We are Thy children, frail and small, Formed of the lowly sod, Comfort our bruised and bleeding souls, Father and Lord and God. CONTENTS. PREFACE iii INTRODUCTION v CONTENTS ix GREAT MARINE DISASTERS FROM 1866 TO 1911 xiii HYMN FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THE TITANIC, BY HALL CAINE, THE GREAT ENGLISH NOVELIST xvi CHAPTER I. FROM A DAY OF DELIGHT TO DEATH. April 14, 1912, a Fateful Date--Lulled to False Security--Peaceful Sabbath Ends in Dire Disaster--Hopes Sink Beneath the Cruel and Treacherous Waves of the Atlantic--Man’s Proudest Craft Crumbles Like an Eggshell 17 CHAPTER II. HEART-RENDING SCENES ON CARPATHIA. The Next Day--Caring for the Sick--Meeting of the Survivors--Personal Wireless Messages Gives Precedence--Marconi’s Appeal Fruitless--Quartermaster Tells Story 35 CHAPTER III. BAND PLAYED TO THE LAST. Suffering in the Lifeboats--Statement by Ismay--Would not Desert Husband--Thirty on Raft in Icy Water--Colonel Astor a Hero--Joked Over Collision--Officer Saves Many Lives 45 CHAPTER IV. NEGLECT CAUSED DISASTER. Tardy Answer to Telephone Call--Lookout’s Signals Not Answered--Ship Could Have Been Saved--Three Fatal Minutes--Ismay Accused--Women Help With Oars--Ship Broken in Two--Band Played Till Last 57 CHAPTER V. BELIEVED SHIP UNSINKABLE. Shots and Hymn Mingle--Titanic Settled Slowly--Best Traditions Upheld by Passengers and Crew--Boiler Explosions Tore Ship Apart--Anguish in the Boats--Survivors Carried to Carpathia--Not Enough Provision Against Accident 68 CHAPTER VI. HOW SURVIVORS ESCAPED. Managing Director Accused--Stoker Makes Direct Charge--Supported by Many Survivors--Tells About It--“Please Don’t Knock”--Demanded Food--Brave Lot of Women--First Officer Shot Himself 81 CHAPTER VII. WOMAN’S THRILLING NARRATIVE. Barber Says Good Word for Accused Shipowner--Claims He was a Witness--Saw the Whole Scene--Woman Tells Different Tale--Mrs. Carter’s Thrilling Narrative--Barber’s Story Differs From Ismay’s Own 95 CHAPTER VIII. SURVIVORS’ STIRRING STORIES. Survivors’ Stirring Stories--How Young Thayer Was Saved--His Father, Second Vice President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Drowned--Mrs. Straus’ Pathetic Death--Black Coward Shot--Countess Aids in Rowing Boat 103 CHAPTER IX. HOW ASTOR WENT TO DEATH.