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 Titanic Disaster | Sunday Morning
On Sunday morning, April 14, Wireless Operators Jack Phillips and
Harold Bride picked up a wireless message from the Cunard liner, Caronia,
reporting "bergs, growlers and field ice at 42° N from 49° to 51° W." The ship
had previously picked up other ice warnings and would continue to receive more
over the course of the day. Bride took the message to the bridge where it was
most likely noted on the ship's chart by Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall. Ice,
however, was quite common this time of year in the North Atlantic and the
officers were confident that they would have no trouble seeing and avoiding an
iceberg in time. The weather was cool but sunny and the sea calm. What danger
could a few bits of ice pose to this magnificent ship? |
More ice warnings were received that day. One received at 11:40 am
from the Dutch liner Noordam reporting "much ice" in roughly the same area as
the Caronia, apparently never reached the bridge. Out on the Promenade Deck
Captain Smith handed J. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star line, a
wireless message from the Baltic reporting ice bergs and large quantities of
field ice. Mr. Ismay casually put the message in his coat pocket and later
showed it to two prominent passengers, Mrs. Arthur Ryerson and Mrs. John B.
Thayer. The Titanic had covered 546 miles since noon Saturday and the
following day they were planning to bring her to full speed for a short test
to see what she was capable of. The ship was performing very well and even the
fire that had been smoldering in the forward coal bunker of boiler room #5 had
finally been extinguished. The Titanic continued to receive ice warnings
throughout the day but the officers were still unconcerned.  Sunday Morning Copyright 2001 WebTitanic WebTitanic Editor | Karl Metelko Contact WebTitanic |