Титаник

           Thelastcollapsibleboatwasbeingstruggledwithontheupperdeck,buttherewerenoseamenaboutwhounderstooditsstiffmechanism;unaccustomedhandsfumbleddesperatelywithit,andfinallypusheditoverthesideinitscollapsedconditionforuseasaraft.Manyoftheseamenandstewardshadgatheredinthebar-room,wheretheattendantwasservingoutglassesofwhiskeytoanyandallwhocameforit;butmostmenhadaninstinctagainstbeingundercover,andpreferredtostandoutintheopen.

           Andnowthoseintheboatsthathaddrawnofffromtheshipcouldseethattheendwasathand.Herbowshadgoneunder,althoughthesternwasstillfairlyhighoutofthewater.Shehadsunkdownattheforwardendofthegreatsuperstructureamidships;herdeckswerejustawash,andtheblackthrongwasmovingaft.Theshipwasblazingwithlight,andthestrainsofthebandwerefaintlyheardstillplayingastheyhadbeencommandedtodo.Buttheyhadceasedtoplaythejollyrag-timetuneswithwhichthebustleandlabourofgettingofftheboatshadbeenaccompanied;solemnstrains,thestrainsofahymn,couldbeheardcomingoverthewaters.Manywomenintheboats,lookingbacktowardsthatlightedandsubsidingmass,knewthatsomewhere,invisibleamongthethrong,wasallthattheyhelddearestintheworldwaitingfordeath;andtheycoulddonothing.Sometriedtogetthecrewstoturnback,wringingtheirhands,beseeching,imploring;butnocrewdaredfacetheneighbourhoodofthegiantinherdeathagony.Theycouldonlywait,andshiver,andlook.