Survivor

I was over forty-four years, already old, when I boarded the Titanic to sail to New York. My grandson was ill. I needed to be with him. My daughter Helen, had been traveling with me but was staying on and I would be going home alone. “Mrs. Margaret Brown,” I signed in and was ushered to my cabin, as luxurious as my own home. This would be a trip to remember. Four days later..... I had been dining at the Captain’s table as he entertained us with adventure stories of the sea. He excused himself early to attend to duties. My dining companions and I sat for a while, conversing about sundry things, before leaving one by one, or two by two, to retire to our own quarters. It was nearing midnight when the jarring crash occurred. Instant blackness ensued. Glad that I was still dressed, I grabbed my coat to grope my way to the deck. People were crowding, frantic to reach the too few lifeboats. Men were bravely shouting, “Women and children first” as wives clung to their husbands. The men prevailed and the lifeboats were filled up with wailing women and children. Someone shoved and pushed me into a lifeboat just as it was pulling away. Knowing that if the massive ship began to sink, we would be pulled down with it, I took up an oar and began to row. Most of the occupants of the boat had left loved ones on the sinking ship and were unaware of their fate. I appointed myself as guide and counselor to these frightened women. After being rescued by the Carpathia, I found my services to be sorely needed and offered any help I could give to the distraught survivors. Later on in life I was lauded for my actions during this disaster. I accepted as humbly as I could, while knowing that the true heroes were those brave men and women who had perished in order to protect others.