THE DEPARTURE

Wednesday, April 10, 1912 : Southampton - ENGLAND

Standing left to right : Herbert W. McElroy, Purser Charles H. Lightoller, 2nd officer (survivor) Herbert J. Pitman, 3rd officer (survivor) Joseph G. Boxhall, 4th officer (survivor) Harold G. Lowe, 5th officer (survivor)

Captain Smith and his officers just before departure

Seated from left to right : James P. Moody, 6th officer Henry T. Wilde, chief officer chef Captain Edward John Smith William M. Murdoch, 1st officer

11:45: With the start approaching, Trinity House pilot George BOWYER, already on board as indicated by the red-and-white-striped flag flying from the halyard, prepares for the operation.

12:00: The Blue Peter (flag P in the code of signals) is hoisted on the foremast, signifying imminent departure.

12:15: Three whistles sound and the order is given to cast off the hawsers. The tugs go into action and place the Titanic downstream of the Test River. Only then do the tugs pull away, and the Titanic starts up her two side propellers.

Titanic docked

Titanic docked colorised

The departure

The departure

Against the rising tide, the Titanic's bow began to split the water more and more rapidly, and the turbulence caused by the propellers on the port side created such a movement that the New-York, alongside the Océanic at berth N°38, broke her stern stays. As the Titanic accelerated, unaware of the incident, the stern of the New-York began to arc towards it.

The New York episode

The New York episode

The New York episode

The New York episode

Commander GALE of the tug Vulcan managed to seize the mooring line hanging over the stern of the New-York, before it struck the stern of the Titanic. Captain SMITH and pilot BOWYER reacted instinctively, ordering full astern. Other tugs came to the rescue, and brought the drifting ship under control. By the time all was put right, the Titanic's departure was delayed by over an hour.

Leaving Southampton

Leaving Southampton

Leaving Southampton Fred's sailboat in the foreground

6:35 p.m.: The Titanic arrives in Cherbourg as daylight begins to fade, and anchors in the roadstead to await the two ferries, Nomadic and Traffic. Mail bags are transferred, 15 passengers disembark, and a small amount of freight is unloaded. Meanwhile, 142 1st-class passengers, 30 2nd-class passengers and 102 3rd-class passengers embark.

Arrival in Cherbourg

20:00: the whistles blow three more times, and Hall's anchor is hauled up.

8:10pm: The Titanic lights up and sets course for its next and final port of call, Queenstown (now Cobh) in Ireland.

11:30 a.m.: The Titanic arrives in Queenstown, anchored in the roadstead and awaiting the arrival of the two ferries America and Ireland. 1385 mailbags are transferred, 113 3rd-class and 7 2nd-class passengers embark, 7 others disembark, including the Reverend Father Révérend Père Francis BROWNE. One crewman deserted.

1:30 p.m.: The Titanic sets sail for New-York, its whistles blowing for the last time, and no one can suspect the horrible fate that awaits them.