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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
Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters |  |
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
"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."
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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
Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters | |