Loading lifeboats number 14 and 16.
Monday, April 15, 1912 - 1:30 a.m.
Fifth Officer Harold Lowe:
"Numbers 12, 14, and 16 were down about the same time. I told Mr. Moody
that three boats had gone away and that an officer ought to go with them.
He said: 'You go.' There was difficulty in lowering when I got near the
water. I dropped her about five feet because I was not going to take the
chance of being dropped down upon by somebody. While I was on the Boat
Deck, two men tried to jump into the boat. I chased them out. We filled
boats 14 and 16 with women and children. Lightholler was there part of
the time. They were all women and children, barring one passenger, and
he sneaked in dressed like a woman. He had a shawl over his head. As I was
being lowered, I expected every moment that my boat would be doubled up
under my feet. I had overcrowded her, but I knew that I had to take a certain
amount of risk. I thought if one additional body was to fall into that
boat - that slight additional weight might part the hooks, or carry away
something. So as we were coming down past the open decks, I saw a lot of
people all along the ship's rails. They were glaring more or less like
wild beasts, ready to spring. That is why I yelled out to 'look out' and
let go, bang! ... right along the ship's side. There was a space I should
say of about three feet between the side of the boat and the ship's side,
and as I went down I fired these shots without any intention of hurting
anybody and with the positive knowledge that I did not hurt anybody. I fired,
I think three times"
© Paul Quinn 1996 - All contents of these pages.