Margaret Tobin Brown page 6 by ric gustafson
At about 10:00 pm, able Seaman Frederick Fleet began to climb the ladder to the Crow's Nest. Close behind was Reginald Lee. Now in his midtwenties, Fleet had worked his way from deck boy to an able Seaman. Both men took their posts. Fleet now stood in front of a long brass bell. This bell, nearly two feet in length, hung just above Fleet's head. The two men knew the liner was moving at 22.5 knots and that the air temperature was at near freezing. It was rapidly getting colder. The night was clear.
Margaret opened the door to her cabin. She turned on the light. She sat down on the brass bed. She took off the dinner gown she was wearing and put on a fleece gown. She got a book to read in bed. On the wall was a mesh netting. She kept her books, a handkerchief and a small tin of balm. Also in that netting was a roll of crackers in case she got hungry.
In bed, Margaret could hear the vibration of the engines. The sound was keeping Margaret awake.
In the Wireless Room, Operator John Phillips was furious. A ship less than twenty miles away the Californian gave Phillips a message that they had to stop because they were surrounded by ice. Phillips angrily typed back that he was very busy.
research help: ' Molly Brown unraveling the myth' by Kristen Iversen
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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