Seton, Ernest Thompson. Autograph letter signed to ‘Bob’ [Robert Miller Christy], dated ‘17 April 1912’, discussing the sinking of the Titanic, written while in transit on board the R.M.S. Mauretania: ‘Dear Bob, We have just heard of the awful “Titanic” disaster. There were rumors of it on the Monday, a few hours after it happened, but the Captain kept us all in doubt till now. I meant to enclose these [?]FW ticket before but forgot. You can imagine how we all feel on board. Yours ever, Ernest Thompson Seton [paw]’, on headed notepaper, ‘Cunard R.M.S. Mauretania’, with vignette of the ship, 2pp., folded, 180 x 114mm (flat) A RARE ‘PAQUEBOT’ LETTER DISCUSSING THE RECENT TITANIC DISASTER Notes: The Mauretania had departed Liverpool on Saturday 13 April, just three days after the Titanic had left from Southampton. When the Titanic struck the iceberg roughly 370 miles southeast of Newfoundland late on Sunday night (14 April) and sank in the early hours of Monday morning (15 April), the Mauretania was roughly 20°W longitude on the high seas. This put her too far east to assist in the rescue — which fell to the eastbound Carpathia — but it placed her wireless operators in range to pick up the unfolding emergency traffic and relay the shocking news directly to the passengers on board. The Mauretania would make port in New York on 19 April 1912, two days after this letter was written. Her Captain, William T. Turner, would later give a deposition (30 April 1915) that detailed him receiving the news of the Titanic disaster, and the evasive tactics he undertook that night to avoid further tragedy. Ernest Thompson Seton had arrived in Plymouth from New York on 19 February 1912, travelling on the S. S. Kronprinz Wilhelm. When the memorial service was held for the Captain of the Titanic, E. J. Smith, Seton contributed a statement praising the chivalry of the victims, noting they had left, ‘a standard of nobility that must forever have helpful results among all those who go by the waters.’. Condition: Discolouration and foxing spots, loss to top right corner, reside evident. Category: Books, Maps & Manuscripts/Autographs & Manuscripts Estimate: 1000-1500 GBP