Re: Helen Churchill Hungerford
-
In reply to:
Helen Churchill Hungerford
8/26/00
Here is what I found.
Mrs. Candee's Graphic Story.
Mrs. Churchill Candee of Washington gave the following account of the disaster:
"I retired to my cabin shortly after 11 and had barely entered it when there were two terrific shocks, one immediately following the other. I was thrown to the floor and as soon as possible ran out into the companionway. There I met some passengers and went up to the main deck. As we were passing through the saloon a passenger ran through with a cake of ice and called out, 'Ice ice from the iceberg!' There was absolutely no excitement, and the matter was not regarded seriously, although steam was escaping from one of the smokestacks, the others apparently being silent.
"The night was clear and cold, and it seemed incredible that anything serious had happened. However, the order soon came to go down and put on heavy wraps and life preservers and return to the deck. We learned then that the entire bottom had dropped out of the ship and the fires of at least three three of the boilers had dropped into the ocean. The order soon came to take to the lifeboats. I was in one of the first that was lowered. There was no disorder or confusion, and all of the women and children passengers in the first, second and third cabin were treated alike.
"The order was immediately given to launch the boats, and both on the port and starboard sides the orders were carried out in an admirable manner. Only one collapsible boat was broken, but otherwise all the other lifeboats were safely launched. By the time the last boat cleared the ship she had sunk to the level of the second deck. Only two hours had elapsed.
"She was settling fast at this time bow down. At the last she was poised for about thirty seconds with her stern clear of the water, then slipped gradually into oblivion. There was no suction whatever when she went down, although there were horrible sounds of explosions, cries, etc. Up to this time the action of the men had been very courageous.
http://www.oweb.com/newulm/titanic/tales.htmlhttp://www.oweb.com/newulm/titanic/tales.html
More Replies:
-
Re: Helen Churchill Hungerford
5/22/01
-
Re: Helen Churchill Hungerford
5/22/01