NEW YORK, April 20---"This is a man's game and I will play it to the end," was the word that Benjamin Guggenheim, the millionaire smelter magnate, sent to his wife from the ill-fated Titanic. The message was delivered to the stricken widow by John Johnson, the room steward to whom it was given. Guggenheim, Johnson said, realized from the beginning that there was no chance of escaping. He sent for Johnson, who he knew was an expert swimmer, and for his secretary and asked them, if they should be saved, to get word to Mrs. Guggenheim.
"Tell her, Johnson," the steward related, "that I played the game straight to the end and that no woman was left on board this ship because Ben Guggenheim was a coward. Tell her that my last thoughts will be of her and our girls."
Guggenheim then, according to Johnson, lit a cigar and sauntered up to the boat deck and was engulfed with the ship.
[Note: There seems to have been no steward by the name of "John Johnson" on Titanic.]
"Tell her, Johnson," the steward related, "that I played the game straight to the end and that no woman was left on board this ship because Ben Guggenheim was a coward. Tell her that my last thoughts will be of her and our girls."
Guggenheim then, according to Johnson, lit a cigar and sauntered up to the boat deck and was engulfed with the ship.
[Note: There seems to have been no steward by the name of "John Johnson" on Titanic.]
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