What Would You Do ?

What would you do if you were on the TITANIC and knew that the ship was going to sink ? Most say that they would stay and some say that they would get into a lifeboat. Right now, just close your eyes and envision yourself on the tilting decks and think about your character and let it take hold of your imagination. You see the water getting closer people are starting to panic as people realize that they are doomed. Soon, you see the water getting steadily nearer and creeping up the decks. And you see the last lifeboat being loaded. What would you do ? If you are a woman or child, I'd advise that you get in but if you're a man, you should stay, pinpoint the location of a lifeboat and then get in the water and swim straight towards it. Almost none of you will face this decision but think about it like this, if God told you that you have an hour and a half to live, what would you do ?

John Harper led many others on board to Christ; Joseph Bruce Ismay the owner of the ship helped others into the lifeboats and then got into a lifeboat himself leaving 1,500 people to die. Benjamin Guggenheim dressed in his best suit and went down like a gentleman; Captain Smith gave his last command saying "Be British". Thomas Andrews helped women and children into the lifeboats and then stared at his creation as it was being destroyed under his very feet; Mr. Carter stepped into a lifeboat half an hour before his family was able to get into their's. Mrs. Strauss refused to leave her husband and they died together; Mr. Spedden said that they were going for a boat ride to convince his wife to get in. There were Gentlemen and Cowards; which would you be ?

The Carters

William Ernest Carter was born on June 19, 1875. He made a fortune after his father died as a car enterpernual car salesman. His older brother was the owner of the Pennsylvania Railway and the Carters were famous during that time. William married Lucile Polk and had two children William (nicknamed Billy), and Lucile (nicknamed Lucy).

Mr. Carter was traveling home from France on the TITANIC with his family since he had business there to buy a brand new Renault car and also took a vacation. They occupied rooms B-96 and B-98. They also were bringing along two King Charles Spaniels which they had acquired in Paris. As the two children ran around the deck, Billy some crewmen walking the dogs on the poop deck and called out "You take care of my dogs now!". That was the last time that he saw them. The Carters were woken up at around 11:40 but stayed aboard until Boat No. 4 was being loaded. Mr. Carter led his family into the line for the boat, said good bye, and Mr. Carter went to the other side of the ship to help load women and children into Collapsible C. As Collapsible C was being lowered, Mr. Carter stepped into the boat with another man. The man was Joseph Bruce Ismay. On the other side of the TITANIC, Boat No. 4 was being loaded after some difficulty and the Carters hadn't gotten in. There was a shout from the officer that said "No more boys!". Mrs. Carter placed her hat on Billy's head as she was boarding. Billy went looking for his father but was picked up by a man and placed in a different boat. By the time Lucy and Lucile's boat touched the water, Mr. Carter's boat was half a mile from the ship. The family was reunited on the rescue ship Carpathia and Billy was still wearing his mother's hat.

Mr. and Mrs. Carter divorced because Lucile could not stand being married to a coward. Years later, Billy's wife divorced him because there was a rumor that he dressed like a woman. Billy died in 1987. It is not known if he saw the wreck. Nothing is known about what happened to Lucy Carter.




In his testimony , Mr. Carter said this:

Mr. Ismay and myself and several officers walked up and down the deck crying "Are there any more women here?" We called for several minutes and got no answer. One of the officers then said that if we wanted to, we could get into the boat if we took the place of seamen. He gave us preference because we were among the first-class passengers. Mr. Ismay called again, and after we had no reply we got into the lifeboat. We took oars and rowed with two seamen.

C for Coward

Chief Purser El McRoy was in charge of loading collapsible C. When loading the boat, men jumped into the boat nearly tipping it over! Mr. Carter got in while his wife and children were sill on board(they later divorced). A man whom had Mrs. Astor's shawl passed as a woman. As the boat was lowered, Mr. Ismay got in. There were other cowards like Sir Cosmo Gordon whom got into other boats and those trying to get into Collapsible D. There were many others like a steward that used a child to get into a boat. If you were there, would you be a coward and get into a lifeboat using any means available? Would you go before the other women and innocent children and remember it for the rest of your life? Or would you be a gentleman and be brave? Think about it.