Those fascinated by the story of the Titanic may be interested in a collection of memorabilia which is due to be auctioned in New York next month. The collection, which is being sold by Christie's is one of the largest offered for public sale. Its focal point is a group of 36 lots of letters, notes and photographs compiled in 1912 by Dr Frank Blackmarr which forms a visual diary of the Titanic rescue efforts.

Dr Blackmarr was a physician from Chicago who tended to the survivors. Estimates of what the various items are likely to fetch range from $500 (#432) for a manuscript page from Dr Blackmarr's scrapbook regarding his photographs of the iceberg field to $1,500 for a photograph of a survivor. A photograph of the massive iceberg apparently taken at the scene of the disaster carries a price tag of around $5,000. Other pieces of interest include items from lifeboats, including a painted cast-iron house flag and name plate which could fetch up to $70,000 and a cast-iron oarlock with an estimated price of up to $8,000.

One item that is of Irish interest is a manuscript account of the disaster given by Mr Eugene Daly, a passenger from Athlone, Co Westmeath. He was a third class passenger who boarded Titanic in Queenstown. During the journey he climbed aboard the third class promenade deck and serenaded his fellow passengers with a rendition of Erin's Lament on the bagpipes. After breaking free of the steerage when the ship hit the iceberg, Mr Daly helped to cut free collapsible lifeboard B. His account of what happened to the third class passengers is documented by Dr Blackmarr.

"After the accident they were held down what seemed like a lifetime and all this time they knew that water was rising rapidly and finally some of the women and children were let up. My God, if I could only forget those women's cries. If I could forget those hands and faces in the water." This manuscript is expected to fetch between $6,000 and $8,000.