Титаник

           Thecollapsibleboat,whichBridehadseenagroupofpassengersattemptingtolaunchafewminutesbeforetheshipsank,waswashedoffbyawaveinitscollapsedcondition.Suchboatscontainaircompartmentsintheirbottom,andthus,evenalthoughtheyarenotopened,theyfloatlikerafts,andcancarryaconsiderableweight.Someofthosewhoweresweptofftheshipbythesamewavethattooktheboatfoundthemselvesnearitandclimbedontoit.Mr.Lightoller,theSecondOfficer,haddivedastheshipdived,andbeensuckeddownthesteepsubmergedwallofthehullagainstthegratingovertheblowerfortheexhauststeam.Fardownunderthewaterhefelttheforceofanexplosionwhichblewhimuptothesurface,wherehebreathedforamoment,andwasthensuckedbackbythewaterwashingintotheshipasitsank.Thistimehelandedagainstthegratingoverthepipesthatfurnishedthedraughtforthefunnels,andstuckthere.Therewasanotherexplosion,andagainhecametothesurfacenotmanyfeetfromtheship,andfoundhimselfnearthecollapsibleboat,towhichheclung.Itwasquitenearhimthatthehugefunnelfelloverintothewaterandkilledmanyswimmersbeforehiseyes.Hedriftedforatimeonthecollapsibleboat,untilhewastakenoffintooneofthelifeboats.

           Bridealsofoundhimselfstrangelyinvolvedwiththisboat,whichhehadlastseenonthedeckoftheship.Whenhewassweptoff,hefoundhimselfinthehorriblepositionofbeingtrappedunderwaterbeneaththisboat.