Saturday, April 14, 2012

courageous Captain Rostron

Arthur Rostron aboard the Carpathia, 1912
One hundred years ago tonight, the ill-fated Titantic struck an iceberg and sunk into the frigid North Atlantic, taking 1500 people with her. Left behind were 712 terrified men, women and children bobbing in lifeboats.

In a race against time and the elements, Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia came to the rescue. Although just 60 miles away and closer than any other ship, the Carpathia would take several hours to reach the freezing Titanic survivors.

Navigating icebergs on the moonless sea would be no simple task. The captain had to first consider the safety of his own passengers and crew. Navigation to the site, preparation for rescue and medical needs and countless other details needed immediate planning. Rostron's quick-thinking and correct orders to his crew saved hundreds of lives that night. Once his orders had been dispatched, Rostron was seen, head bowed, in prayer.

This editorial brought Captain Rostron to my attention. His memoir entitled Home from the Sea might be worth a read.

The Titanic is in the headlines today. But Arthur Rostron deserves a headline, too.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is worth a read-amazon reissued it so it is easier to get a hold of. I liked his narrative style, as he reminds me of my grandpa telling me stories.