“After I got my family into the boat and saw it pushed off the Titanic listed more and more to one side. I decided that I had better look out for myself and went up to a deck on the starboard side. In the meantime a good many boats were getting off.
“There were no women on the starboard side when I reached there except one collapsible raft load of third-class women passengers. Mr. Ismay and myself got into the boat, which was either the last or the next to the last to leave the Titanic.
“As we left the ship the lights went out and the Titanic started to go down. The crash had ripped up the side and the water rushing into the boiler-room caused the boilers to explode.
“We were a good distance off when we saw the Titanic dip and disappear. We stayed in the boat until about 5 o’clock, Mr. Ismay and myself pulling on the oars with three members of the crew practically all the time.
“Never in my life have I seen such splendid discipline as was maintained by Captain Smith and his men. There was no panic and the order was splendid.
“Before I left Harry Widener I urged him to come with me to the starboard side of the ship, and it was then he told me he would take his chances on the vessel. He had on a life belt, as did every other passenger, many of whom stayed in the smoking room playing bridge.
MR. WIDENER PARTED FROM HIS WIFE.
“I saw Colonel Astor place his wife in the same boat that I put my family in, and at the same time Mr. Widener parted from his wife and Mr. Thayer put Mrs. Thayer in the boat. I did not see the men again.”
Major Arthur Puechen, a wealthy resident of Toronto, Canada, was the last man on the Titanic to say good-bye to Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, who lost his life.
After assisting members of the crew in filling up the first five boats, Major Puechen who is an experienced yachtsman, was assigned by the second mate to take charge of boat No. 6. Major Puechen said he declined to accept such a post, not desiring to have any preference over any of his fellow passengers.