Ship"s officers began preparing the ship"s lifeboats as panicked passengers rushed on deck in confusion. Children were crying, passengers shouted and demanded to know what was happening. Some unwisely brought possessions on deck, clutching suitcases, bags and sundry. Crewmen were equally uncertain, turning to officers for direction and orders. If things weren"t brought under control soon, people would begin jumping overboard.

Boom! the signal canon fired. The surprise report brought a ...