WOMEN FORCED INTO THE LIFE-BOATS--WHY SOME MEN WERE SAVED BEFORE
WOMEN--ASKED TO MAN LIFE-BOATS
SURROUNDED by his wife and members of his family, James McGough, of
Philadelphia, a buyer for the Gimbel Brothers, whose fate had been in
doubt, recited a most thrilling and graphic picture of the disaster.
As the Carpathia docked, Mrs. McGough, a brother and several friends of
the buyer, met him, and after the touching reunion had taken place the
party proceeded to Philadelphia.
Vivid in detail, Mr. McGough's story differs essentially from one the
imagination would paint. He declared that the boat was driving at a high
rate of speed at the time of the accident, and seemed impressed by the
calmness and apathy displayed by the survivors as they tossed on the
frozen seas in the little life-boats until the Carpathia picked them up.
The Titanic did not plunge into the water suddenly, he declared, but
settled slowly into the deep with its hundreds of passengers.
"The collision occurred at 20 minutes of 12," said Mr. McGough. "I was
sleeping in my cabin when I felt a wrench, not severe or terrifying.
"It seemed to me to be nothing more serious than the racing of the
screw, which often occurs when a ship plunges her bow deep into a heavy
swell, raising the stern out of water. We dressed hurriedly and ran to
the upper deck. There was little noise or tumult at the time.
"The promenade decks being higher from the base of the ship and thus
more insecure, strained and creaked; so we went to the lower decks.
By this time the engines had been reversed, and I could feel the ship
backing off. Officers and stewards ran through the corridors, shouting
for all to be calm, that there was no danger. We were warned, however,
to dress and put life-preservers on us. I had on what clothing I could
find and had stuffed some money in my pocket.
PARTING OF ASTOR AND BRIDE
"As I passed the gymnasium I saw Colonel Astor and his young wife
together. She was clinging to him, piteously pleading that he go into
the life-boat with her. He refused almost gruffly and was attempting to
calm her by saying that all her fears were groundless, that the accident
she feared would prove a farce. It proved different, however.
"None, I believe, knew that the ship was about to sink. I did not
realize it just then. When I reached the upper deck and saw tons of ice
piled upon our crushed bow the full realization came to me.
"Officers stood with drawn guns ordering the women into the boats. All
feared to leave the comparative safety of a broad and firm deck for the
precarious smaller boats. Women clung to their husbands, crying that
they would never leave without them, and had to be torn away.
"On one point all the women were firm. They would not enter a Life-boat
until men were in it first. They feared to trust themselves to the seas
in them. It required courage to step into the frail crafts as they swung
from the creaking davits. Few men were willing to take the chance. An
officer rushed behind me and shouted:
"'You're big enough to pull an oar. Jump into this boat or we'll never
be able to get the women off.' I was forced to do so, though I admit
that the ship looked a great deal safer to me than any small boat.
"Our boat was the second off. Forty or more persons were crowded into
it, and with myself and members of the crew at the oars, were pulled
slowly away. Huge icebergs, larger than the Pennsylvania depot at New
York, surrounded us. As we pulled away we could see boat after boat
filled and lowered to the waves. Despite the fact that they were new
and supposedly in excellent working order, the blocks jammed in many
instances, tilting the boats, loaded with people, at varying angles
before they reached the water.
BAND CONTINUED PLAYING
"As the life-boats pulled away the officers ordered the bands to play,
and their music did much to quell panic. It was a heart-breaking sight
to us tossing in an eggshell three-fourths of a mile away, to see the
great ship go down. First she listed to the starboard, on which side the
collision had occurred, then she settled slowly but steadily, without
hope of remaining afloat.
"The Titanic was all aglow with lights as if for a function. First we
saw the lights of the lower deck snuffed out. A while later and the
second deck illumination was extinguished in a similar manner. Then the
third and upper decks were darkened, and without plunging or rocking the
great ship disappeared slowly from the surface of the sea.
"People were crowded on each deck as it lowered into the water, hoping
in vain that aid would come in time. Some of the life-boats caught in
the merciless suction were swallowed with her.
"The sea was calm--calm as the water in a tumbler. But it was freezing
cold. None had dressed heavily, and all, therefore, suffered intensely.
The women did not shriek or grow hysterical while we waited through the
awful night for help. We men stood at the oars, stood because there
was no room for us to sit, and kept the boat headed into the swell to
prevent her capsizing. Another boat was at our side, but all the others
were scattered around the water.
"Finally, shortly before 6 o'clock, we saw the lights of the Carpathia
approaching. Gradually she picked up the survivors in the other boats
and then approached us. When we were lifted to the deck the women fell
helpless. They were carried to whatever quarters offered themselves,
while the men were assigned to the smoking room.
"Of the misery and suffering which was witnessed on the rescue ship I
know nothing. With the other men survivors I was glad to remain in the
smoking room until New York was reached, trying to forget the awful
experience.
"To us aboard the Carpathia came rumors of misstatements which were
being made to the public. The details of the wreck were wofully
misunderstood.
"Let me emphasize that the night was not foggy or cloudy. There was just
the beginning of the new moon, but every star in the sky was shining
brightly, unmarred by clouds. The boats were lowered from both sides of
the Titanic in time to escape, but there was not enough for all.