The Night Lives On by Walter Lord

Author:Walter Lord
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781453238516
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media LLC
Published: 2012-01-18T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIII

“The Electric Spark”

THE ROCKETS AND LIGHTS to the southeast signaled the entrance of a brand-new character on the stage—a man often overlooked in recent accounts of the disaster, yet one who in many ways symbolized the robust virtues of the period.

Captain Arthur H. Rostron, commanding the Cunard Liner Carpathia, brought to the job a driving spirit that was woefully lacking in the Titanic crewmen who lay on their oars, listening to the cries of the swimmers. Born in 1869, Rostron went to sea at 13, spent ten years in sail, joined Cunard, and then rose steady up the company ladder. Now, at 42, he was an experienced, respected shipmaster, known for his quick decisions and for his ability to transmit his own boundless energy into those serving under him. Not surprisingly, his Cunard shipmates nicknamed him “The Electric Spark.”

His other most notable quality was piety. Rostron did not smoke or drink, never used profanity, and frequently turned to prayer. When he did so, he would lift his uniform cap slightly, and his lips would move in silent supplication.

In January 1912 he became Captain of the 13,564-ton Carpathia—less than a third the size of the huge Titanic, but his most important command to date. On the night of April 14-15, she was three days out of New York on a Mediterranean cruise, and so far there had been little occasion for either prayers or quick decisions.

All that ended at 12:35 A.M., when Harold Cottam, the Carpathia’s wireless operator, burst into the Captain’s quarters to report that the Titanic had struck a berg and urgently needed help. Rostron’s reaction was completely in character. He immediately ordered the Carpathia turned around then asked Cottam if he was sure. Nine out of ten captains would have done it the other way around.

The Titanic was 58 miles to the northwest; the Carpathia’s maximum speed was 14 knots—meaning she could get there in four hours. That time must not be wasted. Calling his department heads to the bridge, Rostron rattled off a stream of orders. Later he wrote them up for the U.S. Senate investigation. Although prepared when he was no longer under pressure, the resulting document gives such a remarkable picture of his quick mind at work—thinking of everything—that it seems worth quoting in full:

English doctor, with assistants, to remain in first-class dining room.

Italian doctor, with assistants, to remain in second-class dining room.

Hungarian doctor, with assistants, to remain in third-class dining room.

Each doctor to have supplies of restoratives, stimulants, and everything to hand for immediate needs of probable wounded or sick.

Purser, with assistant purser and chief steward, to receive the passengers, etc., at different gangways, controlling our own stewards in assisting Titanic passengers to the dining rooms, etc.; also to get Christian and surnames of all survivors as soon as possible to send by wireless.

Inspector, steerage stewards, and master at arms to control our own steerage passengers and keep them out of the third-class dining hall, and also to keep them out of the way and off the deck to prevent confusion.

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