Timeline Article: Titanic's Forward Funnel Falls

Monday, April 15th, 1912
2:14am

The most noticeable features of Titanic were her four towering funnels. The first three funnels emitted the exhaust from the boilers and engines. The last funnel was a ventilator. The funnels were constructed of a steel frame covered with thin steel plating.

As the water began to flow over the roofs of the deck houses on the boat deck, it reaches the base of the forward most funnel. While attempting to connect collapsible A to the davit, 1st Officer Murdoch cut some of the stays that supported the funnel because they were in the way.

Due to Titanic's list to port, extra strain was placed on the remaining stays on the starboard side. Once the base of the funnel was submerged, the pressure of the water began to buckle the thin outer steel of the funnel inward.

Passengers would later testify to hearing what sounded like gunshots as the remaining stays supporting the funnel snapped and hit the water like whips. The funnel being elliptical in shape fell over to the port side and smashed everything and everyone in the vicinity. This then created a wave that washed away the overturned collapsible B.

Featured Article: "Nearer My God To Thee"

One of the many legends that surround the Titanic disaster, is that of the band playing until the very end. None of the musicians survived, but yet they became known as heroes because of their bravery.

Although, the passengers and crew give conflicting testimonies regarding which song was played last as Titanic went down, most of them state that the last song was "Nearer My God To Thee". Therefore, the song has become synonymous with Titanic's sinking.

"Nearer My God To Thee" is a 19th century christian hymn that has three different versions.

In the United Kingdom, the hymn is usually associated with the 1861 hymn tune "Horbury" by John Bacchus Dykes.

British Methodists prefer the tune "Propior Deo", which means "Nearer to God", written by Arthur Sullivan.

In the rest of the world, the hymn is usually sung to the 1856 tune "Bethany" by Lowell Mason.

Band leader Wallace Hartley may have chose "Nearer My God To Thee" because it was a hymn that he had already selected for his own funeral. However, it is not certain which version of the song he and the other musicians may have played.

Hartley was of a Methodist family. His father was a Methodist choirmaster and used the "Propior Deo" version of the song at his church. It is most likely that this version may have been played in Titanic's final moments.

The song was intended to be a final prayer for everyone left on board.

Click Play to listen to the "Propior Deo" version.

Click Play to listen to the "Bethany" version.

Click Play to listen to the "Horbury" version.

Featured Article: What Happened to Captain Smith?

What happened to Captain E.J. Smith? In short. Nobody knows for sure...

All that we do know is that the most favored captain of the White Star Line went down with Titanic.

There are testimonies from the passengers and crew regarding captain Smith's last moments on Titanic. Some of the testimonies from the crew state that they remember Smith telling them to "Be British", or once the last of the lifeboats had left, "It's every man for himself". Some said that Smith didn't say anything at all and appeared to be in a state of shock.

We look back now and wonder if it is possible that Smith may have had some kind of mental collapse. Once he realized that his brand new ship that was designed to be unsinkable, was going to sink with only enough lifeboats for half of the souls on board, that rescue would not arrive in time, and that 1,500 people were going to die under his command... It may have too much for him.

Not only that, Titanic only had an hour or two stay afloat, and he had to make sure that his crew had all of the 20 lifeboats uncovered and swung out. That all the passengers were organized and loaded into the lifeboats, and that the lifeboats be lowered safely to the uncertain North Atlantic waters. All while maintaining order while the largest and most advanced ship in the world sank beneath their feet.

It was simply too much for one man to handle.

There are other testimonies that state Smith's final moments as Titanic went down. 

Some state that Smith wandered off to the wheelhouse, while others say he was actively present in the wireless room. Wireless Officer Harold Bride reported seeing Smith dive into the sea from the open bridge minutes before the final plunge began. 

A drawing depicting Captain Smith handing over a baby to the passengers
of the overturned Collapsible B before swimming away.

One story states the he carried an infant child to the overturned collapsible B after Titanic's sinking and then swam away, but that story is generally considered as romantic fiction. 

Whatever happened, Smith's last moments are mostly remembered with him standing close to the bridge as the ship went down.

Smith was going to retire in a blaze of glory once returning the largest ship in the world back to England.

A statue honoring Captain E.J. Smith of the Titanic.
Beacon Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England

Timeline Article: The Bridge Begins to Flood / Collapsibles A & B Are Washed Off

Monday, April 15, 1912
2:13am

Once collapsible A was lowered to the boat deck, 1st Officer Murdoch immediately started to connect the lifeboat to the davit. At this point, he would have been standing in water that was beginning to flood the boat deck. According to testimonies, Titanic was starting to sink at an alarming rate. 2nd Officer Lightoller said later in a testimony, that Titanic took "a bit of a dive" when the water reached the crow's nest on the forward mast. Some passengers and crew said that water came over the boat deck like a wave.

Titanic's navigating bridge and wheelhouse were located at the forward end of the boat deck. The navigating bridge was open on both sides, so when the water came over and poured onto the boat deck, the navigating bridge was immediately flooded.

Collapsibles A and B were washed off as the water made it's way up the boat deck.

Collapsible A was sitting upright when it was washed off the deck. Many of the people that were aboard collapsible A, climbed aboard straight out of the water. Nobody was put in charge of this lifeboat.

Collapsible B was washed off the boat deck upside down. 2nd Officer Lightoller climbed onto the upside down lifeboat and assumed command. Approximately 28 or more people climbed aboard as well.

These two lifeboats were the last to leave Titanic.

Passengers and crew as they climb aboard the overturned Collapsible B. 

Timeline Article: The Crew Struggles to Release Collapsibles A & B

Monday, April 15, 1912
2:12am

As the water floods the A deck promenade and begins to make it's way up to the boat deck, members of the crew struggle to release collapsible lifeboats A and B from the deck house roof. The deck houses where located on the boat deck, and collapsibles A and B were stationed on either side of the forward funnel on top of the roof of the officers quarters. The davits on the boat deck could not reach these lifeboats, so the lifeboats would have to be brought down to the boat deck and then connected.

Under the direction of 1st Officer Murdoch and 6th Officer Moody, collapsible A is slid down a makeshift ramp made out of oars. Due to the lifeboat's tremendous weight, the oars break and the lifeboat falls to the boat deck. 2nd Officer Lightoller, along with other crewmen, attempt to lower collapsible B from it's station on the deck house roof. The boat falls to the boat deck and lands upside down. Neither one of these collapsibles are connected to the davits.

Watch this clip from James Cameron's film Titanic, 

and see what is must have been like for the crew, while trying to prepare these lifeboats for launch...

Video Provided By: "Titanic" (1997)

Timeline Article: Captain Smith Excuses the Wireless Operators

Pictured Clockwise: Jack Phillips, Harold Bride,
and Captain Smith

Monday, April 15, 1912
2:07am

Captain Smith walks into the wireless room and tells Jack Phillips and Harold Bride that they can do no more and to save themselves. Phillips, who has been sending distress signals all night, refuses to leave...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer

Timeline Article: Collapsible Lifeboat D is the Eighteenth and the Last to be Successfully Launched from Titanic

Monday, April 15th, 1912
2:05am

Collapsible D is the eighteenth to be launched.
Lowered by: Chief Officer Wilde, 2nd Officer Lightoller
Crew member in charge: Quartermaster Arthur Bright

At this point during the night the panic among the passengers had become severe. Water was starting to pour over the sides and onto the promenade deck just below the bridge. Testimonies later state that warning shots had been fired in the vicinity of collapsible D, and that the crew had to link their arms together to keep groups of men from rushing into the lifeboat. The "women and children first" order was becoming irrelevant. Counting collapsible D, only 3 of the 20 lifeboats were left, and Titanic was sinking faster and faster.

Water spills over the side and onto the promenade deck just below the bridge,
as depicted in James Cameron's film "Titanic".

Just like the case with lifeboat 4 earlier, Titanic's slight list to port was making the loading of collapsible D difficult due to a gap that formed between the ship's deck and the lifeboat. Passengers would have to jump across the gap and into the lifeboat. This was a daunting task for some people.
While loading, Chief Officer Wilde ordered 2nd Officer Lightoller to man the lifeboat, but Lightoller refused, and stayed aboard the ship. Quartermaster Arthur Bright was put in charge, and the lowering of the lifeboat commenced. The descent was short, due to the fact that the sea was only about 10 feet from the deck where collapsible D was located.

First Class passengers, Hugh Woolner and Mauritz Bjornstrom-Steffansson were standing on the promenade deck beneath collapsible D. When the water started to flood the deck, the two jumped aboard the lifeboat just as it was being lowered past them and about to make contact with the water. Once on the surface, another first class passenger, Frederick Hoyt was pulled from the water and into the lifeboat. The people aboard collapsible D immediately began to row away to avoid any possible suction.

Collapsible Lifeboat D is the last to be successfully launched,

and leaves Titanic with 23 out of 47 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Collapsible Lifeboat C is the Seventeenth to be Launched / Bruce Ismay Leaves Titanic

Monday, April 15, 1912
2am

Collapsible C is the seventeenth to be launched.
Lowered by: Chief Officer Wilde, 1st Officer Murdoch
Crew member in charge: Quartermaster George Rowe

By 2am, Titanic's forecastle deck was almost completely submerged while the forward well deck was starting to flood. Seeing this must have been a frightening sight, considering that both of these decks used to stand about 40 feet above the water.

A sight that Captain Smith may have seen from the bridge,
as the forecastle and well deck began to submerge.

1st Officer Murdoch

After firing the last distress rocket, Quartermaster George Rowe was ordered by Captain Smith to take command of collapsible lifeboat C that was being prepared by Chief Officer Wilde and 1st Officer Murdoch. Once the lifeboat was ready to be filled, Wilde leaves Murdoch to load the lifeboat while he goes to assist collapsible lifeboat D on the port side. 1st Officer Murdoch began loading the boat with the women and children that were standing near by. Murdoch allowed men to board the lifeboat, just as long as all the women and children in the area were aboard first. Unlike 2nd Officer Lightoller, who allowed women and children only, Murdoch loaded women and children first. Many of the men who survived in a lifeboat, most likely had Murdoch to thank for it.

J. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star Line and owner of Titanic, was among the group of people that were standing near lifeboat C. Ismay spent most of the night helping passengers into the lifeboats, but once everyone in the area had boarded, Ismay jumped aboard as well. Watching Ismay leave the ship, didn't sit well with many people. Yet some thought it was acceptable since there was space in the boat. It is uncertain if Ismay boarded on his own, or if Murdoch ordered him in. Nevertheless, Ismay would be branded as a coward by the public for leaving Titanic. 

J. Bruce Ismay
President, Chairman, and Director of the White Star Line,
and owner of Titanic.

Although, Ismay and Rowe denied it, some had claimed that there was some commotion while loading lifeboat C. First class passengers, Jack Thayer and Hugh Woolner along with Third class passengers Emily and Frankie Goldsmith, said that warning shots had been fired into the air to keep men from rushing into the lifeboat.

Commotion or not, collapsible C leaves Titanic with 43 out of 47 seats occupied. Originally thought to be 39 passengers aboard, until 4 men were found hiding between the seats later in the morning.

Timeline Article: Last Rocket is Fired

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:50am

For almost an hour, 4th Officer Boxhall and Quartermaster Rowe have been firing distress rockets. This was an attempt to get the attention of any ship that may be near by, but mainly to get the attention of the ship that was spotted earlier on the distant horizon. After Boxhall had been ordered to take command of Lifeboat 2 by Captain Smith, Quartermaster Rowe continued to fire rockets. It is unknown how many rockets were fired in total, but only that there were no more rockets fired after 1:50am, just shortly before Rowe was ordered to take command of Collapsible C. The Carpathia is the only ship that has responded to the wireless operator's distress calls and is heading for Titanic's position at her top speed. However, she is still too far away and will not make it in time.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 4 is the Sixteenth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:50am

Lifeboat 4 is the sixteenth to be launched.
Lowered by: 2nd Officer Lightoller
Crew member in charge: Quartermaster Walter Perkis

Like lifeboat 10, number 4 sat at it's station relatively late into the evening. It was intended to be one of the first launched by 2nd Officer Lightoller. He had planed to lower the boat to the promenade deck and have passengers board there. Therefore, he proceeded to send passengers down to that deck. What he didn't realize was that the windows that enclosed nearly the first half of Titanic's promenade deck were closed. He immediately ordered two stewards to go and find the window cranks so that the windows could be opened. The passengers then were led back up to the boat deck to be loaded into lifeboats 6 and 8.

It was about 1:50am when the promenade deck windows were finally opened and number 4 was lowered to the promenade deck just beneath the boat deck. Because of Titanic's list to port, a large gap developed between the ship and the lifeboat. Lightoller ordered the lifeboat to be tied to the side of the ship to bring it closer. He then propped up deck chairs to be use as ladders so that the passengers could climb up and pass through the windows into the lifeboat.

When number 4 made it down to the water, a sailor called up to the boat deck requesting a additional hands to man the boat. Quartermaster Perkis and another member of the crew climbed down the falls and took charge of lifeboat 4.

Lifeboat 4 leaves Titanic with 30 out of 65 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 10 is the Fifteenth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:50am

Lifeboat 10 is the fifteenth to be launched.
Lowered by: 1st Officer Murdoch
Crew member in charge: Seaman Edward Buley

It is uncertain why, but lifeboat 10 was not swung out and loaded along with the other lifeboats in the area. Instead, it had been left sitting in it's chocks in the stored position up until this point of the sinking. 1st officer Murdoch had just finished launching the lifeboats on the aft starboard side. He then came to lifeboat 10 on the port side and ordered that the lifeboat be swung out and prepared for passengers.

At this point Titanic was developing a slight list to port. Once number 10 was swung out, there was about a 2½ ft. gap between the boat deck and the lifeboat.

As number 10 was being loaded, passengers had to jump across the large gap to get into the lifeboat. Chief Baker Charles Joughin thew small children across the gap to their parents that had already boarded the lifeboat. One woman tried to jump across and fell into the gap. Luckily, somebody on the promenade deck below, caught her and pulled her back in. The woman made it back to number 10 and successfully made the jump across. As number 10 was being lowered past the promenade deck, a passenger jumped down into the lifeboat landing on, and injuring Second class passenger Lucinda Parrish.

Lifeboat 10 leaves Titanic with 57 out of 65 seat occupied.

Timeline Article: Third Class Passengers Try To Reach the Lifeboats

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:48am


As Titanic takes on water, the Third class passengers struggle to find their way to the lifeboats. Racing the water through a maze of corridors and other obstacles deck by deck. To make things even more difficult, many of the Third class passengers didn't speak English, and therefore could not read the navigation signs posted throughout the ship.

"One myth that still persists to this day is that of locked gates extending from floor-to-ceiling between the Third class areas and the rest of the ship. It must be noted that there is no evidence, either documented or from the wreck, that any such barriers existed. Bostwick gates and other physical forms of separation were in place at various locations throughout the vessel, but their primary purpose was to clearly mark points through which Third class passengers could not pass, as many could not read. Gates were not intended, nor were they constructed, as a means of forcible confinement or physical restriction."

Excerpt from: Titanic: The Ship Magnificent Volume Two

By: Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

Eventually, some of the Third class passengers make it up to the boat deck using the First class staircase or the Second class staircase, but only to find that just 6 out of the 20 lifeboats are all that remain.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 2 is the Fourteenth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:45am

Lifeboat 2 is the fourteenth to be launched.
Lowered by: Captain Smith, Chief Officer Wilde
Crew member in charge: 4th Officer Boxhall

Lifeboat 2 was launched from Titanic's forward port side. As the lifeboat was being filled with women and children, a large group of men climbed into the lifeboat. Captain Smith saw this and ordered the men out. Smith then called for 4th Officer Boxhall, who had been sending up distress rockets for about an hour, to take charge of the boat. Lifeboat 2 was then lowered down to the sea. Once afloat Boxhall heard a whistle and Captain Smith called down to him to come around and take on additional passengers through the starboard gangway doors.

4th Officer Boxhall

Boxhall obeyed orders and had the lifeboat rowed to the stern of Titanic. He rounded the ship and came along the starboard side. This proved to be quite difficult since he only had one sailor aboard. Boxhall had intended to come along side Titanic and lower people in through the gangway doors, but when he began to pull up next to the ship, he noticed some suction and was forced to pull away. The gangway doors were open and there were crowds of people standing in them, but Boxhall couldn't get close enough to the ship and the likelihood of the lifeboat being swamped would have been great. This proved to be an impossible task. So, Captain Smith's order was abandoned and the people in lifeboat 2 rowed away.

Lifeboat 2 left the Titanic with 17 out of 40 seats occupied.

Titanic has only 35 minutes to live.

Timeline Article: Captain Smith Calls Back Lifeboat 6

Monday, April 15, 1912

1:42am

At this point during the sinking, the forecastle deck would have been nearing the water. Watching this from the bridge above, Captain Smith had to have realized that the ship wouldn't be under their feet much longer.

Using his megaphone, he calls out to lifeboat 6 which is rowing away from the port side, to return to the ship so they can load more passengers.

Lifeboat 6 is a very important lifeboat in Titanic history because among it's passengers were, Lookout Fredrick Fleet, Quartermaster Robert Hichens, and 1st class passenger Margaret Brown.

Upon hearing the Captain's orders, Margaret Brown insists on returning due to the amount of empty seats in their lifeboat. Hichens, who was at the wheel when Titanic hit the iceberg, refused the Captain's orders and told Mrs. Brown that he was in charge of the boat and to be quiet.

"No! The suction will pull us down if we don't keep going. It is our lives now, not theirs. I'm in charge of this boat!"

Quartermaster
-Robert Hichens


After being ignored and watching lifeboat 6 row away, Captain Smith must have felt completely powerless over his situation.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 15 is the Thirteenth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:41am

Lifeboat 15 is the thirteenth to be launched.
Lowered By: 1st Officer Murdoch (Boat Deck), 6th Officer Moody (A Deck)
Crew member in charge: Fireman Frank Dymond

Lifeboat 15 is launched from the starboard side of Titanic.
As the officers lower the boat, they are unaware that lifeboat 13 has drifted underneath lifeboat 15...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer

Lifeboat 15 leaves Titanic overloaded with 70 out of 65 seats occupied.

100th Article!!!! Thanks for Visiting!

Hi folks,

This is the 100th article!
That means that I have researched and shared with you 100 individual stories about Titanic on this website! All the way back to the beginnings of the White Star Line to the evacuation of Titanic. Each article describes a special moment in Titanic history, and with all of them together, they make an impressive timeline of stories, pictures, quotes, videos, topic links, etc...

Although, I've been interested in the Titanic from a very young age, I've been researching Titanic since late 1996, and decided to share my knowledge with the public. I originally started a Titanic website in 2010. After 3 years of sharing the Titanic story through the internet, and gaining high praise for it's accessibility and knowledgeable information, the website eventually crashed and failed to operate like it should have. So, I was forced to start over with a new website and have had nothing but good blessings thus far.

I want to say that I appreciate the warm responses that I have received, and that if you have any questions regarding Titanic, her passengers, or myself, please feel free to contact me. I love getting to meet fellow historians and enthusiasts of the most famous ship in history!

Sincerely,

Joshua Allen Milford
Titanic Historian

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 13 is the Twelfth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:40am

Lifeboat 13 is the twelfth to be launched.
Lowered by: 1st Officer Murdoch (Boat Deck), 6th Officer Moody (A Deck)
Crew member in charge: Fireman Frederick Barrett

Lifeboat 13 is filled with passengers at the boat deck level, and then again at the A deck level. As the the boat is lowered down the starboard side, it begins to dip and the passengers begin to panic.
When number 13 touches the surface, it is pushed away by a stream of discharge water from the ship, soaking many of the people in the lifeboat.

Number 13 leaves Titanic with 55 out of 65 seats occupied.

Watch this video of the launch of lifeboat 13...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer

Edited By: Joshua Allen Milford

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 11 is the Eleventh to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:35am

Lifeboat 11 is the eleventh to be launched.
Lowereded By: 1st Officer Murdoch
Crew member in charge: Seaman Sidney Humphreys

Lifeboat 11 was the eleventh to be launched from Titanic, and the sixth boat lowered on the starboard side. No. 11 was lowered down to A deck and several stewards were ordered into it to assist the passengers over the railing into the boat.
First Class Steward Edward Wheelton, reported that he guided about 40 women to A deck and then into lifeboat 11.

First class passenger Edith Rosenbaum, later known as Edith Russell, entered the boat with a small toy pig that played music. 

"I never would have left the ship, but a sailor came along and he said: “Say you! You don’t want to be saved? Well I’ll save your baby.” and he grabbed the pig from under my arm and he tossed it in the lifeboat." 

First class passenger
-Edith Rosenbaum

Edith followed the pig into the lifeboat, but some passengers thought it was a real pig, and were disgusted about having a pig in their lifeboat. Later, while waiting for rescue at sea, Edith would play the musical pig for the children in the lifeboat.

Edith Rosenbaum Russel's toy musical pig.

Watch this depiction of Edith Rosenbaum Russel 

with her musical toy pig, during and after the sinking...

Video Provided By: "A Night To Remember" (1958)

Edited By: Joshua Allen Milford

Second class passenger Ruth Becker

Several second class passengers entered
number 11.
Mrs. Nellie Becker entered along with 2 of her 3 children. Ruth Becker, the oldest out of three, was told the boat was full and swiftly went to the next boat, lifeboat 13, into which she got in without any problem.



Several passengers claimed that the boat was lowered at dangerous angles and that a baby was thrown in at the last moment without it's mother.
When lifeboat 11 reached the water, it was discovered that there was no lamp in it and a crewman lighted a piece of rope to use as a light.

Number 11 is launched from Titanic with 50 of it's 65 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 9 is the Tenth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:30am

Lifeboat 9 is the tenth to be Launched.
Lowered by: 1st Officer Murdoch, 6th Officer Moody,
Purser McElroy, Bruce Ismay
Crew member in charge: Boatswain's Mate Albert Haines


Lifeboat 9 had been swung out and ready earlier in the evening, but because of the panic that had taken place by lifeboats 12 and 14 on the other side of the ship, number 9 was not launched until around 1:30am. There was a rumor among the passengers that men were going to be taken off on the aft port side. This left the aft starboard side, where number 9 was located, nearly deserted.
Many of the officers and crew that were on the starboard side, headed over to the other side to control the disorder that was accumulating in that area. Some officers had to use gun fire to control the disorder.

Once the situation was somewhat under control, the officers and crew resumed their efforts at lifeboat 9. After finally being loaded and once on the water, the passengers in the lifeboat noted that Titanic was noticeably down by the head, so they pulled away as fast as they could to avoid any suction from the ship.

Lifeboat 9 left Titanic with 40 of it's 65 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Californian Notices Rockets

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:29am

Stuck in the ice a few miles away, officers aboard the Californian count five rockets that have been fired from a ship out in the distance. 2nd Officer Herbert Stone and an apprentice named James Gibson both agree that the distant ship maybe in distress. Stone contacts Captain Stanley Lord who has been napping in the chart room, and informs him about the situation. Captain Lord suggests trying to make contact by morse lamp and to let him know when they get an answer. As the officers signal, they notice that the distant ship's lights are disappearing. They assume the ship is steaming away.

See related article: The Mystery Ship

Timeline Article: Titanic Has Less Than An Hour To Live

Nine of Titanic's lifeboats have been launched and there is no rescue ship is in sight. Even though Carpathia has responded, she is still 3 hours away from Titanic's location. The fact that the unsinkable ship is actually sinking has become apparent to everyone, and the horrible reality of the situation begins to set in. Titanic will disappear beneath their feet before help arrives. To the people aboard, the evacuation of Titanic is no longer a precautionary measure, it is now a life or death situation.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 12 is the Ninth to be Launched. Titanic's Situation Becomes Desperate.

Monday, April 15, 1912

1:30am

Lifeboat 12 is the ninth to launched.

Lowered by: Chief Officer Wilde, 2nd Officer Lightoller

Crew member in charge: Seaman John Poingdestre

As lifeboat 12 is being filled with passengers, the situation on Titanic is growing desperate. The night is cold and dark aboard this tilting ship of light. Nearly half of the lifeboats have been launched and no rescue ship is in sight. With families not wanting to be separated, and other passengers trying to swarm the lifeboats, Titanic's officers are having difficulties with upholding the "women and children first" order and controlling the growing panic on the boat deck.

Lifeboat 12 is launched with about 42 out of 65 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 14 is the Eighth to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912

1:25am

Lifeboat 14 is the eighth to be launched.
Lowered by: Chief Officer Wilde, 2nd Officer Lightoller
Crew member in charge: 5th Officer Lowe

As lifeboat 14 begins to descend down the port side, a wave of desperate men rush into the boat. Seaman Joseph Scarrott is aboard lifeboat 14, and begins to beat the men back with the lifeboat's tiller. More passengers try to climb aboard as it passes the open promenade of A deck. 5th Officer Lowe fires warning shots with his gun and threatens the men who have already climbed aboard.

Lifeboat 14 finally touches the water with 40 out of 65 seats occupied.

Lifeboat 14 as it was being lowered down Titanic's port side.
Desperate passengers try to jump aboard.

Timeline Article: Lifeboat 16 is the Seventh to be Launched

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:20am

Lifeboat 16 is the seventh to be launched.
Lowered by: Sixth Officer Moody
Crew member in charge: Joseph Bailey

Lifeboat 16 was loaded with passengers at the same time as 12 and 14, but was the first to be launched out of the three. A large crowd of people gathered on the boat deck around these lifeboats and officers Wilde, Lightoller, Lowe, and Moody had to control the crowd.
As the boat was being lowered, it was realised that there was only one seaman aboard. Master-at-Arms Joseph Bailey climbed down the falls and took command of the boat.
Very similar to the situation that took place on lifeboat 6 just before.

Lifeboat 16 leaves the ship from the port side with about 52 out of 65 seats occupied.

Timeline Article: Third Class Passengers Panic

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:15am

Still waiting deep down in the heart of Titanic are the Third class passengers. To these passengers, the fact that Titanic is sinking is obvious and they begin to panic...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer 

"One myth that still persists to this day is that of locked gates extending from floor-to-ceiling between the Third class areas and the rest of the ship. It must be noted that there is no evidence, either documented or from the wreck, that any such barriers existed. Bostwick gates and other physical forms of separation were in place at various locations throughout the vessel, but their primary purpose was to clearly mark points through which Third class passengers could not pass, as many could not read. Gates were not intended, nor were they constructed, as a means of forcible confinement or physical restriction."

Excerpt from: Titanic: The Ship Magnificent Volume Two

By: Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner