15 April 2012

100 years ago: Titanic Sinks

100 years ago today (Monday, 15 April 1912, very early morning)

At 5 minutes after midnight, the order is given to uncover the lifeboats and to muster the passengers and crew on deck.

10 minutes later, numerous ships hear Titanic's distress signals. While on board the Titanic, some its passengers listen to its band playing lively ragtimes tunes in the first class lounge.

The first lifeboat is launched at 12:45am.

At 1:15am, water reaches the Titanic's name plate on the bow.

At 1:45am, the Carpathia, now racing towards the site, hears a final message from the Titanic's wireless operators: Engine room full up to boilers.

At 2am, the water is within 10 feet of the promenade deck.

Fr. Byles hears confessions and gives absolution to over 100 second and third class passengers at the aft end of the boat deck.

At about 2:17am, Titanic's bow plunges under the surface of the sea, then a forward funnel collapses, and the great ship breaks apart. A few minutes later, the stern follows the rest of the ship into the depths.

More than 1,500 souls are lost at sea, including Fr. Byles.

At 3:30am, the rockets from the Carpathia are seen by those in the lifeboats. The first survivors are taken aboard about 40 minutes later.

At 10 minutes before 9am, the Carpathia leaves the area bound for New York. Bruce Ismay, the President of the company that own's the Titanic and also a survivor, wires the New York offices of the White Star Line: "Deeply regret advise you Titanic sank this morning after collision with iceberg, resulting in serious loss of life. Full particulars later."

14 April 2012

100 years ago: Titanic hits an Iceberg

100 years ago today (Sunday, 14 April 1912, late at Night)

At 11:40pm the Titanic is continuing her maiden Trans-Atlantic crossing at 21 knots. Two lookouts located in the crow's nest sight an iceberg approximately 500 yards ahead and immediately sound an alarm bell and telephone the bridge with the news.

First Office William Murdoch immediately orders hard-a-starboard and full stop on the engines, followed by full astern. He also activates the watertight doors.

Less than a minute after being seen, the Titanic strikes the iceberg on her starboard bow side and sustains damage to her first five compartments.

The impact is obvious to the crew in the forward area, but is not noticed by many of the passengers.

Within 10 minutes, the water has risen 14 feet above the keel, forward. The first five compartments begin to take on significant water.

Thomas Andrews joins Captain Smith on the bridge for an assessment. Andrews calculations show the Titanic can remain afloat from 1 to 2.5 hours and no longer.

100 years ago: Titanic, Sunday at Sea

100 years ago today (Sunday, 14 April 1912)

On the 3rd morning of the Trans-Atlantic voyage, the Titanic continues to encounter calm and clear weather.

At 9am, Divine service is held in the first class dining saloon.

Fr. Thomas Byles heard confessions the day before and then celebrated Mass twice that Sunday morning: for the second class passengers in their lounge and then for the third class passengers.

At about noon, the Titanic's officers gather on the wing bridge to calculate the ship's position.

In the evening, the outside temperature drops drastically to about 33ºF.

At 9:20pm, Captain Smith retires for the night.

Fr. Byles is one of the few passengers on the upper deck at the moment the Titanic struck the iceberg. He was praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

11 April 2012

100 years ago: Titanic in Ireland

100 years ago today (Thursday, 11 April 1912)

At 11:30am the Titanic arrives in Queenstown, Ireland and sets anchor in the harbor. Seven passengers disembark; 120 embark.

At 1:30pm, the anchor is raised and the Titanic begins her maiden Trans-Atlantic crossing with a destination of New York City.

Souls on board: 2,229 (325 first class; 285 second class; 706 third class; and 913 crew). (Note there are some discrepancies in the various lists.)

The Titanic and 2/3 of those aboard her will never again reach dry land.

10 April 2012

100 years ago: Titanic crosses the English Channel

100 years ago today (Wednesday, 10 April 1912, Afternoon)

After a minor near miss with the ship New York (which broke away from her moorings), the Titanic heads downstream and then across the English Channel to her first port of call, Cherbourg, France.

At 4pm the train from Paris arrives with passengers. At 5.30pm those passengers board tenders and are ferried out to the Titanic which is at anchor in the harbor. 22 passengers disembark, 274 embark.

At 8:10pm the anchor is raised and the Titanic sails for Queenstown, Ireland.

100 years ago: Titanic, Sailing Day

100 years ago today (Wednesday, 10 April 1912, Morning)

Captain Edward J. Smith boards the Titanic along with the remainder of the crew. Entire crew mustered is held at 8am.

Trains with the 2nd and 3rd class passengers arrive and they board the ship (9:30am to 11:30am).

At 11:30am the train with the 1st class passengers arrive and they also board.

At 12noon the Titanic casts off and is guided by tugboats and then finally under its own power.

06 April 2012

100 years ago: Job Fair for Titanic Crew

100 years ago today (Holy Saturday, 6 April 1912)

A major job fair is held to recruit the majority of the crew. General cargo for the upcoming maiden voyage begins to arrive.

Some of the provisions included 75,000 lbs of fresh meat; 25,000 lbs of poulty & game; 11,000 lbs of fresh fish; 40,000 fresh eggs; 10,000 lbs of sugar; 40 tons of potatoes; 7,000 heads of lettuce; 36,000 oranges; 2,200 lbs of coffee; 20,000 bottles of beer (on a wall?); 1,500 bottles of wine; and 15,000 bottles of mineral water.

03 April 2012

100 years ago: Titanic arrives at Southampton

100 years ago today (Wednesday of Holy Week, 3 April 1912)

After completing her sea trials the day before, the Titanic arrives at the port of Southampton just after midnight to begin provisioning and staffing for her maiden voyage. Passengers are due to arrive on board one week later.