to come +under every civilized flag is to be greater through their sac- +rifice. Under modern conditions life can be made as safe at +sea as on the land. It is heartrending to stop and think that +thirty-two more life-boats, costing only about $16,000, which +could have been stowed away without being noticed on the +broad decks of the Titanic, would have saved every man, +woman and child on the steamer. There has never been so +great a disaster in the history of civilization due to the +neglect of so small an expenditure. + +It would be idle to think that this was due simply to parsimony. +It was really due to the false and vicious notion +that life at sea must be made showy, sumptuous and magnificent. +The absence of life-boats was not due to their cost, +but to the demand for a great promenade deck, with ample +space to look out on the sea with which a continuous row of +life-boats would have interfered, and to the general tendency +to lavish money on the luxuries of a voyage instead of first +insuring its safety. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION + +PROMPT ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT--SENATE COMMITTEE +PROBES DISASTER AND BRINGS OUT DETAILS--TESTIMONY +OF ISMAY, OFFICERS, CREW, PASSENGERS AND OTHER +WITNESSES + +PUBLIC sentiment with regard to the Titanic disaster +was reflected in the prompt action of the +United States Government. + +On April 17th the Senate, without a dissenting vote, +ordered an investigation of the wreck of the Titanic, with +particular reference to the inadequacy of life-saving boats +and apparatus. The resolution also directed inquiry into the +use by the Titanic of the northern course "over a route +commonly regarded as dangerous from icebergs." + +Besides investigating the disaster, the committee was +directed to look into the feasibility of international agreements +for the further protection of ocean traffic. + +The Senate Committee on Commerce, in whose charge the +investigation was placed, immediately appointed the following +sub-committee to conduct the gathering of evidence and the +examination of witnesses: + +Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan, chairman; +Senator Francis Newlands of Nevada, Senator Jonathan +Bourne, Jr., of Oregon, Senator George C. Perkins of California, +Senator Theodore E. Burton of Ohio, Senator Furnifold +McL. Simmons of North Carolina and Senator Duncan U. +Fletcher of Florida. + +The Senate Committee began its investigation in New +York on Friday, April 19th, the morning after the arrival of +the Carpathia. + +Ismay, the first witness, came to the witness chair with +a smile upon his face. He was sworn and then told the +committee that he made the voyage on the Titanic only as +a voluntary passenger. Nobody designated him to come +to see how the newly launched monster would behave on +the initial trip. He said that no money was spared in the +construction, and as she was built on commission there +was no need for the builders to slight the work for their +own benefit. The accident had happened on Sunday night, +April 14th. + +"I was in bed and asleep," he said. "The ship was not +going at full speed, as has been printed, because full speed +would be from seventy-eight to eighty revolutions, and we were +making only seventy-five. After the impact with the iceberg +I dressed and went on deck. I asked the steward what +the matter was and he told me. Then I went to Captain +Smith and asked him if the ship was in danger and he told +me he thought she was." + +Ismay said that he went on the bridge and remained there +for some time and then lent a hand in getting the life-boats +ready. He helped to get the women and children into the +boats. + +Ismay said that no other executive officer of the steamship +company was on board, which practically made him the +sole master of the vessel the minute it passed beyond the +control of the captain and his fellow-officers. But Ismay, +seeming to scent the drift of the questions, said that he never +interfered in any way with the handling of the ship. + +Ismay was asked to give more particulars about his departure +from the ship. He said: + +"The boat was ready to be lowered away and the officer +called out if there were any more women or children to go +or any more passengers on deck, but there was none, and I +got on board." + + +CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S TESTIMONY + +Captain Rostron, of the Carpathia, followed Mr. Ismay. +He said the first message received from the Titanic was +that she was in immediate danger. "I gave the order to +turn the ship around as soon as the Titanic had given her +position. I set a course to pick up the Titanic, which was +fifty-eight miles west of my position. I sent for the chief +engineer, told him to put on another watch of stokers and +make all speed for the Titanic. I told the first officer to stop +all deck work, get out the life-boats and be ready for any +emergency. The chief steward and doctors of the Carpathia +I called to my office and instructed as to their duties. The +English doctor was assigned to the first class dining room, +the Italian doctor to the second class dining room, the Hungarian +doctor to the third class dining room. They were +instructed to be ready with all supplies necessary for any +emergency." + + +{illust. caption = DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER STEAMSHIPS TO +THE TITANIC ON NIGHT OF DISASTER.} + + + +The captain told in detail of the arrangements made to +prepare the life-boats and the ship for the receipt of the +survivors. + + +WEEPS AS HE TELLS STORY + +Then with tears filling his eyes, Captain Rostron said he +called the purser. "I told him," said Captain Rostron, +"I wanted to hold a service of prayer--thanksgiving for the +living and a funeral service for the dead. I went to Mr. +Ismay. He told me to take full charge. An Episcopal +clergyman was found among the passengers and he conducted +the services." + + +TITANIC WAS A "LIFE-BOAT." + +Captain Rostron said that the Carpathia had twenty lifeboats +of her own, in accordance with the British regulations. + +"Wouldn't that indicate that the regulations are out of +date, your ship being much smaller than the Titanic, which +also carried twenty life-boats?" Senator Smith asked. + +"No. The Titanic was supposed to be a life-boat herself." + + +WIRELESS FAILED + +Why so few messages came from the Carpathia was gone +into. Captain Rostron declared the first messages, all substantially +the same, were sent to the White Star Line, the Cunard +Line and the Associated Press. Then the first and +second cabin passenger lists were sent, when the wireless +failed. + +Senator Smith said some complaint had been heard that +the Carpathia had not answered President Taft's inquiry for +Major Butt. Captain Rostron declared a reply was sent, +"Not on board." + +Captain Rostron declared he issued orders for no messages +to be sent except upon orders from him, and for official business +to go first, then private messages from the Titanic survivors +in order of filing. + +Absolutely no censorship was exercised, he said. The wire- +less continued working all the way in, the Marconi operator +being constantly at the key. + +Guglielmo Marconi, the wireless inventor, was the next +witness. + +Marconi said he was chairman of the British Marconi Company. +Under instructions of the company, he said, operators +must take their orders from the captain of the ship on which +they are employed. + +"Do the regulations prescribe whether one or two operators +should be aboard the ocean vessels?" + +"Yes, on ships like the late Titanic and Olympic two are +carried," said Marconi. "The Carpathia, a smaller boat, +carries one. The Carpathia's wireless apparatus is a short- +distance equipment." + + +TITANIC WELL EQUIPPED + +"Do you consider that the Titanic was equipped with the +latest improved wireless apparatus?" + +"Yes; I should say that it had the very best." + +"Did you hear the captain of the Carpathia say, in his testimony, +that they caught this distress message from the Titanic +almost providentally?" asked Senator Smith. + +"Yes, I did. It was absolutely providential." + +"Is there any signal for the operator if he is not at his post?'{'} + +"I think there is none," said Marconi. + +"Ought it not be incumbent upon ships to have an operator +always at the key?" + +"Yes; but ship-owners don't like to carry two operators +when they can get along with one. The smaller boat owners +do not like the expense of two operators." + + +SECOND OFFICER TESTIFIES + +Charles Herbert Lightoller, second officer of the Titanic, +followed Marconi on the stand. Mr. Lightoller said he +understood the maximum speed of the Titanic, as shown by +its trial tests, to have been twenty-two and a half to twenty- +three knots. Senator Smith asked if the rule requiring life- +saving apparatus to be in each room for each passenger was +complied with. + +"Everything was complete," said Lightoller. "Sixteen +life-boats, of which four were collapsible, were on the Titanic," +he added. During the tests, he said, Captain Clark, of +the British Board of Trade, was aboard the Titanic to inspect +its life-saving equipment. + +"How thorough are these captains of the Board of Trade +in inspecting ships?" asked Senator Smith. + +"Captain Clark is so thorough that we called him a nuisance." + + +TITANIC KILLED RAPIDLY + +After testifying to the circumstances under which the life- +boats were filled and lowered, Lightoller continued. "The +boat's deck was only ten feet from the water when I lowered +the sixth boat. When we lowered the first, the distance to +the water was seventy feet." + +"If the same course was pursued on the starboard side as +you pursued on the port, in filling boats, how do you account +for so many members of the crew being saved?" asked Chairman +Smith. + +"I have inquired especially and have found that for every +six persons picked up, five were either firemen or stewards." + + +COTTAM TELLS HIS STORY + +Thomas Cottam, of Liverpool, the Marconi operator on +the Carpathia, was the next witness. + +Cottam said that he was about ready to retire Sunday night, +having partially removed his clothes, and was waiting for a +reply to a message to the Parisian when he heard Cape Cod +trying to call the Titanic. Cottam called the Titanic operator +to inform him of the fact, and received the reply. `Come +at once; this is a distress message. C. Q. D.' " + +"What did you do then?" + +"I confirmed the distress message by asking the Titanic +if I should report the distress message to the captain of the +Carpathia." + +"How much time elapsed after you received the Titanic's +distress message before you reported it to Captain Rostron?" + +"About a couple of minutes," Cottam answered. + + +COTTAM RECALLED + +When the committee resumed the investigation on April +20th, Cottam was recalled to the stand. + +Senator Smith asked the witness if he had received any +messages from the time the Carpathia left the scene of the +disaster until it reached New York. The purpose of this +question was to discover whether any official had sought to +keep back the news of the disaster. + +"No, sir," answered Cottam. "I reported the entire +matter myself to the steamship Baltic at 10.30 o'clock Monday +morning. I told her we had been to the wreck and had picked +up as many of the passengers as we could." + +Cottam denied that he had sent any message that all +passengers had been saved, or anything on which such a +report could be based. + +Cottam said he was at work Monday and until Wednesday. +He repeated his testimony of the previous day and said he +had been without sleep throughout Sunday, Monday, Tuesday +and until late Wednesday afternoon when he had been +relieved by Bride. + +"Did you or Bride send any message declaring that the +Titanic was being towed into Halifax?" + +"No, sir," said the witness, with emphasis. + + +MARCONI EXPLAINS + +In an effort to determine whether the signal "C. Q. D." +might not have been misunderstood by passing ships, Senator +Smith called upon Mr. Marconi. + +"The `C. Q.,' " said Marconi, "is an international signal +which meant that all stations should cease sending except +the one using the call. The `D.' was added to indicate danger. +The call, however, now has been superseded by the universal +call, `S. O. S.' " + +BRIDE ON THE STAND + +Harold S. Bride, the sole surviving operator of the Titanic, +was then called. + +Bride said he knew the Frankfurt was nearer than the +Carpathia when he called for assistance, but that he ceased +his efforts to communicate with the former because her operator +persisted in asking, "What is the matter?" despite Bride's +message that the ship was in distress. + +Time after time Senator Smith asked in varying forms why +the Titanic did not explain its condition to the Frankfurt. + +"Any operator receiving `C. Q. D.' and the position of the +ship, if he is on the job," said Bride, "would tell the captain at +once." + +Marconi again testified to the distress signals, and said +that the Frankfurt was equipped with Marconi wireless. +He said that the receipt of the signal "C. Q. D." by the +Frankfurt's operator should have been all-sufficient to send +the Frankfurt to the immediate rescue. + + +ALL APPEALS RECEIVED + +Under questioning by Senator Smith, Bride said that +undoubtedly the Frankfurt received all of the urgent appeals +for help sent subsequently to the Carpathia. + + +INVESTIGATION CARRIED TO WASHINGTON + +The first witness when the investigation was resumed in +Washington on April 22d was P. A. S. Franklin, vice-president +of the International Mercantile Marine Company. + +Franklin testified that he had had no communication +with Captain Smith during the Titanic's voyage, nor with +Ismay, except one cable from Southampton. + +Senator Smith then showed Mr. Franklin the telegram +received by Congressman Hughes, of West Virginia, from +the White Star Line, dated New York, April 15th, and addressed +to J. A. Hughes, Huntington, W. Va., as follows: + + +"Titanic proceeding to Halifax. Passengers probably +land on Wednesday. All safe. + (Signed) "THE WHITE STAR LINE. " + + +TELEGRAM A MYSTERY + +"I ask you," continued the senator, "whether you know +about the sending of that telegram, by whom it was authorized +and from whom it was sent?" + +"I do not, sir," said Franklin. "Since it was mentioned +at the Waldorf Saturday we have had the entire passenger +staff examined and we cannot find out." + +Asked when he first knew that the Titanic had sunk, +Franklin said he first knew it about 6.27 P.M., Monday. + +Mr. Franklin then produced a thick package of telegrams +which he had received in relation to the disaster. + +"About twenty minutes of two on Monday morning," +said he, "I was awakened by a telephone bell, and was called +by a reporter for some paper who informed me that the +Titanic had met with an accident and was sinking. I asked +him where he got the information. He told me that it had +come by wireless from the steamship Virginian, which had +been appealed to by the Titanic for aid." + +Mr. Franklin said he called up the White Star docks, +but they had no information, and he then appealed to the +Associated Press, and there was read to him a dispatch from +Cape Race advising him of the accident. + +"I asked the Associated Press," said Mr. Franklin, "not +to send out the dispatch until we had more detailed information, +in order to avoid causing unnecessary alarm. I was +told, however, that the story already had been sent." + +The reassuring statements sent out by the line in the early +hours of the disaster next were made the subject of inquiry. + +"Tell the committee on what you based those statements," +directed Senator Smith. + +"We based them on reports and rumors received at Cape +Race by individuals and by the newspapers. They were +rumors, and we could not place our finger on anything +authentic." + + +FIRST DEFINITE NEWS + +"At 6.20 or 6.30 Monday evening," Mr. Franklin continued, +"a message was received telling the fateful news +that the Carpathia reached the Titanic and found nothing +but boats and wreckage; that the Titanic had foundered at +2.20 A.M. in 41.16 north, 50.14 west; that the Carpathia +picked up all the boats and had on board about 675 Titanic +survivors--passengers and crew. + +"It was such a terrible shock that it took me several +moments to think what to do. Then I went downstairs to +the reporters, I began to read the message, holding it high +in my hand. I had read only to the second line, which said +that the Titanic had sunk, when there was not a reporter +left--they were so anxious to get to the telephones. + + +SAFETY EQUIPMENT + +"The Titanic's equipment was in excess of the law," said +the witness. "It carried its clearance in the shape of a +certificate from the British Board of Trade. I might say that +no vessel can leave a British port without a certificate that +it is equipped to care for human lives aboard in case of +accident. It is the law." + +"Do you know of anyone, any officer or man or any official, +whom you deem could be held responsible for the accident +and its attendant loss of life?" + +"Positively not. No one thought such an accident could +happen. It was undreamed of. I think it would be absurd +to try to hold some individual responsible. Every precaution +was taken; that the precautions were of no avail is a +source of the deepest sorrow. But the accident was unavoidable." + + +FOURTH OFFICER TESTIFIES + +J. B. Boxhall, the fourth officer, was then questioned. + +"Were there any drills or any inspection before the Titanic +sailed?" he was asked. + +"Both," said the witness. "The men were mustered and +the life-boats lowered in the presence of the inspectors from +the Board of Trade." + +"How many boats were lowered?" + +"Just two, sir." + +"One on each side of the ship?" + +"No, sir. They were both on the same side. We were +lying in dock." + +The witness said he did not know whether the lowering +tackle ran free or not on that occasion. + +"In lowering the life-boats at the test, did the gear work +satisfactorily?" + +"So far as I know." + +In lowering a life-boat, he said, first the boat has to be +cleared, chocks knocked down and the boat hangs free. +Then the davits are screwed out to the ship's side and the +boat lowered. + +At the time of the tests all officers of the Titanic were +present. + +Boxhall said that under the weather conditions experienced +at the time of the collision the life-boats were supposed +to carry sixty-five persons. Under the regulations of the +British Board of Trade, in addition to the oars, there were +in the boats water breakers, water dippers, bread, bailers, +mast and sail and lights and a supply of oil. All of these +supplies, said Boxhall, were in the boats when the Titanic +left Belfast. He could not say whether they were in when +the vessel left Southampton. + +"Now," repeated Senator Smith, "suppose the weather +was clear and the sky unruffled, as it was at the time of the +disaster, how many would the boat hold?" + +"Really, I don't know. It would depend largely upon the +people who were to enter. If they did as they were told I +believe each boat could accommodate sixty-five persons." + +Boxhall testified to the sobriety and good habits of his +superior and brother officers. + + +NO TRACE OF DAMAGE INSIDE + +Boxhall said he went down to the steerage, inspected all the +decks in the vicinity of where the ship had struck, found no +traces of any damage and went directly to the bridge and so +reported. + + +CARPENTER FOUND LEAKS + +"The captain ordered me to send a carpenter to sound the +ship, but I found a carpenter coming up with the announcement +that the ship was taking water. In the mail room I +found mail sacks floating about while the clerks were at work. +I went to the bridge and reported, and the captain ordered +the life-boats to be made ready." + +Boxhall testified that at Captain Smith's orders he took +word of the ship's position to the wireless operators. + +"What position was that?" + +"Forty-one forty-six north, fifty fourteen west." + +"Was that the last position taken?" + +"Yes, the Titanic stood not far from there when she sank." + +After that Boxhall went back to the life-boats, where there +were many men and women. He said they had been provided +with life-belts. + + +{illust. caption = THE EFFECTS OF STRIKING AN ICEBERG + +(1) Shows normal....} + + +DISTRESS ROCKETS FIRED + +"After that I was on the bridge most of the time sending +out distress signals, trying to attract the attention of boats +ahead," he said. "I sent up distress rockets until I left the +ship, to try to attract the attention of a ship directly ahead. +I had seen her lights. She seemed to be meeting us and was +not far away. She got close enough, so she seemed to me, to +read our Morse electric signals." + +"Suppose you had a powerful search light on the Titanic, +could you not have thrown a beam on the vessel and have +compelled her attention?" + +"We might." + +H. J. Pitman, the third officer of the ship, was the first +witness on April 23d. By a series of searching questions +Senator Fletcher brought out the fact that when the collision +occurred the Titanic was going at the greatest speed attained +during the trip, even though the ship was entering the Grand +Banks and had been advised of the presence of ice. + +Frederick Fleet, a sailor and lookout man on the Titanic, +followed Pitman on the stand. Fleet said he had had five or +six years' experience at sea and was lookout on the Oceanic +prior to going on the Titanic. He was in the crow's nest +at the time of the collision. + +Fleet stated that he had kept a sharp lookout for ice, and +testified to seeing the iceberg and signaling the bridge. + +Fleet acknowledged that if he had been aided in his +observations by a good glass he probably could have spied +the berg into which the ship crashed in time to have warned +the bridge to avoid it. Major Arthur Peuchen, of Toronto, +a passenger who followed Fleet on the stand, also testified +to the much greater sweep of vision afforded by binoculars +and, as a yachtsman, said he believed the presence of the iceberg +might have been detected in time to escape the collision +had the lookout men been so equipped. + + +HAD ASKED FOR BINOCULARS + +It was made to appear that the blame for being without +glasses did not rest with the lookout men. Fleet said they +had asked for them at Southampton and were told there were +none for them. One glass, in a pinch, would have served in +the crow's nest. + +The testimony before the committee on April 24th showed +that the big steamship was on the verge of a field of ice twenty +or thirty miles long, if she had not actually entered it, when +the accident occurred. + +The committee tried to discover whether it would add to +human safety if the ships were fitted with search lights so that +at night objects could be seen at a greater distance. The +testimony so far along this line had been conflicting. Some +of the witnesses thought it would be no harm to try it, but +they were all skeptical as to its value, as an iceberg would +not be especially distinguishable because its bulk is mostly +below the surface. + +One of the witnesses said that much dependence is not +placed upon the lookout, and that those lookouts who used +binoculars constantly found them detrimental. + +Harold G. Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, told the +committee his part in the struggle of the survivors for life +following the catastrophe. The details of this struggle have +have already been told in a previous chapter. + + +AUTHORIZED TO SELL STORY + +In great detail Guglielmo Marconi, on April 25th, +explained the operations of his system and told how he had +authorized Operator Bride of the Titanic, and Operator +Cottam, of the Carpathia, to sell their stories of the disaster +after they came ashore. + +In allowing the operator's to sell their stories, said Mr. +Marconi, there was no question of suppressing or monopolizing +the news. He had done everything he could, he said, +to have the country informed as quickly as possible of the +details of the disaster. That was why he was particularly +glad for the narratives of such important witnesses as the +operators to receive publication, regardless of the papers that +published them. + +He repeated the testimony of Cottam that every effort +had been made to get legitimate dispatches ashore. The +cruiser Chester, he said, had been answered as fully as +possible, though it was not known at the time that its queries +came from the President of the United States. The Salem, +he said, had never got in touch with the Carpathia operator. + +Senator Newlands suggested that the telegrams, some +signed by the name of Mr. Sammis and some with the name +of Marconi, directing Cottam to "keep his mouth shut" +and hold out for four figures on his story, was sent only as +the Carpathia was entering New York harbor, when there +was no longer need for sending official or private messages +from the rescuing ship. There had been an impression before, +he said, that the messages had been sent to Cottam when +the ship was far at sea, when they might have meant that +he was to hold back messages relieving the anxiety of those +on shore. + + +SAW DISTRESS ROCKETS + +Ernest Gill, a donkey engineman on the steamship Californian, +was the first witness on April 26th. He said that Captain +Stanley Lord, of the Californian, refused later to go to the aid +of the Titanic, the rockets from which could be plainly seen. +He says the captain was apprised of these signals, but made no +effort to get up steam and go to the rescue. The Californian +was drifting with the floe. So indignant did he become, said +Gill, that he endeavored to recruit a committee of protest +from among the crew, but the men failed him. + +Captain Lord entered a sweeping denial of Gill's accusations +and read from the Californian's log to support his contention. +Cyril Evans, the Californian's wireless operator, +however, told of hearing much talk among the crew, who +were critical of the captain's course. Gill, he said, told him +he expected to get $500 for his story when the ship reached +Boston. + +Evans told of having warned the Titanic only a brief time +before the great vessel crashed into the berg that the sea was +crowded with ice. The Titanic's operators, he said, at the +time were working with the wireless station at Cape Race, +and they told him to "shut up" and keep out. Within a +half hour the pride of the sea was crumpled and sinking. + +Members of the committee who examined individually +the British sailors and stewards of the Titanic's crew prepared +a report of their investigations for the full committee. This +testimony was ordered to be incorporated in the record of the +hearings. + +Most of this testimony was but a repetition of experiences +similar to the many already related by those who got away +in the life-boats. + +On April 27th Captain James H. Moore, of the steamship +Mount Temple, who hurried to the Titanic in response to +wireless calls for help, told of the great stretch of field ice +which held him off. Within his view from the bridge he +discerned, he said, a strange steamship, probably a "tramp," +and a schooner which was making her way out of the ice. +The lights of this schooner, he thought, probably were those +seen by the anxious survivors of the Titanic and which they +were frantically trying to reach. + + +WOMEN AT HEARING WEEP + +Steward Crawford also related a thrilling story in regard +to loading the life-boats with women first. He told of several +instances that came under his observation of women throwing +their arms around their husbands and crying out that they +would not leave the ship without them. The pathetic recital +caused several women at the hearing to weep, and all within +earshot of the steward's story were thrilled. + + +ANDREWS WAS BRAVE + +Stories that Mr. Andrews, the designer of the ship, had +tried to disguise the extent of danger were absolutely denied +by Henry Samuel Etches, his bedroom steward, who told +the committee how Mr. Andrews urged women back to their +cabins to dress more warmly and to put on life-belts. + +The steward, whose duty it was to serve Major Butt and +his party, told how he did not see the Major at dinner the +evening of the disaster as he was dining with a private party +in the restaurant. William Burke, a first class steward, told +of serving dinner at 7.15 o'clock to Mr. and Mrs. Straus, +and later Mrs. Straus' refusal to leave her husband was +again told to the committee. A bedroom steward told of a +quiet conversation with Benjamin Guggenheim, Senator +Guggenheim's brother, after the accident and shortly before +the Titanic settled in the plunge that was to be his death. + +On April 29th Marconi produced copies of several messages +which passed between the Marconi office and the +Carpathia in an effort to get definite information of the +wreck and the survivors. + +Marconi and F. M. Sammis, chief engineer of the American +Marconi Company, both acknowledged that a mistake +had been made in sending messages to Bride and Cottam on +board the Carpathia not to give out any news until they had +seen Marconi and Sammis. + +The senatorial committee investigating the Titanic disaster +has served several good purposes. It has officially established +the fact that all nations are censurable for insufficient, antiquated +safety regulations on ocean vessels, and it has emphasized +the imperative necessity for united action among +all maritime countries to revise these laws and adapt them to +changed conditions. + + +The committee reported its findings as follows: + +GENERAL CONCLUSIONS + +No particular person is named as being responsible, though attention +is called to the fact that on the day of the disaster three distinct warnings +of ice were sent to Captain Smith. J. Bruce Ismay, managing director +of the White Star Line, is not held responsible for the ship's high speed. +In fact, he is barely mentioned in the report. + +Ice positions, so definitely reported to the Titanic just preceding the +accident, located ice on both sides of the lane in which she was traveling. +No discussion took place among the officers, no conference was called to +consider these warnings, no heed was given to them. The speed was not +relaxed, the lookout was not increased. + +The supposedly water-tight compartments of the Titanic were not water- +tight, because of the non-water-tight condition of the decks where the +transverse bulkheads ended. + +The steamship Californian, controlled by the same concern as the Titanic, +was nearer the sinking steamship than the nineteen miles reported by her +captain, and her officers and crew saw the distress signals of the Titanic +and failed to respond to them in accordance with the dictates of humanity, +international usage and the requirements of law. Had assistance been +promptly proffered the Californian might have had the proud distinction +of rescuing the lives of the passengers and crew of the Titanic. + +The mysterious lights on an unknown ship, seen by the passengers on +the Titanic, undoubtedly were on the Californian, less than nineteen miles +away. + +Eight ships, all equipped with wireless, were in the vicinity of the Titanic, +the Olympic farthest away--512 miles. + +The full capacity of the Titanic's life-boats was not utilized, because, while +only 705 persons were saved, the ship's boats could have carried 1176. + +No general alarm was sounded, no whistle blown and no systematic +warning was given to the endangered passengers, and it was fifteen or +twenty minutes after the collision before Captain Smith ordered the +Titanic's wireless operator to send out a distress message. + +The Titanic's crew were only meagerly acquainted with their positions +and duties in an accident and only one drill was held before the maiden +trip. Many of the crew joined the ship only a few hours before she sailed +and were in ignorance of their positions until the following Friday. + +Many more lives could have been saved had the survivors been concentrated +in a few life-boats, and had the boats thus released returned to the +wreck for others. + +The first official information of the disaster was the message from +Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, received by the White Star Line at +6.16 P. M., Monday, April 15. In the face of this information a message +reporting the Titanic being towed to Halifax was sent to Representative +J. A. Hughes, at Huntington, W. Va., at 7.51 P. M. that day. The +message was delivered to the Western Union office in the same building as +the White Star Line offices. + +"Whoever sent this message," says the report, "under the circumstances, +is guilty of the most reprehensible conduct." + +The wireless operator on the Carpathia was not duly vigilant in handling +his messages after the accident. + +The practice of allowing wireless operators to sell their stories should +be stopped. + + +RECOMMENDATIONS. + +It is recommended that all ships carrying more than 100 passengers +shall have two searchlights. + +That a revision be made of steamship inspection laws of foreign countries +to conform to the standard proposed in the United States. + +That every ship be required to carry sufficient life-boats for all passengers +and crew. + +That the use of wireless be regulated to prevent interference by amateurs, +and that all ships have a wireless operator on constant duty. + +Detailed recommendations are made as to water-tight bulkhead construction +on ocean-going ships. Bulkheads should be so spaced that any +two adjacent compartments of a ship might be flooded without sinking. + +Transverse bulkheads forward and abaft the machinery should be +continued watertight to the uppermost continuous structural deck, and +this deck should be fitted water-tight. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Sinking of the Titanic + diff --git a/old/ttnic10.zip b/old/ttnic10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7beb8d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ttnic10.zip |