Journal

April 14, 1912 roughly 1:00pm

As I look out from the ship deck, I was in awe after I realized how many people will reside on this ship. By the looks of things, there may be over 2,000. I visited my first class accommodations including the promenade deck, Bridge, saloon, middle deck (but didn’t use the bath) and boat deck. All I could think was “wow Andrews you out did yourself.” But, I wonder if only to have 20 lifeboats is an adequate amount for the trip. But I will let that be Mr. Ismay’s problem, after all he did call this ship unsinkable. though if he is wrong I fear for my daughter’s life. So many fears for the maiden voyage, and yet such a thrill. I don’t know why I’d be scared though, the water-proof compartments can’t go under the water. For the past 3 days I’ve been to meetings, dinners and special celebrations. While there, I did my favorite part of the day, I ate salmon to die for, and wondrous creamed carrots. Did I mention the red wine, It was marvelous. For dessert I ate Chocolate & Vanilla Eclairs. They were great and sweet. It’s like I was eating right from 3 countries all at once, with the freshest foods. I love the way they greeted me and so politely asked for the bill money, not forcing me.

I fear only of the failure and flaws of this ship, however now is not the time to fail. I don’t like how the people think that this ship will last a lifetime. For they don’t understand how much trouble it could be if the ship may sink. I think that if it does that there won’t be enough seats to save them all. I won’t worry though because we may be able to keep the passengers safe long enough to reach New York. But only three more days and It will be over. Not to worry

Yours forever ﻿Thomas Andrews 

=April 14, 1912 = 11:55pm

At nearly 15 minutes ago I heard a slight crashing coming from the lower deck. I'm, truth be told, don't know what that was. I was sitting with my daughter, who got scared from said noise when she was sleeping, and I was off working on the ship. As she tried to walk to me, it seemed, so did a steward with my drink. I decided to ask him. Not even he knew what the noise seemed to be. “I assure you, sir, it’s nothing.” That I was sure it was a lie. I was also working when Capt. Ismay came to tell that there was an iceberg that we hit, the cause of the noise. I walked with him to the room that the water was filling in. It was flooding fast.

Of course, now I’m scared.I decided to use my mathematics to tell what would happen if we decide to stay. It won’t last much more than one hour and a half. Keep calm though tom. It will be alright. Oh LORD I have to say that that can’t be possible. 5 compartments flooded, there’s a mathematical certainty that it will sink. It can run with 4, but not 5. With a 5th compartment flooded it will flow over the bulkhead and flow into the 6th, then seven, until it’s all full. I told Ismay to load the lifeboats and prepare to abandon ship. This is your maiden voyage, eh. Well, there’s no point in whining, it doesn’t solve a thing.

Yours in eternity, Thomas Andrews

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 24pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">April 15, 1912 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12:45am <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Out of my porthole I notice that, on deck, Captain Ismay is lowering lifeboats. My steward must have come to check on me 3 times. I met a certain Mr. Hutchinson on A Deck. He seemed too stubborn to put a life belt on. I knew that I had no time for that, so I was stern and, almost screamed, told him to if he valued his life. As I returned to my room, completely frazzled from that incident, I told Elba and my Mother that the lifeboats were being loaded and that women and children were going on first. With only one question, will you be there, she took the stewards hand, her teddy bear and a note for her mother, and a note for me she slipped in my hand. A tear rolling down my cheek without warning, I thought about what to do next.

It seems to smell of sea water here. I can only assume that it is a bad thing. I only can focus on the sound shuffling feet on deck. I only pray that those hopeful few survive. You know I kind of enjoy having my steward for company. He says Elba is safe indeed. Beautiful news to know now. As I look upon the horizon I see the sky dimed on this night, morning has come quick. I also convinced many people to belt up and go however, the sense of heroism is with my.

God bless the soul aboard this vessel.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your in Eternity, Thomas Andrews

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">April 15, 1912 1:20 A.M. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As I excitedly told the passengers to put on their life belts, I noticed that they didn’t want to leave. I waited for the sound of their scurrying footsteps before I decided to move to the next class. I was almost convinced nobody truly values their lives. It makes the stomach churn if you think like that. As I was told, 5 compartments are flooded now, I hope that all is going well for Captain Smith. You know, it would’ve been better to put more lifeboats on this ship. Fourteen was only enough to carry half the passengers. I mean, we didn’t even pass safety regulations. Also, it’s true if the ship really hit the iceberg dead on, we wouldn’t have sunk. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Okay, now I’m alone. Beside the footsteps and yelling and lowering lifeboats, it is pretty quite. People in the third class floors are probably frantic about finding each other down there. I know I would. You know what’s amazing, I read a book when I was a boy. It was called the Titan. It was about a ship that crashes in the North Atlantic, more than half the people on board died. I just am in hope that the book isn’t entirely a prophecy. For if it is, this will end very badly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">So it begins, Thomas Andrews <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Monday April 15, 1912 2:30 a.m.

The grandest ship to every sail the Atlantic has failed it’s own maiden voyage. I came face to face with a man trying to get his children and wife on the deck. He said to me “you know Mr. Andrews, we could end up in the same boat later.” My only answer was “Yes, right.” Ugh, I hope my little girl is okay. I’m in awe of how much of a bust this trip was. In return to all who survive or fall to the waters, I salute you. May the world hear this tale and remember the name “R.M.S. Titanic.”

The sound of the sea slowly but surely creeps toward my door. The Image of two thousand eyes and a thousand screaming mouths sicks to my mind. From a far, I hear the rockets firing, and the talk of a ship coming as well. Oh yes! there’s still hope. Oh God Almighty, I can even see the ship from the listed smoking room window with my binoculars. The passengers could be saved. The question is, how many lifeboats are left? Are there enough for everyone? As far as I knew there was enough for 1,596 at least. Of the, roughly, 2,223 that leaves 627 people when they’re all filled. Excuse my french but damn, that sure doesn’t sound like 627 people. As a matter of fact, it sound closer to 1500. God forbid I’m wrong.

Death’s at my door now. I can feel it. Oh please, Mr. Smith, tell me you saved as many as you could. I always was intrigued by that painting. It’ makes me think of how precious life is. As time crawls by, I see how much deeper and deeper the ship is sinking out the window. It beings a tear to my eye just thinking about Helen, Kornelia and Elba. As I reach into my pocket for the last time I remember the small piece of paper Elba gave to me just before she left me. All it says is four words I’ll never forget, “I love you Dad.” And I love you to, my little girl.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Your in Eternity My dear, Thomas Andrews

==<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">April 15, 1913 ==

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I never got off that boat. The shrill screeches and tears and running away are fried into my memory.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If I had words to speak at this moment in time I’d speak to my family just one last time, but I cannot as I have met death in a cold watery grave. Though all is not that bad, for I got to see my daughters 3rd birthday. For a girl of only 2, she already knew who to read and write little sentences, that’s how she wrote that note. Every time a small but effective tear travels down to my chin, and I never flick it away. If only I had just seen Helen, maybe I would be less upset with my self. Although I can’t just worry about my family, what about the people on the titanic? Many people died, and it was my fault. I’m the one who made the bulkheads short, and my benefit got turned to disaster.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are some happy moments though, not everyone died. And the ship went down with dignity, the band played, men were brave and the others names are remembered. As I have gone with the ship, I bless those who did as I have. I don’t feel guilty though, I just feel in longing. Longing for the sadness to end, I will wait until the end of time to see my mother, children and wife happy again. They found out when I never got off the lifeboats, but they were indeed proud of my bravery. Now I know many people know that the titanic didn’t have enough lifeboats for everyone, but we were above safety standards, Harland & Wolfe didn’t deny that they had less than all, but more than 948 like the other people (1548 to be precise).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This old seaman is washed up now. A builder once, gone tomorrow.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Good bye my friends and family, I love you, and God bless you, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thomas Andrews <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">P.S. Whoever may indeed read this message I give you the hope of 1500 people. Either Today or a hundred years from now, use this as a guideline, to understand how we all felt, Good bye and God bless you