Voices from the Titanic

by Geoff Tibballs

  Mr and Mrs Astor occupied a bridal suite on the doomed liner.

  Two years ago Col. Astor and his son Vincent figured in a sea scare when their yacht, the Noma, having both on board, could not be traced after a storm in the Caribbean Sea. While government and other vessels were searching for the yacht she steamed safely into Jacksonville, Florida.

  Benjamin Guggenheim, probably next in financial importance, is the fifth of the seven sons of Meyer Guggenheim, who founded the American Smelting and Refining Co., the great mining corporation, and is a director of many corporations including the International Steam Pump Co., of which he is now president. His fortune is estimated at $95 million. His wife, whose name does not appear on the passenger list, is the daughter of James Seligman, the New York banker.

  George D. Widener is the son of P. A. B. Widener, the Philadelphia ‘traction king’, whose fortune is estimated at $50 million. Isidor Straus, one of New York’s most prominent dry goods merchants, and notable for his philanthropies, has a fortune also estimated to be worth $50 million. He is a director in various banks, trust companies and charitable institutions and with his brother, Nathan Straus, is the owner of three of New York’s largest department stores.

  J. Bruce Ismay, president and one of the founders of the International Mercantile Marine, who has always made it a custom to be a passenger on the maiden trip of every new ship built by the company, is said to be worth $40 million. It was Mr Ismay who, with J. P. Morgan, consolidated American and British steamship lines under the International Mercantile Marine’s control.

  Col. Washington Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn bridge and president and director of John A. Roebling & Sons Co., is credited with a fortune of $25 million.

  Among others of reputed wealth who were on board are J. P. Thayer, vice-president of the Pennsylvania railroad; the Countess of Rothes, daughter of an English plush manufacturer, who expected to visit Newport; Clarence Moore, a well-known sportsman, whose wife was Miss Mabel Swift, daughter of E. C. Swift, the Chicago meat packer; Col. Alfonso Simonius, president of the Swiss Bankverein, and Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific and vice-president and general manager of the Grand Trunk of Canada.

  (Boston Post, 16 April 1912)

  THOUGHT STEAMER COULD NOT SINK CAPTAIN OF TITANIC SAID FIVE YEARS AGO THAT DAY OF MARINE DISASTERS HAD PASSED

  Bad luck has come to Capt. E. J. Smith, commander of the Titanic and commodore of the White Star Line, after forty years on the sea, during which time he worked up from apprentice to commander of the largest steamship in the world.

  During all this time, up to last September, when his steamer, the Olympic, then, as now, with the sinking of the Titanic, the queen steamship of the world, crashed into the British cruiser Hawke, he did not figure in a single disaster.

  Since then, however, misfortune has come thick and fast, for in February the Olympic struck what is believed to have been a submerged wreck and lost a blade from one of her propellers, which made it necessary to put her in dry dock, and last Wednesday the Titanic, in leaving Southampton on her maiden voyage, narrowly missed colliding with the New York of the American line, which had been pulled from her anchorage by suction from the new ocean giant.

  It was undoubtedly because of Capt. Smith’s previous fine career that the officers of the White Star Line retained him in its service after the mishaps to the Olympic, thus violating a deep sea tradition that has been more rigorously maintained by the British merchant marine than by any other nation. The rule has been almost invariable among steamship companies to dispense with the services of officers in command of vessels that have met with disaster.

  One reason for this is the insistence of the insurance companies. Lloyds keeps in its London office the records of all marine officers so that when a man is put in command of a vessel his whole career can be immediately inspected.

  Much interest attaches to the fate that now awaits Capt. Smith, if he has survived. If proved at fault in the collision of the Titanic with an iceberg – and this will depend in great measure on the degree of vigilance used after the delicate instruments all vessels now carry warned of the vessel’s proximity to ice – he may not only be deprived of his command, but also of his certificate, which will force him to give up the sea.

  Capt. Smith began his sea career in 1869, when he shipped as apprentice on the Senator Weber, an American clipper purchased by Gibson & Co. of Liverpool. In 1878 he got a commission as fourth officer of the square-rigger Lizzie Fennel, and in 1880 was appointed fourth officer of the old steamship Celtic of the White Star Line. He attained the rank of captain in 1887, when he took command of the old Republic.

  It was in 1892 that the White Star Line bestowed its first great honour on Capt. Smith, when it made him commander of its best steamship, the Majestic, on Mediterranean voyages. Since that time he has commanded every large steamship of the White Star Line. When he was put in command of the Titanic, it was reported that he would retire after he had conducted her across the Atlantic and back, but the White Star officials afterwards announced that he would have charge of the Titanic until the company built a larger and finer steamship.

  Thought Sinking Impossible

  Capt. Smith had the utmost confidence in the safety of the ocean giants that are now being constructed. In 1907 when he came to New York in command of the Adriatic on her maiden trip, he said: ‘Shipbuilding is such a perfect art nowadays that absolute disaster, involving the passengers, is inconceivable. Whatever happens, there will be time enough before the vessel sinks to save the life of every person on board. I will go a bit further. I will say that I cannot imagine any condition that would cause the vessel to founder. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.

  ‘When anyone asks me how I can best describe my experiences of nearly 40 years at sea I merely say, uneventful. In all my experience I have never been in an accident worth speaking of.’

  (Boston Post, 16 April 1912)

  The grim truth was broken to the British public in a special late edition of the Daily Graphic.

  APPALLING DISASTER TITANIC FOUNDERS ON MAIDEN VOYAGE TO NEW YORK TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE RESCUERS ARRIVE TOO LATE

  An appalling disaster has overtaken the White Star liner Titanic on her maiden voyage to New York.

  The huge vessel, which left Southampton on Wednesday, was in collision on Sunday night with an iceberg while still some 400 or 500 miles from land.

  She sank at 2.20 on Monday morning – four hours after the collision.

  Her wireless messages were picked up by other liners, which hastened to her assistance; but the Carpathia, which reached the spot where she foundered at daybreak, found only boats and wreckage.

  The full extent of the disaster is not yet known, but it is stated that 675 souls – mostly women and children – have been saved.

  If all the others have gone down with the vessel the loss of life will be appalling as the Titanic had 2,358 persons on board.

  There may still be some hope that vessels other than the Carpathia have picked up some survivors.

  The Titanic’s survivors on board the Carpathia are stated at the White Star offices in New York to include all first-class passengers. She is expected to reach New York on Friday morning.

  A message sent out by Reuter from New York at 9pm states that the White Star officials now admit that probably only 675 out of the 2,358 persons on board the Titanic have been saved.

  (Daily Graphic, 16 April 1912)

  THE TITANIC SUNK COLLISION WITH ICEBERG HORRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE ONLY 675 SOULS SAVED

  The latest information with regard to the wreck of the Titanic, in consequence of collision with an iceberg, leaves little room for doubt that the most awful shipping disaster in the history of the world has occurred. And this on the maiden voyage of the largest and most luxurious liner the world has ever known.

  Messages from New York to hand early this morning, containing the expressed opinion of a prominent White Star Line official, state that the
Titanic has sunk, and that probably only 675 of the 2,490 souls aboard the doomed ship have been saved. Thus there is the most terrible loss of 1,825 [sic] lives.

  Another estimate of the number of passengers and crew on board is 2,358, but whatever the exact figure, the awful news will stagger humanity.

  The Carpathia, with the 675 survivors, who include most, if not all, of the first-class passengers, is on her way to New York.

  Many west country passengers were on board the vessel.

  The earlier news gave hope that the passengers and crew had all been saved, but in the light of the more authentic accounts, many of the telegrams must be discounted.

  The main facts stand out plainly. The Titanic sank soon after striking the iceberg, and when the Virginian arrived on the scene there were nothing but boats and wreckage visible. Some of the passengers picked up by the Virginian were afterwards transferred to the Carpathia, and it is to be feared that all the souls saved are the 675 on the Carpathia, which is now on her way to New York.

  The abrupt stoppage of the Titanic’s wireless message and the absence of definite news during the greater part of yesterday are only circumstantial confirmations of the frightful catastrophe. If the Titanic had remained afloat full details of her condition would have been made known by her wireless operators.

  THIS MORNING’S TERRIBLE NEWS

  Appended are the latest messages received through Reuter’s Agency, this morning:

  NEW YORK, April 15 – The Titanic sank at 2.20 this morning. No lives were lost.

  NEW YORK, April 15, 8.20 p.m. – The following statement has been given out by the White Star officials:

  ‘Captain Haddock, of the Olympic, sends a wireless message that the Titanic sank at 2.20 a.m., Monday, after all the passengers and the crew had been lowered into the lifeboats and transferred to the Virginian. The steamer Carpathia, with several hundred passengers from the Titanic, is now on her way to New York.’

  NEW YORK, April 15, 8.40 p.m. – The White Star officials now admit that some lives have been lost.

  8.45 p.m. – A despatch from Cape Race says that all the Titanic’s boats are accounted for. About 675 souls have been saved of crew and passengers – the latter nearly all women and children. The Carpathia is returning to New York with survivors.

  NEW YORK, 8.45 p.m. – The following despatch has been received from Cape Race: The steamer Olympic reports that the steamer Carpathia reached the Titanic position at daybreak, but found boats and wreckage only.

  She reports that the Titanic foundered about 2.20 a.m. in latitude 41 deg. 16 min., longitude 50 deg. 14 min.

  The Leyland liner California is searching in the vicinity of the disaster.

  NEW YORK, 9 p.m. – The Titanic survivors on board the Carpathia are stated by the White Star offices to include all first-class passengers. She is expected to reach New York on Friday morning.

  NEW YORK, 9.50 p.m. – The White Star officials now admit that probably only 675 out of 2,200 passengers on board the Titanic have been saved.

  The White Star clerks state that the Carpathia is proceeding to New York with the survivors.

  HORRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE

  NEW YORK, April 15, Later – At the White Star offices it is believed that many of the Titanic’s passengers are aboard the Parisian or Virginian.

  Mr Franklin now admits there has been a horrible loss of life. He says he has no information to disprove the Press despatch from Cape Race that only 675 passengers and crew had been saved.

  The monetary loss could not be estimated tonight, but he intimated that it would run into millions.

  MONTREAL, April 15 – It is announced at the Allan Line offices that the Virginian retransferred the passengers she took from the Titanic to the Carpathia shortly after she received them, and that the change was made because the Carpathia was bound for New York, while the Virginian was east bound with mails.

  THE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE HOW IT WAS RECEIVED

  NEW YORK, April 15 – A telegram received here from Montreal says the liner Virginian reports herself in wireless communication with the liner Titanic, which is reported to have been in collision with an iceberg and to have requested assistance. The Virginian is hastening to her aid.

  MONTREAL, April 15 – A wireless message was received late last night from the Allan liner Virginian, which sailed from Halifax yesterday morning, and which reports that the huge White Star liner Titanic has struck an iceberg off Cape Race.

  It is understood that the Virginian is now on the way to answer the wireless call for assistance which was given by the liner, and is prepared if necessary to take off the Titanic’s passengers.

  The Allan Line officials have received no further news, but are expecting a message at any moment.

  NEW YORK, April 15, 3.45 a.m. – A telegram from Cape Race at 10.25 Sunday evening says: The Titanic reported she had struck an iceberg.

  The steamer said that immediate assistance was required.

  Half an hour afterwards another message was received saying that the Titanic was sinking by the head, and that the women were being taken off in lifeboats.

  NEW YORK, April 15, Later – A Cape Race telegram says the wireless telegraph operator on the Titanic reported the weather calm and clear.

  The Virginian at midnight was 170 miles west of the Titanic and is expected to reach her at 10 a.m. today.

  The Olympic is also hastening to the Titanic.

  The liner Baltic has reported herself within 200 miles of the Titanic, and is speeding to her help.

  The Virginian’s operator says the last signals from the Titanic were blurred and ended abruptly.

  MANY LINERS WITHIN CALL

  NEW YORK, April 15 – Messages which are arriving here from Newfoundland are reassuring in so far as they show that a number of vessels are within call of the Virginian. The Mauretania is responding to the signal, as well as the German liners Prince Adelbert, Amerika, Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, and other smaller ships.

  A wireless message which was sent to the Virginian and other vessels in the vicinity of the disaster has failed up to the present to bring any response.

  A CURIOUS OMISSION

  NO NEWS TRANSMITTED TO WHITE STAR LINE

  NEW YORK, April 15 – Up to 8 a.m. the officials of the White Star Line had not received a word regarding the reported accident to the Titanic.

  The company in a statement say, ‘It is very strange that the Titanic’s sister ship Olympic, which has a wireless installation of sufficient strength to send a message across the Atlantic, should have sent us nothing. The Olympic should be alongside the Titanic at two o’clock this afternoon.’

  The Central News was informed at the head offices of the White Star Line in London yesterday morning that no official information has been received there regarding the disaster which had overtaken the Titanic.

  On learning of the accident from the papers the managers immediately telephoned to the firm’s offices at Liverpool, but no information was to hand there.

  ‘WE ARE NOT WORRIED’

  STATEMENT BY INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICIAL

  NEW YORK, April 15 – Mr Franklin, vice-president of the International Mercantile Marine, has issued the following statement: ‘We have nothing direct from the Titanic, but are perfectly satisfied that the vessel is unsinkable.

  ‘The fact that the Marconi messages have ceased means nothing. It may be due to atmospherical conditions, the coming up of the ships, or something of that sort.

  ‘We are not worried over the possible loss of the ship, as she will not go down, but we are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the travelling public.

  ‘We are absolutely certain that the Titanic is able to withstand any damage. She may be down by the head, but would float indefinitely in that condition.

  ‘We figure that the Virginian will be alongside the Titanic at 10 o’clock this morning, the Olympic by three this afternoon, and the Baltic by four o’clock.’

  ENORMOUS QUANTI
TIES OF ICE

  The Canadian Pacific liner, Empress of Britain, which arrived at Liverpool from Halifax on Sunday, reports the presence of an immense quantity of ice in the Atlantic.

  Last Tuesday, when three days out from Halifax, she encountered an ice field 100 miles in extent with enormous bergs, and she steered a wide course.

  The Empress of Britain had previously received a wireless message from the Allan liner Virginian warning her of the presence of ice.

  The extent of the ice was regarded as phenomenal, and the bergs seemed to be joined to the ice field, which appeared as an enormous white line on the horizon.

  CONFLICTING STATEMENTS

  The following messages were also received yesterday but, in view of the latest cablegrams giving the awful news of the loss of life, they are obviously of a contradictory character:

  HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, April 15 – A message just received here states that the Titanic was still afloat at half past eight and her engines were working. She was crawling slowly in the direction of Halifax, and towards the Virginian.

  It is further reported that the women and children aboard are in the lifeboats, which are ready to be lowered in a moment’s notice, but this will not be done until it is certain that the vessel is actually sinking.

  The weather continues to be clear and calm.

  The Titanic’s pumps are working at their utmost power.

  The forward holds are full, but the watertight compartments are holding. There is good hope of the vessel making port.

  NEW YORK, April 15 – A message from Montreal timed 8.30 a.m. says the Titanic is still afloat and heading towards Halifax with her own engines.

  The women and children have not been taken off though the lifeboats are ready in case of emergency.

  It is thought the bulkheads will prevent her sinking.