At approximately 1:28am, the S.S. Californian, only around 10 miles away, sees Titanic's distress rockets. They believe that she is a tramp steamer heading to the south west. They attempt to call the Titanic with the morse lamp, however Titanic does not respond. The Californian can easily reach the Titanic in time to help, yet the do not do anything, and since their wireless operator has already gone to bed, they do not know of Titanic's distress calls.Bewteen 1:30 and 1:35, lifeboats 9, 12 and 11 are launched. They are filled with 50, 30 and 70 people respectively.
At 1:40am, Lifeboat 13 is the 13th to be launched, it dips forward as it is lowered, nearly tipping out some passengers, It slowly reaches the black sea, only to drift under lifeboat 15 which is also being lowered, Passengers shout to stop the lowering but the crew on the boat deck can't hear them. Some passengers fumble to cut the falls which still hold the boat to the ship. They try to hold up boat 15 but eventually drift out of the way just as boat 15, overloaded with 70 people, hits the water.
At around1:42am, Captain Smith orders Lifeboat 6 to return to the ship to pick up more passengers. Margaret "Molly" Brown is in boat 6, she demands to go back but the sailor in charge refuses. Only one boat will return to look for survivors that night.
Boat 2 is launched with only 25 seats occupied.
The steerage passengers attempt to reach the lifeboats by running through unfamiliar parts of the ship. Some make their way up the grand stairs while others try to rush up from the promenade deck, only to be restrained by the crew. It's now 1:48am, there are only 5 lifeboats left for the rest of the 1500+ passengers left onboard.
1:50am, Lifeboat 4 is the 16th boat to be launched from Titanic. It leaves with 45 seats occupied. The last distress rocket is fired to no known response from the near by ship. The sea soon approaches the A Deck Promenade.
At 2am, Collapsable Boat C is launched from the starboard side. White Star Director J. Bruce Ismay steps into the boat just before it's lowered, an act he will be criticised for for the rest of his life. The boat leaves full with 39 seats occupied.
At 2:05, Collapsable Boat D is the 18th and final boat to be launched from the Titanic. It leaves with only 24 seats occupied. Shortly after at 2:07, Captain Smith relieves the wireless operators of their duty. Captain Smith announces that it is now every man for himself and he heads down to the slowly flooding bridge. This is the last time people remember seeing Captain Smith. To this day no one knows what happened to him and his body was never recovered.
2:12 am. Officers attempt to release Collapsable boats A and B from the deckhouse roof. Boat B flips upside down as it falls while Boat A is lowered to the deck on some ores which snap under the boat's weight.
The Band begin to play "Nearer My God To Thee", which band leader Wallace Hartley had selected for his own funeral. To the passengers that hear it, it is like a final prayer for them. Thomas Andrews is last seen in the 1st Class Smoking Room stood before the painting of Plymouth Harbour.
Water sweeps along the boat deck which makes Collapsable A drift off the deck. The forward funnel begins to fall crushing those beneath it, including John Jacob Astor. The wave it creates washes upturned Collapsable B away from the ship. Some cling to it, including 2nd Officer Lightoller.
Many passengers gather on Titanic's Poop Deck as the stern rises higher. Father Byles listens to confessions and gives solace to those left on the ship.
As the ship gets lower, Water floods the once elegant grand staircase. The glass dome above is engulfed as water crashes through, ripping up the staircase from it's foundations. Furniture and cargo crash to the forward end of the ship as it rises out of the water. Titanic will remain afloat for another 3 minutes.
At 2:18am, the Titanic's lights flicker then go out for the last time. A loud roar can be heard as the ship strains. She suddenly breaks apart, the stern falling back into the water. The bow, still attached to the stern, pulls it slowly downwards. After rising once again, the Stern bobs around for a minute or two, then slowly slips below the waves carrying around 1500 people with her.
To be continued...
1:50am, Lifeboat 4 is the 16th boat to be launched from Titanic. It leaves with 45 seats occupied. The last distress rocket is fired to no known response from the near by ship. The sea soon approaches the A Deck Promenade.
At 2am, Collapsable Boat C is launched from the starboard side. White Star Director J. Bruce Ismay steps into the boat just before it's lowered, an act he will be criticised for for the rest of his life. The boat leaves full with 39 seats occupied.
At 2:05, Collapsable Boat D is the 18th and final boat to be launched from the Titanic. It leaves with only 24 seats occupied. Shortly after at 2:07, Captain Smith relieves the wireless operators of their duty. Captain Smith announces that it is now every man for himself and he heads down to the slowly flooding bridge. This is the last time people remember seeing Captain Smith. To this day no one knows what happened to him and his body was never recovered.
2:12 am. Officers attempt to release Collapsable boats A and B from the deckhouse roof. Boat B flips upside down as it falls while Boat A is lowered to the deck on some ores which snap under the boat's weight.
The Band begin to play "Nearer My God To Thee", which band leader Wallace Hartley had selected for his own funeral. To the passengers that hear it, it is like a final prayer for them. Thomas Andrews is last seen in the 1st Class Smoking Room stood before the painting of Plymouth Harbour.
Water sweeps along the boat deck which makes Collapsable A drift off the deck. The forward funnel begins to fall crushing those beneath it, including John Jacob Astor. The wave it creates washes upturned Collapsable B away from the ship. Some cling to it, including 2nd Officer Lightoller.
Many passengers gather on Titanic's Poop Deck as the stern rises higher. Father Byles listens to confessions and gives solace to those left on the ship.
As the ship gets lower, Water floods the once elegant grand staircase. The glass dome above is engulfed as water crashes through, ripping up the staircase from it's foundations. Furniture and cargo crash to the forward end of the ship as it rises out of the water. Titanic will remain afloat for another 3 minutes.
At 2:18am, the Titanic's lights flicker then go out for the last time. A loud roar can be heard as the ship strains. She suddenly breaks apart, the stern falling back into the water. The bow, still attached to the stern, pulls it slowly downwards. After rising once again, the Stern bobs around for a minute or two, then slowly slips below the waves carrying around 1500 people with her.
To be continued...
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