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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

THE DOOMED MEN

"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST"

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

8.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

21.

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

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

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

25.

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

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

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

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

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

THE DOOMED MEN

As the ship began to settle to starboard, heeling at an angle of nearly forty-five degrees, those who had believed it was all right to stick by the ship began to have doubts, and a few jumped into the sea. They were followed immediately by others, and in a few minutes there were scores swimming around. Nearly all of them wore life-preservers. One man, who had a Pomeranian dog, leaped overboard with it and striking a piece of wreckage was badly stunned. He recovered after a few minutes and swam toward one of the life-boats and was taken aboard.

Said one survivor, speaking of the men who remained on the ship. "There they stood—Major Butt, Colonel Astor waving a farewell to his wife, Mr. Thayer, Mr. Case, Mr. Clarence Moore, Mr. Widener, all multimillionaires, and hundreds of other men, bravely smiling at us all. Never have I seen such chivalry and fortitude. Such courage in the face of fate horrible to contemplate filled us even then with wonder and admiration."

Why were men saved? ask: others who seek to make the occasional male survivor a hissing scorn; and yet the testimony makes it clear that for a long time during that ordeal the more frightful position seemed to many to be in the frail boats in the vast relentless sea, and that some men had to be tumbled into the boats under orders from the officers. Others

80

express the deepest indignation that 210 sailors were rescued, the testimony shows that most of these sailors were in the welter of ice and water into which they had been thrown from the ship's deck when she sank; they were human beings and so were picked up and saved.