Chapter 9: Iceberg Straight Ahead
April 14, 1912
Captain Smith ordered all steamships boilers lit, thus pushing the engines to their fullest capacity. The President of the White Star Line J. Bruce Ismay requested the RMS Titanic's new arrival time in the New York City port be pushed ahead to Tuesday night. The new arrival time would be faster than any previous transatlantic crossings attempted, thus giving the ship's maiden voyage extra publicity.
Ross and Rachel had attended a Church-of-England's service in the Grand Dining Salon, presided over by Captain Smith. The service was not from the Church of England's "Book of Common Prayer" but instead; from the White Star Line's own Prayer Book. All those present joined in on the hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" which ends with "Oh hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea." The Service had ended promptly at 11am.
"Would you like me to place your evening dress on the bed for you Miss Green?" Violet somewhat enviously inquired while replacing the towels on the washstand. Rachel's dress was red satin with a chiffon overlay, beaded appliqués, and beaded chiffon overlay over the bodice. Rachel had found the new design in Paris. Being a fashion consultant she could not wait to show it off it at dinner. Ross and Rachel had been issued an invitation only to attend a dinner for Captain Smith hosted by Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Ryerson in the A La Carte Restaurant. She knew they would be dining with the socially elite and had spent many hours carefully preparing for the party.
Ross gently knocked on the stateroom door. Rachel opened the door. Rachel, with the doorframe surrounding her, gave off the appearance of a perfectly framed picture. "Wow, you look wonderful", Ross stood silent for a moment just admiring her picture perfect appearance.
"I'm ready, shall we go?" Rachel informed Ross as she took his arm.
Ross, with Rachel on his arm, glided into the deluxe À la Carte Restaurant. What had started as a small, 25-table deluxe restaurant on the Olympic had expanded into a 140 seat social club on Titanic just a year later. The introduction of the restaurant appeared to create a new class of passenger, who assumes an air of superiority and holds aloof from the ordinary Dining Saloon diner. Ordinarily, meals for all classes on Titanic were included in the price of the passage and diners selected their meals from a generous, but fixed menu. However, in the À la Carte Restaurant diners could chose each course separately from a wider selection than that available in the main dining saloon. However every luxury has a price. Passengers had to pay for the meals out of their pocket.
The room itself was decorated in the French style, Louis VI, and featured walls with delicate walnut veneers set off by gilded swags and festoons. These gilded swags were repeated in the plaster ceiling and on the boarders of the china. Crystal chandeliers hung over tables decorated with White Star Line first class china.
Captain Smith sat at the main table having a conversation with Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress Madame Aubert. The soft-spoken Countes Of Rothes was also at the Captain's table. Setting directly beside her was Helen Candee.
"Rachel, you look stunning. Was that a Paris find?" Lucille Lady Duff Gordon quipped while taking in every detail of the new found design.
"Yes, it was in the new spring line", Rachel replied while taking Ross's arm to leave. She was anxious not to reveal any more information than necessary to a known competitor.
"Hi Ross, nice to see you made it. Several of us will be going to the First Class lounge after the meal for a drink. You both are welcome to join us", Colonel Gracie informed him.
"Rachel and I had previously discussed listening to the string band in the Reception Room, however; we may change our mind and join you later", Ross replied as he guided Rachel to their assigned seats.
Ross and Rachel completed their meal with the socially elite and cordially exited the party at approximately 9:30 pm.
After listening to the string band and trying out a few waltzes for close to an hour, they next decided to take a brisk walk on the boat deck.
Stars shone brightly on the moonless ocean. The calmness on the ocean gave off the appearances of a millpond. Periodically, pieces of ice began floating by.
"It is much colder on deck than I imagined. Would you care to go back inside?" Ross inquired somewhat shivering while buttoning his coat up all the way to the collar.
"To me the crisp ocean air feels invigorating", Rachel replied while sensuously nudging against him.
He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss. Suddenly, a loud shrill bell began clanging from the crow's nest directly above them. Between the periodic rings they could hear lookout Frederick Fleet as he yelled "ICEBERG STRAIGHT AHEAD". Ross and Rachel stood frozen in silence. A white wall of ice was coming directly towards them.
To be continued in Chapter 10 the final chapter
It was noted that First Officer Murdoch spotted the iceberg at the same exact time as lookout Frederick Fleet. At approximately 9:30 pm the wireless operator from the ship Californian sent a cablegram warning to the Titanic's wireless operators informing them of the iceberg's exact location. The operators, behind in sending cablegrams of the elite, yelled at the wireless operator "shut up, we are running Cape Race".