George Henry CAVELL
Titanic's Last hero - The story of John Harper
George Henry CAVELL
George, of Lower East Road, Sholing, had been at sea for 18 months. all with the White Star Line. He had previously served on the Adriatic, the Oceanic,and the Olympic, before joining the Titanic at aged 22.
On the evening of April 14th Cavell was on the 8 to 12 watch, and was alone in the coal bunker in Boiler Room No 4. When the ship hit the iceberg Ccavell felt a shock, and the coal collapsed in on him. He managed to dig his way out of the bunker, and came into the stokehold. As he did, the lights went out in No 4, and he then climbed up to the port alleyway, (Scotland Road) on E Deck, where the lights were still on. He saw third class passengers moving aft in the alleyway, and was at this time told the ship had hit an iceberg. After finding some lamps, Cavell headed back to the stokehold, and found the lights had already come back on. He then helped the firemen draw the fires from the boilers, until water started coming up over the floor plates. When the water got about 1 foot deep, he went back up the escape ladder to E Deck again, only to find no-one around. He went back to No 4 Boiler Room one last time, and on finding it deserted, went all the way up to the Boat Deck. Coming up on the starboard side, he saw only two lifeboats still on the ship, and was ordered onto Lifeboat 15 by an officer. He helped to load the lifeboat with passengers from both A Deck and B Deck, then pulled off from the ship.
He is listed as one of the survivors in the "Roster of Valor" in the book "The Titanic - the Halifax Legacy" by Arnold & Betty Watson, published by the Titanic Historical Society.
The Official British Inquiry
Cavell testified on May 9th, 1912, and appears in Minutes 4182-4501.
He is also mentioned by others who testifed, and some of these are quoted below:
George, of Lower East Road, Sholing, had been at sea for 18 months. all with the White Star Line. He had previously served on the Adriatic, the Oceanic,and the Olympic, before joining the Titanic at aged 22.
On the evening of April 14th Cavell was on the 8 to 12 watch, and was alone in the coal bunker in Boiler Room No 4. When the ship hit the iceberg Ccavell felt a shock, and the coal collapsed in on him. He managed to dig his way out of the bunker, and came into the stokehold. As he did, the lights went out in No 4, and he then climbed up to the port alleyway, (Scotland Road) on E Deck, where the lights were still on. He saw third class passengers moving aft in the alleyway, and was at this time told the ship had hit an iceberg. After finding some lamps, Cavell headed back to the stokehold, and found the lights had already come back on. He then helped the firemen draw the fires from the boilers, until water started coming up over the floor plates. When the water got about 1 foot deep, he went back up the escape ladder to E Deck again, only to find no-one around. He went back to No 4 Boiler Room one last time, and on finding it deserted, went all the way up to the Boat Deck. Coming up on the starboard side, he saw only two lifeboats still on the ship, and was ordered onto Lifeboat 15 by an officer. He helped to load the lifeboat with passengers from both A Deck and B Deck, then pulled off from the ship.
He is listed as one of the survivors in the "Roster of Valor" in the book "The Titanic - the Halifax Legacy" by Arnold & Betty Watson, published by the Titanic Historical Society.
The Official British Inquiry
Cavell testified on May 9th, 1912, and appears in Minutes 4182-4501.
He is also mentioned by others who testifed, and some of these are quoted below:
Minutes 10012/10013 - Cavell is described as " a little short man"
(John Edward Hart, 3rd Class Steward on Boat 15, telling who was on board, May 16th)
(John Edward Hart, 3rd Class Steward on Boat 15, telling who was on board, May 16th)
Minutes 9632
(Samuel Rute, Bath Steward)
(Samuel Rute, Bath Steward)
Minutes 6566 - Att. General to Samuel Rute: "He was a very short man, boyish looking. Do you remember him?
Rute replied "No"
The Titanic's Last Hero - A book by Moody Adams
As the dark, freezing waters of the Atlantic crept slowly up the decks of the Titanic, John Harper shouted, "Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats." Harper took his lifejacket - the final hope of survival - and gave it to another man. After the ship had disappeared beneath the dark water, leaving Harper floundering in the icy waters, he was heard urging those about him to put their faith in Jesus Christ. It was the night of April 14, 1912, a night for heroes, and John Harper met the challenge. Though the waters swallowing him were bitterly cold and the sea about him was dark, John Harper left this world in a blaze of glory. This inspiring book is the documented tory of John Harper. This book will increase your faith, impart an inspiring purpose to your life and bring you new assurance in your future.
(ISBN#: 1 840300 24 8; Paperback; 158pp)
The Titanic's Last Hero - Video by Moody Adams
This inspiring video presented by Moody Adams is the documented story of the man who gave away his life jacket, called for Christians to give up their seats in the lifeboat so the unsaved could survive, and won his last convert in the sub-freezing water as he died. Based on the best selling book The Titanic's Last Hero, this video will take you to Belfast, Northern Ireland where the fateful ship was built, transport you to Scotland where the saga of John Harper began and to England where they set sail on the most famous voyage since Noah's Ark. You will meet the relatives of this hero, hear their story first hand and witness actual footage from the 1912 catastrophe. This video will increase your faith, impart an inspiring purpose to your life and bring you new assurance in your future.
NOTE: These VHS video tapes are designed for use in the UK and other countries using the PAL video standard.
(ISBN#: 1 889893 27 7V; Format: VHS - PAL; Length: 45 Minutes)
Now, here's the rest of the story...
John Harper, the newly called pastor of Moody Church in the early 1900's, manifested his Christian character in the sinking of the Titanic. Dr. W. B. Riley related the death of Harper. "We have the history of John Harper's end, for survivors, brought to harbor in safety, told the same. When the Titanic was struck by the iceberg that drove in her sides, and sent the ship to the bottom, John Harper was leaning against the rail pleading with a young man to come to Christ ...." (Ministers' Research Service)
Four years after the Titanic went down, a young Scotsman rose in a meeting in Hamilton, Canada, and said, "I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper, of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck near me. 'Man,' he said, 'are you saved?' 'No,' I said. 'I am not.' He replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'" "The waves bore him away; but, strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, 'Are you saved now?' 'No,' I said, 'I cannot honestly say that I am.' He said again, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' and shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper's last convert." (Aguilla Webb)
These stories were taken from the "Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations" by Paul Lee Tan
Rute replied "No"
The Titanic's Last Hero - A book by Moody Adams
As the dark, freezing waters of the Atlantic crept slowly up the decks of the Titanic, John Harper shouted, "Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats." Harper took his lifejacket - the final hope of survival - and gave it to another man. After the ship had disappeared beneath the dark water, leaving Harper floundering in the icy waters, he was heard urging those about him to put their faith in Jesus Christ. It was the night of April 14, 1912, a night for heroes, and John Harper met the challenge. Though the waters swallowing him were bitterly cold and the sea about him was dark, John Harper left this world in a blaze of glory. This inspiring book is the documented tory of John Harper. This book will increase your faith, impart an inspiring purpose to your life and bring you new assurance in your future.
(ISBN#: 1 840300 24 8; Paperback; 158pp)
The Titanic's Last Hero - Video by Moody Adams
This inspiring video presented by Moody Adams is the documented story of the man who gave away his life jacket, called for Christians to give up their seats in the lifeboat so the unsaved could survive, and won his last convert in the sub-freezing water as he died. Based on the best selling book The Titanic's Last Hero, this video will take you to Belfast, Northern Ireland where the fateful ship was built, transport you to Scotland where the saga of John Harper began and to England where they set sail on the most famous voyage since Noah's Ark. You will meet the relatives of this hero, hear their story first hand and witness actual footage from the 1912 catastrophe. This video will increase your faith, impart an inspiring purpose to your life and bring you new assurance in your future.
NOTE: These VHS video tapes are designed for use in the UK and other countries using the PAL video standard.
(ISBN#: 1 889893 27 7V; Format: VHS - PAL; Length: 45 Minutes)
Now, here's the rest of the story...
John Harper, the newly called pastor of Moody Church in the early 1900's, manifested his Christian character in the sinking of the Titanic. Dr. W. B. Riley related the death of Harper. "We have the history of John Harper's end, for survivors, brought to harbor in safety, told the same. When the Titanic was struck by the iceberg that drove in her sides, and sent the ship to the bottom, John Harper was leaning against the rail pleading with a young man to come to Christ ...." (Ministers' Research Service)
Four years after the Titanic went down, a young Scotsman rose in a meeting in Hamilton, Canada, and said, "I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper, of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck near me. 'Man,' he said, 'are you saved?' 'No,' I said. 'I am not.' He replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'" "The waves bore him away; but, strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, 'Are you saved now?' 'No,' I said, 'I cannot honestly say that I am.' He said again, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' and shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper's last convert." (Aguilla Webb)
These stories were taken from the "Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations" by Paul Lee Tan
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