Answer. (_a_) No. (_b_) No. (_c_) No. (_d_) No. (_e_) No; but searchlights may at times be of service. The evidence before the court does not allow of a more precise answer.
12. (_a_) What other precautions were taken by the _Titanic_ in anticipation of meeting ice? (_b_) Were they such as are usually adopted by vessels being navigated in waters where ice may be expected to be encountered?
Answer. (_a_) Special orders were given to the men in the crow's nest to keep a sharp lookout for ice, particularly small ice and growlers. The fore-scuttle hatch was closed to keep everything dark before the bridge.
(_b_) Yes; though there is evidence to show that some masters would have placed a lookout at the stemhead of the ship.
13. (_a_) Was ice seen and reported by anybody on board the _Titanic_ before the casualty occurred? (_b_) If so, what measures were taken by the officer on watch to avoid it? (_c_) Were they proper measures and were they promptly taken?
Answer. (_a_) Yes; immediately before the collision. (_b_) The helm was put hard astarboard and the engines were stopped and put full speed astern. (_c_) Yes.
14. (_a_) What was the speed of the _Titanic_ shortly before and at the moment of the casualty? (_b_) Was such speed excessive under the circumstances?
Answer. (_a_) About 22 knots. (_b_) Yes.
15. (_a_) What was the nature of the casualty which happened to the _Titanic_ at or about 11.45 p.m. on April 14 last? (_b_) In what latitude and longitude did the casualty occur?
Answer. (_a_) A collision with an iceberg which pierced the starboard side of the vessel in several places below the water line between the forepeak tank and No. 4 boiler room. (_b_) In latitude 41 46' N., longitude 50 14' W.
16. (_a_) What steps were taken immediately on the happening of the casualty? (_b_) How long after the casualty was its seriousness realized by those in charge of the vessel (_c_) What steps were then taken?
(_d_) What endeavors were made to save the lives of those on board, and to prevent the vessel from sinking?
Answer. (_a_) The 12 water-tight doors in the engine and boiler rooms were closed from the bridge, some of the boiler fires were drawn, and the bilge pumps abaft No. 6 boiler room were started. (_b_) About 15 to 20 minutes. (_c_) and (_d_) The boats were ordered to be cleared away.
The passengers were roused and orders given to get them on deck, and life belts were served out. Some of the water-tight doors, other than those in the boiler and engine rooms, were closed. Marconigrams were sent out asking for help. Distress signals (rockets) were fired, and attempts were made to call up by Morse a ship whose lights were seen.
Eighteen of the boats were swung out and lowered, and the remaining two floated off the ship and were subsequently utilized as rafts.
17. Was proper discipline maintained on board after the casualty occurred?
Answer. Yes.
18. (_a_) What messages for assistance were sent by the _Titanic_ after the casualty, and at what times respectively? (_b_) What messages were received by her in response, and at what times respectively? (_c_) By what vessels were the messages that were sent by the _Titanic_ received, and from what vessels did she receive answers? (_d_) What vessels other than the _Titanic_ sent or received messages at or shortly after the casualty in connection with such casualty? (_e_) What were the vessels that sent or received such messages? (_f_) Were any vessels prevented from going to the assistance of the _Titanic_ or her boats owing to messages received from the _Titanic_ or owing to any erroneous messages being sent or received? (_g_) In regard to such erroneous messages, from what vessels were they sent and by what vessels were they received, and at what times respectively?
(_a_) (_b_) (_c_) (_d_) and (_e_) are answered together. (_f_) Several vessels did not go, owing to their distance. (_g_) There were no erroneous messages.
-----------+---------------+----------------------------------------------- New York Titanic time time. (approximated). Communications.
-----------+---------------+----------------------------------------------- 10.25 p. m. 12.15 a. m. La Provence receives Titanic distress signals.
Do do Mount Temple heard Titanic sending CQD.
Says require assistance. Gives position. Can not hear me. Advise my captain his position 41.46 N., 50.24 W.
Do do Cape Race hears Titanic giving position on CQD. 41.44 N., 50.24 W.
10.28 p. m. 12.18 a. m. Ypiranga hears CQD. from Titanic. Titanic gives CQD. here. Position 41.44 N., 50.24 W. Require assistance (calls about 10 times).
10.35 p. m. 12.25 a. m. CQD. call received from Titanic by Carpathia.
Titanic said, "Come at once. We have struck a berg. It's a CQD. OM. Position 41.46 N., 50.14 W."
Do do Cape Race hears M. G. Y. (Titanic) give corrected position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.
Calling him; no answer.
10.36 p. m. 12.25 a. m. M. G. Y. (Titanic) says CQD. Here corrected position 41.46 N., 50.14 W.
Require immediate assistance. We have collision with iceberg. Sinking.
Can nothing hear for noise of steam.
Sent about 15 to 20 times to Ypiranga.
10.37 p. m. 12.27 a. m. Titanic sends following: "I require assistance immediately. Struck by iceberg in 41.46 N., 50.14 W."
10.40 p. m. 12.30 a. m. Titanic gives his position to Frankfurt, and says, "Tell your captain to come to our help. We are on the ice."
Do do Caronia sent CQ message to M. B. C. (Baltic) and CQD: M. G. Y. (Titanic) struck iceberg, require immediate assistance.
Do Mount Temple hears M. G. Y. (Titanic) still calling CQD. Our captain reverses ship. We are about 50 miles off.
10.46 p. m. 12.36 a. m. D. K. F. (Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm) calls M. G. Y. (Titanic) and gives position at 12 a. m. 39.47 N., 50.10 W. M. G. Y.
(Titanic) says, "Are you coming to our?"
D. F. T. (Frankfurt) says, "What is the matter with u?" M. G. Y. (Titanic) "We have collision with iceberg. Sinking. Please tell captain to come." D. F. T.
(Frankfurt) says, "O. K. will tell."
10.48 p. m. 12.38 a. m. Mount Temple hears Frankfurt give M. G. Y.
(Titanic) his position, 39.47 N., 52.10 W.
10.55 p. m. 12.45 a. m. Titanic calls Olympic SOS.
11 p. m. 12.50 a. m. Titanic calls CQD. and says, "I require immediate assistance. Position 41.46 N., 50.14 W." Received by Celtic.
11.03 p. m. 12.53 a. m. Caronia to M. B. C. (Baltic) and SOS., M. G. Y.(Titanic) CQD. in 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Wants immediate assistance."
11.10 p. m. 1 a. m. M. G. Y. gives distress signal. D. D. C.
replies. M. G. Y.'s position 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Assistance from D. D. C. not necessary, as M. K. C. shortly afterwards answers distress call.
Do. do. Titanic replies to Olympic, and gives his position as 41.46 N., 50.14 W., and says, "We have struck an iceberg."
11.12 p. m. 1.02 a. m. Titanic calls Asian and said, "Want immediate assistance." Asian answered at once and received Titanic's position as 41.46 N., 50.14 W., which he immediately takes to the bridge. Captain instructs operator to have Titanic's position repeated.
Do. do. Virginian calls Titanic, but gets no response.
Cape Race tells Virginian to report to his captain the Titanic has struck iceberg and requires immediate assistance.
11.20 p. m. 1.10 a. m. Titanic to M. K. C. (Olympic), "We are in collision with berg. Sinking head down; 41.46 N., 50.14 W. Come soon as possible."
Do. do. Titanic to M. K. C. (Olympic), captain says, "Get your boats ready. What is your position?"
11.25 p. m. 1.15 a. m. Baltic to Caronia, "Please tell Titanic we are making toward her."
11.30 p. m. 1.20 a. m. Virginian hears M. C. E. (Cape Race) inform M. G. Y. (Titanic) "that we are going to his assistance. Our position 170 miles north of Titanic."
11.35 p. m. 1.25 a. m. Caronia tells Titanic, "Baltic coming to your assistance."
Do. do. Olympic sends position to Titanic 4.24 a. m. GMT. 40.52 N., 61.18 W.
"Are you steering southerly to meet us?"
Titanic replies, "We are putting the women off in the boats."
Do. do. Titanic and Olympic work together.
11.37 p. m. 1.27 a. m. M. G. Y. (Titanic) says, "We are putting the women off in the boats."
11.40 p. m. 1.30 a. m. Titanic tells Olympic, "We are putting passengers off in small boats."
11.45 p. m. 1.35 a. m. Olympic asks Titanic what weather he had.
Titanic replies, "Clear and calm."
Do. do. Baltic hears Titanic say "Engine room getting flooded."
Do. do. Mount Temple hears DFT. (Frankfurt) ask "Are there any boats around you already." No reply.
11.47 p. m. 1.37 a. m. Baltic tells Titanic, "We are rushing to you."
11.50 p. m. 1.40 a. m. Olympic to Titanic, "Am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as can."
Do. do. Cape Race says to Virginian: "Please tell your captain this: 'The Olympic is making all speed for Titanic, but his (Olympic's) position is 40.32 N., 61.18 W. You are much nearer to Titanic.
The Titanic is already putting women off in the boats, and he says the weather there is calm and clear.' The Olympic is the only ship we have heard say, 'Going to the assistance of the Titanic. The others must be a long way from the Titanic.'"
11.55 p. m. 1.45 a. m. Last signals heard from Titanic by Carpathia, "Engine-room full up to boilers."
Do. do. Mount Temple hears DFT. (Frankfurt) calling MGY. (Titanic). No reply.
11.57 p. m. 1.47 a. m. Caronia hears MGY. (Titanic), though signals unreadable still.
11.58 p. m. 1.48 a. m. Asian heard Titanic call SOS. Asian answers Titanic but receives no answer.
Midnight. 1.50 a. m. Caronia hears Frankfurt working to Titanic. Frankfurt according to position 172 miles from MGY. (Titanic) at time first SOS. sent out.
12.05 a. m. 1.55 a. m. Cape Race says to Virginian "We have not heard Titanic for about half an hour. His power may be gone."
12.10 a. m. 2 a. m. Virginian hears Titanic calling very faintly, his power being very greatly reduced.
12.20 a. m. 2.10 a. m. Virginian hears 2 v's signaled faintly in spark similar to Titanic's, probably adjusting spark.
12.27 a. m. 2.17 a. m. Virginian hears Titanic call CQ, but unable to read him. Titanic's signals end very abruptly, as power suddenly switched off.
His spark rather blurred or ragged. Called MGY. (Titanic) and suggested he should try emergency set, but heard no response.
12.30 a. m. 2.20 a. m. Olympic, his sigs. strong, asked him if he had heard anything about MGY. (Titanic). He says, "No. Keeping strict watch, but hear nothing more from MGY. (Titanic)." No reply from him.
12.52 a. m. This was the official time the Titanic foundered 41.46 N., 50.14 W., as given by the Carpathia in message to the Olympic; about 2.20 a. m.
1.15 a. m. Virginian exchanges signals Baltic. He tries send us MSG. for MGY. (Titanic), but his signals died utterly away.