Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters

Dr. Van Dyke's Spiritual Consolation to the Survivors of the Titanic

FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC

1.

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.

collapse section

2.

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.

SISTER SHIP OF OLYMPIC

CARRIED CREW OF 860

MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMSHIP

THE ENGINE ROOM

COMFORT AND STABILITY

collapse section

3.

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.

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

collapse section

4.

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

BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM

GEORGE D. WIDENER

COLONEL ROEBLING

WILLIAM T. STEAD

OTHER ENGLISHMEN ABOARD

JACQUES FUTRELLE

HENRY B. HARRIS

HENRY S. HARPER

FRANCIS DAVID MILLET

CHARLES M. HAYS

collapse section

5.

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

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

collapse section

6.

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!"

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

HENRY B. HARRIS

THREE EXPLOSIONS

IN THE FACE OF DEATH

DEATH FAILS TO PART MR. AND MRS. STRAUS

GIRL STEPS BACK TO DOOM

PREPARED TO DIE BRAVELY

THE SINKING VESSEL

"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST"

collapse section

7.

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

COLONEL ASTOR'S DEATH

CAPTAIN WASHED OVERBOARD

SAW BOTH OFFICERS PERISH

BAND PLAYED ITS OWN DIRGE

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

collapse section

8.

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

MANY LINES HEAR THE CALL

VIRGINIAN IN DESPERATE HASTE

TITANIC SENT OUT NO MORE NEWS

collapse section

9.

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

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

COUNTESS ROTHES AN EXPERT OARSWOMAN

MEN COULD NOT ROW

DEATHS ON THE LIFE-BOATS

GAMBLERS WERE POLITE

THE "LUCKY THIRTEEN"

A WONDERFUL DAWN

TRANSFERRING THE RESCUED

A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF RESCUE

THE SORROW OF THE LIVING

collapse section

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.

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

collapse section

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!

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

collapse section

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

TALK WITH SURVIVORS

ALL CARED FOR ON BOARD

TITANIC CREW HEROES

RUSHES ON TO DOCK

THE TITANIC LIFE-BOATS

ANXIOUS MEN AND WOMEN

THE FIRST SURVIVORS

MRS. CORNELL SAFE

MRS. ASTOR APPEARED

LAST SEEN OF COLONEL ASTOR

DR. FRAUENTHAL WELCOMED

MORE THAN SEVENTY WIDOWS

STEERAGE PASSENGERS

TWO LITTLE BOYS

THE RYERSON FAMILY

CAPTAIN ROSTRON'S REPORT

collapse section

LIST OF SURVIVORS

LIST OF SURVIVORS—SECOND CABIN

collapse section

ROLL OF THE DEAD

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

collapse section

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

ONLY A SLIGHT JAR

SOME WERE AWAKENED

NO OFFICER ABOARD

JUST ESCAPED ANOTHER BOAT

WATCHED THE TITANIC

collapse section

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

SEPARATED FROM PARENTS

THOUGHT SHIP WOULD FLOAT

SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER

collapse section

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

PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE

BAND CONTINUED PLAYING

collapse section

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"

GREAT SCRAMBLE ON DECK

BAND PLAYS IN RAG-TIME

collapse section

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

ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED

A CAPSIZED BOAT

SAVED HER POMERANIAN

FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS

collapse section

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

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

collapse section

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

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

collapse section

21.

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

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

collapse section

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

FEELING IN ENGLAND

REPLY TO CHARGES

collapse section

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

LOST MAIL MAY COST MILLIONS

NO CHANCE FOR SALVAGE

LIFE INSURANCE LOSS

LOSS TO THE CARPATHIA

collapse section

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

VIEW OF LEWIS NIXON

THE UNSINKABLE SHIP

VIEW OF ROBERT H. KIRK

BULKHEAD DOORS PROBABLY OPEN

MANIA FOR SPEED

collapse section

25.

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

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.

collapse section

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

WATER-TIGHT BULKHEADS

SUBMARINE SIGNALS

IFEBOATS AND RAFTS

NIXON'S PONTOON

LIFE PRESERVERS AND BUOYS

collapse section

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

SURVIVORS URGE REFORM

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED

collapse section

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

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

COTTAM RECALLED

MARCONI EXPLAINS

BRIDE ON THE STAND

ALL APPEALS RECEIVED

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 section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

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

199

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.