Night from 16 to 17 April
Near Long Island coast
NY, USA
A few hours until we arrive. There is an unusual bustle on board for the night.
Rested passengers collect their belongings. Children rejoice at the opportunity not to sleep, the stewards scurry back and forth, fulfilling requests of the passengers. All people are in anticipation.
Some are waiting to return home, others are waiting for the start of a new life, others are looking forward to earning a good income in order to bring money to Britain for their families. America has always meant changes.
Despite all the stops, we met the schedule.
In an hour, a pilot will board and guide us to a brighter future. The one that did not take place in my world.
"Congratulations on winning, Henry" says happy captain Smith "Ambrose lightship coming soon. After that, our trip will be considered completed."
"Thank you, sir. We all won. I can't believe I was able to do this."
"When you'll become a captain, never put speed at the expense of safety. Don't crawl like a turtle and don't hurry. Remember - moderation in all things. Overestimating your strengths can cause trouble."
And here is the dawn. The day promised to be cloudy. Instead of a beautiful dawn, America met us with heavy lead clouds. It started to rain.
"Keep your eyes open. We must not miss the Ambrose lightship" Smith ordered "The lighthouse marks the beginning of the Ambrose Canal. It was specially deepened for the passage of large ships. There are shallows on the right and left sides."
The desired New York was right in front of my eyes. Just a little, but we have to wait for permission. The captain invited me for tea. I'll warm up before I take my post on the forecastle in the rain.
The floating lighthouse turned out to be just a small boat with a large searchlight. It's amazing we didn't overshoot or crush her. Sailors say that such things happened. Large steamships, not seeing small fishing boats and lightships, simply crushed them. Everyone knew that passenger liners were scurrying along the American coast, but it was impossible to prove who crushed whom and when. That's how they live. Some catch fish anywhere, others crush those who catch.
We came close to the Ambrose lighthouse. A small boat departed from it, which in a couple of minutes was at our starboard side. The gangway door of the E-deck opened, and the ladder was dropped for the pilot.
Captain Smith invited the pilot to the bridge, Murdoch and Pitman went to the stern bridge, Lowe stood by the telephone, Charles and I took up our post on the forecastle, Boxhall stood on the intercom with the engine room.
The buoys to our right and left marked the Ambrose Channel. We need to stay in the middle so we don't run aground. The machines are working again. The Titanic went along the canal at a half ahead speed.
April 17
Morning
Upper Bay, New York
That's all. The Titanic anchored in the harbor. Gray sky, nasty rain drizzling. After a week of tension beyond human capabilities, in a strange, unfamiliar world, I feel great fatigue and devastation. Cameron will never make a film that wins 11 Oscars. DiCaprio will become famous in a different role. There will be no widows and orphaned children, Celine Dion will not sing a beautiful sad song, Ismay will not cover his name with disgrace, Captain Smith will calmly retire, there will not be hundreds of people freezing in icy water. Many things will never happen now.
Instead of tears of grief for the dead, there will be joyful meetings; instead of a list of victims, newspapers will write about the arrival of a new White Star liner.
The Americans checked the documents of the crew and first-class passengers. There is an inspection of cargo and a transfer of 3rd class passengers to the ferry. They will go through additional sanitary control at Ellis Island, and we will moor at the pier, drop off the first and second classes and then have a rest.
I have time to run to the gangway door of the E deck to say goodbye to the Goodwin family. A new life awaits them.
"Goodbye Mr. Wilde!" Augusta smiles warmly at me, holding little Sidney in her arms.
"Good luck to you and your family, Mrs. Goodwin. I wish you happiness in Niagara"
"Thanks Henry. We need a lot of luck."
And so, another short acquaintance came to an end. The Goodwins got on the ferry. It's time for me to get back to the bridge.
I take out a cigarette, nervously looking for matches. Moody comes up unnoticed, lights a match, lights a cigarette for me. This man must have been dead for two days.
"Let's have a beer on the shore" I say with a cigarette in my mouth.
"After our adventures, I'm with you anywhere, Mr. Wilde."
"Just don't tell the passengers about it, James" I throw my cigarette butt overboard "See you"
On the night of April 14-15, we outdid ourselves. The wheel... The block of history has shifted in the other direction.
Returning to the forecastle, I see Dorothy talking about something with a smiling Charles.
From above I hear the voice of the captain, giving the command to raise the anchor. Slowly Titanic goes to pier 59.
I, holding Dorothy's hand, enjoy the view of such a familiar and at the same time unfamiliar New York. 110 years ago, the city was beautiful without glass and concrete skyscrapers.
A happy smile does not leave my face.
Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York…
On the left is the long-awaited Statue of Liberty. There are many small boats and huge ships sailing along the Hudson. Life is in full swing.
Half an hour later, the disembarkation of passengers begins. I am standing near the first-class gangway. Here comes happy John Jacob Astor with his young wife.
"Goodbye Mr. Astor, goodbye Mrs. Astor, thank you for choosing us."
"Goodbye, Mr. Wilde. We will continue to travel with your company."
"We are always waiting for you on board."
Behind them is Benjamin Guggenheim.
"Goodbye Mr. Guggenheim, thank you for using White Star!"
"Goodbye, Mr. Wilde, thanks for a wonderful trip!"
And here is Dorothy with Mrs. Gibson. How sad to leave her. I force myself to smile.
"Well, that's it, Dorothy. You have arrived home." I give her a card with my home address in Liverpool "If suddenly something… Or you will be lonely. In a word, you now know where to find me." I kiss her hand.
"Goodbye, Henry! We look forward to welcoming you to our home on Long Island!" Dorothy's mother speaks with touchingly notes in her voice.
"I will definitely come, Miss Gibson, good luck!"
They left, and I just watched, doing nothing.
We saying Goodbye to the spouses Duff Gordon, whose reputation will now remain unsullied.
"We are absolutely fascinated by you, Mr. Wilde, I heard you will be captain soon. We will be waiting for your voyages to plan our trips to Europe."
"Looking forward to seeing you again, Mr. and Mrs. Duff Gordon. It was a pleasure to meet such interesting people."
"Good luck getting back, Henry."
I'm saying Goodbye to Quigg Baxter, Charles Fortune and Jack Thayer.
Major Archibald Butt, standing out in the crowd with a military bearing, the touchingly inseparable Strauss spouses ... people go, go, go.
For me, they are no longer lines in the Titanic online encyclopedia. In front of me are real people whom I managed to meet and get to know a little, some to fall in love with.
My contribution to history was modest, but weren't the people who start a new life in America and all who return home from the voyage worth it?
The sun came out from behind the clouds. Pushing my cap on the back of my head, I go to the bridge.
At that time, I didn't and couldn't know that everything was just beginning ...
To be continued