Plymouth Hoe, 1

Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 29 April 1912:

At seven this radiant morning I was out on Plymouth Hoe watching for the coming of the ship bringing the survivors of the Titanic's crew. The Lapland came stealing quietly up from the sea, and glided into the smooth iridescent waters of Cawsand Bay, safe at last below the sheltering green bluff of Edgecombe.

A dreary ship she seemed in that transparent haze – all black, her two dark funnels tipped with white; dainty and small, a mere cockle boat she would be beside the monster that has gone down.

She anchored far from the harbour, and at once three fussy tenders put out from Plymouth and closed round her as if to guard her from all intrusion. Plymouth seems to care little for her coming. A few early loafers on the Hoe turned telescopes on her with a languid interest. The town flag was run up and rippled out as a faint signal of welcome.