Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic

A Centennial Reappraisal

Samuel Halpern, Cathy Akers-Jordan, George Behe, Bruce Beveridge, Mark Chirnside, Tad Fitch, Dave Gittins, Steve Hall, Lester J. Mitcham, Capt Charles Weeks, Bill Wormstedt, Charles Weeks, Lester Mitcham

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9780750967990
• eBook ISBN: 9780750969413
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Marine Transportation
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Report into the Loss of the SS Titanic is a complete re-evaluation of the loss of Titanic based on evidence that has come to light since the discovery of the wreck in 1985.

This collective undertaking is compiled by eleven of the world's foremost Titanic researchers – experts who have spent many years examining the wealth of information that has arisen since 1912. Following the basic layout of the 1912 Wreck Commission Report, this modern report provides fascinating insights into the ship itself, the American and British inquiries, the passengers and crew, the fateful journey and ice warnings received, the damage and sinking, rescue of survivors, the circumstances in connection with the SS Californian and SS Mount Temple, and the aftermath and ramifications that followed the disaster.

The book seeks to answer controversial questions, such as whether steerage passengers were detained behind gates, and also reveals the names and aliases of all passengers and crew who sailed on Titanic 's maiden voyage. Containing the most extensively referenced chronology of the voyage ever assembled and featuring a wealth of explanatory charts and diagrams, as well as archive photographs, this comprehensive volume is the definitive 'go-to' reference book for this ill-fated ship.

1

INTRODUCTION

Samuel Halpern

Background and Purpose

On the night of 14 April 1912, the SS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank in just 2 hours and 40 minutes. Less than a third of the people on board were saved.

On 17 April 1912 the United States Senate Committee on Commerce issued a resolution calling for a formal investigation into the causes leading to the loss of Titanic and its attendant loss of life. The formal American inquiry began on 19 April 1912, and ended on 25 May 1912. A report on the findings was presented before the United States Senate on 28 May 1912.

On 30 April 1912 the British Board of Trade (BOT) requested that a formal investigation be held into the circumstances attending to the loss of Titanic. Twenty-six questions were formulated to which they sought answers. Those questions dealt with such items as:

• The ship (her design, construction, size, speed, equipment, lifesaving appliances and wireless installation);

• Orders received and course taken;

• The passengers and crew;

• An account of the casualty (its cause and effect);

• Means taken for saving those on board;

• A report on the Rules and Regulations of the BOT and its administration;

• And recommendations to obviate a similar disaster from happening again.

The formal British inquiry began on 2 May 1912 and ended on 3 July 1912. The findings were presented in a ‘Report of the Court’ that was issued on 30 July 1912. After almost 100 years since the loss of Titanic, much new evidence has come to light including new forensic discoveries and analysis. In addition to the full transcripts and reports from both the American and British inquiries that were held in 1912, we have available to us evidence given at the Limitation of Liability Hearings in New York (1913–15), the Ryan Vs Oceanic Steam Navigation Company trial of 1913 and affidavits of some key participants that were withheld from the original inquiries, as well as letters, books and affidavits written by survivors and other participants in the aftermath of the disaster.

In 1985 the wreck of Titanic was discovered by a team led by Dr Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel. Since then there were many expeditions to the wreck that produced a wealth of new information about the ship and what happened to her as a result of colliding with an iceberg. Technical papers have been written dealing with all imaginable aspects, from the ship’s design and construction to detailed analyses of the sinking process itself. In addition, many articles and books have appeared dealing with the circumstances leading up to the collision, what transpired on board the ship prior to and immediately after the collision, the ensuing rescue by SS Carpathia and the aftermath that followed. In addition, many articles and books have also appeared that deal with the actions and inactions of several nearby vessels, in particular the steamships Californian and Mount Temple.

Unfortunately, much of what has been presented in some recent books, movies, documentaries and on websites is a regurgitation of the same old stuff that has been out there for years. In many cases, references are nowhere to be found, and the reader or viewer is supposed to accept what is presented as undisputed fact. In some cases, demonstrably false information or findings are presented as new by those who have their own unique perception of reality. The usual technique is the selective use of available evidence to support their particular view while totally dismissing evidence that may prove to be unfavourable to their view. Far too often, unproven theories, speculations and other forms of misinformation are accepted as fact by the general public.

This report is a collective effort that was put together by a team of dedicated individuals and authors of various backgrounds and expertise that have spent years researching, studying and analysing the wealth of information now available to us today. In support of this effort, every attempt was made to identify where our information came from. In many cases we reference the primary source material directly. In other cases, we provide reference to a particular article or book that delves into much more detail than space here will allow. Where answers are not so clear cut, we make that known to the reader and provide reference to where additional information may be found.

Questions to be Addressed

This report attempts to address as best we can the following set of questions:

About the Ship

1. How well was Titanic designed and how did she compare to other vessels of the period?

2. Could Titanic stand up to the most exacting conditions of the North Atlantic service?

3. What provisions did Titanic have in her design for the safety of the vessel and those on board in the event of collisions and other casualties?

4. What lifesaving appliances were carried on board, and how did that compare to the requirements of the BOT and other ships of the time?

5. What means besides wireless telegraphy was provided to communicate with other vessels, and were those means utilised?

6. What type of wireless installation was on board Titanic and what was its expected range?

7. What accommodation did the ship have for her passengers and crew, and how would they gain access to the boats in case of emergency?

8. Did Titanic comply with the requirements of the rules and regulations in effect at the time with regard to passenger steamers and emigrant ships when she departed on her maiden voyage?

About Passengers and Crew on Board

1. How many crewmembers were on board Titanic when she left Queenstown (distinguishing by department and positions held)?

2. How many passengers were on board Titanic when she left Queenstown (distinguishing by class, men, women and children)?

3. How many (and who) were lost and saved?

About the Route Followed and Warnings Received

1. What instructions were given or known prior to the sailing as to the route to be followed and precautions taken for any dangers likely to be encountered during the voyage?

2. How far did the ship advance each day along the route she took? What were her noontime positions for each day, and what was her average speed of advance along the route for each day?

3. What was the weather like along the route of travel?

4. Did Titanic have an adequate supply of coal on board? Was this a factor in limiting the speed of the vessel? Was Titanic out to break any records?

5. What warnings reached Titanic concerning the existence of ice along the route, when were they received, and what were the reported locations?

6. Was Titanic’s course altered as a consequence of receiving such information, and if so, in what way?

7. Were any directions given as to the speed of the vessel as a consequence of ice information received, and were they carried out?

8. What precautions were taken by Titanic in anticipation of meeting ice? How did that compare to what was done on other vessels being navigated in waters where ice was expected?

9. Was a good and proper lookout for ice kept on board? Were binoculars pro...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Two Nations, Two Inquiries
• 3 Description of the Ship
• 4 Passengers and Crew / Lost and Saved
• 5 Account of the Ship’s Journey Across the Atlantic
• 6 Description of the Damage to the Ship
• 7 An Account of the Saving of those on Board
• 8 Too Few Boats, Too Many Hindrances
• 9 The Rescue By the SS Carpathia
• 10 The Circumstances in Connection with the SS Californian
• 11 The Circumstances in Connection with the SS Mount Temple
• 12 The Aftermath of the Disaster
• 13 Chronology of Events with References and Notes
• 14 Summary of the Findings of this Report
• Appendices
• Bibliography