Laura Francatelli: Titanic Story Published

From BBC News:

A woman's account of escaping the sinking Titanic in 1912 has been published for the first time.

Laura Francatelli from London said she heard an "awful rumbling" as the liner went down and "then came screams and cries" from 1,500 drowning passengers.

Her account was recorded in a signed affidavit for the official British inquiry into the disaster.

The historic document is expected to sell for up to £15,000 when it is auctioned in Wiltshire on 16 October.

Miss Francatelli, who was 31 at the time, was travelling with baronet Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon and his wife Lady Lucy Christiana, as his secretary.

The account describes how they boarded one of the last lifeboats containing just five passengers and seven crew, admitting they did not consider going back for survivors.