Титаник

           “Immediatelybelowourboatwastheexhaustofthecondensers,andahugestreamofwaterwaspouringallthetimefromtheship’ssidejustabovethewater-line.Itwasplainthatweoughttobesmartawayfromitifweweretoescapeswampingwhenwetouchedthewater.Wehadnoofficersonboard,andnopettyofficerormemberofthecrewtotakecharge,sooneofthestokersshouted,’Someonefindthepinwhichreleasestheboatfromtheropesandpullitup!’Nooneknewwhereitwas.Wefeltaswellaswecouldonthefloor,andalongthesides,butfoundnothing.Itwasdifficulttomoveamongsomanypeople.Wehadsixtyorseventyonboard.Downwewent,andpresentlywefloatedwithourropesstillholdingus,andthestreamofwaterfromtheexhaustwashingusawayfromthesideofthevessel,whiletheswelloftheseaurgedusbackagainstthesideagain.

           “Theresultofalltheseforceswasthatwewerecarriedparalleltotheship’sside,anddirectlyunderboatN,whichhadfilledrapidlywithmen,andwascomingdownonusinawaythatthreatenedtosubmergeourboat.

           “‘Stoplowering14,’ourcrewshouted,andthecrewofN,nowonly20feetabove,criedoutthesame.Thedistancetothetop,however,wassome70feet,andthecreakingofthepulleysmusthavedeadenedallsoundtothoseabove,fordownshecame,15feet,10feet,5feet,andastokerandIreachedupandtouchedthebottomoftheswingingboataboveourheads.Thenextdropwouldhavebroughtheronourheads.Justbeforeshedroppedanotherstokersprangtotheropeswithhisknifeopeninhishand.