Titanic Twelve Tales - A Short Story Anthology RMS Titanic (7 page)

“We’ve been told to direct passengers to the Boat Deck,” he replied, “the women and children are being loaded into the life-boats.”

“Then it’s serious?”

“Only a precaution, sir, I’m sure we’ll be quite safe.”

Grimshaw
nodded as he passed through the opened door. Outwardly he kept a calm demeanour inwardly he feared the worst, as if a heavy cloud had descended upon him. He climbed the stairs and emerged on the Boat Deck. The cold air made him shudder. His evening dress was hardly suitable attire outside. He glanced over the ship’s rail and thought how unusually flat the Atlantic Ocean was as it reflected
Titanic’s
lights. He looked to the ship’s bow. The ship was listing. He shuddered again and decided to return to his stateroom to put on warm clothing and collect his life-preserver, as ordered.

“I’m sure all will be well,” his steward said as he opened the stateroom door for him.

Grimshaw
didn’t share the man’s optimism. He had sailed the seas for years, plying his trade at the gaming tables and he had never been shipwrecked. Perhaps tonight his luck had finally run its course.

When he emerged on the Boat Deck for the second time, the area was full of people, some pushing forwards, some moaning, small groups stood together waiting for further instructions from the officers. There were a few people he recognised, but he never made a point of socialising during one of his business trips. He considered it bad form when he was taking their money. As the ship listed further he had difficulty making his way to the life-boats.

He reached one and found an officer was in charge and a cordon of crewmen drawn up around the boat
.“
Women and children only,” the officer shouted.

Grimshaw
stood
back,
he drew out his pocket book and writing in pencil scribbled down the address of his sister in Blackheath. On the back of the note he wrote a number and three letters.
You’ll need this, Sis,
he wrote,
present this number at Coutts and make sure Johnnie gets a good education.

It made him feel
better,
he folded the note in half and stopped a lady moving towards the life-boat. “Excuse me, madam, but would you post this to my sister, I’ve put her name and address on it.”

The lady looked up at him strangely. Then another younger woman, possibly her daughter, took the note and taking the older woman’s arm said, “Of course we will.”

He watched them board the life-boat and waited until they were safely lowered away. “Good God!” he cried as the water began to cover the ship’s bow.

More people flooded onto the Boat Deck, this time passengers from the lower decks, possibly second and third class men, women and children. People screamed, shouted, pistol shots rang out and panic-stricken the throng of people streamed to the stern of the ship. “The life-boats,” he heard a man cry, “
they’ve
all gone!”

In that moment he realised by sailing on
Titanic’s
maiden voyage he had been dealt a bad hand.

My Own Darling Ted Love Lizzie

The Royal, Park Lane, Monday, April 8
th
1912

My own darling Ted

Although it is only a day since we parted, each hour seems like days. I have so wished you were here. Is there any chance that you’ll be able to come to Southampton to see us sail? In all the excitement I can’t remember if I told you that Mr. and Mrs Parker will take the boat train from Waterloo. I don’t suppose you could see me off? I know you can’t get away too easily, especially if Sir Andrew needs you.

I’m still wearing your ring. I was so excited that I couldn’t take it off, even when I went to bed last night and dreamt of you, my darling. I shall think of you every time I look down at my hand. Mrs. P says she is delighted for me, but wonders where she will find another maid as
good
as me. I think it was her way of being kind. “I’m very pleased for you
Lavell
,” she said, “but I do hope the wedding’s not too soon.”

I did my best to persuade her we couldn’t wed until you had saved enough for your fare and joined us in Quebec. “So, your fiancé hopes to come to Canada, I am glad of it. And he’s a chauffeur?”

“And a motor mechanic,” I said quickly, “Ted, I mean Mr. Barton, hopes to set himself up in business with his own garage.” Oh, Ted, you can’t imagine what pleasure it gives me to think about our life together. I love you, my darling and if I could have just one more glimpse of your handsome face before I leave on Wednesday, you will make the happiest woman in the world even happier, if that’s possible.

Yours ever, Lizzie

Southampton Boat Train, Wednesday, April 10
th
1912

My own darling Ted

Thank you, thank you...a thousand times thank you! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you standing on the platform. Of course, I’d looked around for you, just in the faint hope you could get away. And there you were!

I wish I could have run to your arms, kissed you and told you how much you meant to me. But just to see you, waving at me, blowing me your kisses – I swear I caught every one of them. I am writing this brief note as we journey to the coast, so forgive my hand if my letters are a little shaky. I was so overcome when the train steamed out of
Waterloo,
I stuck my head out of the window until I couldn’t see you anymore.

And now we are waiting to embark on the new ship. I have heard a lot about
the
Titanic.
Mr. and Mrs Parker have talked of little else, although I’m sure she can’t be much different from the
Olympic
, as they are supposed to be sister ships. We had a very comfortable crossing on her when we came over despite it being the middle of February. Now the spring has arrived, I’m hoping we shall enjoy good weather and calm seas for our crossing.

Sorry, must go, they are calling for us to embark. I’ll write from the ship.

All my love always, Lizzie

On board R.M. S. “TITANIC”

April 10
th
1912

My own darling Ted

Thanks again for coming to Waterloo – I can’t imagine how you managed to get away at 9.30 in the morning. But I won’t ask, just in case you had to make something up for Sir Andrew. You wouldn’t believe the crowd that was on the dock to see the new ship leave. Of course Mr. and Mrs Parker knew it was to be
Titanic’s
maiden voyage but I doubt if they anticipated the send off.

No doubt you read in the papers about the near collision, apparently some of the cables were torn out and the ship needed a bit of careful manoeuvring. Captain Smith had the situation well in hand and disaster was avoided. I was wrong about the ship being
like
Olympic
, oh, I don’t mean in size and overall appearance. As to those, she is very much the same but you can’t imagine how luxurious she is. I would love you to see the extravagance of her and explore her many decks with me. I met a steward, who had been in service with me several years ago in New York. He insisted on showing me around the First-Class accommodation. Some of the staterooms won’t be occupied until we reach Cherbourg. He said there were several famous passengers coming on board, some very rich people by all accounts. Anyway, he took me into a suite of rooms that cost forty-thousand dollars! I’m not sure how much that is in English pounds but it certainly seems a great expense to me. Mr. and Mrs Parker’s stateroom is very smart, I have a small room to myself and Jenkins (remember he’s Mr. Parker’s valet?) he’s sharing with another servant further along the corridor.

I can’t believe that I’ve visited the old mother country and found myself a wonderful man like you. Now I’m on my way back to America. Mr. Parker has further business there before we go up to Bar
Harbor
for a few
weeks
vacation, then finally back to Quebec for the summer. I have been so happy with you, my darling and yearn to be with you again. The time we are apart seems endless but I will bear it because I know a happy day will dawn when I shall have another ring on my finger...for now I kiss your ring and think of you.

If I have time before we reach Queenstown, I will drop you a postcard. They have some lovely
colored
ones on board of the ship and the White Star pennant.

God bless you my love, Lizzie

TUCK’S POSTCARD

Queenstown, April 11
th
1912

D.T., Had a very smooth night, sea is calm, weather clear. Expect to see the Irish coast in an hour.
Last chance to catch post.

Love Lizzie

POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS

R.M.S.
Carpathia
April 17
th
1912

To: Barton,
Roselea
,
Richmond

Safe

Lizzie

ROYAL MAIL STEAMSHIP “CARPATHIA”

April 18 1912

My own darling Ted

I’m sure you have been filled with worry about your loved one aboard
Titanic.
A great disaster has befallen us all. I fear a great number are lost. I wired as soon as I could. Captain
Rostron
insisted only passengers wiring loved ones could use the Marconi Service, but they were charging a fearful price – a dollar a word! I only have the clothes I stand up in and my ring...I’d never part with it, even if the sea had taken me, I’d still have had your token of love on my finger. I love you Ted and can’t wait to see you again.

A kind lady, a Carpathian passenger, has lent me a few things to wear. She also provided the dollar for the
Marconigram
I sent you. I’m safe and sound now, we’ve even been given a small cabin, and we have to share, but we are grateful. Mrs. Parker is with me, but Mr. Parker and Jenkins, I fear they are lost. Ugly rumours have started to spread throughout our rescue ship. They say all the lifeboats have been recovered, but there are so many women looking for their husbands and there is very little hope that any of them have been saved.

Captain
Rostron
has urged us all to write down our own accounts, paper, pen and ink has been provided. I have begun my account, but Mrs. Parker is too upset to even pick up a pen. We hope to land in New York tonight or early tomorrow morning. It will be a blessing to feel land beneath my feet for we have all suffered terribly.

I will mail this letter directly I arrive in New York if I can. I do not know where we will
go,
I suspect the vacation to Bar
Harbor
will be cancelled. My hope is that we return home to Quebec. How I do wish you were over here with me.

With my greatest love, I will always be yours, I love you, Lizzie

POSTSCRIPT:

Certificate of Marriage: Quebec, Canada, December 4
th
1912

Edward Barton 36 Bachelor

Elizabeth
Lavell
32 Spinster

Trapped!

“Captain to the bridge.”

It was cold, so cold every step I took towards the command centre was a struggle. “Report,” I demanded, scanning the instrument panels.

“Trapped in ice-field and drifting,” confirmed First Officer
Klar
, “Unidentified object dead ahead.”

“Action Stations,” I ordered, frustrated by the loss of manoeuvrability of my vessel. The impact sent shock waves resounding through the superstructure, followed by deep grinding noises as the object slid away.
“Damage report.”

Klar
looked anxious. He was young and inexperienced, like the rest of my makeshift crew.

“Don’t just stand there,” I bellowed, “Find out!”

“Aye, aye, sir,” he uttered scurrying away.

Sinking into my captain’s chair, I was surprised to find my body temperature beginning to rise. For three months we’d been trapped by ice, unable to break free and we were lost. Each day I hoped we’d reach warmer waters and escape our ice prison, but so far we hadn’t. Low on food, fuel almost exhausted, we were down to reserves, and time was running out.

“Several crew in shock,” reported
Klar’s
monotone voice over the intercom. “No structural damage.”