COLUMBIA AND BRITANNIA MOURN FOR THE “TITANIC’S” DEAD.
“The skipper looked at the commutator, which shows in what direction the ship is listing. He saw that she carried five degrees list to the starboard.
“The ship was then rapidly settling forward. All the steam sirens were blowing. By the skipper’s orders, given in the next few minutes, the engines were put to work at pumping out the ship, distress signals were sent by Marconi and rockets were sent up from the bridge by Quartermaster Rowe. All hands were ordered on deck and life belts were sewed to the crew and to every passenger.
“The stewards and other hands helped the sailors in getting the boats out. The order ‘women and children first’ was given and enforced. There was no panic.
“I was at the wheel until 12.25. It was my duty to stay there until relieved. I was not relieved by anyone else, but was simply sent away by Second Officer Lightoller, who told me to take charge of a certain boat and load it with ladies.
“I did so, and there were thirty-two ladies, a sailor and myself in the boat when it was lowered, some time after 1 o’clock—I can’t be sure of the time.
ALL BOATS BUT ONE GET AWAY SAFELY.
“The Titanic had sixteen lifeboats and two collapsible boats. All of them got away loaded, except that one of the collapsibles did not open properly and was used as a raft. Forty sailors and stewards who were floating in the water, got on this raft, and later had to abandon the raft, and were picked up by the different boats. Some others were floating about on chairs when picked up.
“Every boat, so far as I saw, was full when it was lowered, and every boat that set out reached the Carpathia. The green light on one of the boats helped to keep us together, but there were other lights. One was an electric flashlight that a gentleman had carried in his pocket.
“Our boat was 400 yards away when the ship went down. The suction nearby must have been terrific, but we were only rocked somewhat.