THE BAND OF THE TITANIC

By Florence Earle Coates

"These are the immortal,—the fearless"—Upanishads

UP, lads! they say we've struck a berg, though there's no danger yet,— Our noble liner was not built to wreck!— But women may have felt a shock they're needing to forget, And when there's trouble, men should be on deck. Come!—now's the time! They're wanting us to brighten them a bit; Play up, my lads—as lively as you can! Give them a merry English air! they want no counterfeit Like that down-hearted tune you just began!... I think the Captain's worried, lads: maybe the thing's gone wrong; Well, we will show them all is right with us! Of Drake and the Armadas now we'll play them such a song Shall make them of the hero emulous. When boats are being lowered, lads, your place and mine are here,— Oh, we were never needed more than now! When others go, it is for us those left behind to cheer, And I am glad, my lads, that we know how! If it is Death that's calling us, we'll make a brave response; Play up, play up!—ye may not play again; The prize that Nelson won at last, the chance that comes but once, Is ours, my lads!—the chance to die like men!

From The Worcester Evening Gazette

April 20, 1912

New York, April 19 - Of all the heroes who went to their death when the Titanic dived to its ocean grave, none, in the opinion of Miss. Hilda Slater, a passenger in the last boat to pull off, deserved greater credit than the members of the vessel's orchestra. According to Miss. Slater, the orchestra played until the last. When the vessel took its final plunge the strains of a lively air, mingled gruesomely with the cries of those who realized that they were face to face with death.

"It was terrible," said Miss. Slater, who had come from her home in England to visit a brother, an architect in this city. "From the moment the vessel struck, or as soon as the members of the orchestra could be collected, there was a steady round of lively airs. It did much to keep up the spirits of everyone and probably served as much as the efforts of the officers trying to prevent panic."

When the ship struck the iceberg, Miss Slater went on deck. She was ordered to go back to bed, which she did on being assured there was no danger. A half-hour later she heard confusion on deck and heard someone cry, "Order everyone to don life belts."

After dressing again, Miss. Slater returned to the deck and was ordered to the boat deck aloft.

"When I got there," she said, "I found an indescribable scene. A number of the steerage men passengers had attempted to seize one of the boats and there was a brisk revolver fire: many men fell under it. The prompt, and drastic action of the officers restored order."

"There were many touching scenes as the boats put off. I saw Col. John Jacob Astor hand his young wife into a boat tenderly and then asked an officer whether he might also go. When permission was refused he stepped back and coolly took out his cigarette case. "Good-bye, dearie" he called gaily, as he lighted a cigarette and leaned over the rail. "I'll join you later." Another man, a Frenchman, I think, approached one of the boats about to be lowered. He had with him two little boys. An officer waved him back sternly. "Bless you'" he said "I don't want to go, but for God's sake take the boys. Their mother is waiting for them in New York." The boys were taken aboard."

From The Worcester Evening Gazette

April 20, 1912

New York, April 19 - Mrs. John Murray Brown of Acton, Mass, who with her sister, Mrs. Robert C. Cornell and Mrs. E.D. Appleton, was saved, was in the last life-boat to get safely away from the Titanic.

"The band played marching from deck to deck, and as the ship went under I could still hear the music." Mrs. Brown said. "The musicians were up to their knees in water when last I saw them. We offered assistance to Capt. Smith, but he refused."

"Mrs. Astor was in the life-boat with my sister, Mrs. Cornell. I heard Col. Astor tell her he would wait with the men. Our boat was almost dragged down by the suction.”

What detail from the newspaper articles supports the attitude assigned to the musicians in the last stanza of the poem?