Question

Of the following facts about Beesley, which helped him most to be a reliable eyewitness to the disaster? А. Because he was a second-class passenger, he could get on a lifeboat before the women and children. B Because he was an avid reader, he was able to distract himself from the chaos around him. C Because he was a British citizen, he was used to the many rules and regulations on a British ocean liner D Because he was a science teacher, he was aware of changes to the sound and speed of the ship's engines.​

Answer 1

Lawrence Beesley (31 December 1877 – 14 February 1967) was an English science teacher, journalist and author who was a survivor of the sinking of RMS Titanic.

Lawrence Beesley

Lawrence Beesley in the Gymnasticroom.jpeg

Lawrence Beesley (back) in the Gymnastics Room of Titanic

Born

31 December 1877

Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England

Died

14 February 1967 (aged 89)

Lincoln, England

Occupation

teacher, journalist, author

Education

Career

RMS Titanic Edit

Further information: Lifeboats of the RMS Titanic § Boat 13 (starboard)

One of the survivors of the sinking of Titanic in April 1912, Beesley wrote a successful book about his experience, The Loss of the SS Titanic (June 1912), published just nine weeks after the disaster.

Lifeboat No. 13 was being launched on the Boat Deck, no women or children were in immediate sight, but it seemed there was room for more. As a result, Beesley was instructed to jump into the lifeboat just before it launched. He managed to survive a subsequent incident where Lifeboat No. 15 nearly landed on top of No. 13. The leading stoker of boiler room No. 6, Fred Barrett, managed to cut the ropes connecting the boat to the falls at the last minute, and those in both boats emerged unharmed. Beesley and the rest of the survivors were picked up by RMS Carpathia in the early morning of 15 April.