The Titanic

After the Disaster

At dawn, Carpathia arrived. They loaded the wet, frozen, hypothermic, and traumatized survivors onto the ship. The survivors were given warm blankets, dry clothes, hot food and coffee, and medical attention. Some of the survivors sat numbly in chairs, while others wandered around, looking for family and friends who were not there.

Carpathia, which was heading to Europe, changed direction to go to New York. The three-day journey was slow and sad, with rough seas and many icebergs. The news of Titanic was broadcast throughout the world. There were many wealthy and famous people on board, so the news gathered lots of attention.

Afterwards, the U.S. government and British government held inquiries into the disaster. Charities were set up so people could donate money. For weeks after the sinking, bodies of the dead, still floating in their life jackets, were pulled out of the water and buried.

Robert Douglas Spedden survived, with both his parents and his nurse in a lifeboat. Edith Brown and her mother were placed into a lifeboat by their father, who stood on the deck, smoking a cigar and sipping a glass of brandy. Edith would never forget the sounds of the screams of the dying in the water. Nobody knew how to identify Michel Jr. and Edmond Navratil. But, their mother recognized a picture of them in the newspaper, and sailed to America to pick them up. The family then returned to France, where the boys grew up. Anna Sjöblom married an American and had a family. Charlotte and Marjorie Collyer returned to England, where two years later, Charlotte died, leaving Marjorie an orphan. Madeleine Astor remained in New York and raised her son, John Jacob VI.

Samantha’s Story Continues

There’s a knock at the door. The maid opens, and hands a telegram to Uncle Gard. His hands tremble as he fumbles with the flap. His face is white. Everyone reads the telegram together: “We are all safe on Carpathia. To dock at New York harbor 3:00 p.m. Love Cornelia.” Tears stream down Samantha’s face as she and Bridget and Jenny all hug each other. They’re all so grateful they are alive. Samantha feels the pressure that was building inside her bursting open as she sobs with relief.

They all dress quickly to get ready to meet the ship at the dock. They swiftly walk down the streets, dodging automobiles and wagons. Then, Samantha sees the ship, pulling into the harbor. The crew lowers the gangplank, and they all see the survivors, wrapped in blankets, crowding the railways. Samantha, Uncle Gard, Bridget, and Jenny scan the ship looking for their family, but they don’t see them. Did something happen to them?

Suddenly, Samantha feels Nellie throw herself against her. Aunt Cornelia is behind her with William. They all look pale and tired. But they’re in one piece, safe and sound. Nellie’s eyes glisten with tears. Samantha wraps her arms around Nellie—she is never letting go of her.

A few days later, Samantha, Bridget, and Jenny step onto the street. Their family was very lucky, but not every family was. Many of the families are now quite poor, since they lost their husbands and fathers to provide for them. The girls head to 300 Fourth Avenue, where the offices of the Titanic Relief Fund have been set up. Samantha knows she wants to find a way to help.