The Titanic Baker Who Survived the Freezing Ocean

The Titanic Baker Who Survived the Freezing Ocean When the Titanic sank, the water was so cold most people lasted only minutes. The ship's baker lasted hours. This really happened. His name was Charles Joughin, the Titanic's chief baker. When the ship hit the iceberg, he sent his bakers up to the lifeboats, each carrying loaves of bread. He helped women and children into the boats. But he did not take a seat himself. Then he started throwing deck chairs into the sea, so people in the water would have something to hold. As the ship tipped up, he climbed to the very back and held on to the railing. When the stern went down, he stepped off into the ocean. He said his head barely got wet. The water was below freezing. He just kept paddling, for about two hours. At dawn he reached an overturned lifeboat, and was pulled to safety. He survived, and lived to be seventy-eight. That's the story. When the Titanic sank, most people lasted only minutes. The ship's baker lasted hours.