Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters Part 33

{ill.u.s.t. caption = Above: MAIN STAIRWAY ON t.i.tANIC. TOP E DECK Below: SECOND LANDING. C DECK. GRAND STAIRWAY}

{ill.u.s.t. caption = MRS. JOHN B. THAYER

Mrs. Thayer and her son were....}

{ill.u.s.t. caption = JOHN B. THAYER

Second Vice-President of the...}

the boat were rapidly but carefully hauled aboard and given into the hands of the medical staff under the organization of Dr. McGee.

"We then learned the terrible news that the gigantic vessel, the unsinkable t.i.tanic, had gone down one hour and ten minutes after striking.

"From this time onward life-boats continued to arrive at frequent intervals. Every man of the Carpathia's crew was unsparing in his efforts to a.s.sist, to tenderly comfort each and every survivor. In all, sixteen boatloads were receives, containing altogether 720 persons, many in simply their night attire, others in evening dress, as if direct from an after-dinner reception, or concert. Most conspicuous was the coolness and self-possession, particularly of the women.

"Pathetic and heartrending incidents were many. There was not a man of the rescue party who was not moved almost to tears. Women arrived and frantically rushed from one gangway to another eagerly scanning the fresh arrivals in the boats for a lost husband or brother.

A CAPSIZED BOAT

"One boat arrived with the unconscious body of an English colonel. He had been taking out his mother on a visit, to three others of her sons.

He had succeeded in getting her away in one of the boats and he himself had found a place in another. When but a few-yards from the ill-fated s.h.i.+p the boat containing his mother capsized before his eyes.

"Immediately he dived into the water and commenced a frantic search for her. But in vain. Boat after boat endeavored to take him aboard, but he refused to give up, continuing to swim for nearly three hours until even his great strength of body and mind gave out and he was hauled unconscious into a pa.s.sing boat and brought aboard the Carpathia. The doctor gives little hope of his recovery.

"There were, I understand, twelve newly married couples aboard the big s.h.i.+p. The twelve brides have been saved, but of the husbands all but one have perished. That one would not have been here, had he not been urged to a.s.sist in manning a life-boat. Think of the self-sacrifice of these eleven heroes, who stood on the doomed vessel and parted from their brides forever, knowing full well that a few brief minutes would end all things for themselves.

"Many similar pathetic incidents could be related. Sad-eyed women roam aimlessly about the s.h.i.+p still looking vainly for husband, brother or father. To comfort them is impossible. All human efforts are being exerted on their behalf. Their material needs are satisfied in every way. But who can cure a broken heart?

SAVED HER POMERANIAN

"One of the earliest boats to arrive was seen to contain a woman tenderly clasping a pet Pomeranian. When a.s.sisted to the rope ladder and while the rope was being fastened around her she emphatically refused to give up for a second the dog which was evidently so much to her. He is now receiving as careful and tender attention as his mistress.

"A survivor informs me that there was on the s.h.i.+p a lady who was taking out a huge great Dane dog. When the boats were rapidly filling she appeared on deck with her canine companion and sadly entreated that he should be taken off with her. It was impossible. Human lives, those of women and children, were the first consideration. She was urged to seize the opportunity to save her own life and leave the dog. She refused to desert him and, I understand, sacrificed her life with him.

"One elderly lady was bewailing to a steward that she had lost everything. He indignantly replied that she should thank G.o.d her life was spared, never mind her replaceable property. The reply was pathetic:

"'I have lost everything--my husband,' and she broke into uncontrollable grief.

FOUR BOATS ADRIFT HE SAYS

"One incident that impressed me perhaps more than any other was the burial on Tuesday afternoon of four of the poor fellows who succeeded in safely getting away from the doomed vessel only to perish later from exhaustion and exposure as a result of their gallant efforts to bring to safety the pa.s.sengers placed in their charge in the life-boats. They were:

"W. H. Hoyte, Esq., first cla.s.s pa.s.senger.

"Abraham Hornner, third cla.s.s pa.s.senger.

"S. C. Siebert, steward.

"P. Lyons, sailor.

"The sailor and steward were unfortunately dead when taken aboard. The pa.s.sengers lived but a few minutes after. They were treated with the greatest attention. The funeral service was conducted amid profound silence and attended by a large number of survivors and rescuers. The bodies, covered by the national flag, were reverently consigned to the mighty deep from which they had been, alas, vainly, saved.

"Most gratifying to the officers and men of the Carpathia is the constantly expressive appreciation of the survivors."

He then told of the meeting of the survivors in the cabin of the Carpathia and of the resolution adopted, a statement of which has already been given in another chapter.

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

YOUNG and old, rich and poor were prostrated by the news of the disaster. Even Wall Street was neglected. Nor was the grief confined to America. European nations felt the horror of the calamity and sent expressions of sympathy. President Taft made public cablegrams received from the King and Queen of England, and the King of Belgium, conveying their sympathy to the American people in the sorrows which have followed the t.i.tanic disaster. The President's responses to both messages were also made public.

The following was the cablegram from King George, dated at Sandringham:

"The Queen and I are anxious to a.s.sure you and the American nation of the great sorrow which we experienced at the terrible loss of life that has occurred among the American citizens, as well as among my own subjects, by the foundering of the t.i.tanic. Our two countries are so intimately allied by ties of friends.h.i.+p and brotherhood that any misfortunes which affect the one must necessarily affect the other, and on the present terrible occasion they are both equally sufferers.

"GEORGE R. AND I."

President Taft's reply was as follows:

"In the presence of the appalling disaster to the t.i.tanic the people of the two countries are brought into community of grief through their common bereavement. The American people share in the sorrow of their kinsmen beyond the sea. On behalf of my countrymen I thank you for your sympathetic message.

"WILLIAM H. TAFT."

The message from King Albert of Belgium was as follows:

"I beg Your Excellency to accept my deepest condolences on the occasion of the frightful catastrophe to the t.i.tanic, which has caused such mourning in the American nation."

The President's acknowledgment follows:

"I deeply appreciate your sympathy with my fellow-countrymen who have been stricken with affliction through the disaster to the t.i.tanic."