CONTENTS CHAPTER I FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY "The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"--Another triumph set down to wireless telegraphy--The world goes to sleep peacefully--The sad awakening CHAPTER II THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT Dimensions of the Titanic--Capacity--Provisions for the comfort and entertainment of passengers--Mechanical equipment--The army of attendants required CHAPTER III THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC Preparations for the voyage--Scenes of gayety--The boat sails--Incidents of the voyage--A collision narrowly averted--The boat on fire--Warned of icebergs CHAPTER IV SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS Sketches of prominent men and women on board, including Major Archibald Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, J. Bruce Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d, Charles M. Hays, W. T. Stead and others CHAPTER V THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG! Tardy attention to warning responsible for accident--The danger not realized at first--An interrupted card game--Passengers joke among themselves--The real truth dawns--Panic on board--Wireless calls for help. CHAPTER VI "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" Cool-headed officers and crew bring order out of chaos--Filling the life-boats--Heartrending scenes as families are parted--Four life-boats lost--Incidents of bravery--"The boats are all filled!" CHAPTER VII LEFT TO THEIR FATE Coolness and heroism of those left to perish--Suicide of Murdock--Captain Smith's end--The ship's band plays a noble hymn as the vessel goes down. CHAPTER VIII THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD The value of the wireless--Other ships alter their course--Rescuers on the way. CHAPTER IX IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS Sorrow and suffering--The survivors see the Titanic go down with their loved ones on board--A night of agonizing suspense--Women help to row--Help arrives--Picking up the life-boats. CHAPTER X ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA Aid for the suffering and hysterical--Burying the dead--Vote of thanks to Captain Rostron of the Carpathia--Identifying those saved--Communicating with land--The passage to New York. CHAPTER XI PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS Police arrangements--Donations of money and supplies--Hospital and ambulances made ready--Private houses thrown open--Waiting for the Carpathia to arrive--The ship sighted! CHAPTER XII THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING The Carpathia reaches New York--An intense and dramatic moment--Hysterical reunions and crushing disappointments at the dock--Caring for the sufferers--Final realization that all hope for others is futile--List of survivors--Roll of the dead. CHAPTER XIII THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD How the Titanic sank--Water strewn with dead bodies--Victims met death with hymn on their lips. CHAPTER XIV THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY Collision only a slight jar--Passengers could not believe the vessel doomed--Narrow escape of life-boats--Picked up by the Carpathia.