Monday 1 September 2014

London - Oceanic House - News of Sinking

 When the Titanic struck the iceberg it was 02:40 in London. The initial SOS calls and reports were in the early hours of the morning and as the first editions of the newspapers were being published, the SS Carpathia had yet to arrive at the location of Titanic. 

The reports received were conflicting and confusing, as information arrived from various sources. Some accounts stated that Titanic was under tow to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Reuters reported that Titanic had sank with no loss of life, as did the Daily Mirror.



As the day progressed the true scale of the disaster unfolded and by the evening the London Evening News was reporting the great loss of life.

Outside the White Star Line Offices at Oceanic House, just off Trafalgar Square, newsboy Ned Parfett was selling the newspaper holding a poster proclaiming the disaster.

Ned Parfett newsboy outside Oceanic House

IJ outside Oceanic House




New York - Pier 59

On the evening of the 18th April 1912 the RMS Carpathia entered New York Harbour, heading up the Hudson River to Chelsea Piers. The Carpathia would eventually dock at Cunard's Pier 54 to disembark the survivors of the Titanic. She would however go to the White Star's Pier 59 to drop of the Titanic's lifeboats.

White Star line's first thought was to get their lifeboats back !. They would be the only part of the Titanic that would reach New York.

White Star Line Pier 59 New York
RMS Olympic docked at Pier 59

The International Mercantile Marine Company, White Star Line's owners, operated from Chelsea Piers which were opened in 1907. The White Star Line piers were 59 and 60, other IMM lines using the other piers. Additional construction was required to lengthen the White Star piers in order to accommodate the Olympic Class liners.




New York 2019
Pier 59


New York 2019
Pier 59

New York Pier 59
Carpathia drops of Titanic's Lifeboats
 
New York Pier 59
Carpathia drops of Titanic's Lifeboats
Titanic's Lifeboats Pier 59

Titanic's Lifeboats Pier 59
Titanic's Lifeboats Pier 59