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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 |  |
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
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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 | |