“Not a tear dimmed the eyes of one of the hundreds we got on deck. The women were less excited than the men. Apparently they all had drained their tear ducts dry, for every eye was red and swollen.”
One of the most interesting accounts of the Titanic disaster which has come to light is in a letter written on board the Carpathia by Dr. Alice Leeder, of New York, one of the survivors, after she had been transferred to the Carpathia in a lifeboat.
The letter is a personal communication addressed to Mrs. Sarah Babcock, 2033 Walnut st., Philadelphia. By the wavering of the handwriting one can readily realize the state of mind in which it was written.
DR. LEEDER’S LETTER.
In the letter Dr. Leeder said there was no panic on board the Titanic, and that everyone who had to meet death met it with composure. She speaks of the generosity and kindness shown by the crew and passengers of the Carpathia in their treatment of the survivors. Following is the letter:
“Royal Mail Steamship Carpathia,
Wednesday, April 16.
“My Dear Mrs. Babcock:
“We have been through a most terrible experience—the Titanic and above a thousand souls sunk on Monday about 3 o’clock in the morning. Margaret and I are safe, although we have lost everything. One of our party, also, Mr. Kenyon, was lost. He was such a charming man—so honorable and good.
“I sat talking to him a little before the accident—and a little later he was dead. His wife is crushed by the blow. I can say one thing, nothing could part me from my husband in time of danger.
“After floating about for four hours we were taken on board the steamer that was bound for Naples—but she is now taking us to New York.