Mathew Carothers - Short Story - Fayette County
Item
Title
Mathew Carothers - Short Story - Fayette County
Description
Surviving Devils Hole
Abstract
Boarding the Ship
It was a beautiful sunny day when I reached the boarding dock on April 10, 1912 at 12pm when I boarded the Titanic. The ship was more like a floating city and the lines were long to board the ship. There were people who were very wealthy and others not so much, but they were all in awe at the magnificent ship that was right in front of their eyes. Inside the ship there were expensive paintings, fine wood carvings, and the finest furnishings. Everything seemed to be perfect for the Titanic’s madden voyage.
My name is Joe White, and I am an 11-year-old passenger. I am traveling in second class on the Titanic. One of my favorite things to do is to listen to the men tell stories in the smoking lounge and the barber shop. One of my hobbies is playing tag in the halls with other second class passengers. In some halls, areas were roped off with signs that said “only first class may pass this point.” I cannot image how nice first class must be if second class is super nice.
Disturbing News
As our trip progressed, the air turned colder. I began to hear staff talking about an area of the ocean called Devils Hole. It was called Devils Hole because of how many ships that had sank there. There are lots of big ice bergs underwater, and it is very deep. I thought the story was scary, but others laughed because they thought the ship was unsinkable.
Crossing Devil’s Hole
When I went to bed that night, I could not stop thinking about what the crew men had said about the other ships sinking there. I finally went to sleep, but I woke up to the sound of a loud thud. The engine stopped, then there was silence. I got dressed, and then I heard footsteps and people shouting to get the lifeboats. Some people were getting in lifeboats, but many were playing or dancing to the band still thinking the ship was unsinkable.
I looked for a lifeboat that would let me in, but only women and children were allowed in lifeboats. When I tried to get in a boat, one of the crew men pulled his revolver and threatened to kill me if I did not get out of the boat. By the time I got back on the deck of the ship the whole boat was tilting toward the stern, and people were starting to panic because all of the life boats were lowered. Some men had gotten in collapsible life boats, but they were gone and in the water now so I had no choice but to jump into the cold water. The water was 28 degrees Fahrenheit, but I swam to the closest life boat. Before I could get in, I got pulled under water by the sinking ship. I had to swim hard to get back up to the surface, but I managed to get in a lifeboat. The night felt like forever, but the lights of the Carpathia were the most beautiful sight I have ever seen at dawn.
The Carpathia
By 6:00 AM my lifeboat was picked up by the Carpathia. I climbed the ladder to board the boat. As I boarded the boat, I heard women and child crying thinking they lost husbands and fathers. Other people searched the boat still held hope that their loved ones got on to another boat. After everyone was picked up, we continued to New York. On the way I saw one of my friend’s uncles, we sat and warmed up with hot cocoa. When we arrived in New York, I felt like I could kiss the ground. I made a promise to myself that I would never sail again. Arriving in America was enough, I was home now. I would make a new life because of night I fought to survive the cold in Devils Hole.
It was a beautiful sunny day when I reached the boarding dock on April 10, 1912 at 12pm when I boarded the Titanic. The ship was more like a floating city and the lines were long to board the ship. There were people who were very wealthy and others not so much, but they were all in awe at the magnificent ship that was right in front of their eyes. Inside the ship there were expensive paintings, fine wood carvings, and the finest furnishings. Everything seemed to be perfect for the Titanic’s madden voyage.
My name is Joe White, and I am an 11-year-old passenger. I am traveling in second class on the Titanic. One of my favorite things to do is to listen to the men tell stories in the smoking lounge and the barber shop. One of my hobbies is playing tag in the halls with other second class passengers. In some halls, areas were roped off with signs that said “only first class may pass this point.” I cannot image how nice first class must be if second class is super nice.
Disturbing News
As our trip progressed, the air turned colder. I began to hear staff talking about an area of the ocean called Devils Hole. It was called Devils Hole because of how many ships that had sank there. There are lots of big ice bergs underwater, and it is very deep. I thought the story was scary, but others laughed because they thought the ship was unsinkable.
Crossing Devil’s Hole
When I went to bed that night, I could not stop thinking about what the crew men had said about the other ships sinking there. I finally went to sleep, but I woke up to the sound of a loud thud. The engine stopped, then there was silence. I got dressed, and then I heard footsteps and people shouting to get the lifeboats. Some people were getting in lifeboats, but many were playing or dancing to the band still thinking the ship was unsinkable.
I looked for a lifeboat that would let me in, but only women and children were allowed in lifeboats. When I tried to get in a boat, one of the crew men pulled his revolver and threatened to kill me if I did not get out of the boat. By the time I got back on the deck of the ship the whole boat was tilting toward the stern, and people were starting to panic because all of the life boats were lowered. Some men had gotten in collapsible life boats, but they were gone and in the water now so I had no choice but to jump into the cold water. The water was 28 degrees Fahrenheit, but I swam to the closest life boat. Before I could get in, I got pulled under water by the sinking ship. I had to swim hard to get back up to the surface, but I managed to get in a lifeboat. The night felt like forever, but the lights of the Carpathia were the most beautiful sight I have ever seen at dawn.
The Carpathia
By 6:00 AM my lifeboat was picked up by the Carpathia. I climbed the ladder to board the boat. As I boarded the boat, I heard women and child crying thinking they lost husbands and fathers. Other people searched the boat still held hope that their loved ones got on to another boat. After everyone was picked up, we continued to New York. On the way I saw one of my friend’s uncles, we sat and warmed up with hot cocoa. When we arrived in New York, I felt like I could kiss the ground. I made a promise to myself that I would never sail again. Arriving in America was enough, I was home now. I would make a new life because of night I fought to survive the cold in Devils Hole.
Youth(s) First Name and Initial of Last Name
Mathew Carothers
Age Division
10
Category
Short Story
County
Fayette
