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.
CHAPTER XV JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK
Seventeen-year-old son of Pennsylvania Railroad official tells
moving story of his rescue—Told mother to be brave—Separated from
parents—Jumped when vessel sank—Drifted on overturned boat—Picked up
by Carpathia.
CHAPTER XVI INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH
Women forced into the life-boats—Why some men were saved before
women—Asked to man life-boats.
CHAPTER XVII WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK
Story of Harold Bride, the surviving wireless operator of the Titanic,
who was washed overboard and rescued by life-boat—Band played ragtime
and "Autumn".
CHAPTER XVIII STORY OF THE STEWARD
Passengers and crew dying when taken aboard Carpathia—One woman saved
a dog—English colonel swam for hours when boat with mother aboard
capsized.
CHAPTER XIX HOW THE WORLD RECEIVED THE NEWS
Nations prostrate with grief—Messages from kings and
cardinals—Disaster stirs world to necessity of stricter regulations.
CHAPTER XX BRAVERY OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW
Illustrious career of Captain E. J. Smith—Brave to the
last—Maintenance of order and discipline—Acts of heroism—Engineers
died at posts—Noble-hearted band.
CHAPTER XXI SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD
Sending out the Mackay-Bennett and Minia—Bremen passengers see
bodies—Identifying bodies—Confusion in names—Recoveries.
CHAPTER XXII CRITICISM OF ISMAY
Criminal and cowardly conduct charged—Proper caution not exercised when
presence of icebergs was known—Should have stayed on board to help
in work of rescue—Selfish and unsympathetic actions on board the
Carpathia—Ismay's defense—William E. Carter's statement.
CHAPTER XXIII THE FINANCIAL LOSS
Titanic not fully insured—Valuable cargo and mail—No chance for
salvage—Life insurance loss—Loss to the Carpathia.
CHAPTER XXIV OPINIONS OF EXPERTS
Captain E. K. Roden, Lewis Nixon, General Greely and Robert H. Kirk
point out lessons taught by Titanic disaster and needed changes in
construction.
CHAPTER XXV OTHER GREAT MARINE DISASTERS.
Deadly danger of icebergs—Dozens of ships perish in collision—Other
disasters.
CHAPTER XXVI DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBUILDING
Evolution of water travel—Increases in size of vessels—Is there any
limit?—Achievements in speed—Titanic not the last word.
CHAPTER XXVII SAFETY AND LIFE-SAVING DEVICES
Wireless telegraphy—Water-tight bulkheads—Submarine
signals—Life-boats and rafts—Nixon's pontoon—Life-preservers and
buoys—Rockets.
CHAPTER XXVIII TIME FOR REFLECTION AND REFORM
Speed and luxury overemphasized—Space needed for life-boats devoted to
swimming pools and squash-courts—Mania for speed records compels use of
dangerous routes and prevents proper caution in foggy weather—Life
more valuable than luxury—Safety more important than speed—An aroused
public opinion necessary—International conference recommended—Adequate
life-saving equipment should be compulsory—Speed regulations in bad
weather—Co-operation in arranging schedules to keep vessels within
reach of each other—Legal regulations.
CHAPTER XXIX THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION
Prompt action of the Government—Senate committee probes disaster and
brings out details—Testimony of Ismay, officers, crew passengers and
other witnesses.