Loss Of The Steamship 'Titanic' Part 18

Answer. (_a_) No. (_b_) No. (_c_) No. (_d_) No. (_e_) No; but searchlights may at times be of service. The evidence before the court does not allow of a more precise answer.

12. (_a_) What other precautions were taken by the _t.i.tanic_ in antic.i.p.ation of meeting ice? (_b_) Were they such as are usually adopted by vessels being navigated in waters where ice may be expected to be encountered?

Answer. (_a_) Special orders were given to the men in the crow's nest to keep a sharp lookout for ice, particularly small ice and growlers. The fore-scuttle hatch was closed to keep everything dark before the bridge.

(_b_) Yes; though there is evidence to show that some masters would have placed a lookout at the stemhead of the ship.

13. (_a_) Was ice seen and reported by anybody on board the _t.i.tanic_ before the casualty occurred? (_b_) If so, what measures were taken by the officer on watch to avoid it? (_c_) Were they proper measures and were they promptly taken?

Answer. (_a_) Yes; immediately before the collision. (_b_) The helm was put hard astarboard and the engines were stopped and put full speed astern. (_c_) Yes.

14. (_a_) What was the speed of the _t.i.tanic_ shortly before and at the moment of the casualty? (_b_) Was such speed excessive under the circ.u.mstances?

Answer. (_a_) About 22 knots. (_b_) Yes.

15. (_a_) What was the nature of the casualty which happened to the _t.i.tanic_ at or about 11.45 p.m. on April 14 last? (_b_) In what lat.i.tude and longitude did the casualty occur?

Answer. (_a_) A collision with an iceberg which pierced the starboard side of the vessel in several places below the water line between the forepeak tank and No. 4 boiler room. (_b_) In lat.i.tude 41 46' N., longitude 50 14' W.

16. (_a_) What steps were taken immediately on the happening of the casualty? (_b_) How long after the casualty was its seriousness realized by those in charge of the vessel (_c_) What steps were then taken?

(_d_) What endeavors were made to save the lives of those on board, and to prevent the vessel from sinking?

Answer. (_a_) The 12 water-tight doors in the engine and boiler rooms were closed from the bridge, some of the boiler fires were drawn, and the bilge pumps abaft No. 6 boiler room were started. (_b_) About 15 to 20 minutes. (_c_) and (_d_) The boats were ordered to be cleared away.

The pa.s.sengers were roused and orders given to get them on deck, and life belts were served out. Some of the water-tight doors, other than those in the boiler and engine rooms, were closed. Marconigrams were sent out asking for help. Distress signals (rockets) were fired, and attempts were made to call up by Morse a ship whose lights were seen.

Eighteen of the boats were swung out and lowered, and the remaining two floated off the ship and were subsequently utilized as rafts.

17. Was proper discipline maintained on board after the casualty occurred?

Answer. Yes.

18. (_a_) What messages for a.s.sistance were sent by the _t.i.tanic_ after the casualty, and at what times respectively? (_b_) What messages were received by her in response, and at what times respectively? (_c_) By what vessels were the messages that were sent by the _t.i.tanic_ received, and from what vessels did she receive answers? (_d_) What vessels other than the _t.i.tanic_ sent or received messages at or shortly after the casualty in connection with such casualty? (_e_) What were the vessels that sent or received such messages? (_f_) Were any vessels prevented from going to the a.s.sistance of the _t.i.tanic_ or her boats owing to messages received from the _t.i.tanic_ or owing to any erroneous messages being sent or received? (_g_) In regard to such erroneous messages, from what vessels were they sent and by what vessels were they received, and at what times respectively?

(_a_) (_b_) (_c_) (_d_) and (_e_) are answered together. (_f_) Several vessels did not go, owing to their distance. (_g_) There were no erroneous messages.

-----------+---------------+----------------------------------------------- New York t.i.tanic time time. (approximated). Communications.

-----------+---------------+----------------------------------------------- 10.25 p. m. 12.15 a. m. La Provence receives t.i.tanic distress signals.

Do do Mount Temple heard t.i.tanic sending CQD.

Says require a.s.sistance. Gives position. Can not hear me. Advise my captain his position 41.46 N., 50.24 W.

Do do Cape Race hears t.i.tanic giving position on CQD. 41.44 N., 50.24 W.

10.28 p. m. 12.18 a. m. Ypiranga hears CQD. from t.i.tanic. t.i.tanic gives CQD. here. Position 41.44 N., 50.24 W. Require a.s.sistance (calls about 10 times).

10.35 p. m. 12.25 a. m. CQD. call received from t.i.tanic by Carpathia.

t.i.tanic said, "Come at once. We have struck a berg. It's a CQD. OM. Position 41.46 N., 50.14 W."

Do do Cape Race hears M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) give corrected position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.

Calling him; no answer.

10.36 p. m. 12.25 a. m. M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) says CQD. Here corrected position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.

Require immediate a.s.sistance. We have collision with iceberg. Sinking.

Can nothing hear for noise of steam.

Sent about 15 to 20 times to Ypiranga.

10.37 p. m. 12.27 a. m. t.i.tanic sends following: "I require a.s.sistance immediately. Struck by iceberg in 41.46 N., 50.14 W."

10.40 p. m. 12.30 a. m. t.i.tanic gives his position to Frankfurt, and says, "Tell your captain to come to our help. We are on the ice."

Do do Caronia sent CQ message to M. B. C. (Baltic) and CQD: M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) struck iceberg, require immediate a.s.sistance.

Do Mount Temple hears M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) still calling CQD. Our captain reverses ship. We are about 50 miles off.

10.46 p. m. 12.36 a. m. D. K. F. (Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm) calls M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) and gives position at 12 a. m. 39.47 N., 50.10 W. M. G. Y.

(t.i.tanic) says, "Are you coming to our?"

D. F. T. (Frankfurt) says, "What is the matter with u?" M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) "We have collision with iceberg. Sinking. Please tell captain to come." D. F. T.

(Frankfurt) says, "O. K. will tell."

10.48 p. m. 12.38 a. m. Mount Temple hears Frankfurt give M. G. Y.

(t.i.tanic) his position, 39.47 N., 52.10 W.

10.55 p. m. 12.45 a. m. t.i.tanic calls Olympic SOS.

11 p. m. 12.50 a. m. t.i.tanic calls CQD. and says, "I require immediate a.s.sistance. Position 41.46 N., 50.14 W." Received by Celtic.

11.03 p. m. 12.53 a. m. Caronia to M. B. C. (Baltic) and SOS., M. G. Y.(t.i.tanic) CQD. in 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Wants immediate a.s.sistance."

11.10 p. m. 1 a. m. M. G. Y. gives distress signal. D. D. C.

replies. M. G. Y.'s position 41.46 N., 50.14 W. a.s.sistance from D. D. C. not necessary, as M. K. C. shortly afterwards answers distress call.

Do. do. t.i.tanic replies to Olympic, and gives his position as 41.46 N., 50.14 W., and says, "We have struck an iceberg."

11.12 p. m. 1.02 a. m. t.i.tanic calls Asian and said, "Want immediate a.s.sistance." Asian answered at once and received t.i.tanic's position as 41.46 N., 50.14 W., which he immediately takes to the bridge. Captain instructs operator to have t.i.tanic's position repeated.

Do. do. Virginian calls t.i.tanic, but gets no response.

Cape Race tells Virginian to report to his captain the t.i.tanic has struck iceberg and requires immediate a.s.sistance.

11.20 p. m. 1.10 a. m. t.i.tanic to M. K. C. (Olympic), "We are in collision with berg. Sinking head down; 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Come soon as possible."

Do. do. t.i.tanic to M. K. C. (Olympic), captain says, "Get your boats ready. What is your position?"

11.25 p. m. 1.15 a. m. Baltic to Caronia, "Please tell t.i.tanic we are making toward her."

11.30 p. m. 1.20 a. m. Virginian hears M. C. E. (Cape Race) inform M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) "that we are going to his a.s.sistance. Our position 170 miles north of t.i.tanic."

11.35 p. m. 1.25 a. m. Caronia tells t.i.tanic, "Baltic coming to your a.s.sistance."

Do. do. Olympic sends position to t.i.tanic 4.24 a. m. GMT. 40.52 N., 61.18 W.

"Are you steering southerly to meet us?"

t.i.tanic replies, "We are putting the women off in the boats."

Do. do. t.i.tanic and Olympic work together.

11.37 p. m. 1.27 a. m. M. G. Y. (t.i.tanic) says, "We are putting the women off in the boats."

11.40 p. m. 1.30 a. m. t.i.tanic tells Olympic, "We are putting pa.s.sengers off in small boats."

11.45 p. m. 1.35 a. m. Olympic asks t.i.tanic what weather he had.

t.i.tanic replies, "Clear and calm."

Do. do. Baltic hears t.i.tanic say "Engine room getting flooded."

Do. do. Mount Temple hears DFT. (Frankfurt) ask "Are there any boats around you already." No reply.

11.47 p. m. 1.37 a. m. Baltic tells t.i.tanic, "We are rushing to you."

11.50 p. m. 1.40 a. m. Olympic to t.i.tanic, "Am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as can."

Do. do. Cape Race says to Virginian: "Please tell your captain this: 'The Olympic is making all speed for t.i.tanic, but his (Olympic's) position is 40.32 N., 61.18 W. You are much nearer to t.i.tanic.

The t.i.tanic is already putting women off in the boats, and he says the weather there is calm and clear.' The Olympic is the only ship we have heard say, 'Going to the a.s.sistance of the t.i.tanic. The others must be a long way from the t.i.tanic.'"

11.55 p. m. 1.45 a. m. Last signals heard from t.i.tanic by Carpathia, "Engine-room full up to boilers."

Do. do. Mount Temple hears DFT. (Frankfurt) calling MGY. (t.i.tanic). No reply.

11.57 p. m. 1.47 a. m. Caronia hears MGY. (t.i.tanic), though signals unreadable still.

11.58 p. m. 1.48 a. m. Asian heard t.i.tanic call SOS. Asian answers t.i.tanic but receives no answer.

Midnight. 1.50 a. m. Caronia hears Frankfurt working to t.i.tanic. Frankfurt according to position 172 miles from MGY. (t.i.tanic) at time first SOS. sent out.

12.05 a. m. 1.55 a. m. Cape Race says to Virginian "We have not heard t.i.tanic for about half an hour. His power may be gone."

12.10 a. m. 2 a. m. Virginian hears t.i.tanic calling very faintly, his power being very greatly reduced.

12.20 a. m. 2.10 a. m. Virginian hears 2 v's signaled faintly in spark similar to t.i.tanic's, probably adjusting spark.

12.27 a. m. 2.17 a. m. Virginian hears t.i.tanic call CQ, but unable to read him. t.i.tanic's signals end very abruptly, as power suddenly switched off.

His spark rather blurred or ragged. Called MGY. (t.i.tanic) and suggested he should try emergency set, but heard no response.

12.30 a. m. 2.20 a. m. Olympic, his sigs. strong, asked him if he had heard anything about MGY. (t.i.tanic). He says, "No. Keeping strict watch, but hear nothing more from MGY. (t.i.tanic)." No reply from him.

12.52 a. m. This was the official time the t.i.tanic foundered 41.46 N., 50.14 W., as given by the Carpathia in message to the Olympic; about 2.20 a. m.

1.15 a. m. Virginian exchanges signals Baltic. He tries send us MSG. for MGY. (t.i.tanic), but his signals died utterly away.