Page 61 - Titanic: Forbidden Stories Hollywood Forgot

Titanic! 47

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; ca-
pacity: 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
children 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
himself.”

©Jack Fritscher, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
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