| Summary: | the cabin maids call it the staircase to heaven. I believe it will be a sight to see to witness the passengers ascending. Please reply to Elsie that I have received her book request. Though I do not share her fascination with the American West, if Riders of the Purple Sage is available to purchase in New York, I will find it. Your loving son, Jack Saturday, April 12, 1912 7:45 P.M. R.M.S. Titanic: Dearest Mother, It is exhilarating to be out on the open sea again! When we left Queenstown yesterday afternoon, I could hardly contain my excitement. Unfortunately, as my training is keeping me very busy, I have yet to spend any considerable time on deck but I hope to be able to do that at some point during the voyage. After these 2 days at sea, Harold and I are settling into our work schedules. As it happens, he enjoys the daylight shifts so I am free to be on duty overnight. Though I am grasping much more of the ASAR operations, I continue to be challenged by deciphering the images on the ASAR photographs. Captain Smith has re-routed our voyage to take a more southerly path in order to avoid the iceberg we are tracking. Though the new route is longer by a bit, he says that, because he can “see” what is in front of us, he can increase speeds to ensure we make port at our scheduled time this coming Wednesday morning. Lest you feel saddened, I want to let you know that Harold made sure my birthday yesterday did not pass unnoticed. Upon completing my duties yesterday morning, I had planned to go straight to bed but Harold asked me to meet him in the crew dining saloon for an important discussion. Imagine my surprise when I was met with a dozen crewmen wishing me a happy 25 th birthday. I also received a most welcome present of a box of Hershey’s Milk Made Chocolate Kisses. I cannot be sure of its truth but the rumor is that the chocolate was brought onboard to impress Mr. Milton Hershey, who was supposed to sail with us, but after he crossed on the Amerika a week ago instead, the chocolate was “lost.” That being the case, I believe it to have been “found” by the crew. The R.M.S. Titanic is a magnificent vessel and I am truly enjoying my work. I am paired with Mr. Andrews so he and I work our shifts together. So far all is going smoothly for the radar operators. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rest of the crew. Shortly after we left Southampton, the crew was thrown into a fit because the key to the crow’s nest telephone could not be found. We discovered that the original second officer had it during the sea trial and took it with him when he was transferred to the Olympic at the last minute. He seems to have misplaced the crow’s nest binoculars as well. The crewmen assigned to crow’s nest duty were mighty upset. It is very fortunate indeed that ASAR will guide us safely across the Atlantic so the crow’s nest mates haven’t had much to do anyway. As I am expected in the dining saloon, I must prepare for dinner. I send my love to you all. 52 Your loving son, Jack Monday, April 14, 1912 7:15 P.M. R.M.S Titanic: Dearest Mother, As I prepare for duty tonight I find myself in a contemplative state. In a few hours’ time we will cross the longitude of the iceberg that lies in our original path. We have been getting reports of icebergs and sea ice since early this afternoon but ASAR is providing very accurate assurance that we are now well south of any danger. In light of the missing crow’s nest telephone key and binoculars, I shudder to think of the peril we would have all faced if not for the truly remarkable ability to map the dangers using this radar. Again, I feel overwhelmed by my good fortune to have been selected as a radar operator. I am happy to report that, after many attempts, I snuck into the first-class section earlier this evening for a view of the Grand Staircase. The visit was brief but I caught a glimpse of men in tuxedo style suits and top hats escorting women in glorious gowns with puffed sleeves and lace cuffs ascended to heaven. The scene was all I had imagined; however, once I returned to my room, I couldn’t help but think about the carefree lives those passengers live and that they will never know the dangers they may have encountered if it weren’t for ASAR. I must prepare to report to Mr. Andrews shortly to begin my shift. Though it may not be possible, when we approach a longitude of 41 degrees North, I am planning to make my way to the starboard railing and give thanks for radar. Your loving son, Jack Thursday, April 18, 1912 4:30 P.M. New York: Dearest Mother, True to his word, Captain Smith docked us at Pier 59 right on schedule yesterday morning. As Mr. Andrews and I work the overnight shift, we were awake when we arrived at 5 a.m. As we were on duty we were unable to leave the equipment room for our arrival. In his excitement to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time, Harold awoke early and joined many of the passengers on deck. He was so disappointed that the morning darkness left him unable to see it clearly as the ship approached New York Harbor. We are hoping to be able to see it when we leave for home. The final days of the voyage were a blur of sleeping and working. Despite docking yesterday, Harold and I have continued our duties with Mr. McConnell and Mr. Andrews are tasked with evaluating the ASAR operation during our crossing. They have requested our help in writing the reports for White Star and 53
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