They could see the light of a ship a few miles away and there were rumours that this was the
Olympic coming to their rescue. Harold Bride delivered the wireless reports to the Captain and had to search around the crowded decks looking for him at various locations during the evacuation. I understand Bride may have spoken to several passengers and told them they were in contact with the
Olympic and the Carpathia. The passengers could look over the railing and see the lights of a ship off the port bow and realized that the distress rockets were being sent up for that ship's attention. They thought the other ship was steaming towards them and the Captain ordered several lifeboats to row towards the ship, offload the passengers and then return to the Titanic to pick up more. Husbands would have pointed at the ship and comforted their wives by reassuring them that help was on the way.
Colonel Gracie comforted the women and said - "They were somewhat disturbed, of course. I reassured them and pointed out to them the lights of what I thought was a ship or steamer in the distance."
Edith Rosenbaum gave a lengthy description of waiting for help to arrive. She patiently waited in the First Class lounge and heard all kinds of rumours.
"Just then, spying an officer, I said. 'Mr. Officer, should I go in one of the life boats, is there any danger?' And he replied, 'I do not think there is any immediate danger, Madam, but this boat is damaged. Very likely she will be towed to Halifax. We are expecting the Olympic alongside in the next two or three hours, when she will transfer the passengers and proceed with them. So there is no immediate danger or hurry, as this is an unsinkable boat. You had better use your own judgment in the matter."
She then described the screams as the ship went down, but they thought the people were cheering.
"There was a loud cry, as if emanating from one throat. The men in our boat asked the women to cheer, saying 'Those cheers that you hear on the big boat mean they have all gotten into life boats and are saved.' And do you know, that we actually cheered, believing that the big shout was one of thanks giving. I was able to keep an accurate account of the time, wearing a bracelet watch. The mate in our boat found a bit of rope. This he would light for a few minutes and then extinguish. His idea was, that by flashing this light, it would possibly attract the attention of some other life boat, letting them know that we were near, and keep them from running us down. In spite of the starry night, it was inky black, and you could see no distance ahead."
"We kept rowing to a light which seemed stationery, on the horizon; the more we rowed, the further it seemed. Finally, the intense cold which precedes dawn settled upon the water. Those of you who have had night watches can realize the peculiarly penetrating chilliness of that half hour dividing night from morning. We were absolutely freezing. Just before dawn I noticed a very bright light on the horizon, and called the mate's attention to it. He answered, 'Don't be imaginative, Madame, there is no light; there won't be any light, and there is no use looking for good things when none are coming.' I again reassured him. And several of the passengers also remarked that I was right, and it was a red and yellow light looming up over the horizon. We imagined it was the Olympic. The stewards recalling the draught of the Titanic, feared the Olympic might draw us in with her suction. In the darkness, we struck out with our equipment of 3 oars, for the sky line. At sunrise, which was beautifully clear, we were horrified to find ourselves surrounded by icebergs. We had the additional horror of fearing that they would bear down upon us before rescue could be possible. The hours from dawn until 8 o'clock, when we got alongside of the Carpathia seemed more like a bad dream. No one talked. Our eyes were focused on what we found out later to be the Carpathia. As we approached the Carpathia, I noticed that the flag was at half mast, giving me the first indication that there had been loss of life. I also noticed other life boats, coming from all directions."
Other survivors described seeing the Northern lights and how they were very strong and acted almost like a searchlight.
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