Back Aa

Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters, The

<h1> SINKING OF THE TITANIC </h1> <h3> AND GREAT SEA DISASTERS </h3> <h2> By Various </h2> <h2> Edited by Logan Marshall </h2> <hr /> <blockquote> Dedication To the 1635 souls who were lost with the ill-fated Titanic, and especially to those heroic men, who, instead of trying to save themselves, stood aside that women and children might have their chance; of each of them let it be written, as it was written of a Greater One—"He Died that Others might Live" "I stood in unimaginable trance And agony that cannot be remembered."—COLERIDGE </blockquote> <hr /> <h2>Introduction</h2> Dr. Van Dyke's Spiritual Consolation to the Survivors of the Titanic The Titanic, greatest of ships, has gone to her ocean grave. What has she left behind her? Think clearly. She has left debts. Vast sums of money have been lost. Some of them are covered by insurance which will be paid. The rest is gone. All wealth is insecure. She has left lessons. The risk of running the northern course when it is menaced by icebergs is revealed. The cruelty of sending a ship to sea without enough life-boats and life-rafts to hold her company is exhibited and underlined in black. She has left sorrows. Hundreds of human hearts and homes are in mourning for the loss of dear companions and friends. The universal sympathy which is written in every face and heard in every voice proves that man is more than the beasts that perish. It is an evidence of the divine in humanity. Why should we care? There is no reason in the world, unless there is something in us that is different from lime and carbon and phosphorus, something that makes us mortals able to suffer together— "For we have all of us an human heart." But there is more than this harvest of debts, and lessons, and sorrows, in the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. There is a great ideal. It is clearly outlined and set before the mind and heart of the modern world, to approve and follow, or to despise and reject. It is, "Women and children first!" Whatever happened on that dreadful April night among the arctic ice, certainly that was the order given by the brave and steadfast captain; certainly that was the law obeyed by the men on the doomed ship. But why? There is no statute or enactment of any nation to enforce such an order. There is no trace of such a rule to be found in the history of ancient civilizations. There is no authority for it among the heathen races to-day. On a Chinese ship, if we may believe the report of an official representative, the rule would have been "Men First, children next, and women last." There is certainly no argument against this barbaric rule on physical or material grounds. On the average, a man is stronger than a woman, he is worth more than a woman, he has a longer prospect of life than a woman. There is no reason in all the range of physical and economic science, no reason in all the philosophy of the Superman, why he should give his place in the life-boat to a woman. Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking Titanic come from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the strong ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." It is the divine revelation which is summed up in the words: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic to bring out the absolute contradiction between this ideal and all the counsels of materialism and selfish expediency. I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found in other religions. I do not say that they are against it. I do not ask any man to accept my theology (which grows shorter and simpler as I grow older), unless his heart leads him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the strength of the strong is given them to protect and save the weak, the ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," is in essential harmony with the spirit of Christ. If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this ideal is supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find arguments for it. The tragedy of facts sets the question clearly before us. Think about it. Is this ideal to survive and prevail in our civilization or not? Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and dominion. But what a world to live in! Only through the belief that the strong are bound to protect and save the weak because God wills it so, can we hope to keep self-sacrifice, and love, and heroism, and all the things that make us glad to live and not afraid to die. HENRY VAN DYKE. PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912. <hr /> <hr /> <h2> DETAILED CONTENTS </h2> <blockquote> 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 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 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 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. 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!" 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. CHAPTER VIII THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD The value of the wireless—Other ships alter their course—Rescuers on the way. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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". 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. 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. 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. CHAPTER XXI SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia—Bremen passengers see bodies—Identifying bodies—Confusion in names—Recoveries. 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. CHAPTER XXIII THE FINANCIAL LOSS Titanic not fully insured—Valuable cargo and mail—No chance for salvage—Life insurance loss—Loss to the Carpathia. 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. CHAPTER XXV OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS. Deadly danger of icebergs—Dozens of ships perish in collision—Other disasters. 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. 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. 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. 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. </blockquote> <hr /> <h2> FACTS ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC </h2> NUMBER of persons aboard, 2340. Number of life-boats and rafts, 20. Capacity of each life-boat, 50 passengers and crew of 8. Utmost capacity of life-boats and rafts, about 1100. Number of life-boats wrecked in launching, 4. Capacity of life-boats safely launched, 928. Total number of persons taken in life-boats, 711. Number who died in life-boats, 6. Total number saved, 705. Total number of Titanic's company lost, 1635. The cause of the disaster was a collision with an iceberg in latitude 41.46 north, longitude 50.14 west. The Titanic had had repeated warnings of the presence of ice in that part of the course. Two official warnings had been received defining the position of the ice fields. It had been calculated on the Titanic that she would reach the ice fields about 11 o'clock Sunday night. The collision occurred at 11.40. At that time the ship was driving at a speed of 21 to 23 knots, or about 26 miles, an hour. There had been no details of seamen assigned to each boat. Some of the boats left the ship without seamen enough to man the oars. Some of the boats were not more than half full of passengers. The boats had no provisions, some of them had no water stored, some were without sail equipment or compasses. In some boats, which carried sails wrapped and bound, there was not a person with a knife to cut the ropes. In some boats the plugs in the bottom had been pulled out and the women passengers were compelled to thrust their hands into the holes to keep the boats from filling and sinking. The captain, E. J. Smith, admiral of the White Star fleet, went down with his ship. <hr /> <h2> CHAPTER I. FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY </h2> "THE TITANIC IN COLLISION, BUT EVERYBODY SAFE"—ANOTHER TRIUMPH SET DOWN TO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY—THE WORLD GOES TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY—THE SAD AWAKENING. LIKE a bolt out of a clear sky came the wireless message on Monday, April 15, 1912, that on Sunday night the great Titanic, on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic, had struck a gigantic iceberg, but that all the passengers were saved. The ship had signaled her distress and another victory was set down to wireless. Twenty-one hundred lives saved! Additional news was soon received that the ship had collided with a mountain of ice in the North Atlantic, off Cape Race, Newfoundland, at 10.25 Sunday evening, April 14th. At 4.15 Monday morning the Canadian Government Marine Agency received a wireless message that the Titanic was sinking and that the steamers towing her were trying to get her into shoal water near Cape Race, for the purpose of beaching her. Wireless despatches up to noon Monday showed that the passengers of the Titanic were being transferred aboard the steamer Carpathia, a Cunarder, which left New York, April 13th, for Naples. Twenty boat-loads of the Titanic's passengers were said to have been transferred to the Carpathia then, and allowing forty to sixty persons as the capacity of each life-boat, some 800 or 1200 persons had already been transferred from the damaged liner to the Carpathia. They were reported as being taken to Halifax, whence they would be sent by train to New York. Another liner, the Parisian, of the Allan Company, which sailed from Glasgow for Halifax on April 6th, was said to be close at hand and assisting in the work of rescue. The Baltic, Virginian and Olympic were also near the scene, according to the information received by wireless. While badly damaged, the giant vessel was reported as still afloat, but whether she could reach port or shoal water was uncertain. The White Star officials declared that the Titanic was in no immediate danger of sinking, because of her numerous water-tight compartments. "While we are still lacking definite information," Mr. Franklin, vice-president of the White Star Line, said later in the afternoon, "we believe the Titanic's passengers will reach Halifax, Wednesday evening. We have received no further word from Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, or from any of the ships in the vicinity, but are confident that there will be no loss of life." With the understanding that the survivors would be taken to Halifax the line arranged to have thirty Pullman cars, two diners and many passenger coaches leave Boston Monday night for Halifax to get the passengers after they were landed. Mr. Franklin made a guess that the Titanic's passengers would get into Halifax on Wednesday. The Department of Commerce and Labor notified the White Star Line that customs and immigration inspectors would be sent from Montreal to Halifax in order that there would be as little delay as possible in getting the passengers on trains. Monday night the world slept in peace and assurance. A wireless message had finally been received, reading: "All Titanic's passengers safe." It was not until nearly a week later that the fact was discovered that this message had been wrongly received in the confusion of messages flashing through the air, and that in reality the message should have read: "Are all Titanic's passengers safe?" With the dawning of Tuesday morning came the awful news of the true fate of the Titanic. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

1 of 2

2 of 2

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.