Lifeboat 6
1:15 A.M.
"PULL!" Quartermaster Hitches called as the passengers and crew manned the small boats oars, the lifeboat now a safe distance away from the stricken Titanic. From where they sat by their mother, Kate and Lilly stared wide eyed at the now noticeably sinking vessel, her forecastle and well-deck completely submerged with water now starting to flood the forward B-Deck promenade.
"There's something you don't see everyday," Mrs. Brown muttered to them, only for some of the occupants to let out a small shout as another loud boom echoed through the air, showers of sparks falling into the sea after another rocket had been fired.
"Come on," Hitchens continued to shout, "put your backs into it! PULL!"
Back on Titanic, on the forward port boat-deck, Mr. Andrews and Captain Smith, tailed closely Garth, came to stand at the empty spot where lifeboat 6 once sat. When Mr. Andrews saw that most of the boats were being launched half full, he went to Smith, hoping the captain would be able to call some of the boats back. Which Smith whole-heartily agreed to, as evident by the large megaphone in his hand.
"Out there," Mr. Andrews said, pointing in the direction of Boat 6. Bringing his officer's whistle to his lips, Garth blew hard, the loud shriek echoing across the ship and sea.
"That was an officer's whistle," Mrs. Brown said from her seat, briefly stopping in her rowing, her ears soon being filled by the voice that she recognized as Captain Smith.
"COME BACK! COME BACK TO THE SHIP! BOAT 6, COME BACK TO THE SHIP!"
"STOP!" Mrs. Brown called, making everyone cease int heir actions.
"WE HAVE TO GO BACK!"
"NO!"
The harsh repsonce came for Mr. Hitches, who looked upon Mrs. Brown with an indignant expression as he explained his reasoning.
"The suction'll pull us down if we don't keep going."
Mrs. Brown was having none of it.
"We've lots more room," she tried to argue, only to be stopped again by Hitchens.
"NO!" he replied with even more firmness.
"It's our lives now...not theirs."
Upon hearing this, the other passengers, including Eve and her daughters, looked at Hitchens in shock, the shock growing at what he said next, clear anger and irritation in his voice.
"And I'm in charge of this boat Madame...
now ROOOOOW!"
Realizing she had gotten nowhere, Mrs. Brown, as well as the others, resigned themselves to their job of rowing further away from the Titanic, all while Smith continued to shout after them.
"THIS IS THE CAPTAIN!" he continued to call, with Garth making a giant beckoning motion with his arm, all while Mr. Andrews watched the boats continue to row away. Garth on the other hand, secretly hoped that the boat carrying his wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law, continued to move away from the ship...
To Safety.
"THIS IS THE CAPTAIN! COME BACK TO THE SHIP!"
And upon seeing the boat fail to change it's course, Smith pulled the megaphone away from his lips, only to mutter his thoughts openly.
"The fools."
Meanwhile, Winston and Tony strode with purpose down the A-Deck promenade, determination written on their faces as they were hell-bent to get into a lifeboat. As they plowed forward, they past by a black-furred wolf, who was the ship's chief baker, the white-lifebelt matching up perfectly with his white baker's uniform and cap, who was hurriedly tossing folded deck-chairs over the side, which have them be used as improvised flotation devices, splashes being heard as they hit the water below.
Turning away from the edge of the deck, the baker proceeded to pull a small bottle of whiskey from his tunic, bringing the burning liquid to his lips, shooting his head back as he drained the bottle in one go, tossing the empty bottle into the see before walking, or rather wobbling, along the deck.
Port Side Lifeboats
1:25 A.M.
The situation was becoming quite perilous at this point. The Titanic had now began to tilt by the bow at a very noticeable angle. Every so often an emergency flare would rise into the sky, bursting into a shower of sparks, only to fall into the see with so sign of rescue in sight. At some point in the last half hour, pistols were distributed to Titanic's officers, for fear that the now desperate passengers would attempt to rush the remaining boats. But Humphrey could care less at this point. All he cared about was getting as many people to safety as possible. Unfortunately, several couples were making it difficult.
"Please step this way madame," Garth told a elderly woman, the latter of which making Humphrey's heart ache as Garth and another seaman pulled her away from her husband.
"NO!" Humphrey's head quickly snapped to the wail of a beautiful cream furred-young lady, who Humphrey recognized as one of Kate's elite friends Cassandra Malone, although everyone called her Candy, her arms flung around her love's neck as she firmly planted her lips on his, just as Mr. Lowe reached for her to board lifeboat twelve. Humphrey could tell by Lowe's expression that he did not like having to separate couples and families either. But unfortunately, there was little choice.
"Humphrey!" Looking to the voice that called his name, Humphrey made his way to his father-in-law and Garth's father. "Any chance we can board here?" Winston inquired hopefully. Humphrey cats his eyes down, a dejected sigh escaping his lips.
"I'm afraid not," Humphrey answered, his charming English accent a great contrast to his sorrowful expression, "Mr. Lightoller isn't letting any men on at all." At this point, Garth had moved over to the group. He arrived just in time to hear the part of Humphrey's statement, which caused an idea to form in his head.
"Mr. Murdoch and Mr. Davis on the other side are letting men on." Letting out a sigh relief, Winston knew that was the best chance he and Tony had.
"Then that's our play," Tony conceded with in his thick Scottish drawl. "But I'll need get some personal belongings from my cabin."
"I'll see you on the other side then," Winston said with a nod. But before the two older wolves left, Winston stopped as Humphrey removed his right glove, Garth following suit, extending their hands to the man who had accepted them into his family. With a smile, Winston shook Humphrey's hand, then Garth's, the latter shortly after receiving a hug from his father. After pulling away, Tony looked to the two young officers.
"Good luck to you both," he said with a sad smile.
"And to you two as well," Humphrey responded as Winston and Tony left to attend to their business, passing by the Strauss's as they did so, only to pause when they heard Ida being rather difficult with her husband.
"Please Ida," Mr. Strauss urged, "get in a boat!"
"NO!" Ida practically screamed, earning a shocked expression from the three males, whose features softened when they heard what she said next.
"We've been together for forty years, and where you go I go!"
At this point, Winston felt the need to offer an idea.
"I'm sure nobody would object to an older gentleman getting in a boat," he said with a warm smile.
"Yes," Tony added in, "I'll ask Garth."
But just as Tony turned ask, Isidor stood firm.
"No," he said with bravado, "I will not leave before any of the younger men."
"Then I will stay," Ida responded with commitment,
"And don't argue with me Isidor...we shall die as we have lived...
Together."
With that, the elderly couple left the crowded boat deck, followed closely by Winston and Tony as they made their way toward the First-Class Entrance by the Grand Staircase. In in the A-Deck foyer, the two ran into Benjamin Guggenheim and his Valet, dressed in their finest evening attire.
"Ben," Winston greeted with a laugh, "your not wearing your lifebelt."
"It was uncomfortable," Guggenheim responded with a chuckle.
"We have dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like Gentlemen."
"Good on ya Ben," Tony added with a smile, only for it to falter some as Ben's fell.
"I should like my wife to know that I behaved...Decently."
"I'll be sure to tell her," Winston said warmly, only to catch the sight of a very determined J.J. Astor walk by him.
'Looking for my damn dog," he mumbled to no one in particular, only to be stopped by a call from Winston.
"JOHN!"
Pausing in his stride, Astor turned to Winston, a tender smile forming on his muzzle at the sight of his friend's outstretched hand.
Walking back toward the group, John took it upon himself to shake the hands of all of his friends, Ben being the last.
"Madeline's asked me to find the dog," he said, before leaving the four wolves to their business.
Meanwhile, Garth and Humphrey were overwhelmed by a ghastly sight; several men were attempting to rush the boat twelve, one man even knocking a woman off the deck.
"GRAB ON TO HER!" Garth cried to the occupants of the boat as he watched the woman dangle helplessly from the lifeboat. Leaning over slightly, Humphrey could see a man leaning out from the A-Deck promenade, his arm outstretched to the woman as several other men held onto his legs to keep him steady.
"PULL HER IN!" Humphrey called to the man, who managed to hook his arm around the ladies waist, successfully pulling her back onto the ship. While Humphrey was relieved, his temper reached the breaking point as he felt and heard the men jostle about behind him. Turning back tot the crowd, Humphrey, an enraged expression on his face, reached into his greatcoat pocket. Before anyone knew what had happened.
BLAM! BLAM!
Humphrey had fired two shots from his Webley revolver, one of the many issued to the officers from Mr. Wilde's cabin earlier in the sinking, into the air before leveling it at the now fearful male passengers.
"GET BACK I SAY!" he hollered, his hostile attitude coming as great shock to Garth, who secretly had a newfound respect for his usually kind brother-in-law.
"OR I'LL SHOOT YOU ALL LIKE DOGS!"
At this point, Humphrey was sweeping his pistol over the crowd, as if he was daring anyone to rush him.
"KEEP ORDER HERE! KEEP ORDER, I SAID!"
Seeing now that the situation was getting under control, Lights turned to Mr. Lowe whilst loading his own pistol, now seeing that in may be needed, if Humphrey's continued brandishing of his sidearm was any indication.
"Mr. Lowe! Man this boat!" With a nod, Mr. Lowe did as instructed.
"RIGHT!" Mr. Lowe called over the frightened passengers in the boat, "IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT?! NOBODY PANIC!"
Starboard Side Boats
1:40 A.M.
Unfortunately on the starboard side, as Winston and Tony could see, that's all anyone could. Almost half of the starboard boats had already been launched, and Mr. Murdoch and Samuel were in the middle of lowering another one. Being at the aft-most part of the boat deck, Winston could see that his and Tony's chances of escape were growing smaller by the second.
"We're too late," Winston gasped through gritted teeth. However, Tony, after coming back on deck after retrieving some irreplaceable family belongings his cabin, had noticed several crew preparing a raft.
"There are more boats down front," he reassured Winston. Looking to Samuel, Tony held a hopeful smile.
"Let's stay with Samuel. I'm sure he will help us." Winston, upon looking at said officer, smiled warmly at the young man. Unfortunately, his fondness vanished in an instant by a bellowing call from the water below.
"STOP LOWERING!" Looking over the side of the ship, Winston eyes beheld a horrifying sight. As Lifeboat fifteen was being lowered, discharge from the ship's pumps had pushed boat thirteen, still attached to it's ropes, which were being hastily cut by Scar, under the descending boat. The occupants of number fifteen tried frantically to gain the attention of the officer's on deck, but do to the clambering around them, Samuel and Mr. Murdoch couldn't hear them.
Thing's weren't fairing any better on the port side. As Garth, Humphrey and, Mr. Lightoller attempted to fend off the frantic passengers on the boat deck, Mr. Lowe was trying desperately to stop men from jumping into the boat from the A-Deck promenade.
"GET BACK YOU LOT!" He yelled, brandishing his pistol. "STAY BACK! STAY BACK, THE LOT OF YOU! STAAAY BAAACK!"
As Mr. Lowe stretched out his last warning, he aimed his gun out to sea, firing three repetitive shots which succeeded in sacking off the frantic passengers. the shots could be heard from the starboard side, which did little to ease Winston's worries.
"It's starting to fall apart," Winston rasped to Tony. "We don't have much time." Upon noticing Samuel and Mr. Murdoch start to move forward, Winston and Tony began to follow, only for their path to blocked by several dogs scurrying along the deck; someone had gone below decks and opened the ship's kennel. Winston actually found himself distracted by a black french bulldog, trotting along with it's short legs.
"SAMUEL!" Tony's call pulled Winston from his thoughts, allowing him to turn in time to see the retreating forms of Samuel and Mr. Murdoch. Moving quickly, Winston and Tony caught up with the two officers.
"Samuel, Mr. Murdoch," he greeted as he tony came along side the two.
"Mr. Maverick, Mr. Reynolds," Mr. Murdoch responded in as much a cordial voice as he could, all while still maintaining his stride. Looking past Mr. Murdoch, Samuel called to two seamen.
"YOU TWO, WITH US NOW!" The two seamen quickly obeyed, falling into stride behind the two officers.
"Are there really more boats?" Winston inquired to Samuel, who never once broke his stride as he answered.
"YES!" the Junior Officer responded. "There are two collapsibles by the bridge. This way, we'll lead you!" With that in mind, Winston's hopes of seeing his wife and daughters again came back at full force.
Port Bridge Wing
1:50 A.M.
Captain Smith had just left the wheelhouse,having just been to the wireless room to receive an update on the Carpathia. She was still two hours away, and by the time she reached them, it would be too late. Now Smith knew that the only hope of more lives being saved was with the mystery ship on the horizon.
Stepping up the silver-furred Quartermaster Rowe, who was in the midst of lighting another rocket, Smith found himself pushed back the sailor.
"Stand clear, Sir!" he all but shouted as the whizzed overhead, exploding in another brilliant shower of sparks.
"That was the last one sir."
Smith, with a slight nod, turned his attention to the light on the horizon.
"She still has responded to the rockets or the Morse lamp?" Smith inquired.
"No Sir," Rowe responded, "I thought I saw a response to the lamp, though it could have been a masthead flickering."
Smith, realizing that all efforts were pointless, decided that Rowe would have better uses in the waning time they had.
"Thank you Mr. Rowe," he said, clapping the sailor on the shoulder. "Report to Mr. Murdoch and see what else can be done."
"Yes Sir!" Rowe responded smartly before leaving Smith alone on the bridge wing, the Captain staring contemptibly at the light.
"God Help You!"
Starboard Side Boats
2:00 A.M.
"ANYMORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN?!" Samuel called out, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"They're all onboard Mr. Davis!" Mr. Ismay called, an anxious bounce to his step. It was actually no mystery to the crew and passengers present that Mr. Ismay was in a hurry to depart himself. Even more so since the water was now up to B-Deck, with the head of the ship sinking lower by the minute. Winston and Tony couldn't help but feel some contempt for the president of the White Star Line.
"ANYONE ELSE THEN?!" Samuel called as he cast his gaze over to Winston and Tony, a warm smile on his face as Winston's eyes grew wide with hope. Stretching his arm out to the duo, Samuel gestured them over eagerly. But, just as the older wolves stepped forward, a frantic cry sounded from behind them.
"PLEASE WAIT!" Turning tot he source of the Irish voice, the group of males turned to see a ginger-furred woman, obviously steerage if her modest clothing was any indication, running toward the boat, carrying a bundled pup in her arms as two boys, who appeared no older than twelve trailed behind her.
"PLEASE, MAY WE GET ON THE BOAT?!" she pleaded to Samuel, who cast an uncertain look toward Winston and Tony, knowing full well that if he allowed the woman and her children on, then Winston and Tony would have to board one of the other collapsible. After looking at the woman for a hard moment, Winston and Tony turned to Samuel and, much to the officer's surprise, gave an encouraging nod. After a moment's hesitation, Samuel returned the nod before turning tot the mother and her children.
"Yes I wish you would," he said gently to the mother, who planted a grateful kiss on the young wolf's cheek before boarding the boat with her children.
"THEY'RE THE LAST BILL!"
"VERY GOOD SAM!" Bill called back.
"LOWER THIS BOAT WHILE I GET SOME MEN TO READY THE NEXT ONE!"
"AYE SIR!" With that, Bill and several seamen climbed the ladder up to the roof of the officer's quarters to uncover collapsible boat A, passing by Mr. Rowe who had come to see how he could help. Upon seeing that no one was in charge of the boat, Samuel put Rowe at the tiller. Turning to the men by the davits, Samuel began to issue orders. It was at this moment that Mr. Ismay realized that time was running out for him.
"READY ON THE FALLS?!" He called.
"READY ON THE LEFT?!"
The moment Samuel turned his head tot the right, Mr. Ismay took his chance. While the officer was looking, Mr. Ismay took the opportunity to climb into the boat, much tot the disgust of Winston and Tony.
"READY ON THE RIGHT?!"
As Samuel checked the other men's readiness, he happened to catch Mr. Ismay's action in his peripheral vision. Mr. Ismay could feeling Samuel's burning gaze on the side of his face, but he dared not look him in the eye. But what Samuel said next greatly surprised him.
"Take them down." It was said softly, but Mr. Ismay could still hear the venom laced within the order.
"Steady!"
That was with said with a low growl. "Both sides together now." Just as the boat deck was out of sight, Mr. Ismay cast a sideways glace to Samuel, Winston and Tony seen not far behind him, a definitive sneer on each of their faces. And just as he was out of sight of the three disapproving gazes, he heard Tony mutter something that he knew others would surely think of him as well.
"Coward."
Meanwhile, Mason, Jack and Harold were working hard to keep the messages flowing. But with the ship's failing power, it was becoming harder by the second. At one point, Mason had returned to his cabin to fetch his lifebelt, while Harold had fetched his and Jack's from the adjoining bunk room.
"Mason, see if you can give me more power."
"On it," Mason answered as he went into the silent room, fiddling with the amplifier nobs to adjust the strength of the spark.
"There that's better!" Jack called.
"Right Oh!" Mason responded before returning to the main room, only to receive a surprise when Captain Smith entered.
"Is Carpathia still responding?" he inquired, earning a nod from Mason and Harold as Jack continued to key away.
"No one else?"
At this point, Mason held a look of mild anger at the replies they had received besides Carpathia.
"The Olympic still wants to know if we're steaming south to meet her," Mason answered, his teeth clenched together in frustration, "and the Frankfurt keeps asking for more details! They just don't seem to understand Sir!"
Smith numbly nodded his head, the fate of those left behind now apparent, and his responsibility as Captain now weighed heavily on him.
"The power won't last much longer anyway," he responded, making the three young wolves pause to look at him.
"Gentleman, you have done your duty...you can do no more.
"Sir?" Mason asked in disbelief.
"Abandon your cabin...
It is Every Man for Himself."
With that, Smith left the cabin, leaving the operators in disbelief.
Port Side Lifeboats
2:05 A.M.
"HOLD THAT LINE!" Mr. Lightoller shouted as the men on the roof of the officer's quarters were rocking collapsible lifeboat be to the edge.
"STEADY GARTH!" Humphrey called to his brother-in-law, the two putting every ounce of strength they had into pushing the boat onto the boat deck with about a dozen other men. Noticing that the boat was just about to tip of the ledge, Mr. Lightoller called to the Passengers and crew below, who had been putting oars along the edge of the roof, hopping to use them as a makeshift slipway for the boat.
"CLEAR AWAY!" he called, and just in time too. With one final heave, the boat was pushed off the roof of the officer's quarters, it's weight snapping the oars beneath it in half. Unfortunately, Garth and another sailor lost their footing, falling with the boat, which had landed upside down on the deck. Putting his arms out, Garth was able to somewhat break his fall, but he could tell he would have a few bruised ribs later on. Meanwhile, on the starboard side, Samuel and Mr. Murdoch, along with Winston, Tony and several other men, were in the same predicament with pushing boat A off of the roof.
"That's it lads," the Scottish sailor called tentatively, eying the flimsy oars at the edge of the roof. "Hold it," he called as the boat inched closer tot the edge, "Hold it, HOLD IT!" Unfortunately, Mr. Murdoch's instructions were in vain as the boat snapped the oars as he crashed down onto the deck, but luckily right side up. Jumping down from the roof, Mr. Murdoch ran to a nearby by stairwell. Looking down, his eyes widened in panic as water was now rapidly flooding A-Deck. Time was running out.
"GET THESE DAVITS CRANKED IN!" he yelled as he went to prepare the boat.
"HELP GET THESE FALLS HOOKED UP!"
At this point, Samuel, upon seeing for himself the cause of Bill's sudden alarm, quickly ran into the officer's quarters through the wheelhouse, and back to and down the Grand Staircase toward his cabin. Upon entering the cabin in ankle deep water, the moaning of the ship's strained structure vibrating throughout the walls, Samuel quickly grabbed and hastily put on his lifebelt. On his way back, he ran into Humphrey, the Junior Second Officer now garbed in his own lifebelt while carrying a bushel of others. Samuel stared longingly at his friend and colleague before extending his hand, which was gladly taken.
"Good luck, old chap," Humphrey whispered, tears in his eyes.
"And to you lad," Samuel responded. But just as he was about to follow Humphrey, he froze when he heard Mason's breathless voice in the wireless room.
"The boat deck's awash!" he heard, followed by the sound of the telegraph key tapping out the distress call.
"Come on, let's clear out, we've done our duty! Come on or we'll be eating sand for breakfast!"
Then Sam heard another voice, one he recognized as Jack Phillips, shout in response.
"I'M NOT GOING!"
Samuel actually couldn't help but feel great respect for Jack's dedication. Then, a new voice that could only belong to Harold Bride sounded.
"He's mad. Go on Mason, and good luck."
"You too, Harry."
And before Samuel knew it, he was face to face with his oldest and dearest friend. For a hard few moments, the two stared at each other, their uniforms and coats covered by matching lifebelts. But Mason was the first to act, quickly moving toward Samuel, the two enveloping each other in a large hug, all the love and respect they had for each being expressed in this one moment as tears streamed down their cheeks.
"I Love You, Brother," Mason sobbed as Samuel rubbed his back.
"I Love You Too, Mason," Samuel responded.
After a few moments of just holding each other, the two separated and went their separate ways, both exiting the wheelhouse, only to find to their surprise that Mason was right, and that the bridge was now partially submerged.
Running toward lifeboat B, Mason ran up to Garth, Humphrey having handed him a lifebelt, which the fumbling Junior Chief Officer gladly accepted, quickly placing it on himself before returning to the task of trying to right the overturned boat. As this happened, Humphrey noticed a figure walking slowly toward the bridged. Upon recognizing the unformed and distinct greying fur, Humphrey chased the figure.
"CAPTAIN!" He called, frantically waving a lifebelt in one hand.
"CAPTAIN! SIR!"
But upon reaching his Captain, Humphrey was stunned to see a blank stare in the older wolf's eyes, eyes that had once held so much power and compassion. Looking dumbly to the lifebelt being offered to him, Smith simply resumed his walk to the bridge. As Humphrey observed, Smith just stood on the navigation deck for a few moments, before turning toward the wheelhouse, closing the door and locking himself inside, completely muting out the still playing orchestra, who as the last notes of their song drifted away, knew that the end was near.
"It's the end boys," Wallace Hartley said to his friends, "we've done our duty. We can go now."
After a moment's hesitation, the group began to disperse. But as they did son, Wallace felt he still had one more song left in him, a song he had been saving for just such an occasion. Bringing his violin up to his chin, Wallace began to drag the bow over the strings in the opening notes of a calming hymn,
Nearer My God to Thee.
The song strikes a chord with the other band members who, one by one, join in until the rich sound of their strings fills the chaotic events happening around them.
In the wheelhouse, Captain Smith grasped the wheel of the ship he was so proud to command, water slowly crawling up the windows from outside.
In the first class smoking lounge, Mr. Andrews, stares at a picture of Plymouth Harbor, making no attempt to save himself.
In first class, the Strauss's, hold each other close while laying in bed as water floods their cabin.
In steerage, a mother lulls her children to sleep with an old Irish tale, hoping to bring them comfort before the bitter end.
In the Grand Staircase Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet watch in terror as water rapidly creeps up the slanted floor.
In A-1, a framed photograph of a newly wed woman and certain Junior First Officer sinks to the floor.
Back on deck, the band continues to play as the crew work to free the collapsible from the now rapidly sinking ship. On the port side, Garth and Humphrey work hard to free the overturned boat from it's falls as water swirls around their knees, while Mason finds himself being jostled further aft of the pandemonium. On the starboard side, Mr. Murdoch can see that time has run out.
"THERE'S NO TIME!" Bill called to Samuel, who was till fumbling to release the davit falls. "CUT THOSE BLOODY FALLS! CUT 'EM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
"I NEED A KNIFE!" Samuel screamed in panic as the ship suddenly lurched forward, completely submerging the bridge and sending a massive wave over the deck. "I NEED A...!" At that moment, Samuel was cut off as the wave washed him aft of the boat, along with Winston, leaving Tony and Mr. Murdoch behind in the mess of screaming passengers. As the ship continued to sink, the band's playing slowly came to an end as the last chords of their song subsided into ear piercing screams.
"Gentlemen," Wallace said as he looked fondly to his friends and colleagues, "it has been a privilege playing with you tonight."
Down in the engine room, Archie was working hard to keep the lights going, when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Spinning around, Archie was met with the caring eyes of Artie Frost, who seemed to hold a defeated look in his stare.
"Just got with the Captain , Archie," he said softly.
"It's every man for himself."
Frost paused for a moment, before stepping aside, gesturing towards the ladders that would lead Archie and the others up and out of the engine room.
"Go on," he encouraged the hesitant wolf, "You have boys at home."
After another moment of hesitation, Archie, who could see that his friend would not relent in his stance, offered a firm nod. But before he left, Archie extended his hand, which Artie gladly took, shaking it firmly before watching in silence as the ginger-furred man turned and walked away, making his way up to his last chance to see his youngest boys again.
In the submerged wheelhouse, Captain Smith stared in horror as the windows of the wheelhouse strained under the pressure from the water on the other side. Suddenly, one after the other, the windows burst, torrents of water rushing into the confined space as Captain Smith clung on the wheel as he was enveloped in a swirling whirlpool of frigid Atlantic water.
And so, after nearly forty years, the career, and life, of Edward John Smith came to an end.