THE LOSS OF THE WHITE STAR LINER TITANIC, 14th/15th APRIL 1912
The disaster which overtook Titanic and the sequence of events culminating in her loss are better known than those surrounding any other tragedy in maritime history; nevertheless it is useful to relate here the outline of what occurred, particularly in respect of the part played by the Carpathia. itanic’s maiden voyage was enjoyable but uneventful; the weather cold but fine. Just after 11.40pm. on the night of Sunday 14th April, the ship’s lookout sighted an iceberg dead ahead and although the deck officer altered course immediately, the berg scraped along the starboard bow and tore a 300 foot gash in the ship’s side. The engines were stopped, Captain Smith was summoned to the bridge and Thomas Andrews, Titanic’s designer, was sent below to inspect the damage. His report came all too quickly; Titanic was doomed and wireless calls for aid were sent out at once. Carpathia, 58 miles away and the nearest ship to respond, received the distress call just before 12.30am. Captain Arthur Rostron, her master, issued a string of orders to put Carpathia about and make for Titanic’s position as soon as possible, the last of which was to make ready to swing out the boats. Carpathia’s speed rose steadily as Rostron drove her through the night as fast as he dared and every crewman aboard her strained their eyes seeking some reassurance that the great liner was at least still afloat. At about 3.30am. the first of the green lifeboat flares was sighted and at 4.00am., Rostron signalled “Stop Engines” on the bridge telegraph as Carpathia reached Titanic’s last known position. As the first lifeboat approached, Rostron ordered an officer and two quartermasters over the side in order to board it and get it safely alongside Carpathia. The last to leave that lifeboat was Fourth Officer Boxhall and in response to Rostron’s anxious enquiry about Titanic’s whereabouts, he reported the stunning news that she had sunk at 2.20am. As the dawn sky lightened, other lifeboats were spotted and their occupants recovered. In four-and-a-quarter hours, 703 survivors were hoisted aboard along with thirteen of Titanic’s lifeboats; when the last lifeboat was emptied at 8.30am., Rostron spent a further twenty minutes cruising the immediate area and, having satisfied himself that no-one remained to be saved, he put Carpathia about and headed back to New York. Within hours, the news of the disaster broke in New York and by the time Carpathia docked at 9.30pm. on Thursday evening, the city was at fever pitch. Rostron and his crew were the heroes of the hour but, resuming their voyage on Saturday 20th April, it was to be late May before Carpathia returned to New York and the occasion arose to reward those who had participated in the most famous sea rescue of them all.
122. R.M.S. TITANIC: A DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE FOR 2ND CLASS SMOKE ROOM STEWARD JAMES WITTER
issued by the Board of trade and inscribed on fly Renewal Book / Original lost / through shipwreck, the first twelve entries recording service aboard Olympic, Adriatic and Majestic inscribed in signature blocks Extracted from Agreement / Registrar General 9th July 1912, entry 13 recording service aboard Titanic listing the discharge as 15 April 1912 / At Sea / Intended for New York, the remainder complete to May 1914 for service aboard Oceanic -- 6½ x 4½in. (16.5 x 11.5cm.)
Born 1880, James Witter was transferred to Titanic on 4th April as there was a need for experienced crew on this new type of liner. On duty at the time of the collision he was asked by some of the passengers to find out what the problem was, and encountered the joiner John Hutchinson who told him the bloody mail room’s full, and then saloon steward William Moss it’s really serious, Jim. Latterly he was assisting with lifeboat 11 when, in trying to calm a panic-stricken woman who was thrashing about, they lost their footing and tumbled in to the boat which was being lowered, luckily he was ordered to remain. He remained with White Star (and Cunard White Star) for the rest of his working life and assisted Walter Lord in his seminal account A Night to Remember. He died in 1961, still haunted by the horror he had witnessed.
£1000-1500
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