1958-09-13 — Page 6

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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1958.

A Pig And A Promise Saved Me From

The TITANIC

FORTY-SIX years have passed since the "Titanic," going at

full speed across the Atlantic, struck an iceberg on that unforgettable Sunday, April 14, 1912, at 11.35 p.m. She sank at 2.30 a.m. on April 15.

3

The

As a "Titanic" survivor, this event has shaped my life and has made me an object of curious interest on many occasions. Whenever I cross the Atlantic on passenger liners I meet numbers of people, and when it becomes known that I am a "Titanic" survivor, they immediately ply me with every sort of question. One of the more frequent questions is: "No, were you really saved?" (I have never learned quite how to'

found I had been allotted a answer this one). Or, "Did you hear 'Nearer my God to Thee'?" and the world's greatest ship: ateamer, as I was frankly afraid.

46,320 tops...652 feet long... Mr Martin said he would gladly very large cabin with bath and yet another, "Was the water rough?" and "Were you cold?" "How many propelers. racke stacks release me from the sailing, it is window looking out on the were saved?" "Were you frightened?" "You certainly were lucky."

173 Heel rising

above the felt that way, but he could not Promenade Deck, with immedi water..." She was truly almost got my luggage off. "You are ately opposite, the came type Yes, I was indeed lucky to to tell about tila today. He did "No, I don't believe in thet sort a skyscraper. We wero not just nervous, You are perfectly of cabin for my luggage.

having pro ed to chips of such dimensions safe. This ship in unsinkable. enbins were almost the farthest be saved. My losses were not even have a name. He was, of thing. I am

in fact, just a toy phg which my phesies made to me constantly, and grandeur in these days. The You can get off if you want to, forward, at the end of a small only material while there

I was practically de- mother had given me earlier. fast it may be I am just as well "Olymple" and "Titanic" were but your luggage will have to corridor, were so many who lost those For the "Title" was not my off if I do not know my future." aeter ships, the Orst of their go on to New York."

Lached from the rest of the shulp, whom they loved. I have in sentous mishap. 1 ht been "Very well, Madam, but I pre- kind. crossed the Atlantic often the sole survivor, although bad- diet the same that you re ty injured, of an automobile ng about to go rough a dreadful nearly xince,

hundred cident in France, on the road to experience. You wil koe ju

better remain with it.” B times, but still I will not Deauville.

possessions, mary friends anu travel by aeroplane, Steam- My mother, having heard that incidentally your shiging volge, ships and Rutomobiles are the pig was considered a symbol but you will live on for

good luck in France, and years to come." my favourite moles of feeling that good luck was just transport.

what I needed!, presented me with this toy pig, the size of a kitten and covered with big white fur and black spots.

* *

In the half-century which Jas

gone by since the

uf

1 cherished it, the more so co it was really unsic-box, and

"Titanic" dienster, many by twisting He tail oru produced events of greater import- the

ance

**La

It was not really my idea in sail on the "Titeesie." I booked passage on the "George Washington," to sall April 7, but my editor cabled me from New York to postpere my sailing in eport the fashlens at order to

ashed up and

alq then popular

the to the world have Maxixe." -promised my mother that I would keep this mascot occurred, including two with me at eli timce, and so this great wars, and for many intle pig later caved my life. years my recollections of the tragedy had been more or less dormant. Recently, however, there was are union of "Titanic" Bur vivors.. Among the nine of who were there, old ⚫ memories were revived with disturbing clarity. One of the nine, by the way,, wa

UK

the Parts Easter Sunday races. By taking the "Titumle" a faster ship, on the Wednesday follow thy Easter Sunday, I could stin

many

the compartment window two huge white boxes ted with tapes crying heavy dead' scals.

These boxes contained clothes I

The trefn-run from Parla lo Cherbourg was quite pleasant chatted with scine Swedish and American Idies in the compari- ment and with a Mexican gen- tleman who Informed us he was

I answered: “My luggago is worth more than I am. I trid After the usual bustle and Bo to excitement, we weighed anchor pacify me, Mr Marlin said: “I at about 8.30 p.m. I freshened will make a special concession. up a bit and went down to the

.

-By-

EDITH L. RUSSELL

.

the

FOURTH day out frem Southampton on her maiden voyage to

New York H.M.S. Titanio is stationary in mid-Atlantic. The mighty liner has hit an fceberg. Passengers and crew have feit only a slight tremor as the great ship rips out 380 feri ol her underbelly, smashing through five watertight bulkheads. There is no feeling of alarm, no panic-the time in 11.40 p.m. April 14, and, after all, Titania is 'unalnkable.'

marked

and noticed a large crowd of mon passengers looking down at the water being thrown up fran the blades of the propellers. The foam whirled in a great caseife, made blood-red by the rays of gerous setting rim. It looked erumen carpet rizetching

cannot get over my feeling of store of Omaha, Nebrasko. Mr depression and premonition of; Beglemin Guggenheim and Mr trouble. wish it were over." and Mrs B. Goldenberg were alre The original of this letter is m obeard the ship. He was a very the possession of Mr Horace B. well-known lace importer of Shaw. It was posted from Now York and a keen dog Queenstown, Ireland, and is on fancier. He had cn board nome To this I replied: "Thank Member of Parliament in

"Titanic" notepaper dated April 23 of the fincat bull-doy, which 11, 1912.

he had shown in England, where you, but this really is nourinse, Mexico. We formed a very mer- ouly. The fact that Please do not tell me any more. ry

The first days of the trip were he had won a mumber of prizes. Frankly, I don't want to listen," ceptional vessel on her malden we were cll sailing on this ex-

uneventful,

the by

As a dog lover, 1 was deeply · Usual making acquaintances, in sympathy with his concern for voyage, seemed to draw us to-

proibenades on deck, les in the his dogs. He immediately went gether. Everybody was looking

Winter Gorden, and, so forth. It to the kennels at the time of the forward to seeing the monster

was only by looking out to sea necklent to be with his doLY. So I left France as zeronged phdp.

We will give you a farge slate, dinning room, where I slood that one roolised one was on the on Wednesday, April 10, from

Words are ocean. I wore a blue cloth cont On Sunday, Aprk 14, lu was Saint Lazaro Station in But on arriving in Cherbourg Toom next to your own room ngbast at the size.

where we

with will put yar trunks not adequate to describe it. This lined

Hinen bantly sunny, but so intensely figured Paris, remember that ca the I had a most disagreeable pre- train was about to pull l,

monition of trouble ahead, in and boxes, and then you will chip with is extravagance of cretonne. It was something the old that it soomed the only "Lourcent" the best tailor of fact, it was so strong that I tele feel happier, and you can keep that time had a curious effect famous Paul Poiret had created sole thing to do was to stay Poquin, the famous coutourter graphed my secretary in Paris, an eye on them."

on me, as can be sensed from a-for me in his shop "Martine" in bed to keep warm, which I This dit until 4 o'clock in the alter- of the Rue de In Paix, accom

Jetter I wrote to my secretary the Faubourg St Honore. expresing my fears. (As if there panied by the lead talbores. were anything we could have

in Paris, Horace J. Shaw: "My was the first thatance of using noon. I then went out on deck. turutal through done about it anyway!) Never

Dear Mr Shaw, This is the most flower-printed cretonne for a having put any faith whatever I then stood aside and watched wonderful ship you can think of, coat thing and it attracted con-

:siderable attention. in fortune-tellers, I now had to for more than an hour, a re-

"It is a house of about eleven odmit to myself that I was pro-, Elment of cooks, bakers and

under the sateroys, as long as from bubly being unhinged by what sailors staggering Madime de Thebes had told me, weight of huge wooden boxes corner of the Rus de in Paix to and by an equally ridiculous, but they were transferring from the near the Rue de Rivoli. Every- I mot Mr J., Clinch Smith, uncannily

prediction tender to the "Titanie." I asked thing Imaginable. Swimming who had lived in Paris for many from the ship to the horizon which had been made to me by one of the stewards what this pools, Turkish Baths, gymna- years, brother-in-law of the slun, squash court, cafes, tos famous Architect, Stanford earlier in the same year. This rare canned vegetables, paté de I was a fashion wilter, buyer old fellow, after lossing graina tole gras, cavtor, fruits of all room bigger then the Grad brities on board. I got to know and stylist. This trip was one of sand in the air, held up his kinds and other things to cal....... Hotet lounge, huge drawing Mr and Mrs Isidore Strauss and, of the first of my career, as I hund as if predicting the end of provisions for the trip over and rooms, bedrooms larger than Mr W. T. Stead, the famous had just started in business, and the world, and sold: "Madam, the return." He added: "We any Paris hotel room, and nl writer and publisher. The

latter showed considerable in I was taking with me'not only you will be in a very grave se have a pretty good crowd on together it is a monster. On the night before sailing my own wardrobe, but many accident."

board, but it is nothing, to what

terest in me, on ассоunt of my went with some South Ameri- orders execuled for business

various accidents and premoni- tions. He was a great bellever people again. am friends to visit Mrdame de arms and private clients. They

but at no time Thebes.

There the

famous were uniminired, as when 1 ap-

In spiritualistri

was much commenting most fortune-teller of her time. After plied for insurance on this mer-

"I cannot say I like it, on I feel did he mention any fear of dla-' on the interese cold, and some of I then took the lift to "A" I though I were th a big botel, aster on this trip. Major Archi- the men said they had ther thandise, I was told that it wer trut hod my frica

heard Mcdame de tidiculous to spent money for

We sat about on the huge Deck, where my room was. I fortunes fold,

Instead of on a cosy ship. Every bold Buit, who was milliary notices were ported that we were fender, which had been especially had always liked meeting new one stiff and formal. Hundreds aide Thebes turned to me and sald: Insurance when travelling on en

to President Taft, and in cefields "However, that did bulli the year before for these people and talking to them, and of help: bell boys, stewards, occasionally Frank Milet, on not sccm to make very "Are you not at all interested insinkable vessel,

new White Star ships, and for I remember my conversation stewardesses, lifts; but though orlist bom in Massachusetts, difference. In having me tell you something

We were going fulf of your future?" I acswered: world, I placed full confidence ree hours shivered and weited with the young boy who was its manifcence is unquestionable, would joki us,

speed ahead and would positively. It was cold. It had been rain operating that elevator. "I am there is not the cosy shipboard There were, too, a number of arrive in New York at the ing. I remember siting next to se proud," he said, "this my feeling of former years, We are buyers on bound from various, following Tuesday, ug bywan und Mrs John Jacob at trip at sea and they have now off Queenstown. I just department stores throughout Intended the ship should make a Astor, who were on their well made me a lift boy. I am only hate to leave Paris bad will be the United.Sales, rettaning record trip. And wig-thule, calam ding trip, playing with their big thirteen, you know. It's a bit jolly glad to get back again. I after their regular bitying trips, sca ond perfect weather, there dog The Colonel told me the of an honour." His first and am going to rest on this ship, ás and also Mr Braudels, owner of was no reason why we should "Titanic" hud cost ten million last tripl

I am tired, I can tell you, but the well-known department not do so.

ortive In Amedes nt eboul the

Arad ordered but which lud not

this late delivery, The boxes were never unpacked and went

were delivered.

on finished in me, hence

correct

a gentleman named Frank opportunity of crossing on this down with the ship just as they an Arub fortune-teller at Biskra menni, and he said: "Theso are gardens, smoking rooms, a long White. There were many cele

Aks. whom I had last seen when he was ten months old, one of the babies shar- ing my lifeboat. His mother had been separated from her baby und found him aguin on the "Carpathia," where another Woman claimed him as her child.

Without wishing to get thead of my story. 1 think I should menton here other feboot friend, without whose

com→

panionship I might not be here

mame time. fa pay event, the much publicised, and above all unsinkable, liceting palace de- lighted me.

U szexuandi WHITE BLACK & WHITE

EPIKIAI DARBY AS

SUCHANANY

ICE OF SCOTCH EXIST

NOTCH WAHNY DELTIBAN

DSEN WHIT

-

So, mislead like the rest of the

Colone

dollars to build, and emphasised

that she was unsinkable, “a miracle of modern ship- building."

Finally a murmur went around the tender: "The Titanle is in sight."

I saw what seemed like a huge building, 11 storeys high, with tter upon tier of glittering- electric lights, dressed over-all- Truly a beautiful and Impressive spectacle.

The big tender approached the "Titanic" and swung alongside. Then a most unforgettable thing happened. Although the rea was perfectly calm, our tender begån relling in a mest amazing fashion, throwing the passengers {right off their feet,

I turned to a gentleman who I Fater found out was Phillp E. Mock, the miniature palates, and said "A ship that produces this uncanny upheavet in this perfectly calm sea airikes mo as à dangerous one. I wish I were not going on her, I DZTI frightened."

60

we anticipate coming back." I Bever saw so many boxes in my life!

*

Lice

I remember commenting to troup of people standing there about this beautiful and awe- EDMO walked forward in the ship. waterfall, and then

was never to seo any of these

Repeatedly-a favourite choice

Enjoy Scotch at its very best by always asking

for "Black & White". Its fine flavour

is achieved by blending in the special

**Black & White" way. Consistent

quality casures the same satisfaction ansl

reliestursent time after time.

BLACK&WHITE

SCOTCH WHISKY

"BUCHANAN'S"

From Scotland --- every precious drop

T

By Appointmens,

Besuch Villky Distillery

· Jones Buchanán

JANEL-BUCHAMAN & CO. LTD., GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

Sola. Distributori: DODWELL'S CO., LTD.

The "Titanic" had had an ac qident coming out of Southomp- ton, when she went too close to the "New York" and caused the lator to break loose from her moorings, I did not know, this at be time, of course, and it X...... back I should probabl have been. Imagining all kinds of ominous things. As it was, "I could not help being strangely impressed by the way the tender rolled and heaved, in this calm meu along-side the great ship, The gangway over, which wo climbed aboard seemed in dan~ ger of being pulled loose from its fastenings.

I hated the iden" of crossing that gangplank, and no soOOKLET. lind I got on board. than X imagtat out Mr. Nicholas, Martin, tha General Manager of the White Star Line Paris bureau to

I would not be possibiu tó kollect my luggage and book by a later.

*X/HILE at dinner aboard the Titanic on the evening. 11 of April 14, 1912, a radio message siating, that' the Titanic is nearing ice in brought to Captain Smith [Laurence" | Naismith)," "A NIGHT TO REMEM- BER" Lells the true story of the greatest nos diglater

the "binking" of RMS, Titable": In history

The Bhms produced on location and at Pinewood Studios, England, by Willi Gultly and directed by Roy Baker, Heading) large cast tár Kenneth More; as Second Dilce C: H. *Lightoffer. ---- Photographs by Norman Gryspeerdt.