In 1852, the British troopship, H.M.S. Birkenhead, was traveling to South Africa when she hit a ledge and foundered. Aboard the vessel were more than seven hundred men, women, and children. With approximately twenty minutes to take action before the inevitable, the correct and chivalrous decision was made to place all women and children aboard the few lifeboats the ship possessed. The entire company of seamen and the troops they were transporting stayed behind and faced circling man-eating sharks. Hundreds drowned or were eaten alive as their women and children listened to their screams and watched the horror, but not a single woman or child perished that day. Since then, mariners facing a similar situation have adhered to what is known as the Birkenhead drill. With the sinking of the Titanic, the Lusitania, and other mighty vessels sailing the seven seas, there were also such scenes of chivalry as men gave up their places in rafts or lifeboats so that women and children could live. But on the 16th day of January, 2012, a cruise ship larger than the Titanic ran aground off the coast of Italy. It now appears that the reason for the grounding was the result of an idiotic order by a negligent captain to alter the vessel's course so that his friends could be impressed with the ship he commanded. As the facts are coming out, the time required to safely lower the ship's lifeboats passed without the proper command being given to lower them and abandon ship. As a result, there are those that trusted their lives in the hands of a person they believed to be a competent commander who will not be making port or seeing their loved ones any longer. As we know, the Costa Concordia is lying on her starboard side close to an underwater shelf that should she slip over will assure that she will not be seen again. There was nothing chivalrous about the Costa Concordia's captain or crew. A great many of her passengers swam to the safety of the nearby island of Giglio saving themselves and assisting each other. Rightfully, the master of the vessel, Francesco Schettino and his first officer, Ciro Ambrosio, have been arrested for negligence. One can only hope that those still missing have found safe enough locations aboard ship and survived, or their bodies can be retrieved for proper burial.