C+Bowman+1912

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 * Dear Diary, **


 * April 14, 1912 **

This morning I woke up to the sounds of the engines roaring. I am so excited and happy to be aboard the beautiful Titanic with my two friends Mary Delia Burns and Kate Hargadon. We are all from Ireland but we cannot wait to be in New York City. I have wanted to see this city for the longest time now. Even though I am only 19, I know that I have some pretty big dreams and hope to meet a husband when I arrive.

Have I mentioned how absolutely beautiful this ship is? It must have taken years to construct. There are so many passengers aboard that it is hard to imagine all of fitting on this ship and it staying afloat. I wonder what it would be like to be a first class passenger. I may be a 3rd class passenger but it doesn't bother me at all, I am just happy to be with my friends. Today I feel like exploring the boat to see what it has to offer. It is extremely cold outside. I overheard someone talking about the ice caps. I wonder if I go outside tonight if I will be able to see one?! I sure hope so!

Well I am off to eat now and hopefully have a relaxing day with the gals.

Until we meet again. Miss Margaret Delia Devaney


 * Dear Diary, **


 * April 20, 1912 **

Where do I begin? I am extremely saddened to say that the Titanic is now laying at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. You may be wondering how I made it out alive. I guess I can tell you, but be prepared for my tears to end up on the paper. Hopefully my tears don’t blue the words together. Early in the morning on April 15 around 2 am the boat was going full speed towards glaciers. The crew had been alerted six times that glaciers were ahead. However once the glacier was in sight the boat was going full speed ahead. One of my male friends from Ireland alerted us that the boat hit a glacier. My first reaction was that we were going to be fine. Everyone told us that this ship was “unsinkable” and we had nothing to worry about. All of the sudden everyone started to panic. My friends and I headed up to the deck to see what was going on. –Of course we grabbed our life jackets just to be safe.

Kate began to get sea sick because of how much the boat was moving. Mary stayed back with her so I could go on and try to see how we could get off…. Unfortunately I got caught in the chaos and I ended up on a boat being pulled down. I started to panic and worry if my friends would make it off alive. In that moment I saw my life flash before my eyes. All of these people were going to die in the freezing Atlantic.

I stared in a daze as the boat was being lowered. I heard screams and cries all around me. Old couples, young couples, single people, and children were all hanging on for dear life. Why couldn't I help them?! For a short period of time I escaped from the madness. All of a sudden I heard belching screams come from the ships crew. Our boat was caught and they needed one of the passengers to cut it free. I reached into my coat pocket and found a knife. How lucky was I in that moment?

Once I cut us free we were able to be lowered onto the ocean. As we floated away I will never forget seeing all of the people still aboard that looked so helpless and scared. We were all scared. Even though I was safe I will still scared… Was anyone going to come get us from where we end up? An image that I know will never leave my mind is seeing the beautiful and enormous Titanic get taken by the ocean. The ocean is a deep, dark, and mysterious place… It now owns one of the peaceful maritime ships and lives of so many people.

Can you believe I made it? Out of all of those people I was a survivor… I don’t know if Kate and Mary survived. Maybe I will know soon but for now I am going to grieve.

I wonder if people 100 years from now will remember this terrible day? If they don’t, I sure will…

In sorrow,

Margaret

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