Титаник

           ’Allthetimewewerebuoyedupandsustainedbythehopeofrescue.Wesawlightsinalldirections­particularlysomegreenlightswhich,aswelearnedlater,wererocketsburnedbyoneoftheTitanic’sboats.Sowepassedthenightwiththewaveswashingoverandburyingourraftdeepinthewater.”

           ItwastwentyminutespasttwowhentheTitanicsank,twohoursandfortyminutesaftershehadstrucktheiceberg;andfortwohoursafterthattheboatsdriftedallroundandabout,someoftheminbunchesofthreeorfour,otherssolitary.Almosteverykindofsufferingwasenduredinthem,although,afterthementalhorrorsoftheprecedinghour,physicalsufferingswerescarcelyfelt.Someoftheboatshadhardlyanyonebutwomeninthem;inmanythestokersandstewardswerequiteuselessattheoars.Buthereandthere,inthatsorrowful,horror-strickencompany,heroismlifteditsheadandhumannaturetookheartagain.Womentooktheirturnattheoarsinboatswherethemenwereeithertoofeworincapableofrowing;andonewomannotably,theCountessofRothes,practicallytookcommandofherboatandwasatanoarallthetime.Wheretheywererowingtomostofthemdidnotknow.Theyhadseenlightsatthetimetheshipwentdown,andsomeofthemmadeforthese;buttheysoondisappeared,andprobablymostoftheboatswerefollowingeachotheraimlessly,ledbyoneboatinwhichsomegreenflareswerefound,whichactedasabeaconforwhichtheothersmade