April 10th - Sailing Day:
The Titanic moored at the White Star Line Dock in Southampton was ready for her maiden voyage.
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Passengers arrive in Southampton and board the Titanic between 9.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.
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In those days they had traders who sold their merchandise on the Transatlantic Liners to the embarking passengers.
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Some of the traders were not so welcome and authorized to be aboard and often had to escape from the Liners in a hurry when caught by the crew.
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The chef aboard had made a list of food, drink and dining utensils he wanted for the maiden voyage, it included among other things: 75,000 lb of fresh meat, 25,000 lb of poultry, 40 tons of patatoes, 35,000 fresh eggs, 1,500 gallons of milk, 1,000 bottles of wine, 20,000 bottles of beer, just to name a few. Other things he wanted was 12,000 dinner plates, 40,000 towels of different sorts, 45,000 table napkins, 1,000 oyster forks and 15,000 champagne glasses. One thing that was not in copious supply was coal.
A coal fire had started in Boiler Room No. 6, No. 10 Coal Bunker on the Starboard side, which was not reported by the Chief Engineer Joseph Bell until 1.00 p.m. on April 13th.
With the Titanic fuelled with coal and supplies and extra crew she
was ready for her maiden voyage on April 10th, 1912 at noon. Captain Edward John Smith was in command.
Coal was taken from other White Star Line ships and left over coal from the 'Olympic'. The Titanic had 1,880 tons on board when arriving from Belfast and had another 5,892 tons added from these other ships.
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He was known as "the millionaires Captain" and was one of the highest paid in the world (£105 a month, in today's money about $72,500 per year). It was customary for Captain Smith to take the White Star Liners on their maiden voyage. This would be "E.J.'s" last voyage however, since he was planning to retire to spend more time with his wife and daughter.
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The Titanic was slowly tugged in the river Test, then under her own power she started to move down the river Test. Tied up at berth 38 were the 'Oceanic' and the 'New York'. Both ships were out of service due to the coal strike. The water displaced by the massive propellors of the Titanic caused too greater strain on the ropes of the 'New York' and they snapped drawing the stern of the 'New York' towards the Titanic.
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Captain Smith and the Harbour pilot Boyer ordered full astern until she halted, tugs quickly gained control of the 'New York' which was temporarily moored so as the Titanic could proceed. This delayed the Titanic's departure by over an hour. and was seen as a bad Omen by certain passengers. The Titanic then proceeded to Cherbourg on the next leg of her journey.
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Among Titanic's First-Class passengers were The Countess of Rothes, White Star Line's managing director Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, Titanic's designer Mr. Thomas Andrews, Mrs. Margaret Tobin Brown ("the unsinkable Molly Brown"), Grand Trunk Railroad president Mr. Charles M. Hays, President Taft's military aide Major Archibald Butt, Colonel Archibald Gracie IV and the richest man aboard the Titanic, Colonel John Jacob Astor IV along with his eighteen year old second wife Madeline. Other First-Class passengers included the prestigious of New York and Philadelphia's Mainline society.
The Second-Class passengers mainly consisted of professionals on holiday and families who may have booked First-Class passage on other ships but were excitedly "forced" to downgrade to Second-Class accommodations on the Titanic (a coal strike had laid up most of the other ships). These passengers included Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Hart and their young daughter Eva, Mrs. Allen Becker with her 3 children and Mr. Lawrence Beesley, a school teacher on holiday.
The Third-Class passengers or "Steerage" consisted mainly of Irish immigrants and those of Mediterranean descent, planning to make a new life in a new country. Many of the families had 6 or more children.
Among these passengers was Mr. Daniel Buckley, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Goodwin and their 6 children, Mr. August Wennerstrom, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Dean with their 2 children.
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Goldsmith with son Franky came along with a family friend.
Life aboard the Titanic was anything but boring. First-Class truly lavished in the great ship's lustrous surroundings. The beauty and elegance of Titanic's exquisite "Grand Staircase", A La Carte Restaurant, Palm Court, Cafe Parisien, Smoking Room, Library, elegantly decorated Staterooms, elevators, state-of-the-art Gymnasium, Turkish Bath and heated Swimming Pool rivaled the most luxurious hotels of Europe. In Second-Class the Library, Smoking Room and Dining Room were the enlightenment and enjoyment of many. There was even an elevator for the Second-Class passengers. Such a thing was never heard of on another ship. Even Third-Class, with its Smoking Room, General Rooms and Dining Saloons, rivaled Second-Class on
many another ship.
The evening of Sunday, April 14th, was reasonably uneventful. The sea was flat calm, the air was brisk but there was no wind. The night was a sea of stars for there was no moon to dim their view. Most passengers were now getting ready to retire for the evening. Some First-Class passengers could be found in the lounge playing bridge and other card games. There was
talk about a couple of ice warnings which had been received during the day from other steamers; no cause for alarm. It was also rumored that the Titanic could quite possibly beat 'Olympic's' Maiden Voyage speed in getting to New York. Many felt she would dock on Tuesday evening, April 16, instead of her scheduled Wednesday arrival.
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At around 11.40 p.m., three pulls of the crow's nest bell along with lookout Frederick Fleet's immortal words, "Iceberg, right ahead", would forever change the course of history...
April 2nd:
6.00 a.m.: Sea trials begin. The Titanic assisted by two tugs sails through Victoria Channel to Belfast Lough.
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All equipment tested, including wireless. Speed and handling trials undertaken, including various turning and stop-start maneuvers. Major stopping test conducted: runs full ahead at 20 knots and then stops full astern.
2.00 p.m.: Running test conducted. She travels for about two hours (about 40 miles) out into the open Irish Sea at an average speed of 18 knots, and then returns in two hours to Belfast. All tests meet Board of Trade standards. Trials have lasted less than a day.
8.00 p.m.: The Titanic leaves Belfast (under Captain Bartlett) for overnight trip to Southampton, her port of embarkation (about 570 miles).
April 3rd:
The Titanic arrives in the port of Southampton just after midnight to begin provisioning and staffing for maiden voyage.
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April 8th:
Fresh food supplies taken on board. All final preparations overseen by ship's builder Thomas Andrews down to the tiniest detail.
April 10th - Sailing Day:
7.00 a.m.: Captain Edward John Smith, wearing a bowler hat and a long overcoat, boards the Titanic to prepare for the Board of Trade muster at 8.00 a.m.
The Officers have spent the night on board.
Captain Smith immediately went to his cabin to get the sailing report from Chief Officer Henry Wilde.
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8.00 a.m.: Entire crew mustered, followed by brief lifeboat drill using only two starboard boats, No's 11 and 15.
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Mail is taken aboard the Titanic.
9.30 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.: The Second and Third-Class boat-trains arrive at the dockside.
The Second-Class passengers and Third-Class passengers ("Steerage") board ship.
For passengers' ease and comfort the White Star Line had chartered a train that ran on sailing day from London's Waterloo Station to the Southampton docks.
Titanic's boat-train left London at 8.00 a.m. on April 10th, arriving at 10.00 a.m.
The passengers debarked through special gangways that took them directly onto the ship in an arrangement simular to the boarding gates of modern airports. This convenience cost the passengers an extra £2.90 (about $14.42) above their ticket price and helped the Purser board passengers in a more orderly manner. A simular boat-train carried European passengers from Paris to the port of Cherbourg.
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11.00 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.: Arrival of the First-Class boat-train from London at the dockside.
The First-Class passengers board ship and are escorted to their cabins.
Noon: The Titanic casts off and begins her maiden voyage. She has a near miss with the steamer 'New York' caused by the suction of Titanic's enormous displacement.
1.00 p.m.: The Titanic sails down the English Channel for Cherbourg, France.
4.00 p.m.: Late arrival announced in Cherbourg.
5.30 p.m.: Passengers board tenders and wait for the Titanic to arrive.
6.30 p.m.: The Titanic rides at anchor in Cherbourg, France.
8.10 p.m.: The Titanic leaves for Queenstown, Ireland
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April 11th:
Various practice turns are being tested during the morning.
11.30 a.m.: The Titanic arrives at Queenstown and passengers board the Titanic.
1.30 p.m.: Anchored off of Roche's Point, Queenstown, Ireland, Francis Browne, a Jesuit seminarian, disembarks and takes the last known photograph of the Titanic for the next 73 years. The Titanic would sail into history, leaving in her wake a trail of tragedy, mystery, intrigue and fascination by millions. The Titanic leaves Queenstown for New York.
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April 11th - 12th:
The Titanic sails through calm waters and covers 386 miles.
April 12th - 13th:
The Titanic sails through calm waters and covers 519 miles.
Ice warning are received from the steamer 'Rappahannock'.
April 14th:
Sunday.
Several ice warnings are received during the day. Reports come in from the 'Noordamm', 'Caronia', 'Baltic', 'Amerika', 'Californian' and 'Mesaba'.
10.30 a.m.:
Church service is being held in the First-Class dining saloon.
The First and Second-Class Church of England services were conducted by two of the ship's Officers. Captain Edward John Smith and Assistant Purser Reginald Barker. This was not an unusual occurance at sea. For centuries ship's captains and other high-ranking officials were considered the ultimate civil and spiritual authorities of a small, if temporary, community far from land. However five of Titanic's Second-Class passengers were official members of the clergy. The best known is Father Thomas Roussel David Byles.
10.00 p.m.:
Second officer Lightoller relieved on bridge by First officer Murdoch. Lookouts in crow's nest relieved. Warning to watch for icebergs passed between the watches. Temperature is 32º F, sky cloudless, air clear.
11.39 p.m.:
The Titanic is steaming at 20.5 knots. Suddenly, the lookouts, Fredrick Fleet and Reginald Lee, see an iceberg dead ahead about 500 yards away towering some 55-60 feet above the water. They immediately sound the warning bell with three sharp rings and telephone the bridge: "Iceberg right ahead." Sixth officer Moody on the bridge acknowledges warning, relays message to First officer Murdoch who instinctively calls "hard-a-starboard" to the helmsman and orders the engine room to stop the engines and then orders full astern. Murdoch then activates the lever to close all watertight doors below the waterline. The helmsman spins the wheel as far as it will go. After several seconds, the Titanic begins to veer to port, but the iceberg strikes starboard bow side and brushes along the side of the ship and passes by into the night. The impact, although jarring to the crew down in the forward area, is not noticed by many of the passengers. Thirty-seven seconds have passed from sighting to collision.
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11.50 p.m.:
Captain Smith asks designer Thomas Andrews and the ship's carpenter John Hall Hutchinson to conduct a visual inspection of the damage. Water has poured in and risen 14 feet in the front part of the ship.
April 14th - 15th:
Sunday - Monday.
That "Fateful Night".
Click HERE for the full story of "That Fateful Night".
When the Titanic went down she took with her the lives of many brave people including her entire complement of engineers under the control of Joseph Bell, the Chief Engineer Officer. His staff consisted of 24 engineers, 6 electrical engineers, two boilermakers, a plumber and his clerk. In addition many of the firemen and coal trimmers were lost.
The ship stayed afloat longer than it would have done had the engineers not sacrificed their lives for the good of others.
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Joseph Bell - Chief Engineer:
Engineer's duties aboard the Titanic:
Aged 51 years. Born Maryport, Cumberland in May 1861 and educated in Carlisle. Apprenticeship served at Robert Stephenson & Co., Newcastle upon Tyne and commenced seagoing career in 1883 with the Lamport & Holt Line of Liverpool. Joined White Star Line in 1885 and served on many vessels trading on the company's New Zealand and New York services. Promoted to Chief Engineer on the 'Coptic' at the age of 30 years. Served aboard the 'Olympic' before being transferred to the Titanic and stood-by the ship during building in Belfast. A member of the Institute of Marine Engineers and of the Royal Naval Reserve. Lived at 1 Belvidere Road, Great Crosby, Liverpool but had a temporary address in Southampton. He left a widow (Maud) and four children, two boys and two girls; the eldest boy, 16.5 years old, had recently commenced an apprenticeship at Harland & Wolff and accompanied his father aboard the Titanic when the ship moved from Belfast to Southampton.
All ships of the period had an engineering routine and this varied from company to company but for any steam ship there was a need to keep well manned watches in the engine rooms and the boiler rooms. A large passenger liner like the Titanic needed a number of engineers on each watch (12 to 4, 4 to 8 and 8 to 12, a.m. and p.m.). These men supervising the firemen, greasers and coal trimmers and tending the machinery/boilers under their control. Engineers would have been on duty in the boiler rooms and the engine rooms (reciprocating engines and turbine). The Chief Engineer would not have kept a watch but the majority of the other engineers would have done so. There were six Second Engineers allowing for two on each watch, one in charge of the engines and the other responsible for the boilers. The five Third Engineers and the Senior Fourth Engineer would have allowed for a further two qualified engineers on each watch, probably supervising boiler rooms. The remaining nine Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Engineers would have allowed for a further three engineers per watch giving a total of seven engineers to each watch at sea. This would have allowed for four engineers in the engine rooms looking after the reciprocating engines, turbine and other machinery such as the pumps and steering gear, whilst three engineers would have been responsible for the boiler rooms. Firemen and coal trimmers were a tough breed and needed careful supervision; only the more senior engineers are likely to have been allocated that task as dealing with such men required experience and understanding.
Authority alone was not enough to ensure that the boilers were fired correctly and that coal was always available where needed, the ability to deal with the "Black Gang" came from knowing their ways. At least one Electrical Engineer would have also been on each watch with the remaining three, including the Chief Electrician, on day work. The Refrigeration Engineer (extra 4th Engineer), two Deck Engineers, two boiler makers and plumber are likely to have been on day work; their work would be as directed by the watchkeeping engineers or as circumstances required.
The Mail Room:
It is estimated that between 3,364 and 3,435 bags of mail and between 700 and 800 parcels were lost in the sinking.
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The brave Postal Clerks carried the bags to higher levels of the ship until the explosion came and all were lost. Not one left his duty and none attempted to board any of the lifeboats.
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It is also estimated that 200 bags contained registered mail. Each mail bag would contain about 1,000 packages being conservative. This means there were 200,000 registered packages that went down with the Titanic.
Postmaster Morgan is quoted "This does not mean, however, that Great Britian will be held financially responsible for all these losses…" In the case of money orders there would be no loss as duplicates would be shipped. Insurance companies would be responsible for any shipping of securities. The Postmaster did not know the exact sum of which the European countries set as a limit of their guarantee in registered mail but in America it is $50.00.
These Postal Clerks where employed by the Southampton and New York branches of the British and U.S. Post Offices and not members of the White Star or Titanic crew. The Postal Department was forward on G-Deck Starboard side which was one of the first areas to flood. Within 5 minutes the water was up to their knees and they dragged the wet mail bags weighting 100 pounds or more up steep stairways to the starboard side corridor of D-Deck's forward cabins. They had enlisted the aid of any stewards available hoping to off-load the mail thorough the First-Class entrance.
The post mark on the mail was "Transatlantic Post Office". The Postmaster in 1908 commented " This service is looked upon as the best in US Post Office... they (the Postal Clerks) are paid much higher than their men, minimum salary 1,200 dollars per annum... hard and trying in the winter... only healthy men can stand the strain".
The headstamped postal number, 7, first used on the Titanic, was allocated to the Postal Clerks themselves, and not to the ship. When a Postal Clerk was lost in a disaster, the number was never re-allocated to any other Postal Clerk in their service. Eleven numbers in all had been issued to the Southampton sea post.
The Postal Clerks sleeping accommodations were on the aft F-Deck, the Sorting Room was on G-Deck and the Mail Room on the Orlop-Deck as on the the 'Olympic'. The Postal Clerks complained there about their quarters for sleeping and eatting. The cabins were situated among the Third-Class cabins on F-Deck. These "mostly low class continentals" keep up a noisy conversation sometimes through out the silent hours, and even indulge in singing and instrumental music. There is, too, a door on the other side of the inboard bulkhead of the larger cabins through which the "Steerage" passengers are constantly passing and the Sorting Clerks complain that this door bangs and keeps them awake... They complained about the dining room and desired to be established in the saloon with passengers... (This was declined by officials). They did request that the valets and maids dining area should be fitted with a door to prevent them from using the mail sorter's mess room as a thouroughfare. Some of these conditions were improved upon on the Titanic.
The postal uniforms were very similar to those of the ships band. The "Post Horn" badge was added to their uniform to distinguish the Postal Clerks.
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Upon learning that his wife Florence was deathly ill, Gwinn requested a transfer from his assigned ship 'Philadelphia' to serve aboard the Titanic. He had hoped the trip on the Titanic would deliver him home to Brooklyn, New York, and his wife more quickly. Ironically, Florence Gwinn recovered, but her family kept the news of Will's death from her for many months.
Gwinn was last seen - minutes before the sinking - on the Boat-Deck talking to Chief Purser McElroy.
John Starr March was from Newark, New Jersey, was the oldest of the American crewmembers assigned to the Titanic at 48 years old, John Starr March appeared to carry a curse of bad luck. During his eight-year career as a sea post clerk, the ships he served on were involved in eight separate emergencies.
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His two adult daughters constantly implored him to seek safer work elsewhere within the postal system, especially after their mother died in June 1911 while March was at sea. But by 1912, March had grown accustomed to the sea and was unwilling to give up his grand voyages for a less glamorous postal position. He assured his daughters that he would never drown at sea. But on the morning of April 15th, his daughters' worst nightmares were realized.
His pocket watch, found on John Starr March's body when it was recovered at sea (recovered body #225), stopped ticking at 1.27 a.m. It is logical to infer that it stopped at 1.27 a.m. on the morning of April 15th, 1912 as a result of the sinking. As such, it strongly suggests that the postal clerks survived the initial in-rush of water in the mail compartment around 11.40 p.m. It also supports the eye witness accounts of survivors who stated that the mail clerks were actively attempting to rescue the mail until the absolute last moments before the Titanic vanished under the sea. He did not survive the sinking of the Titanic.
John Richard Jago Smith was born in St. Keverne, Cornwall in 1877. Unlike his American counterparts, the British sea post clerk John Richard Jago Smith assigned to the Titanic was a bachelor.
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He began working for the local Post Office at the age of 22. Eleven years later he transferred to Southampton as a postal clerk on Royal Mail Steamers. His income helped suppport his father's farm and his older sister. Smith was among the first to alert Titanic's Officers as the ship began to flood. He died attempting to save the mail sacks.
The British sea post clerk James Bertram Williamson - age? - assigned to the Titanic was like John Richard Jago Smith also a bachelor.
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Though unmarried, he did have his share of family responsibilities. He supported his 60-year-old mother and provided financial help to his siblings.
Oscar Scott Woody, a native of Roxboro, North Carolina, was happily celebrating the approach of his 44th birthday aboard the Titanic with his colleagues when it struck the iceberg.
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Woody was ordered to travel to Europe aboard the S.S. 'Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse', that sailed from New York on April 2nd. Upon arriving in Plymouth, Woody was instructed to make his way to Southampton. From there, Edwin Sands, Assistant Superintendent of Foreign Mails, ordered him to "return to New York as a clerk in the sea post office on the RMS Titanic, sailing from Southampton, on April 10th."
A 24-inch metal chain, with its larger Eagle mailbag lock key and two smaller keys, was attached to Oscar Scott Woody’s belt when his body was recovered at sea (recovered body #167) One side of the larger key was stamped “Sea Post” and “101.” Woody died on his birthday, April 15th, 1912.
This website is dedicated to the eternal legacy of the RMS Titanic and to all of those who needlessly died one cold night in April, 1912...
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