Lawrence Beesley
Page 15
The only reason for referring to these foolish details is that a surprisingly large number of people think there may be “something in it.” The effect is this: that if a ship’s company and a number of passengers get imbued with that undefined dread of the unknown—the relics no doubt of the savage’s fear of what he does not understand—it has an unpleasant effect on the harmonious working of the ship: the officers and crew feel the depressing influence, and it may even spread so far as to prevent them being as alert and keen as they otherwise would; may even result in some duty not being as well done as usual. Just as the unconscious demand for speed and haste to get across the Atlantic may have tempted captains to take a risk they might otherwise not have done, so these gloomy forebodings may have more effect sometimes than we imagine. Only a little thing is required sometimes to weigh down the balance for and against a certain course of action.
At the end of this chapter of mental impressions it must be recorded that one impression remains constant with us all to-day—that of the deepest gratitude that we came safely through the wreck of the Titanic; and its corollary—that our legacy from the wreck, our debt to those who were lost with her, is to see, as far as in us lies, that such things are impossible ever again. Meanwhile we can say of them, as Shelley, himself the victim of a similar disaster, says of his friend Keats in “Adonais”:—
“Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep—He hath awakened from the dream of life—He lives, he wakes—’Tis Death is dead, not he; Mourn not for Adonais.”
* * *
Endnotes
*
[1] Plan not included in this edition.
[2] In an account which appeared in the newspapers of April 19 I have described this boat as 14, not knowing they were numbered alternately.
[3] Figure not included in this edition.
Table of Contents
THE LOSS OF THE TITANIC
Contents
Preface
Chapter I - Construction and Preparations for the …
Chapter II - From Southampton to the Night of the …
Chapter III - The Collision and Embarkation in Lif…
Chapter IV - The Sinking of the Titanic Seen from …
Chapter V - The Rescue
Chapter VI - The Sinking of the Titanic Seen from …
Chapter VII - The Carpathia's Return to New York
Chapter VIII - The Lessons Taught by the Loss of t…
Chapter IX - Some Impressions
Endnotes