ng, see
that everyone has a lifebelt and get them all up to the Boat deck."

Another fifteen minutes went. The top of the stairway was now nearly
awash. A second time Andrews came. "Open up all the spare rooms," he
ordered. "Take out all lifebelts and spare blankets and distribute
them."

This was done. Attendants and passengers went above to the Boat deck.
But returning for more belts, the stewardess again met Andrews. He asked
her whether all the ladies had left their rooms. She answered "Yes, but
would make sure."

"Go round again," said he; and then, "Did I not tell you to put on your
lifebelt. Surely you have one?"

She answered "Yes, but I thought it means to wear it."

"Never mind that," said he. "Now, if you value your life, put on your
coat and belt, then walk round the deck and let the passengers see you."

"He left me then," writes the stewardess, "and that was the last I saw
of what I consider a true hero and one of whom his country has cause to
be proud."

In how far Andrews' efforts and example were the means of averting what
might well have been an awful panic, cannot be said; but sure it is that
all one man could do in such service, both personally and by way of
assisting the ship's officers, was done by him. "He was here, there and
everywhere," says Miss Sloan, "looking after everybody, telling the
women to put on lifebelts, telling the stewardesses to hurry the women
up to the boats, all about everywhere, thinking of everyone but
himself."

Others tell a similar story, how calm and unselfish he was, now pausing
on his way to the engine-room to reassure some passengers, now earnestly
begging women to be quick, now helping one to put on her lifebelt--"all
about everywhere, thinking of everybody but himself."

It is certain also that on the Boat deck he gave invaluable help to the
officers and men engaged in the work of rescue. Being familiar with the
boats' tackle and arrangement he was able to aid effectively at their
launching; and it was whilst going quietly from boat to boat, probably
in those tragic intervals during which the stewardess watched the water
creep up the stairway, that he was heard to say: "Now, men, remember you
are Englishmen. Women and children first."

Some twenty minutes before the end, when the last distress signal had
been fired in vain, when all that Upper deck and the Fore deck as well
were ravaged by the sea, there was a crush and a little confusion near
the place