* * * * *
10. (_a_) If at the times referred to in the last preceding question or
later the _Titanic_ was warned of or had reason to suppose she would
encounter ice, at what time might she have reasonably expected to
encounter it? (_b_) Was a good and proper lookout for ice kept on board?
(_c_) Were any, and, if so, what, directions given to vary the speed--if
so, were they carried out?
Answer. (_a_) At, or even before, 9.30 p.m. ship's time, on the night of
the disaster. (_b_) No. The men in the crow's nest were warned at 9.30
p.m. to keep a sharp lookout for ice; the officer of the watch was then
aware that he had reached the reported ice region, and so also was the
officer who relieved him at 10 p.m. Without implying that those actually
on duty were not keeping a good lookout, in view of the night being
moonless, there being no wind and perhaps very little swell, and
especially in view of the high speed at which the vessel was running, it
is not considered that the lookout was sufficient. An extra lookout
should, under the circumstances, have been placed at the stemhead, and a
sharp lookout should have been kept from both sides of the bridge by an
officer. (_c_) No directions were given to reduce speed.
11. (_a_) Were binoculars provided for and used by the lookout men?
(_b_) Is the use of them necessary or usual in such circumstances? (_c_)
Had the _Titanic_ the means of throwing searchlights around her? (_d_)
If so, did she make use of them to discover ice? (_e_) Should
searchlights have been provided and used?
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 _Titanic_ in
anticipation 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 _Titanic_
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 _Titanic_ shortly before and at the
moment of the casualty? (_b_) Was such speed excessive under the
circumstances?
Answer. (_a_) About 22 knots. (_b_) Yes.
15. (_a_) What was the nature of the casualty which happened to the
_Titanic_ at or about 11.45 p.m. on April 14 last? (_b_) In what
latitude 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 latitude 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 passengers 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 assistance were sent by the _Titanic_ 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 _Titanic_ received,
and from what vessels did she receive answers? (_d_) What vessels other
than the _Titanic_ 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 assistance of the _Titanic_ or her boats owing to
messages received from the _Titanic_ 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 | Titanic time |
time. |(approximated).| Communications.
-----------+---------------+-----------------------------------------------
10.25 p. m.| 12.15 a. m. | La Provence receives Titanic distress signals.
| |
Do | do | Mount Temple heard Titanic sending CQD.
| | Says require assistance. Gives
| | position. Can not hear me. Advise
| | my captain his position 41.46 N.,
| | 50.24 W.
| |
Do | do | Cape Race hears Titanic giving position
| | on CQD. 41.44 N., 50.24 W.
| |
10.28 p. m.| 12.18 a. m. | Ypiranga hears CQD. from Titanic. Titanic
| | gives CQD. here. Position 41.44 N.,
| | 50.24 W. Require assistance (calls
| | about 10 times).
| |
10.35 p. m.| 12.25 a. m. | CQD. call received from Titanic by Carpathia.
| | Titanic 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. (Titanic) give
| | corrected position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.
| | Calling him; no answer.
| |
10.36 p. m.| 12.25 a. m. | M. G. Y. (Titanic) says CQD. Here corrected
| | position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.
| | Require immediate assistance. 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. | Titanic sends following: "I require
| | assistance immediately. Struck by iceberg
| | in 41.46 N., 50.14 W."
| |
10.40 p. m.| 12.30 a. m. | Titanic 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. (Titanic) struck
| | iceberg, require immediate assistance.
| |
Do | | Mount Temple hears M. G. Y. (Titanic) 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. (Titanic) and gives position
| | at 12 a. m. 39.47 N., 50.10 W. M. G. Y.
| | (Titanic) says, "Are you coming to our?"
| | D. F. T. (Frankfurt) says, "What is the
| | matter with u?" M. G. Y. (Titanic) "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.
| | (Titanic) his position, 39.47 N., 52.10 W.
10.55 p. m.| 12.45 a. m. | Titanic calls Olympic SOS.
| |
11 p. m. | 12.50 a. m. | Titanic calls CQD. and says, "I
| | require immediate assistance. 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.(Titanic) CQD. in 41.46 N.,
| | 50.14 W. Wants immediate assistance."
| |
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. Assistance from D. D. C. not
| | necessary, as M. K. C. shortly
| | afterwards answers distress call.
| |
Do. | do. | Titanic 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. | Titanic calls Asian and said, "Want
| | immediate assistance." Asian answered
| | at once and received Titanic's position
| | as 41.46 N., 50.14 W., which he immediately
| | takes to the bridge. Captain instructs
| | operator to have Titanic's position repeated.
| |
Do. | do. | Virginian calls Titanic, but gets no response.
| | Cape Race tells Virginian to report to his
| | captain the Titanic has struck iceberg
| | and requires immediate assistance.
| |
11.20 p. m.| 1.10 a. m. | Titanic 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. | Titanic 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 Titanic
| | we are making toward her."
| |
11.30 p. m.| 1.20 a. m. | Virginian hears M. C. E. (Cape Race) inform
| | M. G. Y. (Titanic) "that we are going to
| | his assistance. Our position 170 miles
| | north of Titanic."
| |
11.35 p. m.| 1.25 a. m. | Caronia tells Titanic, "Baltic coming
| | to your assistance."
| |
Do. | do. | Olympic sends position to Titanic 4.24
| | a. m. GMT. 40.52 N., 61.18 W.
| | "Are you steering southerly to meet us?"
| | Titanic replies, "We are putting
| | the women off in the boats."
| |
Do. | do. | Titanic and Olympic work together.
| |
11.37 p. m.| 1.27 a. m. | M. G. Y. (Titanic) says, "We are putting
| | the women off in the boats."
| |
11.40 p. m.| 1.30 a. m. | Titanic tells Olympic, "We are putting
| | passengers off in small boats."
| |
11.45 p. m.| 1.35 a. m. | Olympic asks Titanic what weather he had.
| | Titanic replies, "Clear and calm."
| |
Do. | do. | Baltic hears Titanic 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 Titanic, "We are rushing
| | to you."
| |
11.50 p. m.| 1.40 a. m. | Olympic to Titanic, "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 Titanic, but
| | his (Olympic's) position is 40.32 N.,
| | 61.18 W. You are much nearer to Titanic.
| | The Titanic 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 assistance of the Titanic. The others
| | must be a long way from the Titanic.'"
| |
11.55 p. m.| 1.45 a. m. | Last signals heard from Titanic by
| | Carpathia, "Engine-room full up to
| | boilers."
| |
Do. | do. | Mount Temple hears DFT. (Frankfurt)
| | calling MGY. (Titanic). No reply.
| |
11.57 p. m.| 1.47 a. m. | Caronia hears MGY. (Titanic),
| | though signals unreadable still.
| |
11.58 p. m.| 1.48 a. m. | Asian heard Titanic call SOS. Asian
| | answers Titanic but receives no
| | answer.
| |
Midnight. | 1.50 a. m. | Caronia hears Frankfurt working to
| | Titanic. Frankfurt according to position
| | 172 miles from MGY. (Titanic) at time
| | first SOS. sent out.
| |
12.05 a. m.| 1.55 a. m. | Cape Race says to Virginian "We have not
| | heard Titanic for about half
| | an hour. His power may be gone."
| |
12.10 a. m.| 2 a. m. | Virginian hears Titanic 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 Titanic's, probably
| | adjusting spark.
| |
12.27 a. m.| 2.17 a. m. | Virginian hears Titanic call CQ, but unable
| | to read him. Titanic's signals end very
| | abruptly, as power suddenly switched off.
| | His spark rather blurred or ragged. Called
| | MGY. (Titanic) 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. (Titanic). He
| | says, "No. Keeping strict watch, but hear
| | nothing more from MGY. (Titanic)." No reply
| | from him.
| |
12.52 a. m.| | This was the official time the Titanic
| | 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. (Titanic),
| | but his signals died utterly away.
| |
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 Titanic.
| |
1.40 a. m.| | MPA. (Carpathia) calling MGY. (Titanic).
| |
1.58 a. m.| | SBA. (Birma) thinks he hears Titanic 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. (Titanic).
| |
Do. | | Have not heard Titanic since 11.50 p. m.
| | Received from Ypiranga.
| |
2.28 a. m.| | La Provence to Celtic, "Nobody has heard the
| | Titanic for about 2 hours."
| |
3.24 a. m.| | SBA. (Birma) says we are 30 miles S. W. off
| | Titanic.
| |
3.36 a. m.| | Celtic sends message to Caronia for the
| | Titanic. Caronia after trying for two
| | hours to get through to the Titanic tells
| | the Celtic impossible to clear his message
| | to Titanic. Celtic then cancels message.
3.45 a. m. | | Californian exchanges signals with MLQ.
| | (Mount Temple). He gave position
| | of Titanic.
| |
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
| | Titanic struck iceberg. Carpathia
| | has passengers from lifeboats.
| |
Do. | | Olympic Tr Asian, with German oil tank
| | in tow for Halifax asked what
| | news of MGY. (Titanic). Sends
| | service later saying heard MGY. (Titanic)
| | _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 passing
| | between ships regarding Titanic, 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 assistance to you as
| | regards taking some of the passengers
| | 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_
| | passengers, and get instructions to
| | proceed to Liverpool.
| |
7.15 a. m. | | Baltic turns round for Liverpool, having
| | steamed 134 miles W. toward Titanic.
| |
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 Titanic
| | 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 passengers
| | on board."
| |
8 a. m. | | Carpathia to Virginian: "We are leaving
| | here with all on board about 800
| | passengers. Please return to your
| | northern course."
-----------+---------------+--------------------------------------------
19. (_a_) Was the apparatus for lowering the boats on the _Titanic_ 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_) passengers, (_b_) crew taken away
in each boat on leaving the vessel? (_b_) How was this number made up,
having regard to (1) sex, (2) class, 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 sex, class, 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 _Titanic_ 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 passengers, distinguishing between
men and women and adults and children of the first, second, and third
classes, respectively, who were saved? (_d_) What was the number of the
crew, discriminating their ratings and sex, 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 class:
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 class:
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 class:
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 passengers 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 passengers saved in
the first, second, and third classes is due to various causes, among
which the difference in the position of their quarters and the fact that
many of the third-class passengers were foreigners, are perhaps the most
important. Of the Irish emigrants in the third class a large proportion
was saved. The disproportion was certainly not due to any discrimination
by the officers or crew in assisting the passengers to the boats. The
disproportion between the numbers of the passengers 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).