04/15/2026
'I was just about ready for the land of nod, when I felt a sudden vibrating jar run through the ship ... Not that it was by any means a violent concussion, but just a distinct and unpleasant break in the monotony of her motion.’
— Charles Lightoller, Titanic and Other Ships, 1935.
•••
'It was a brilliant, starry night. There was no moon and I have never seen the stars shine brighter; they appeared to stand right out of the sky, sparkling like cut diamonds. I have spent much time on the ocean, yet I have never seen the sea smoother than it was that night; it was like a mill-pond, and just as innocent looking, as the great ship quietly rippled through it.'
— Jack Thayer, Titanic survivor.
•••
'I was ordered up on deck. Calmly, passengers strolled about. I stood at the bulkhead with the other stewardesses, watching the women cling to their husbands before being put into the boats with their children. Some time after, a ship’s officer ordered us into the boat (No. 16) first to show some women it was safe.'
— Violet Jessop, Irish-Argentinian stewardess.
•••
'I jumped out of bed, and put over my nightdress, a dressing gown and then an ulster. My hair was down; but I hurriedly tied it back with a ribbon. By this time, although the boat had not made any progress, it seemed to have tilted forward a little.
I caught up my daughter, Marjorie, just as she was, in her nightgown, wrapped a White Star cabin blanket around her, and started out of the door. My husband followed immediately behind. Neither of us took any of our belongings from the cabin; and I remember that we even left his watch lying on his pillow. We did not doubt for an instant that we would return.
When we reached the second-cabin promenade deck, we found a great many people there. Some officers were walking up and down, and shouting: “There is no danger, no danger whatever!” It was a clear starlight night, but very cold. There was not a ripple on the sea.’
— Charlotte Collyer, from ‘How I Was Saved From The Titanic: A Titanic Survivor’s Story’.
•••
'Men, you have done all you can. You can do no more. Abandon your cabin. Now it’s every man for himself.'
— Capt. Edward Smith. Harold Bride recalled him saying upon informing Smith the last boat had left.
•••
‘There was no great shock. I was on my feet at the time, and I do not think it was enough to throw anyone down. I put on an overcoat and rushed up on 'A' deck on the port side. I saw nothing there. I then went forward to the bow to see if I could see any signs of ice.
I then went down to our room and my father and mother came on deck with me, to the starboard side of 'A' deck. We could not see anything there. Father thought he saw small pieces of ice floating around, but I could not see any myself. There was no big berg. We then went down to our rooms on 'C' deck, all of us dressed quickly, putting on all our clothes. We all put on life preservers, including the maid, and over these we put our overcoats. Then we hurried up on deck and walked around, looking out at different places until the women were all ordered to collect on the port side.
Father and I said good-bye to mother at the top of the stairs on 'A' deck on the port side, and we went to the starboard side. As at this time we had no idea the boat would sink, we walked around 'A' deck and then went to 'B' deck. Then we thought we would go back to see if mother had gotten off safely, and went to the port side of 'A' deck. We met the chief of the main dining saloon and he told us that mother had not yet taken a boat and he took us to her. That is the last time I saw my father.’
— Jack Thayer, aged 17.
