Margaret Tobin Brown page 9

 Margaret Tobin Brown page 9 by ric gustafson

Lifeboat 6 was the first to pull away from the port side. The lifeboat was capable of carrying 65 passengers. It was only carrying 24. Robert Hichens, the Quartermaster, had been at the wheel of the liner when the call came from the Crow's Nest. Fred Fleet, who was also in the lifeboat, was the one who made the call to the bridge.

After plugging the hole in the lifeboat and undoing the shackles, the lifeboat reached the water. Right away, Hichens began barking for the women to start rowing. With all the women rowing, the lifeboat slowly started distancing itself from the huge liner.

Just then, Hichens heard a sharp blast from a whistle. He shouted at the women to stop rowing. He peered into the darkness. He told them they must go back. Helen Candee said no. The Captain had told them they had to row away from the liner. 

Margaret watched as a final rocket was fired from the starboard deck. She also noticed that E and C deck were completely submerged. The nose of the Titanic was now tipped into the water. The deck lights were still burning. Margaret could still see a lot of people on the boat deck. She could not see any more lifeboats. 

Lifeboat 6 maneuvered around floating chunks of ice in the dark of the Atlantic. Margaret looked around. She could not see any other lifeboats.

research help: ' Molly Brown unraveling the myth' by Kristen Iversen

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric