Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic's First-Class Passengers and Their World by Hugh Brewster

Author:Hugh Brewster
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Ocean Travel, Shipwreck Victims, Cruises, 20th Century, Upper Class - United States, United States, Shipwrecks - North Atlantic Ocean, Rich & Famous, Biography & Autobiography, Travel, Titanic (Steamship), History
ISBN: 9780307984715
Publisher: Crown
Published: 2012-03-27T04:00:00+00:00

Edith Rosenbaum (photo credit 1.77)

Thomas Andrews, meanwhile, circulated along the first-class hallways making sure that the stewards were getting passengers out of their staterooms. He saw stewardess May Sloan, whom he knew from Belfast, knocking on doors and told her to make sure that all passengers put on their lifebelts, adding that she should find one for herself and get up on deck soon. His face, she thought, “had a look as though he were heart broken.”

At around twelve-thirty-five, William Sloper rejoined his bridge companions, Dorothy Gibson, her mother, and Frederic Seward, on the A-deck staircase foyer. The foursome walked up to the boat deck past the elegant wall clock set into a carved relief of Honor and Glory crowning Time. On the chilly boat deck they were greeted by the deafening roar of steam being vented through pipes that ran up the sides of the three forward funnels. The noise made conversation impossible—it even made it difficult for operator Jack Phillips in the Marconi Room to hear replies to his calls for assistance.

Shortly after the collision, Captain Smith had walked to the wireless room and told operator Jack Phillips that the ship had struck an iceberg and to stand by in case the call for assistance was required. Seemingly unperturbed, Phillips continued sending his messages to Cape Race and casually told Harold Bride when he came on duty at midnight that the ship might have to go back to Belfast for repairs. When the captain returned at approximately twelve-twenty-five, Phillips came out of the sleeping quarters.

“You had better get assistance,” Smith announced grimly.

“Do you want me to use a distress call?” Phillips asked.

“Yes, at once,” the captain replied and left.

Phillips took the piece of paper with the Titanic’s position that Fourth Officer Boxhall had brought in earlier and began tapping out the distress signal CQD, repeating it six times followed by MGY, the Titanic’s call letters. Then he sent: Have struck an iceberg. We are badly damaged, Titanic. Position 41°44′N, 50°24′W.

About five minutes later the captain came back to the Marconi Room.

“What are you sending?” he asked.

“CQD,” Phillips replied.

“Send SOS,” Harold Bride interjected. “It’s the new call, and it may be your last chance to send it.” All three men laughed, and Phillips later began tapping out both SOS and CQD. Though SOS was indeed a new call, it was not, as is often claimed, the first time it had been used by a ship in distress.

While Phillips listened for replies, the first lifeboats on the starboard side were swung out. When Lifeboat 7 was flush with the deck, First Officer Murdoch and Fifth Officer Lowe called out for ladies to step forward. But very few complied. William Sloper and his bridge companions stood in a group of passengers who were huddled for warmth against the wall near the entrance door. As the crowd moved toward the lifeboat, most people balked and turned away. Murdoch called out that it was perfectly safe as the sea was quite calm. He added that once the damage had been assessed they would be brought on board again.

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