Free Voices from the Titanic by Geoff Tibballs Page B

humanly possible to make things pleasant for the ship’s company. Formerly of the Olympic , a sister ship of the Titanic , Captain Smith has always been a conscientious worker in the interests of his profession. He was a member of the Executive Council of the Mercantile Marine Service Association, prior to his removal to Southampton to take over the command of the Oceanic . His connection with the White Star is a long and extensive one, and his abilities will fit him for the command of the world’s greatest ship.
    He is a native of Staffordshire, and was born in 1850, and served his apprenticeship to the sea with the firm of Messrs A. Gibson and Co., the well-known Liverpool shipowners. He joined the White Star Line as Fourth Officer, and secured his first command in 1887. Since then he has commanded most of the large vessels of the fleet.
    All arrangements having been completed, the last tender cast off at 1.25pm, and in a few minutes afterwards the Titanic weighed anchor and proceeded on her westward voyage, taking with her the best wishes of all who had the privilege of being entertained on board.
    ( Cork Free Press , 12 April 1912)
    Miss Nellie Walcroft , a thirty-one-year-old cook from Berkshire, was visiting her sister in New York. She and her travelling companion, Miss Clear Cameron, had been due to travel on another ship but were transferred to the Titanic because of a coal strike in Britain. They shared a second-class cabin on E deck. Miss Walcroft recounted her story in a letter to her local paper, dated 23 April 1912.
    I left Maidenhead on April 9, stayed in London and caught the special train to Southampton at 8.30 on the morning of April 10. My sister and a friend saw me off. After a splendid quick run we arrived at Southampton Dock Station at 10.15.
    Looking through the window, I saw the largest ship I had ever seen. The sun was shining on it, and it was magnificent. Everyone was going over the ship and it was greatly admired.

    The bell rang and all the visitors left the ship. Then we started, to the hand waving of thousands of people. We left the docks. We did not know about the near collision we had until we arrived this side. We arrived at Cherbourg at 5 o’clock and at Queenstown on Thursday morning. We had a perfect trip.
    ( Maidenhead Advertiser )
    British passenger Charlotte Collyer was travelling second-class on the Titanic with her husband Harvey and their eight-year-old daughter Marjorie. They had left their home in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, where they ran a small grocery store, to start a new life in Payette, Idaho. There Harvey Collyer planned to buy a half share in an apple orchard. The Collyers had originally booked their passage on the steamer New York but that vessel was delayed because of the coal strike in Britain and they transferred to the Titanic . All their worldly goods travelled with them, Harvey Collyer having sewn his money and valuables into the lining of his clothes. He never made it to the United States, but Charlotte lived to tell her tale.
    From our deck which was situated well forward, we saw the great send off that was given to the boat. I do not think that there had ever been so large a crowd in Southampton and I am not surprised that it should have come together.
    The Titanic was wonderful, far more splendid and huge than I had dreamed of. The other crafts in the harbour were like cockle shells beside her and they, mind you, were the boats of the American and other lines that a few years ago were thought enormous. I remember a friend said to me, ‘Aren’t you afraid to venture on the sea?’, but now it was I who was confident. ‘What, on this boat!’ I answered. ‘Even the worst storm could not harm her.’ Before we left the harbour I saw the accident to the New York , the liner that was dragged from her moorings and swept against us in the Channel. It did not frighten anyone, as it only seemed to prove how powerful the Titanic was.

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