n to realize it was more serious than had been supposed,
and my first thought was to go down and get some more clothing and some
money, but, seeing people pouring up the stairs, decided it was better
to cause no confusion to people coming up. Presently we heard the order:

"'All men stand back away from the boats, and all ladies retire to next
deck below'--the smoking-room deck or B deck.

MEN STOOD BACK

"The men all stood away and remained in absolute silence leaning against
the end railings of the deck or pacing slowly up and down.

"The boats were swung out and lowered from A deck. When they were to
the level of B deck, where all the women were collected, they got in
quietly, with the exception of some who refused to leave their husbands.

"In some cases they were torn from them and pushed into the boats, but
in many instances they were allowed to remain because there was no one
to insist they should go.

"Looking over the side, one saw boats from aft already in the water,
slipping quietly away into the darkness, and presently the boats near
me were lowered, and with much creaking as the new ropes slipped through
the pulley blocks down the ninety feet which separated them from the
water. An officer in uniform came up as one boat went down and shouted,
"When you are afloat row round to the companion ladder and stand by with
the other boats for orders.'

"'Aye, aye, sir,' came up the reply; but I don't think any boat was
able to obey the order. When they were afloat and had the oars at work,
the condition of the rapidly settling boat was so much more a sight
for alarm for those in the boats than those on board, that in common
prudence the sailors saw they could do nothing but row from the sinking
ship to save at any rate some lives. They no doubt anticipated that
suction from such an enormous vessel would be more dangerous than usual
to a crowded boat mostly filled with women.

"All this time there was no trace of any disorder; no panic or rush
to the boats and no scenes of women sobbing hysterically, such as one
generally pictures as happening at such times everyone seemed to realize
so slowly that there was imminent danger. When it was realized that we
might all be presently in the sea with nothing but our life-belts
to support us until we were picked up by passing steamers, it was
extraordinary how calm everyone was and how completely self-controlled.

"One by one, the boats were filled with women and ch