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...............................................................19
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.........................................................22
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..........................................................30
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 Straus,
J. Bruce Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d,
Charles M. Hays, W. T. Stead and others.....................................37

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........................................................................46
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!".................57
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...................................................................82
CHAPTER VIII
THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD
The value of the wireless—Other ships alter their course—Rescuers
on the way.................................................................106
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........................110

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.........................129
CHAPTER XI
PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS
Police arrangements—Donations of money and supplies—Hospital
and ambulances made ready—Private houses thrown open—Waiting for
the Carpathia to arrive—The ship sighted!...............................141
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...........................................153
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..........................................183
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........188

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..................................................................197
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...........................................204
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 ragtime
and "Autumn"...............................................................209
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 aboard capsized.....................................................215
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..................221

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......................................................231
CHAPTER XXI
SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD
Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia—Bremen passengers
see bodies—Identifying bodies—Confusion in names—Recoveries.......242
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..........251
CHAPTER XXIII
THE FINANCIAL LOSS
Titanic not fully insured—Valuable cargo and mail—No chance for
salvage—Life insurance loss—Loss to the Carpathia....................256
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............................................................260

CHAPTER XXV
OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS.
Deadly danger of icebergs—Dozens of ships perish in collision—Other
disasters..................................................................264
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...............272
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....................................................................280
CHAPTER XXVIII
TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORM
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—Co-operation in arranging schedules
to keep vessels within reach of each other—Legal regulations............287
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........................................................296

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