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