The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World by Gareth Russell

Author:Gareth Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: William Collins
Published: 2019-04-03T23:00:00+00:00

Thayer’s decision to relocate his party paid dividends when they were directed down, once again, to the Promenade Deck, where Officer Lightoller had successfully had some of the windows prised away. There was another brief delay on account of the Titanic’s deepening list to port which had opened up a gap between the deck and the boats. ‘Ladders were called for,’ according to Marian, ‘but there being none, it was necessary to lash two steamer chairs to serve as a sort of gang plank to enable the women to get into the boat.’ Marian’s maid, Elizabeth and Martha were helped over this improvised walkway, held together by rope and faith, before Thayer told Marian he would go back to look for their son and gave her his arm as she stumbled into the boat. Several of the Thayers’ acquaintances had gathered to help the crew with the lifeboats, including Marian’s new friend, Major Archibald Butt, and his companion Frank Millet. The Ryersons, the Thayers’ friends who had lost their son to a car crash earlier that week, were among those boarding Lifeboat 4. Mrs Ryerson prepared to follow Marian, with her thirteen-year-old son, also called Jack, attempting to join her until Officer Lightoller put out his arm and declared, ‘That boy can’t go.’ Arthur Ryerson, on deck with Thayer, stepped forward and said, ‘Of course, that boy goes with his mother; he’s only thirteen.’ Lightoller backed down and Jack Ryerson was passed to a sailor in the boat, joining his two sisters, his mother’s lady’s maid and his governess. If Emily Ryerson had been asked to leave her only surviving son on the Titanic, she almost certainly would have refused. Instead, as she recalled later, ‘I turned and kissed my husband, as we left he and the other men I knew – Mr Thayer, Mr Widener, and others – were all standing there together very quietly.’ They were soon joined by two colonels, Gracie and Astor, the latter of whom had changed his mind about the dangers posed by the lifeboats. He passed his pregnant wife to Gracie, who helped her into Marian Thayer’s lifeboat, while Astor spoke quietly to Lightoller, asking if he could accompany Madeleine in light of her condition. According to Gracie, Lightoller replied, ‘No, sir, no men are allowed in these boats until the women are loaded first.’ Astor ‘did not demur, but bore the refusal bravely and resignedly, simply asking the number of the boat to help find his wife later in case he also was rescued’. Kornelia Andrews, another occupant of number 4, was deeply and patriotically moved by the sight of:

that unbroken line of splendid Americans, not allowed to get into the boats before the women and children were off. It would make you proud of your countrymen. There was Mr Thayer, [vice-]president of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Col. Astor waving a farewell to his beautiful young wife; Major Archibald Butt, Taft’s first aide; Mr Case, president of the Vacuum Oil Co., all multi-millionaires,

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