Timewreck Titanic by Rhys B. Davies

Author:Rhys B. Davies [Davies, Rhys B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RO:SF
Publisher: Sea Lion Press
Published: 2017-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Gentlemen,” Captain Smith said, slowly turning from where the Seguin Laroche had just foundered, hands folded behind his back. “We have much to be thankful for, but at the same time, much to consider.”

His remaining officers – Murdoch, Pitman, Boxhall, Lowe and Moody – stood at a form of nervous attention, their backs to the wall of Titanic’s navigation bridge. Bride and Phillips, the two Marconi operators, were also present, but off to one side as silent observers. Apart from the eight of them, the bridge was deserted, Smith having dismissed the two assisting quartermasters.

“First of all, we are most fortunate that ships were to hand in our hour of need last night. However, that does not excuse the errors of navigation that led to our collision with the iceberg…” He held up a hand to ward off any possible responses. “Responsibility for that error lies with me as much as anyone else, but none of us can ignore where the course of this ship’s maiden voyage would have led were it not for what I can only describe as a miracle on par with divine intervention. Mr Boxhall?”

“Yes, sir…” replied the ship’s fourth officer, a bright twenty-something who Smith favoured for navigational duties.

“Have you prepared the materials I requested?”

“I have, sir.”

“Very well, this way gentlemen…” Smith beckoned and they all proceeded through the wheelhouse into the navigating room, where Boxhall had laid yesterday’s chart out for inspection.

“Now, as I recall,” Smith continued, “on Friday evening, we received a Marconigram from the French Line vessel La Touraine, warning us of ice in this vicinity, and I see that the co-ordinates they gave have been duly noted on the chart…” he indicated towards a pair of pencil marks, but then brandished a handful of additional messages. “In the two days between then and the collision, however, we also received warnings from the Rappahannock, Caronia, Noordam, Baltic, Amerika, Mesaba, and twice from the Californian, all indicating the presence of large icebergs and field ice drifting much further south than might be expected on the Atlantic in April… and yet none of those warnings were plotted on the chart. Not one man here, senior officer, junior officer, or captain, saw fit to tally the information freely provided to us by other ships.”

He produced a pencil and held it towards Boxhall, who cringed, as if it were a sword and Smith was demanding he throw himself upon it. “Mr Boxhall, please now update the chart.”

Nodding, the fourth officer quickly set to work. As he did, Smith glanced aside at the two Marconi-men, Bride and Phillips. Several of the ice warnings Boxhall was now making reference to had not even made it to the bridge, and had only turned up, buried amongst private messages for the passengers, when Smith himself had personally made an inspection of the wireless cabin just an hour ago.

It’s not their sole fault, he reminded himself, even as he struggled to retain his composure. They’re servants of the Marconi company,

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