R.M.S. TITANIC: Undated autograph letter signed by Titanic s...

Hammer

£400

R.M.S. TITANIC: Undated autograph letter signed by Titanic survivor Marshall Drew, an 8-year old when travelling in Second-Class on the Titanic with his aunt. He was awakened by the jolt of the ship hitting the iceberg, and recounts much of what happened that tragic night in this letter:
'In Southampton before the Titanic sailed, coal had to be taken from other ships to load the Titanic's bunkers. In such haste one bunker was loaded so fast that combustion caused it to burn. It was burning all the way...The crew was taken from other ships so hurriedly that they were unfamiliar with the Titanic's length, eleven decks, etc...I understand that men in the crows nest asked for binoculars. There were none. Only one officer had a pair and being on the bridge it was unlikely he was going to surrender them. Several ships wirelessed the Titanic of the danger of the icebergs...The wireless operator on the California (sic) had tried to talk to the Titanic operator and was told to 'buzz off' or words to that effect. He was busy. Unlike the paintings of the disaster the sea was absolutely calm with only an ocean 'swell'...The sky and sea were black. No ripple or small wavelet betrayed the base of our iceberg. Before they could be seen at all the Titanic was headed into one. The officer on the bridge told by the lookout panicked and tried to have the rudder changed to swerve the ship aside. Too late...The Titanic had 16 lifeboats...because British maritime law...required that many...Lifeboat no. 11 (which my aunt and I were in) was the only lifeboat filled to capacity...'
At the end of the letter, Drew mentions Senator Smith from Michigan who held Senate hearings immediately after the disaster. Letter is closed, 'Very best to Cindy and the boys. Marshall'. Two sheets are in near fine condition. 8½ins. x 11ins