The Sinking of the Titanic, and Great Sea Disasters | Page 4

economic science, no reason in all the philosophy of the Superman, why he should give his place in the life-boat to a woman.
Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking Titanic come from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth.
It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the strong ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." It is the divine revelation which is summed up in the words: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic to bring out the absolute contradiction between this ideal and all the counsels of materialism and selfish expediency.
I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found in other religions. I do not say that they are against it. I do not ask any man to accept my theology (which grows shorter and simpler as I grow older), unless his heart leads him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the strength of the strong is given them to protect and save the weak, the ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," is in essential harmony with the spirit of Christ.
If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this ideal is supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find arguments for it. The tragedy of facts sets the question clearly before us. Think about it. Is this ideal to survive and prevail in our civilization or not?
Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and dominion. But what a world to live in!
Only through the belief that the strong are bound to protect and save the weak because God wills it so, can we hope to keep self-sacrifice, and love, and heroism, and all the things that make us glad to live and not afraid to die.
HENRY VAN DYKE. PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY
"The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"--Another triumph set down to wireless telegraphy--The world goes to sleep peacefully--The sad awakening
CHAPTER II
THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT
Dimensions of the Titanic--Capacity--Provisions for the comfort and entertainment of passengers--Mechanical equipment--The army of attendants required
CHAPTER III
THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC
Preparations for the voyage--Scenes of gayety--The boat sails-- Incidents of the voyage--A collision narrowly averted--The boat on fire-- Warned of icebergs
CHAPTER IV
SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS
Sketches of prominent men and women on board, including Major Archibald Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, J. Bruce Ismay, Geo. D. Widener, Colonel Washington Roebling, 2d, Charles M. Hays, W. T. Stead and others
CHAPTER V
THE TITANIC STRIKES AN ICEBERG!
Tardy attention to warning responsible for accident--The danger not realized at first--An interrupted card game--Passengers joke among themselves--The real truth dawns--Panic on board--Wireless calls for help.
CHAPTER VI
"WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST"
Cool-headed officers and crew bring order out of chaos--Filling the life-boats--Heartrending scenes as families are parted--Four life-boats lost--Incidents of bravery--"The boats are all filled!"
CHAPTER VII
LEFT TO THEIR FATE
Coolness and heroism of those left to perish--Suicide of Murdock-- Captain Smith's end--The ship's band plays a noble hymn as the vessel goes down.
CHAPTER VIII
THE CALL FOR HELP HEARD
The value of the wireless--Other ships alter their course--Rescuers on the way.
CHAPTER IX
IN THE DRIFTING LIFE-BOATS
Sorrow and suffering--The survivors see the Titanic go down with their loved ones on board--A night of agonizing suspense--Women help to row--Help arrives--Picking up the life-boats.
CHAPTER X
ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA
Aid for the suffering and hysterical--Burying the dead--Vote of thanks to Captain Rostron of the Carpathia--Identifying those saved-- Communicating with land--The passage to New York.
CHAPTER XI
PREPARATIONS ON LAND TO RECEIVE THE SUFFERERS
Police arrangements--Donations of money and supplies--Hospital and ambulances made ready--Private houses thrown open--Waiting for the Carpathia to arrive--The ship sighted!
CHAPTER XII
THE TRAGIC HOME-COMING
The Carpathia reaches New York--An intense and dramatic moment --Hysterical reunions and crushing disappointments at the dock--Caring for the sufferers--Final realization that all hope for others is futile--List of survivors--Roll of the dead.
CHAPTER XIII
THE STORY OF CHARLES F. HURD
How the Titanic sank--Water strewn with dead bodies-- Victims met death with hymn on their lips.
CHAPTER XIV
THRILLING ACCOUNT BY L. BEASLEY
Collision only a slight jar--Passengers could not believe the vessel doomed--Narrow escape of life-boats--Picked up by the Carpathia.
CHAPTER XV
JACK THAYER'S OWN STORY OF THE WRECK
Seventeen-year-old son of Pennsylvania Railroad official tells moving story of his rescue--Told mother to be brave--Separated from parents-- Jumped when vessel sank--Drifted on overturned boat--Picked up by Carpathia.
CHAPTER XVI
INCIDENTS RELATED BY JAMES McGOUGH
Women forced into the life-boats--Why some men were saved before women--Asked to man life-boats.
CHAPTER XVII
WIRELESS OPERATOR PRAISES HEROIC WORK
Story of Harold Bride, the surviving wireless operator of the Titanic, who was washed overboard and rescued by life-boat--Band played ragtime and "Autumn".
CHAPTER XVIII
STORY OF THE STEWARD
Passengers and crew dying when taken