Loss Of The Steamship 'Titanic' Part 19

1.25 a. m. Mount Temple hears MPA. (Carpathia) send, "If you are there we are firing rockets."

1.35 a. m. Baltic sent 1 MSG, to Virginian for t.i.tanic.

1.40 a. m. MPA. (Carpathia) calling MGY. (t.i.tanic).

1.58 a. m. SBA. (Birma) thinks he hears t.i.tanic so sends, "Steaming full speed for you. Shall arrive you 6 in morning. Hope you are safe. We are only 50 miles now."

2 a. m. MPA. (Carpathia) calling MGY. (t.i.tanic).

Do. Have not heard t.i.tanic since 11.50 p. m.

Received from Ypiranga.

2.28 a. m. La Provence to Celtic, "n.o.body has heard the t.i.tanic for about 2 hours."

3.24 a. m. SBA. (Birma) says we are 30 miles S. W. off t.i.tanic.

3.36 a. m. Celtic sends message to Caronia for the t.i.tanic. Caronia after trying for two hours to get through to the t.i.tanic tells the Celtic impossible to clear his message to t.i.tanic. Celtic then cancels message.

3.45 a. m. Californian exchanges signals with MLQ.

(Mount Temple). He gave position of t.i.tanic.

4.10 a. m. Californian receives MSG. from MGN.

(Virginian).

5.5 a. m. Baltic signals MPA. (Carpathia).

5.40 a. m. Parisian hears weak signals from MPA.

(Carpathia) or some station saying t.i.tanic struck iceberg. Carpathia has pa.s.sengers from lifeboats.

Do. Olympic Tr Asian, with German oil tank in tow for Halifax asked what news of MGY. (t.i.tanic). Sends service later saying heard MGY. (t.i.tanic) _v._ faint wkg. C. Race up to 10 p. m., local time. Finished calling SOS.

midnight.

6.5 a. m. Parisian exchanges TRs Virginian O. K. nil.

Informed Capt. Haines what I heard pa.s.sing between ships regarding t.i.tanic, and he decided not to return as M. P. A.

(Carpathia) was there, and Californian was 50 miles astern of us, but requested me to stand by in case required.

6.45 a. m. Mount Temple hears M. P. A. (Carpathia) report rescued 20 boat loads.

7.7 a. m. Baltic sends following to Carpathia: "Can I be of any a.s.sistance to you as regards taking some of the pa.s.sengers from you? Will be in position about 4.30.

Let me know if you alter your position."

7.10 a. m. Baltic in communication with M. P. A.

(Carpathia). Exchanged traffic _re_ pa.s.sengers, and get instructions to proceed to Liverpool.

7.15 a. m. Baltic turns round for Liverpool, having steamed 134 miles W. toward t.i.tanic.

7.40 a. m. Mount Temple hears M. P. A. (Carpathia) call CQ. and say, "No need to std. bi him. Advise my captain, who has been cruising round the icefield with no result. Ship reversed."

7.45 a. m. Olympic sent M. S. G. to owners, New York via Sable Island, saying "Have not communicated with t.i.tanic since midnight."

7.55 a. m. Carpathia replies to Baltic, "Am proceeding to Halifax or New York full speed. You had better proceed to Liverpool. Have about 800 pa.s.sengers on board."

8 a. m. Carpathia to Virginian: "We are leaving here with all on board about 800 pa.s.sengers. Please return to your northern course."

19. (_a_) Was the apparatus for lowering the boats on the _t.i.tanic_ at the time of the casualty in good working order? (_b_) Were the boats swung out, filled, lowered, or otherwise put into the water and got away under proper superintendence? (_c_) Were the boats sent away in seaworthy condition and properly manned, equipped, and provisioned?

(_d_) Did the boats, whether those under davits or otherwise, prove to be efficient and serviceable for the purpose of saving life?

Answer. (_a_) Yes. (_b_) Yes. (_c_) The 14 lifeboats, 2 emergency boats, and C and D collapsible boats were sent away in a seaworthy condition, but some of them were possibly undermanned. The evidence on this point was unsatisfactory. The total number of crew taken on board the _Carpathia_ exceeded the number which would be required for manning the boats. The collapsible boats A and B appear to have floated off the ship at the time she foundered. The necessary equipment and provisions for the boats were carried in the ship, but some of the boats, nevertheless, left without having their full equipment in them. (_d_) Yes.

20. (_a_) What was the number of (_a_) pa.s.sengers, (_b_) crew taken away in each boat on leaving the vessel? (_b_) How was this number made up, having regard to (1) s.e.x, (2) cla.s.s, and (3) rating? (_c_) How many were children and how many adults? (_d_) Did each boat carry its full load and, if not, why not?

Answer. (_a_) (_b_) (_c_) It is impossible exactly to say how many persons were carried in each boat or what was their s.e.x, cla.s.s, and rating, as the totals given in evidence do not correspond with the numbers taken on board the _Carpathia_. The boats eventually contained in all 712 persons, made up as shown in the answer to question 21. (_d_) No. At least 8 boats did not carry their full loads for the following reasons: (1) Many people did not realize the danger or care to leave the ship at first. (2) Some boats were ordered to be lowered with an idea of their coming around to the gangway doors to complete loading. (3) The officers were not certain of the strength and capacity of the boats in all cases (and see p. 39).

21. (_a_) How many persons on board the _t.i.tanic_ at the time of the casualty were ultimately rescued and by what means? (_b_) How many lost their lives prior to the arrival of the steamship _Carpathia_ in New York? (_c_) What was the number of pa.s.sengers, distinguishing between men and women and adults and children of the first, second, and third cla.s.ses, respectively, who were saved? (_d_) What was the number of the crew, discriminating their ratings and s.e.x, that were saved? (_e_) What is the proportion which each of these numbers bears to the corresponding total number on board immediately before the casualty? (_f_) What reason is there for the disproportion, if any?

Answer. (_a_) Seven hundred and twelve, rescued by _Carpathia_ from the boats. (_b_) One. (_c_) (_d_) and (_e_) are answered together.

The following is a list of the saved:

First cla.s.s: Adult males 57 out of 175, or 32.57 per cent.

Adult females 140 out of 144, or 97.22 per cent.

Male children (all saved) 5 Female children (all saved) 1 ---- 203 out of 325, or 62.46 per cent.

==== Second cla.s.s: Adult males 14 out of 168, or 8.33 per cent.

Adult females 80 out of 93, or 86.02 per cent.

Male children (all saved) 11 Female children (all saved) 13 --- 118 out of 285, or 41.40 per cent.

==== Third cla.s.s: Adult males 75 out of 462, or 16.23 per cent.

Adult females 76 out of 165, or 46.06 per cent.

Male children 13 out of 48, or 27.08 per cent.

Female children 14 out of 31, or 45.16 per cent.

--- 178 out of 706, or 25.21 per cent.

Total pa.s.sengers 499 out of 1,316, or 37.94 per cent.

==== Crew saved: Deck department 43 out of 66, or 65.15 per cent.

Engine-room department 72 out of 325, or 22.15 per cent.

Victualing department 97 out of 494, or 19.63 per cent.

Including women 20 out of 23, or 86.95 per cent.

--- 212 out of 885, or 23.95 per cent.

Total on board saved 711 out of 2,201, or 32.30 per cent.

(_f_) The disproportion between the numbers of the pa.s.sengers saved in the first, second, and third cla.s.ses is due to various causes, among which the difference in the position of their quarters and the fact that many of the third-cla.s.s pa.s.sengers were foreigners, are perhaps the most important. Of the Irish emigrants in the third cla.s.s a large proportion was saved. The disproportion was certainly not due to any discrimination by the officers or crew in a.s.sisting the pa.s.sengers to the boats. The disproportion between the numbers of the pa.s.sengers and crew saved is due to the fact that the crew, for the most part, all attended to their duties to the last, and until all the boats were gone.

22. What happened to the vessel from the happening of the casualty until she foundered?

Answer. A detailed description has already been given (see pp. 32-34).

23. Where and at what time did the _t.i.tanic_ founder?

Answer. Two twenty a. m. (ship's time) April 15. Lat.i.tude 41 46' N., longitude 50 14' W.

24. (_a_) What was the cause of the loss of the _t.i.tanic_ and of the loss of life which thereby ensued or occurred? (_b_) What vessels had the opportunity of rendering a.s.sistance to the _t.i.tanic_ and, if any, how was it that a.s.sistance did not reach the _t.i.tanic_ before the steamship _Carpathia_ arrived? (_c_) Was the construction of the vessel and its arrangements such as to make it difficult for any cla.s.s of pa.s.senger or any portion of the crew to take full advantage of any of the existing provisions for safety?

Answer. (_a_) Collision with an iceberg and the subsequent foundering of the ship. (_b_) The _Californian_. She could have reached the _t.i.tanic_ if she had made the attempt when she saw the first rocket. She made no attempt. (_c_) No.

25. When the _t.i.tanic_ left Queenstown on or about April 11 last was she properly constructed and adequately equipped as a pa.s.senger steamer and emigrant ship for the Atlantic service?

Answer. Yes.

26. The court is invited to report upon the rules and regulations made under the merchant shipping acts, 1894-1906, and the administration of those acts and of such rules and regulations, so far as the consideration thereof is material to this casualty, and to make any recommendations or suggestions that it may think fit, having regard to the circ.u.mstances of the casualty, with a view to promoting the safety of vessels and persons at sea.

Answer. An account of the board of trade's administration has already been given and certain recommendations are subsequently made.

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS.