The Sinking of the California Iron

The ship was like no other; so grand.
No other ship had a chance to stand.

Six massive funnels stood high on deck,
With its powerful boilers close in check.

It was built for the best; the finest of its kind.
Passengers were delighted; not a fault they could find.

Nine hundred feet long and full of pride,
With the hull measuring three hundred wide.

Painted in white letters the name of this liner,
Nothing could truly be finer.

The letters were evenly spread,
R.M.S. California Iron it read.

Six hundred passenger of first class,
Boarded, handing the crew their pass.

300 passengers, class of second,
This would be a joy they reckoned.

120 passengers third class or steerage,
Even to them this ship was above average.

75 shining and cheerful crew,
There's a lot of passengers for this few.

The officers all elegant and clean,
The best of the best only to be seen.

The stewards so friendly, here to help and serve,
Your cooperation and cheerfulness they deserve.

The stokers, down below, strong like a bull,
Hauling, lifting, and shoveling the coal.

The funnels blast smoke; bursting to life.
The boilers groan in a noisy strife,

Family's wave goodbye to their loved ones from ashore.
The captains got a lot to do,running the ships a big chore.

It sails from the harbor; from it's dock it leaves.
Around the buoys and ships it weaves.

Out to sea the ship now goes,
Smoothly the water flows.

Games, dining, and bands play,
Many people enjoy their stay.

The look outs spotted an obstacle ahead,
This is something they truly would dread.

Captain, object off the port bow!
Act quickly, or we will be sent below!

Full a starboard, the captain bellowed,
The boilers groaned, about to explode.

The crew watched in silence as the ship turned,
The water all around the propellers churned.

But to their much despair,
They heard the sound of metal tear.

The water poured, washing up the toilers,
And dousing the fire of the grand boilers.

The engineers panicked and quickly fled
Through the rising water they hastily tread

Man the lifeboats the order was given,
Passengers crowded the decks by the dozen.

The lifeboats uncovered, the passengers filled,
Water from below onto the deck it spilled.

Panic began, the last lifeboat was gone,
On them now, the water was upon.

The funnels fell, one by one,
Now the people start to run.

Silently the ship slipped beneath the waves,
Away form the site, each rower slaves.

The captain looks on, tears he shed,
It seems the California Iron was dead.