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 Titanic Disaster | 12:05 am
At 12:05 am the squash court, 32 feet above the keel, was filling
with water. Chief Officer Wilde was ordered by the Captain to uncover the
lifeboats. Fourth Officer Boxhall was sent to wake Second Officer Lightoller,
Third Officer Herbert Pitman, and Fifth Officer Harold Lowe. Smith then walked
the 20 yards to the wireless room to personally give instructions to Phillips
and Bride to send out a call for assistance, the CQD distress call. Later on,
Bride would suggest that they send out the signal, SOS, as "it may be their
last chance to use it". SOS was now being adopted, not because it stood for
"Save Our Souls" or "Save our Ship" as is commonly thought, but because it was
more easily understood by all passing ships in any language. The Titanic was
one of the first ships to use the new signal. Boxhall worked out her position
as being 41° 46'N, 50° 14'W. |
Not far away, the Leland liner, Californian, sat close enough to lend assistance, but the sole wireless operator, Cyril Evans had settled down for some much needed sleep, having shut off his equipment after getting rebuked by Phillips earlier. Third Officer Groves stopped by the room to fiddle with the machinery. He was a novice operator, trying to practice his morse. Earlier he had spotted what appeared to be a large passenger ship and was hoping to contact it. Unable to get the equipment to work, he gave up and headed to his cabin. Several minutes later the Titanic's first distress call was sent out.
Fourth Officer Boxhall on board the Titanic noticed the lights of
a steamer about 5 miles away and pointed it out to Captain Smith, who directed
him to send up distress signals. Boxhall ordered Quartermaster George Rowe to
begin firing rockets at five minute intervals until they were all gone. In the
wireless room, Phillips and Bride sent out distress call after distress call.
Although their signal was picked up and replied to by numerous vessels, the
only one close enough to lend assistance was the Cunard liner, Carpathia,
which was about 58 miles away. The ship's captain, Arthur Roston, although
still not completely convinced the ship could possibly be in imminent danger;
nonetheless turned his ship around, and headed full speed toward the Titanic's
position. 
Sunday Morning Copyright 2001 WebTitanic WebTitanic Editor | Karl Metelko Contact WebTitanic |