Harry Gore Bishop's "On The Martian Way" (short story, interplanetary commerce, free)

Mostly of historical interest. An early twentieth century story where interplanetary travel is common, Martians are friendly, & spaceships move by antigravity.

We see two events involving passenger ships on the Earth-to-Mars run:

1. First recreates a space version of the Titanic disaster: first passenger liner crashing into a comet on the way. Only, this story is from before the actual Titanic disaster!
2. Second involves suicidal self-sacrifice by an individual to save the ship from falling into sun.

Fact sheet.

First published: The Broadway Magazine, November 1907.
Download full text from Marcus Rowland & Forgotten Futures. [via Marcus L Rowland @ rasfw]
Rating: B.