The ship soon had begun to list. The wireless masts were sputtering a blue streak of sparks. Phillips at his key pounded out one “S. O. S.” call after another. He alternated between the “S. O. S.” and the “C. Q. D.” so that there might be no chance of the signal being misunderstood. The first ship to respond to the Titanic was the Frankfurt; the second was the Carpathia. Phillips told the Carpathia’s wireless man that the accident was serious and that the White Star liner was sinking by the head. “We are putting about and coming to your aid,” was the reply flashed by the Cunarder. About 12.15 o’clock the officers began warning the women to get into the boats. Even at this time no one realized that there was any danger. Many of the women refused to get into the boats and had to be placed in them forcibly by the crew. Colonel and Mrs. John Jacob Astor were walking upon the deck. They were approached by Captain H. D. Steffason, of the Swedish Embassy, at Washington. Captain Steffason advised Mrs. Astor to leave the ship. She demurred, saying there was no danger. Finally Colonel Astor said: “Yes, my dear, it is better for you to go; I will follow in another boat after all the women have been taken off.” They kissed and parted. It was a beautiful parting. Mrs. Washington Dodge, of San Francisco, wife of another prominent passenger, was asleep in her stateroom. She was aroused by her husband, who urged her to get in a boat. So certain were both that the measures were only precautionary and not necessary that they did not even kiss each other good-bye. Mr. Dodge embarked in another boat. These incidents are given because they are typical. They show how little the passengers knew that they were standing at the brink of death. THE GAP INCREASES. The riven plates under the water increased the gap, allowing more and more water to pour into the hold. The steel frame had been buckled by the impact of the collision and water was rushing into the supposedly water-tight compartments around the doors. The dynamo supplying the ship’s searchlight and the wireless outfit were put out of commission. Officers hurried hither and thither, reporting to Captain Smith. This master mariner, hero of the White Star Line, knew that he was doomed to death by all the traditions of the sea, but did not flinch. He was the coolest man on board. As lifeboat after lifeboat was filled and swung over the side it pulled off some distance and stood by. When the officers began to load the women of the steerage into the boats trouble started. Men refused to be separated from the wives. Families clamored to get into life boats together. The ship’s officers had a hard time subduing some of the steerage passengers. The survivors say that some of the men of the steerage were shot by the ship’s officers.