Second Officer Lightoller:
"Just then the ship took a
slight but definite plunge - probably a bulkhead went - and
the sea came rolling along up in a wave, over the steel fronted
bridge, along the deck below us, washing the people back in a
dreadful huddled mass. Those that didn't disappear under the
water right away, instinctively started to clamber up that part
of the deck still out of water, and work their way towards the
stern, which was rising steadily out of the water as the bow
went down. It was a sight that doesn't bear dwelling on - to
stand there, above the wheelhouse, and on our quarters, watching
the frantic struggles to climb up the sloping deck, utterly
unable to even hold out a helping hand."