Титаник

           Forward,however,itbecamealmostimmediatelyapparenttocertainpeoplethattherewassomethinggrievouslywrong;firemenontheirwaythroughthepassagealongtheship’sbottomleadingbetweentheirquartersandNstokeholdfoundwatercomingin,andrapidlyturnedback.Theyweremetontheirwayupthestaircasebyanofficerwhoaskedthemwhattheyweredoing.Theytoldhim.“There’swatercomingintoourplace,Sir,”theysaid;andashethoughttheywereoffdutyhedidnotturnthemback.

           Mr.Andrews,apartnerinHarlandandWolff’s,andoneoftheTitanic’sdesigners,hadgonequietlydownbyhimselftoinvestigatethedamage,and,greataswashisbeliefinthegianthehadhelpedtocreate,itmusthavebeenshakenwhenhefoundthewaterpouringintoherattherateofhundredsoftonsaminute.Evenhisconfidenceinthosemightysteelwallsthatstretchedonebehindtheotherinsuccessionalongthewholelengthoftheshipcouldnothavebeenproofagainsttheknowledgethatthreeorfourofthemhadbeenpiercedbythelongripoftheice-tooth.Therewasjustachancethatshewouldholduplongenoughtoallowofrelieftoarriveintime;butitiscertainthatfromthatmomentMr.Andrewsdevotedhimselftowarningpeople,andhelpingtogetthemaway,sofarashecoulddosowithoutcreatingapanic.

           Mostofthepassengers,remember,werestillasleepduringthishalfhour.Oneofthemostterriblethingspossibleatseaisapanic,andCaptainSmithwasparticularlyanxiousthatnoalarmshouldbegivenbeforeorunlessitwasabsolutelynecessary.HeheardwhatMr.