Page 60 - Titanic: The Untold Tale of Gay Passengers and Crew

46 Jack Fritscher

laugh, but our laughter, our laughter—that had changed.
By 12:30, Thayers, Astors, Wideners, Ryersons, husbands,
wives, families, accustomed to giving orders, not taking them,
assembled on A Deck’s forward side. The band stood on deck
playing popular songs from operetta and the musical stage,
and even the new sensation, ragtime.
I was frantic to find Edward.
Titanic was built to accommodate 2,435 passengers and
860 crew, a total of 3,295. On her maiden voyage, she carried
2,228 with 14 lifeboats and collapsibles; capacity: 980. At
first, the boats were half-full, occupants boarding reluctantly,
as much ashamed of doubting Titanic’s vaunted unsinkable
rep utation as they were afraid of the cold open sea at night.
Exploding distress flairs rocketed like fire works through the
night sky. Near panic ensued.
“Women and children first!”
“It was a woman,” I said, “who thought up that line.”
“Women,” Molly Brown said, “have always outsmarted
men.”
Portside, the more crowded side, only females and chil-
dren were allowed in the boats by the crew armed with guns.
Starboard, men could board if no women were pres ent. Had
we stupid cattle known then what we knew only later!
I saw no coalmen from below decks. If anyone could
bring my Edward back up safe, it was the Stoker.
When 13-year-old heir Jack Ryerson was prevented by the
loading officer from accompanying his mother, millionaire
John Ja cob Astor placed a woman’s hat on the young man’s
head and pronouced, “So, now, you’re a girl and you may go.”
Molly’s eyes lit up.
“I must find Edward,” I said.
“Edward,” Molly said, “knows how to take care of