During the last hours of the Titanic‘s life, there were a number of fine examples illustrating Edwardian gallantry and self-sacrifice; there were also examples of selfishness and desperation.
“Women and men, stokers and millionaires, crew and passengers, faced the grim enemy with unshaken fortitude and self-control. There were exceptions of course. In a company of 2,300 men and women of all sorts there must be some who show the yellow streak at such a time.
“Of the 1,400 passengers, 495 were saved, of whom 202 were first cabin, 115 second cabin and 178 steerage passengers. That is, 35 percent of the passengers and 22 percent of the crew survived.”
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