Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters

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.

[section]

SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC

CARRIED CREW OF 860

MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP

THE ENGINE ROOM

COMFORT AND STABILITY

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.

[section]

THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN

ALMOST IN A COLLISION

NEW BURST OF SPEED EACH DAY

FIRE IN THE COAL BUNKERS

PASSENGERS IN IGNORANCE

USUAL DIVERSION

AN UNHEEDED WARNING

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

OTHER ENGLISHMEN ABOARD

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

[section]

TARDY ATTENTION TO WARNING RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT

MURDOCK PAID WITH LIFE

VAIN TRIAL TO CLEAR BERG

BRIDGE GAME NOT DISTURBED

THE CAPTAIN ON DECK

PASSENGERS NOT ALARMED

ASTOR AND WIFE STROLLED ON DECK

A SUDDEN TREMOR OF FEAR

CONFUSION AMONG THE IMMIGRANTS

WIRELESS OPERATOR DIED AT HIS POST

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!"

[section]

THE LIFE-BOATS LOWERED

LOADING THE BOATS

COOLEST MEN ON BOARD

FORCED MEN USURPING PLACES TO VACATE

LAST WORDS OF MAJOR BUTT

COLONEL ASTOR ANOTHER HERO

HEART-BREAKING SCENES

DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS

GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM

THE MONEY BOAT

MEN SHOT DOWN

A SAD MESSAGE

PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY

THE SINKING VESSEL

THE COWARD

THE DOOMED MEN

"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST"

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

[section]

COLONEL ASTOR'S DEATH

CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD

SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH

BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE

LAST MOMENTS

AFLOAT WITH JACK THAYER

HOW CAPTAIN SMITH DIED

A FAITHFUL OFFICER

A MESSAGE FROM A NOTORIOUS GAMBLER

FIFTY LADS MET DEATH

THE HEROES WHO REMAINED

THE OBVIOUS LESSON

THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE

CHAPTER VIII THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD THE VALUE OF THE WIRELESS—OTHER SHIPS ALTER THEIR COURSE—RESCUERS ON THE WAY

[section]

MANY LINES HEAR THE CALL

VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE

TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS

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

[section]

TITANIC STOOD UPRIGHT

SAW LAST OF BIG SHIP

"ONE LONG MOAN"

WOMEN TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE

SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN IN LIFE-BOATS

PHILADELPHIA WOMEN HEROINES

MANY WOMEN ROWING

THE PESSIMIST

COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN

MEN COULD NOT ROW

DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS

TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED

THE DOG HERO

A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE

THE SORROW OF THE LIVING

10.

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.

[section]

AID FOR THE SUFFERING AND HYSTERICAL

WOMEN SEEKING NEWS

TEARS THEIR ONLY RELIEF

PITIFUL SCENES OF GRIEF

SURVIVORS AID THE DESTITUTE

WOMEN BEFRIENDED ONE ANOTHER

DEATHS ON THE CARPATHIA

SURVIVORS WATCH NEW BOATS

MR. ISMAY "PITIABLE SIGHT"

FIVE DOGS AND ONE PIG SAVED

VOTE OF THANKS TO CARPATHIA

11.

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!

[section]

EVERY POSSIBLE MEASURE THOUGHT OF

MRS. VANDERBILT'S EFFORTS

RED CROSS RELIEF

CROWDS AT THE DOCKS

EARLY ARRIVALS AT PIER

EIGHT LIMOUSINE CARS

THIRTY-FIVE AMBULANCES AT THE PIER

FREE RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION

RELATIVES OF SAVED AND LOST

A MAN IN HYSTERICS

WAITING FOR CARPATHIA

RESCUE BOAT SIGHTED

12.

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

[section]

NEARING PORT

TALK WITH SURVIVORS

ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD

TITANIC CREW HEROES

RUSHES ON TO DOCK

THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS

ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN

LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR

DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED

A SAD STORY

MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS

CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S REPORT

LIST OF SURVIVORS

FIRST CABIN

LIST OF SURVIVORS—SECOND CABIN

ROLL OF THE DEAD

FIRST CABIN

SECOND CABIN

13.

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

14.

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

JUST ESCAPED ANOTHER BOAT

WATCHED THE TITANIC

15.

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

[section]

SEPARATED FROM PARENTS

THOUGHT SHIP WOULD FLOAT

SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER

16.

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

[section]

PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE

BAND CONTINUED PLAYING

17.

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"

[section]

GREAT SCRAMBLE ON DECK

BAND PLAYS IN RAG-TIME

18.

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

[section]

ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED

A CAPSIZED BOAT

SAVED HER POMERANIAN

FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS

19.

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

[section]

MESSAGE FROM SPAIN

HOUSE ADJOURNED

ROME MOURNED MAJOR BUTT

LONDON NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN LAXITY OF LAW

HOUSE OF COMMONS INVESTIGATION

WORK OF RAISING RELIEF FUNDS PROMPT

INDIGNANT GERMANY DEMANDS REFORMS

GERMAN LAWS ALSO INADEQUATE

PERSONAL ANXIETY

20.

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

[section]

DISASTER TO OLYMPIC

THE CAPTAIN'S LOVE OF THE SEA

BRAVE TO THE LAST

OTHER FAITHFUL MEN

FIFTH OFFICER LOWE

ENGINEERS DIED AT POSTS

NOBLE-HEARTED BAND

21.

CHAPTER XXI SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD SENDING OUT THE MACKAY-BENNETT AND MINIA—BREMEN PASSENGERS SEE BODIES—IDENTIFYING BODIES—CONFUSION IN NAMES—RECOVERIES

[section]

MINIA SENT TO ASSIST

NAMES BADLY GARBLED

BREMEN SIGHTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED BODIES

THE IDENTIFIED DEAD.

THE MACKAY-BENNETT RETURNS TO PORT

THE MINIA GIVES UP THE SEARCH

LIST OF IDENTIFIED DEAD

22.

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

23.

CHAPTER XXIII THE FINANCIAL LOSS TITANIC NOT FULLY INSURED—VALUABLE CARGO AND MAIL —NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE—LIFE INSURANCE LOSS—LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA

[section]

LOST MAIL MAY COST MILLIONS

NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE

LIFE INSURANCE LOSS

LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA

24.

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

[section]

VIEW OF LEWIS NIXON

THE UNSINKABLE SHIP

VIEW OF ROBERT H. KIRK

BULKHEAD DOORS PROBABLY OPEN

MANIA FOR SPEED

25.

CHAPTER XXV OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS DEADLY DANGER OF ICEBERGS—DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH IN COLLISION—OTHER DISASTERS

[section]

THE ARIZONA

DOZENS OF SHIPS PERISH

TOLL OF THE SEA

26.

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.

27.

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

[section]

WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS

SUBMARINE SIGNALS

IFEBOATS AND RAFTS

NIXON'S PONTOON

LIFE PRESERVERS AND BUOYS

ROCKETS

28.

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

[section]

SURVIVORS URGE REFORM

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED

PROMPT REFORMS

26.

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

[section]

CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S TESTIMONY

WEEPS AS HE TELLS STORY

TITANIC WAS A "LIFE-BOAT."

WIRELESS FAILED

TITANIC WELL EQUIPPED

SECOND OFFICER TESTIFIES

TITANIC KILLED RAPIDLY

COTTAM TELLS HIS STORY

INVESTIGATION CARRIED TO WASHINGTON

TELEGRAM A MYSTERY

FIRST DEFINITE NEWS

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

FOURTH OFFICER TESTIFIES

NO TRACE OF DAMAGE INSIDE

CARPENTER FOUND LEAKS

DISTRESS ROCKETS FIRED

HAD ASKED FOR BINOCULARS

AUTHORIZED TO SELL STORY

SAW DISTRESS ROCKETS

WOMEN AT HEARING WEEP

ANDREWS WAS BRAVE

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

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

157

engines, the washing of the sea, the tugboat's engines, made it hard to understand the woman's replies.

University of Virginia Library

TALK WITH SURVIVORS