e ship's distress signal.
"Our Marconi operator, whose unceasing efforts for many hours deserve
the greatest possible praise, was unable at this time to get any reply
to the urgent inquiries he was sending out, and he feared the worst.
"At last a blue flare was observed, to which we replied with a rocket.
Day was just dawning when we observed a boat in the distance.
ICEBERG AND FIRST BOAT SIGHTED
"Eastward on the horizon a huge iceberg, the cause of the disaster,
majestically reared two noble peaks to heaven. Rope ladders were already
lowered and we hove to near the life-boat, which was now approaching us
as rapidly as the nearly exhausted efforts of the men at the oars could
bring her.
"Under the command of our chief officer, who worked indefatigably at the
noble work of rescue, the survivors in
{illust. caption = Above: MAIN STAIRWAY ON TITANIC. TOP E DECK Below:
SECOND LANDING. C DECK. GRAND STAIRWAY}
{illust. caption = MRS. JOHN B. THAYER
Mrs. Thayer and her son were....}
{illust. caption = JOHN B. THAYER
Second Vice-President of the...}
the boat were rapidly but carefully hauled aboard and given into the
hands of the medical staff under the organization of Dr. McGee.
"We then learned the terrible news that the gigantic vessel, the
unsinkable Titanic, had gone down one hour and ten minutes after
striking.
"From this time onward life-boats continued to arrive at frequent
intervals. Every man of the Carpathia's crew was unsparing in his
efforts to assist, to tenderly comfort each and every survivor. In all,
sixteen boatloads were receives, containing altogether 720 persons, many
in simply their night attire, others in evening dress, as if direct from
an after-dinner reception, or concert. Most conspicuous was the coolness
and self-possession, particularly of the women.
"Pathetic and heartrending incidents were many. There was not a man of
the rescue party who was not moved almost to tears. Women arrived and
frantically rushed from one gangway to another eagerly scanning the
fresh arrivals in the boats for a lost husband or brother.
A CAPSIZED BOAT
"One boat arrived with the unconscious body of an English colonel. He
had been taking out his mother on a visit, to three others of her sons.
He had succeeded in getting her away in one of the boats and he himself
had found a place in another. When but a few-yards from the ill-fated
ship the boat containing his mother capsized
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