THE WRECK

Sunday, April 14, 1912 : North Atlantic

Situation of the various vessels at the time of the tragedy

11:40 pm : As lookouts F. Fleet and R. Lee attempt to pierce the darkness of the night, their missing binoculars are sorely missed. Suddenly, Fleet rings the bell three times and grabs the phone, shouting to sixth officer J. P. Moody : Iceberg, ahead!
He informs First Officer W. Murdoch, who then orders : Hard to starboard!* Stop engines, full astern!
He then closed the fifteen watertight doors separating the ship's sixteen compartments.

* At this time, the British navy still used the same manoeuvring orders on board civilian and military ships as those used on sailing ships, and when you wanted to go to port (left), you had to push the starboard (right) tiller located at the stern (rear).
This is why the tiller attached to the rudder, or later the wheel steering the rudder, is not indicated as to which direction to go, but as to which side to push.
To avoid the unfortunate accidents that were bound to happen, this controversial system was finally abandoned on January 1, 1933! This decision caused quite a stir at the time.

The Titanic has already covered 426 meters, in the thirty-seven seconds it takes to change course at 21.5 knots. The time seems interminable before the bow begins to swing to port.
To everyone's relief, the iceberg, which protrudes at least eight meters beyond the crow's nest, slides onto the starboard side. And although a collision appears to have been narrowly avoided, large chunks of ice fall to the deck just aft of the forecastle.
Depending on one's situation, the impact is not perceived in the same way. For those at the top of the ship, it feels like a vibration at best, but for the less fortunate crammed into the steerage deck, the impact is relatively violent. As for the mechanics at the bow, the water immediately rushes in through the breaches in the hull, and they have to run for their lives.

11:41 p.m. : When Captain E. J. Smith, awakened by the collision, arrives on the bridge and is briefed on the situation. He then sends fourth officer J. G. Boxhall to inspect the bottom of the bow at G deck level. He finds nothing unusual on his way back.
On the bridge, Captain Smith set the chdburn to "Half-speed ahead". The engines run for another 3 to 4 minutes.

23:45 : The engines are now stopped. Thomas Andrews is called to the bridge by Captain Smith.

11:47 p.m. : J. G. Boxhall passes on his report to Captain Smith, who asks him to find the ship's carpenter to take a sounding. As soon as he arrives on the bridge, Ismay is informed by Captain Smith of the ship's serious damage.

11:48 pm : Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews leave the bridge to inspect the damage. J. G. Boxhall meets the carpenter, who reports on the damage to the bow.

11:49 pm : Postman John R. J. Smith meets J. G. Boxhall on his way to the gangway, and reports on the situation in the postal sorting room. It's already under water. J. G. Boxhall goes down to E deck and finds the watertight door closed. He then takes the stairs to the sorting room, descends to G deck, and sees the water rushing in very quickly.

11:57 p.m. : J. G. Boxhall returns to the bridge. Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews are also present, after their inspection tour. T. Andrews analyzes the damage report, and calculates that the Titanic has at most two hours before she sinks. The forepeak tank, holds N°1, 2 and 3, and boiler room N°6 all took on water. The weight of the ship's cargo will sink the bow so deeply that the watertight bulkheads won't stop the water flowing over the top to flood subsequent compartments. As these bulkheads are not watertight at ceiling level, the simple mathematical calculation leaves no alternative.

11:59 p.m. : Ismay returns to the bridge for an update. J. G. Boxhall wakes Pitman and Lightoller in their cabins.

With "IF"...

  • If the ship's speed had been reduced, the maneuver would have enabled her to get around the iceberg.
  • If the iceberg hadn't turned in on itself a short time earlier, its natural whiteness, which turned to grey, wouldn't have made it invisible.
  • If the night had had the benefit of the moon, its brightness would have helped us see further.
  • If there had been a swell, the lapping of the water at the base of the iceberg would have detected it earlier.
  • If the lookouts had had binoculars, they would undoubtedly have spotted the iceberg in time.
  • If the watertight bulkheads had mounted a bridge higher, or if the compartment ceilings had been completely watertight, the water would not have spilled into adjacent compartments.
  • Had the impact been frontal and therefore much more violent, the ship would certainly not have sunk.

Monday, April 15, 1912 : North Atlantic

0:02 a.m. : Captain E. J. Smith orders Chief Officer Wilde to get the lifeboats ready, assemble the passengers, and get out the assignment list for each lifeboat. A difficult task for sailors inexperienced with the relatively new Welin davits. J. G. Boxhall assists Second Officer Lightoller in unberthing the port boats, while First Officer Murdoch is responsible for preparing and launching the starboard boats. He is assisted by fifth officer Harold Godfrey Lowe.

0:04 a.m. : Third Officer Pitman heads for the forward hold to see the ice thrown up by the iceberg. He meets a group of drivers arriving from their quarters on F deck, telling him that their bunks were floating.

0:07 a.m. : Seeing that the officers and boat crew were all assembled, J. G. Boxhall went to the chart room to assess the ship's position. He passes it on to the captain on the bridge.

0:10 a.m. : Captain Smith takes the message to the radio cabin himself, and instructs the operators to be ready to send the distress signal as soon as he gives the order.

0:14 a.m. : The order is given to send the distress signal C.Q.D. (Come Quick Danger) followed by M.G.Y. the Titanic's identity .
Almost simultaneously, the liners La Provence (code name “MLP”), Mount Temple (“MLQ”), Cap Race Station (“MCE”), and Carpathia (“MPA”), received the distress call.

0:18 a.m. : Titanic's CQD, sent 10 times, is picked up by the Ypiranga (“DYA”).

0:23 a.m. : The helmsman, Petty Officer Robert Hitchens, is relieved by Petty Officer Walter J. Perkis.
After recalculating Titanic's new position, J. G. Boxhall takes it to Captain E. J. Smith on the bridge, who instructs him to transmit it immediately to the radio cabin.

0:25 a.m. : Cap Race notes a message from the Titanic indicating that the ship has moved 5 or 6 miles.
J. G. Boxhall gives the new position, 41°46'N, 50°14'W, to radio operator Phillips, who immediately begins transmission.
The Carpathia's radio operator, H. T. Cottam, informed First Officer H. V. Dean, who in turn woke Commander A. Rostron. Commander A. Rostron took every precaution to welcome the Titanic's survivors aboard, even though he was 58 miles from the Titanic.

Back on the bridge, J. G. Boxhall spotted the foremast light of a ship (the Samson) some 5 miles off the Titanic's port bow.

0:26 a.m. : The Ypiranga receives the Titanic's CQD sent 15 to 20 times.

0:27 a.m. : New message from Titanic : "I require assistance immediately. Struck by iceberg in 41.46 N., 50.14 W.".

0:30 a.m. : The Titanic gives its position to the Frankfurt (“DFT”) and says: "Tell your Captain to come to our help. We are on the ice." Message from Frankfurt to Birma (“SBA”): "Who is MGY?" The answer is immediate: "MGY is the new transatlantic Titanic. Titanic my man"
The Caronia ("MRA") alerts the Baltic ("MBC") with the Titanic's CQD: "M.G.Y. (Titanic) C.Q.D. in 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Wants immediate assistance.”.
On receipt of the CQD, the Mount Temple transmits: “We are turning around. We are about 50 miles away".
After Birma's first message: “What's your problem? Birma sent its own position (about 100 miles away) and said it would be on the spot by 6:30 am.
Orders are given for the women and children to be taken on deck.
After receiving Captain Smith's agreement, Boxhall instructed Petty Officer Rowe to use the powerful Morse lamp to signal to the ship, whose lights were visible some 5 or 6 miles ahead of the Titanic.

0:36 a.m. : Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm calls the Titanic. The Titanic asks: “Can you help us? Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm : “What's your problem?”. Titanic : "We've hit an iceberg. We're sinking. Tell your captain to come". Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm : "Okay, we'll tell him.

0:38 a.m. : Mount Temple hears the Frankfurt report its position to the Titanic : 39°47'N, 52°10'W.

0:40 a.m. : The Olympic hears the Titanic report to another ship that something has happened about a collision with an iceberg, but that this is not certain due to atmospheric conditions and numerous radio transmissions. No matter, it's the Titanic that's in danger! There's a little water in boiler room n°5, due to the pressure exerted by the water on the watertight bulkhead, which is gradually causing it to collapse.

0:45 a.m. : The first lifeboat, N°7, leaves the ship. It goes down with only 28 people on board. Seaman Geoge A. Hoqq is in command.
The first distress rocket is fired by J. G. Boxhall, assisted by Petty Officer Rowe. 7 further rockets are fired over the next 55 minutes, at 5-10 minute intervals until about 1:40 a.m.
In the meantime, Petty Officer Rowe tries to contact the nearby ship using the Morse lamp. The C.Q.D. is changed to S.O.S. (Save Our Souls), the brand-new signal sent for the first time in history.

0:50 a.m. : Using the CQD again, Titanic transmits: “Requesting immediate assistance. Position 41°45'N,50°14'W”. The message is picked up by the Olympic (“MKC”) and the Celtic (“MLC”).

0:53 a.m. : Caronia reports to Baltic that Titanic is transmitting SOS and CQD, 41°46'N, 50°14'W, and requests immediate assistance.

0:55 a.m. : Boats N°5 (41 people on board, commanded by 3rd Officer Pitman) and N°6 (28 people on board, commanded by Petty Officer Hitchens) leave the ship. The fifth rocket is fired.

1:00 a.m. : Lifeboat N°3 leaves the ship. The sixth rocket is fired.
The Titanic transmits another distress call with her position. The Cincinnati responds, but her assistance is of no use, as the Olympic has just answered the distress call. The Titanic replies to the Olympic, stating her position and saying: "We have hit an iceberg".
The water is now entering E Deck. It can be seen at the foot of the 1st class staircase.

1:02 a.m. : Titanic calls Asian (“MKL”) and says: “We require immediate assistance”. Asian (“MKL”) receives Titanic's position and requests confirmation.
The Virginian (“MGN”) tries to contact the Titanic, but without success. Cap Race suggests that the Virginian tell her captain that the Titanic has hit an iceberg and needs immediate assistance.

1:10 a.m. : Boats N°1 (12 people on board for a capacity of 40) and N°8 (31 people on board for a capacity of 65) leave the ship.
Message from Titanic to Olympic : We have hit an iceberg. "Sinking by the bow. 41°46'N, 50°14'W. Please come as soon as possible".
1:15 a.m. : Message from Baltic to Caronia : "Warn the Titanic that we're heading for it".

1:20 a.m. : Boats N°9 (56 persons on board for a capacity of 65, commanded by chief mate Albert Haines) and N°10 (55 persons on board for a capacity of 65, commanded by seaman Edward John Buley) leave the ship.
Cap Race notifies the Titanic that the Virginian is 170 miles to the north, and is on its way to rescue.

1:25 a.m. : Boats N°11 (70 persons for a capacity of 65, commanded by quartermaster James Humphreys) and N°12 (43 persons, commanded by sailor John Poigndestre) leave the ship.
At the same time, Murdoch ordered the boat N°13 (64 people on board) lowered. It is almost flooded by the discharge of water pumped from inside the ship near the surface of the sea. The boat is diverted from the water jet, and the descent continues unhindered. Nevertheless, canoes 11 and 13 narrowly avoid collision (13 descending vertically onto 11).
The Coronia warns that the Baltic is on its way to help. (Having diverted her course towards Liverpool, the Baltic had already travelled 134 miles westwards to meet the Titanic, before being warned that her assistance was no longer required.
The Olympic transmits its position (40°52'N, 61°18'W) and asks the Titanic : "Are you heading south to join us?". The Titanic replied: "We're taking the women and children in the lifeboats. We can't wait any longer" .
. The ship seen earlier at the bow of the Titanic now shows its stern light, suggesting that it is moving away from the scene of the disaster.
The last rocket is fired (testimony of Petty Officer George Thomas Rowe at the British inquiry).

1:27 a.m. : The previous message is sent out again to everyone: "We're loading the women and children into the canoes. We can't wait any longer".

1:30 a.m. : N°14 boats (60 people on board) leave the ship. The ship's name is completely covered by the sea.
The Titanic repeats the same message to the Olympic : "We're loading the passengers into the lifeboats" .

1:35 a.m. : Boats N°16 (46 people on board, captained by Master-at-Arms Henry Bailey) and N°15 (70 people on board, captained by stoker Dymond) leave the ship.
The Olympic : "What's the weather like?". The Titanic replies, "Calm and clear", then continues on: "The engine room is flooded".
The Mount Temple hears the Frankfurt ask the Titanic : "Are there any ships around ?"... No reply.

1:37 a.m. : Baltic to Titanic : "We're coming to you".

1:40 a.m. : Lifeboat C (39 people on board, commanded by Quartermaster George Rowe) leaves the ship. The last of the 8 distress flares is fired. Passengers rush to starboard to compensate for the heavy list.
The bow is now under water.
Cap Race sends a radio message to the Virginian : "Tell your captain: the Olympic is steaming towards the Titanic, but her position is 40°32‘N, 61°18’W. You are closer to the Titanic than the Olympic. You're closer to the Titanic. The Titanic is already loading the women into the boats and says the weather is calm and clear. The Olympic is the only one we've heard saying 'Let's rescue the Titanic'. All the other ships must be too far away.

1:45 a.m. : The engine room is flooded. This is the message Phillips sends to the Carpathia, to arrive as quickly as possible.
Lefboat N°4 (42 people on board, captained by quartermaster Walter Perkis) leaves the ship. It picks up 8 swimmers (2 perish in the boat).

1:47 a.m. : The Caronia picks up the Titanic, but the signal is too weak.

1:48 a.m. : L'Asian capte le SOS du Titanic et répond, mais il ne reçoit plus rien en retour.

1:50 a.m. : N°2 lifeboat leaves the ship.
The Caronia hears the Frankfurt communicating with the Titanic. She was 172 miles away at the time of the first SOS (39°47'N, 42°10'W).
The Olympic's message of assistance to the Titanic is picked up by the Virginian and Cap Race.

1.55 a.m. : Boiler room N°4 is submerged, causing the bow to plunge rapidly.
The propellers begin to emerge. The wheelhouse is under water.

2:04 a.m. : The front expansion joint bursts.

2:05 a.m. : The shrouds on the 1st chimney break, causing her to fall forward on her starboard side. Several people are killed in the fall.
Water now floods the 1st class dining room on D deck.
Boat D is the last to leave the ship.

2:08 a.m. : Deck A is under water.

2:10 a.m. : Le dernier message radio est transmis. Le capitaine E. J. Smith ordonne aux opérateurs radio de quitter le navire.

2:15 a.m. : Boat A and boat B (keel up) take to the sea when the keel hits them.
The ship begins to break in 2. The pressure on the hull is too great.

2:17 a.m. : The Virginian picks up a CQ from the Titanic, but is unable to decipher it.
As water rushes over the boat decks, the orchestra gives up, and the music ceases.

2:18 a.m. : The stern rises into the starry sky, causing all objects inside the ship to fall. The lighting flickers and then goes out.

2:20 a.m. : The Titanic disappears from the surface of the ocean, taking 1502 people with her.

The surface of the sea is now a mixture of dying human beings, canoes full of miraculous people, floating wrecks of all kinds, and bubbles from the freshly disappeared wreck. Screams and wails by the hundreds are heard, loudly at first, then fainter and fainter, finally disappearing altogether.
The silence that now torments the spirits is as unbearable as the biting cold that numbs them physically and mentally. Uncertainty begins to creep in. The only “small chance” for the survivors is an eerily calm sea.