Timeline Article: The United Kingdom Mourns, America Asks Questions

Senator William Alden Smith & New York City
in the 1900s.
Friday, April 19, 1912
Early Morning

As the United Kingdom holds a national day of mourning, in America, Senator William Alden Smith convenes an inquiry in New York City the morning after Carpathia arrives with Titanic's survivors. The people of America are in shock after hearing the news of Titanic's fate. Senator Smith moves quickly to issue subpoenas so that he can promptly collect survivor testimonies while the incident is still fresh. 

J.P. Morgan
Smith's colleagues suspect that he has put together the inquiry and appointed himself chairman mainly because he is an outspoken opponent of J.P. Morgan, the owner of International Mercantile Marine, White Star's parent company. 

The first witness called at the inquiry is Bruce Ismay. Senator Smith is not happy with Ismay's performance. Ismay's responses to questions are short, evasive, and lack substance. Whether Smith disbelieves Ismay or simply dislikes him, he seems determined to hold White Star's president responsible for the tragedy.

Bruce Ismay at the inquiry.

Due to inadequate space and terrible acoustics, after two days at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the inquiry is moved to Washington D.C. The crew members and passengers that haven't received a subpoena are free to return to their lives. The others who are required to testify will have to travel to Washington.

Bruce Ismay will be required to answer further questions after the inquiry is moved. Senator Smith will not release him for eleven days. 



Click here to see the U.S. and British inquiry transcripts and final reports.



Timeline Article: Memorial Services Are Held for Titanic

Crowds of people outside of
St. Paul's cathedral in London.
On Friday, April 19th, 1912, England observes a national day of mourning for Titanic. Roughly 10,000 people attend a memorial service at St. Paul's cathedral in London.
Those that cannot find room inside pay their respects in the street. The dead are mourned, and prayers of thanks are offered for those who were rescued. 


Churches in other cities are crowded with those paying their respects to the tragedy. 

In Queenstown, flags fly at half staff to honor all the people of Ireland who will never fulfill their dreams of the new world.

Flags are flown at half staff outside of White Star's
office in Queenstown, Ireland.


Timeline Article: Survivor Lists Become More Accurate / Southampton Is Hit Hardest By The News of Titanic


Friday, April 19, 1912
Morning

The lists of names of Titanic's survivors become more accurate after Carpathia's arrival in New York. Crowds of people gather outside the White Star offices in both America and the United Kingdom. They watch with hope and fear for familiar names. 

Southampton is hardest hit by the news that only about 200 of Titanic's 900 crew members were saved. The majority of Titanic's crew were recruited directly from Southampton not long before Titanic departed. 


The London Daily Mail reports:
"In the humble homes of Southampton, there is scarcely a family that has not lost a relative or friend."

Timeline Article: Titanic's Survivors Disembark

Carpathia at the New York docks

Thursday, April 18, 1912
Around 9:30pm

Darkness and heavy rain have delayed the warping of the Carpathia to the dock. A crowd of 10,000 to eventually 30,000 people have gathered, and are awaiting the arrival of Titanic's survivors. Among the crowd is a large detachment of city officials, immigration commissioners, doctors, priests, sisters, nurses, ambulances, and coroners. The Salvation Army is also there to care for the survivors of Titanic’s steerage passengers. Delegates from the New York Stock Exchange have sums of cash for those who have lost everything. Organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America along with many others have set up fundraisers to help those in need.

The Boy Scouts of America collecting money
to help support Titanic's survivors.

Once the Carpathia was tied to the dock and the gangway prepared, a large number of stretchers were taken aboard. As Titanic's passengers began making their way down the gangway it soon became evident to the crowd that a large number of survivors had lost all their clothing, and had to make due with whatever was available to them aboard the Carpathia. Some were ill physically and or mentally. Others were violently hysterical, and evidently deranged, while there were a considerable number of cases that were in a state of shock. As the survivors made their way to the street, silence fell over the crowd, and even the flashes of the Press photographers' cameras ceased for a moment.

Titanic's surviving Wireless Operator
Harold Bride being carried from the
Carpathia.


Dr. Henry Frauenthal and his wife were the first to land from the Carpathia. They were driven off quickly in a motor car, and no one had any opportunity to speak to them. Many soon followed in the same manner. 

Some of the survivors needed assistance getting down the gangway such as Titanic's Wireless Operator Harold Bride who had injuries to his feet. One was sprained and the other had frostbite.






As Titanic's survivors disembark, the people in the crowd started shouting out names in hopes to get a response. The people that were reunited with their loved ones clung to them and kissed them tenderly. 

The sick and injured of Titanic's survivors were carried on stretchers and taken to a hospital by ambulance. 

For the others that waited and waited but never saw their loved ones, it was a horrible reality. Out of the 2,208 people aboard Titanic only 712 survived. That meant 1,496 were dead.


One man in the crowd waiting to greet the survivors is William Alden Smith, a U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of Michigan. He has been appointed to investigate the sinking of Titanic. Senator Smith along with a group of U.S. marshals board Carpathia. He has a handful of subpoena, one of which is for Bruce Ismay. The investigation hearings begin the very next day and Senator Smith wants Ismay to be there.


Senator William Alden Smith (left) and
White Star Line President J. Bruce Ismay (right)



Timeline Article: Carpathia Arrives in New York with Titanic's Survivors

Carpathia approaching New York.

Thursday, April 18, 1912
Evening

By 6pm, Carpathia slowly makes her way through the dark and rainy evening, a harbor pilot from the Ambrose lightship is brought aboard as well as an escort of tugboats to lead her into New York. Private craft surround Carpathia. Photographers' camera flashes light up the evening and reporters shout out questions with megaphones. One reporter manages to board the ship only to be grabbed by crew members and taken below deck. Some people in the boats surrounding Carpathia hold up signs asking for Titanic survivors by name. Nearly 30,000 people gather at the Cunard's pier 54 braving the rain and cold waiting for Carpathia to arrive. Nearly all of New York's police force was on duty. Hundreds of officers were required to hold back the crowds of people. Many were relatives of the survivors desperately seeking answers.

Crowds of people waiting for Carpathia to arrive
with Titanic's survivors.

Around 8pm, Carpathia appears out of the rainy darkness only to be lit up by the constant flashing of photographers' cameras. The crowds watch in confusion as Carpathia slowly moves past her Cunard pier 54 and stops at White Star's pier 59. After a few moments it all becomes clear as Carpathia's crew begin unloading Titanic's lifeboats at the pier where Titanic would have docked. Only 13 lifeboats were all the remained of the great liner.


Titanic's 13 remaining lifeboats dropped off by
Carpathia at Titanic's pier.

After all of Titanic's lifeboats were unloaded from Carpathia's deck, she slowly makes her way back to the Cunard dock. The crowd grew silent as the gangplank was lowered, and by 9:30pm Titanic's survivors began to disembark.