Voices from the Titanic

by Geoff Tibballs

  (Southampton Times and Hampshire Express, 13 April 1912)

  VULCAN TO THE RESCUE

  The Captain’s Story

  Captain C. Gale, the captain of the tug Vulcan, which by common consent rendered conspicuous service in holding up the New York at the moment when an accident seemed imminent, was seen by a representative of the Southampton Times, to whom he gave a version of the incident. He said:

  I assisted the Titanic out of the new dock in the first place, and had hold of her aft. We let go by the starboard quarter and dropped astern in order to go alongside and pick up a number of workmen who were about to leave the Titanic. I sung out to the officer of the liner, and he told me to go round to the port side. When I got to the port side we followed up behind the liner, whose port engine was working astern all the time. The Titanic was drawing about 35 ft of water. There was a young flood, and she was near the ground. As soon as she got abreast of the New York the latter’s ropes began to go. It may have been due to the backwash of the liner, or to the pressure of water, but all her ropes gave way, and she began to move. Someone sang out to me to get up and push the New York back, but such a thing was impossible. Had I got between the two ships we would almost certainly have been jammed, and goodness knows what might have happened, but, instead of that, I turned the Vulcan round and got a wire rope on the port quarter of the New York.

  Unfortunately, that rope parted, but our men immediately got a second wire on board, and we got hold of the New York when she was within four feet of the Titanic. Had the New York touched the outward-bound liner, she would have hit her abreast of the after funnel. The Titanic stood a chance of fouling the starboard screw of the New York and of knocking in the latter’s starboard quarter, but the American Line steamer was checked just in time, and we got her clear of the Titanic.

  Captain Gale added that it was one of the closest things he had seen for a long time. The movements of the Vulcan were rendered all the more trying because the broken ropes of the New York were lying in the water, and the tug might easily have picked them up on her propeller and been rendered helpless. Captain Gale added that the statement that the New York was held by her bow ropes was untrue. Every rope on the vessel was snapped, the stern ropes being the first to give out. It was a wonderful thing that nothing of a serious nature happened – only once in a hundred times would three ocean liners escape from such a perilous situation without sustaining damage.

  (Southampton Times and Hampshire Express, 13 April 1912)

  AS SEEN FROM THE NEW YORK

  Experience of Sightseers

  A correspondent, who happened to be among a number of people on board the New York at the time of the incident, sent us the following: ‘The sailing of the Titanic was accompanied by a most untoward incident. An unusual number of sightseers had assembled on the quays to watch the gigantic liner commence her outward voyage to New York, and some who were anxious to get a better view climbed the gangway of the Oceanic, whence they gained the decks of the American Liner New York, which was moored alongside. As the Titanic emerged from the new dock and was being slowly piloted past the two liners mentioned, the effect produced by her passage was so strong as to cause the New York to break from her moorings – much to the consternation of the sightseers on board. At once, all was in a state of commotion, and it seemed inevitable that a collision must occur. Fortunately, this was averted by the prompt action of the Dock officials, working in conjunction with the officers on the liners. Meanwhile, vast crowds of people, including many photographers and police officers, could be seen on the quay sides. Some five or six tugs, already at hand, were immediately employed in preventing what might have been a serious collision. Aided by some of these tugs, the Titanic went back on her course, while others arrested the further drifting of the New York. Not until the latter vessel had been safely moored at the Dock head was the Titanic able to proceed on her voyage. The over-ambitious sightseers were, however, unable to land until the New York was again moored alongside the Oceanic. A hastily constructed gangway was then thrown across, and the “enforced voyagers” were glad to regain “terra firma”. They will doubtless retain for years vivid recollections of the first sailing of the Titanic from Southampton Docks.’

  * * *

  The Titanic arrived at Queenstown on Thursday. She had a good passage from Southampton and Cherbourg, and arrived at the Irish port shortly before noon. On her departure at 1.30 she had on board 350 saloon, 300 second, and 740 third class passengers, 903 crew and 3,814 sacks of mail.

  (Southampton Times and Hampshire Express, 13 April 1912)

  When the Titanic left on her maiden voyage on Wednesday there was an unrehearsed incident which might have had serious consequences. On her way from the deep water dock the big ship passed the Oceanic and New York, which were moored side by side at the Test Quay. The wash from the great liner caused the New York to break from her moorings, and she drifted into the channel. The Titanic was going dead slow, and she was stopped without any difficulty. Handy tug-boats were immediately in attendance upon the New York, and there was a great deal of excitement until the state of affairs was realized.

  We are not going to express any opinion why the mooring ropes of the New York snapped like twine when the bigger vessel passed her, but we would point out that had the deep channel been wider at this spot no accident would have happened. It would have been impossible for the Titanic to have got further away from the New York without incurring a grave risk of running aground, and her navigators were in consequence placed in a helpless position. There is a general agreement that the channel should be widened and deepened in the vicinity of the docks, but because the dock proprietors of the Harbour Board agree only in repudiating responsibility the work remains undone.

  (Southampton Times and Hampshire Express, 13 April 1912)

  Roberta Maioni was the young maid to one of the heroines of the Titanic story, the Countess of Rothes. Like her employer, Miss Maioni survived the disaster. She later described the launch of the great ship at Southampton.

  On the day the Titanic set out on her first and only voyage, I was just a girl in my teens looking forward with a schoolgirl’s anticipation to a voyage in the world’s latest and finest liner on a tour through North America.

  The weather was brilliant and the docks at Southampton were crowded with bustling people. For this was no ordinary boat departure; it was the departure of a wonder ship – a floating palace that far excelled all others in size and magnificence, and men said that she could not sink.

  We passengers were crushed and pushed about by excited crowds as we struggled to reach the gangway, but once across we were swallowed up in that great vessel.

  The noise made in getting the luggage aboard was deafening, but when the Titanic started on its journey an even greater pandemonium broke loose – the cheering of thousands of people and the shrieking of many sirens.

  Then, as if some unseen hand had silenced them, a hush suddenly fell upon the people. I went to the side to see what was the matter and found that the passing of the mighty Titanic had drawn another liner – the New York – from her moorings into the fairway.

  Tugs soon took the New York back to her place and the majority of us went on our way without giving further thought to this incident, but some passengers took it as a bad omen of ill-fortune and were further discomforted by the fact that large numbers of seagulls followed the ship to the sea. This, they said, was a sign of impending disaster. I had no time for such forebodings, for I had entered a fairy city and spent the first few days of the voyage in exploration and in making friends.

  THE WHITE STAR LINER TITANIC

  Mammoth liner at Queenstown

  Yesterday the 46,000 ton White Star liner Titanic, which is now the largest vessel in the world, arrived at Queenstown at 11.55 a.m. from Southampton via Cherbourg on her maiden voyage to New York. The Titanic left Southampton on Wednesday with 1,380 passengers, and was given an enthusiastic send off from there by hundreds of specta
tors on the quay side. As she steamed slowly up to Queenstown Harbour yesterday the huge vessel presented an imposing sight, and her commander dropped anchor about two miles off Roche’s Point.

  Long before the vessel was sighted the local agents, Messrs James Scott and Co., Queenstown, had everything in readiness and a huge staff was engaged in transporting the mails and passengers’ luggage to the tenders in waiting. This occupied a very short time, considering the huge consignments, and at 12.40 the first tender left the White Star Jetty. On arrival by the side of the large liner, the gangways were quickly attached and an equally fast delivery of passengers, mails and luggage took place. One hundred and thirty passengers of all classes embarked at Queenstown, and when the transfers had been completed the Titanic had on board a total of 1,450 passengers all told, made up of 350 first-class, 300 second-class, and 800 third-class. Her complement of mails amounted to 3,418 sacks, of which 1,388 sacks were embarked at Queenstown. In addition to her huge passenger freight of 1,450 souls, the Titanic carries a crew of 903 hands of all ranks from the commander down to the most juvenile pantry boy, making in all a ship’s company of 2,353 persons. Another example of the vast size of this modern leviathan of the deep is the fact that she has passenger accommodation – exclusive of that for her crew of 903 – for 2,350, or for 750 first-class, 500 second-class, and 1,100 third-class passengers, so that it will be seen that her Commander, Captain E. J. Smith, R.D.R.N.R., has tremendous responsibility placed on his shoulders. It being the maiden voyage, Commander Smith did not put his vessel to her full test from Southampton to Queenstown, but kept at the pace of 20 knots per hour. In an interview, the genial Commander said that the machinery of the huge vessel worked splendidly, and there was not the slightest hitch on the way across. The luxurious manner in which the vessel has been fitted up has already been dealt with in these columns, but it might be interesting to know that there is one suite of apartments, including a private promenade deck, the charge for which from Southampton to New York is £850. It might also be mentioned that amongst the many distinguished passengers travelling by the liner are Mr Bruce Ismay, one of the principal owners of the White Star Line Company, who takes a particular interest in his line of vessels and generally makes the maiden voyage on each, and the Hon. Thomas Andrews, the managing director of the great ship building firm of Messrs Harland & Wolff, Belfast, which built the Titanic. Amongst the other distinguished passengers on board are Colonel J. J. Astor and Mrs Astor, Mr and Mrs H. J. Allison, Major Archibald W. Butt, Mr and Mrs T. W. Cavendish, Mr W. D. and Mrs W. D. Douglas, Colonel Archibald Gracie, Mr Henry Sleeper Harper and Mrs Henry Sleeper Harper, Mr Fletcher-Fellows Lambert Williams, Mr Clarence Moore, Major Arthur Peuchen, The Countess of Rothes and Party, Mr and Mrs Arthur Ryerson, Miss Ryerson and Master Ryerson, Mr and Mrs Frederick O. Speddon and Master Speddon, Mr and Mrs Isidor Straus and family, Mrs J. Stuart White and family, Mr Richard F. and Percival W. White, Mr Wyckoff Vanderhoef, Mr and Mrs G. D. Widener and family. While the necessary work of transferring etc. was being gone through, Messrs James Scott & Co., the local agents, showed the Press representatives round the vessel and afterwards hospitably entertained them. No detail was leftout, and every part of the vessel from the lower gangway to the upper boat deck was shown to the visitors. Needless to say, both the Pressmen and the other visitors were much impressed with all they saw, and all were of opinion that the latest addition to the White Star fleet was one of the finest afloat at the present time, and is likely to hold the claim for many years to come.

  Commander E. J. Smith is a sailor of the most genial type, and does all that is humanly possible to make things pleasant for the ship’s company. Formerly of the Olympic, a sister ship of the Titanic, Captain Smith has always been a conscientious worker in the interests of his profession. He was a member of the Executive Council of the Mercantile Marine Service Association, prior to his removal to Southampton to take over the command of the Oceanic. His connection with the White Star is a long and extensive one, and his abilities will fit him for the command of the world’s greatest ship.

  He is a native of Staffordshire, and was born in 1850, and served his apprenticeship to the sea with the firm of Messrs A. Gibson and Co., the well-known Liverpool shipowners. He joined the White Star Line as Fourth Officer, and secured his first command in 1887. Since then he has commanded most of the large vessels of the fleet.

  All arrangements having been completed, the last tender cast off at 1.25pm, and in a few minutes afterwards the Titanic weighed anchor and proceeded on her westward voyage, taking with her the best wishes of all who had the privilege of being entertained on board.

  (Cork Free Press, 12 April 1912)

  Miss Nellie Walcroft, a thirty-one-year-old cook from Berkshire, was visiting her sister in New York. She and her travelling companion, Miss Clear Cameron, had been due to travel on another ship but were transferred to the Titanic because of a coal strike in Britain. They shared a second-class cabin on E deck. Miss Walcroft recounted her story in a letter to her local paper, dated 23 April 1912.

  I left Maidenhead on April 9, stayed in London and caught the special train to Southampton at 8.30 on the morning of April 10. My sister and a friend saw me off. After a splendid quick run we arrived at Southampton Dock Station at 10.15.

  Looking through the window, I saw the largest ship I had ever seen. The sun was shining on it, and it was magnificent. Everyone was going over the ship and it was greatly admired.

  The bell rang and all the visitors left the ship. Then we started, to the hand waving of thousands of people. We left the docks. We did not know about the near collision we had until we arrived this side. We arrived at Cherbourg at 5 o’clock and at Queenstown on Thursday morning. We had a perfect trip.

  (Maidenhead Advertiser)

  British passenger Charlotte Collyer was travelling second-class on the Titanic with her husband Harvey and their eight-year-old daughter Marjorie. They had left their home in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, where they ran a small grocery store, to start a new life in Payette, Idaho. There Harvey Collyer planned to buy a half share in an apple orchard. The Collyers had originally booked their passage on the steamer New York but that vessel was delayed because of the coal strike in Britain and they transferred to the Titanic. All their worldly goods travelled with them, Harvey Collyer having sewn his money and valuables into the lining of his clothes. He never made it to the United States, but Charlotte lived to tell her tale.

  From our deck which was situated well forward, we saw the great send off that was given to the boat. I do not think that there had ever been so large a crowd in Southampton and I am not surprised that it should have come together.

  The Titanic was wonderful, far more splendid and huge than I had dreamed of. The other crafts in the harbour were like cockle shells beside her and they, mind you, were the boats of the American and other lines that a few years ago were thought enormous. I remember a friend said to me, ‘Aren’t you afraid to venture on the sea?’, but now it was I who was confident. ‘What, on this boat!’ I answered. ‘Even the worst storm could not harm her.’ Before we left the harbour I saw the accident to the New York, the liner that was dragged from her moorings and swept against us in the Channel. It did not frighten anyone, as it only seemed to prove how powerful the Titanic was.

  I don’t remember very much about the first few days of the voyage. I was a bit seasick and kept to my cabin most of the time. But on Sunday April 14th I was up and about. At dinner time I was at my place in the saloon and enjoyed the meal, though I thought it too heavy and rich. No effort had been spared to give even the second cabin passengers on that Sunday the best dinner that money could buy. After I had eaten, I listened to the orchestra for a little while, then at nine o’clock or half past nine I went to my cabin. I had just climbed into my berth when a stewardess came in. She was a sweet woman who had been very kind to me. I take this opportunity to thank her for I shall never see her again. She went down with the Titanic.

  ‘
Do you know where we are?’ she said pleasantly. ‘We are in what is called the Devil’s Hole.’ ‘What does that mean?’ I asked. ‘That is a dangerous part of the ocean,’ she answered. ‘Many accidents have happened near there. They say that icebergs driftdown as far as this. It’s getting to be very cold on deck so perhaps there is ice around us now.’ She left the cabin and I soon dropped off to sleep. Her talk about icebergs had not frightened me, but it shows that the crew were awake to the danger. As far as I can tell we had not slackened our speed in the least.

  (Semi-Monthly Magazine, May 1912)

  Cornishman Percy Bailey, aged eighteen, sailed second class on the Titanic bound for Akron, Ohio, where he was to start work as an apprentice butcher. He was originally set to travel on the Oceanic but transferred to the Titanic on learning that a number of friends were booked on the new flagship of the White Star Line. Percy Bailey went down with the Titanic. His last known correspondence was a letter sent to his parents shortly after boarding the ship on 10 April.

  Dear Father and Mother, We arrived on board this morning after a night’s rest at Southampton. We put up at an Hotel named Berrimans. The lady who owns it is a Cornish lady. We had a good supper and a good breakfast of ham and eggs, we were doing it fine. I slept with a young man named Wills – a brother to the man who married Mrs Trevask’s daughter. He came to Southampton to see his sister-in-law. We had several people joined us at St Erth bound for the same place as we are going so we are a big family altogether. Well dear Mother, I suppose you are missing me but don’t be downhearted, old dear Percy will be behaved to you as a son ought to treat his Mother and Father. The going away from home will make me a better man and try and lead a good life. The Titanic is a marvel, I can tell you. I have never seen such a sight in all my life, she is like a floating palace, everything up to date. I hope you are all well as it leaves me at present. Father I shall never forget your kindness, you have done more for me than many Fathers have done for their sons. Well dear parents I don’t think there is any more news I can tell you now. Kiss Grandma for me and tell her I am sorry for all my wicked thoughts which I said to her, but never again, will I cheek her. Give my best love to all who ask for me. I will draw my letter to a close hoping you one and all are quite well. I remain your loving son.