But the Carpathia was 58 miles-or some four hours-away. The nearest, RMS Carpathia, replied that it would change course and hurry to the Titanic’s position. The ship they spotted in the distance didn’t answer, but several others did. Ten minutes later, by the surviving operator’s estimate, he returned and gave them the order to send out a CQD, the universal distress call that was soon replaced with an SOS. Meanwhile, he told the ship’s two wireless operators to get ready to transmit distress signals.
Smith gave orders to uncover the lifeboats and alert the passengers. Several estimated it was no more than five miles away.Īt 12:05 a.m.
Soon after the collision, he and other officers saw what they believed to be the lights of a nearby ship. The captain still had some hope of averting total disaster. He also knew that its 20 lifeboats, with a total capacity of 1,178, couldn’t begin to accommodate the more than 2,200 passengers and crew members aboard. At roughly midnight, Andrews reportedly told Smith the Titanic could last another 60 to 90 minutes. While the ship could have stayed afloat with up to four flooded compartments, depending on their location, five tipped into catastrophic territory. Thomas Andrews, the Titanic’s head designer, reported that his inspection revealed flooding in at least five of the Titanic’s 16 watertight compartments. But whatever relief Smith might have felt at that moment was quickly shattered. Boxhall made a quick inspection of the ship and returned to the bridge to report that he had found no damage.
1911.Īt first it appeared as if Smith’s luck was going to hold. Captain of White Star Liner, RMS Titanic, Commander Edward J.
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