to the winches by which the davits themselves
were canted over from the inward position over the deck to the outward
position over the ship's side. Almost at the same time a rush of people
began from the steerage quarters, swarming up stairways and ladders to
reach this high deck hitherto sacred to the first-class passengers. At
first they were held back by a cordon of stewards, but some broke
through and others were allowed through, so that presently a large
proportion of the ship's company was crowding about the boat deck and
the one immediately below it.

Then the business of clearing, filling, and lowering the boats was
begun--a business quickly described, but occupying a good deal of time in
the transaction. Mr. Murdoch, the Chief Officer, ordered the crews to
the boats; and with some confusion different parties of stewards and
sailors disentangled themselves from the throng and stood in their
positions by each of the sixteen boats. Every member of the crew, when
he signs on for a voyage in a big passenger ship, is given a number
denoting which boat's crew he belongs to. If there has been boat drill,
every man knows and remembers his number; if, as in the case of the
_Titanic_, there has been no boat drill, some of the men remember their
numbers and some do not, the result being a certain amount of confusion.
But at last a certain number of men were allotted to each boat, and
began the business of hoisting them out.

First of all the covers had to be taken off and the heavy masts and
sails lifted out of them. Ship's boats appear very small things when one
sees a line of them swinging high up on deck; but, as a matter of fact,
they are extremely heavy, each of them the size of a small sailing
yacht. Everything on the _Titanic_ having been newly painted, everything
was stiff and difficult to move. The lashings of the heavy canvas covers
were like wire, and the covers themselves like great boards; the new
ropes ran stiffly in the new gear. At last a boat was cleared and the
order given, "Women and children first." The officers had revolvers in
their hands ready to prevent a rush; but there was no rush. There was a
certain amount of laughter. No one wanted to be the first to get into
the boat and leave the ship. "Come on," cried the officers. There was a
pause, followed by the brief command, "Put them in."

The crew seized the nearest women and pushed or lifted them over the
rail into the first boat, which was now h