Saturday, 1 November 2014

New York - News of Titanic Sinking

The Titanic began sending out distress signals shortly after midnight ships time (22:05 EST). The messages detailed that the ship and had hit an iceberg and requested assistance. News began to circulate.  The first bulletin to arrive at the New York Times reached their office at 01:20 EST an hour before the Carpathia reached the survivors. 

New York Times Newsroom at time of Titanic sinking

The first news that the Titanic had sunk was reported from the SS Carpathia in a telegram to the Associated Press in New York. 

SS Carpathia reports sinking of Titanic

The news of the tragedy started to unfold, more details originating from the SS Olympic when the ship arrived at the the position where Titanic sank. 

Telegram detailing sinking of Titanic


The full extent of the tragedy was not know as the story began to break in the early editions of the newspapers. The New York American was reporting in Times Square that the loss of life was between 1,500 to 1,800.

News of Titanic's sinking Times Square New York
Times Square New York 2016

The New York Times reported that 876 had been rescued , speculating that as many 1,250 had perished. 


New York Times headlines April 16th 1912



New York Times April 16th 1912






New York - White Star Offices Titanic News

The White Star Line's New York Offices were located at 11 Broadway in lower Manhattan.  The building containing White Star, Bowling Green Offices, takes it name from the small park opposite.  

Bowling Green Offices New York
White Star Line New York Office


Bowling Green Offices New York 2019
 Located in "Steamship Row", adjacent were offices of the International Mercantile Marine Company (White Star Line's owners), rivals Cunard, American Line, all conveniently near the United States Customs House.
 
New York US Customs House
 
New York US Customs House 2019 
Today the area is part of the Financial District of Manhattan, the Bowling Green Offices includes the
Bowling Green Bull One wall Street
Financial District  New York 2019
Bowling Green Offices 2019
New York Wine Exchange
As news  circulated that Titanic had hit an iceberg and sunk, crowds started to gather at the White Star Offices in Bowling Green as day broke on the 15th April 1912. Friends and relatives sought news of persons know to be on the Titanic, the offices were filled from rail to rail with anxious people. The crowd grew so big it spilled into the street and into Bowling Green Park. Police officers, including mounted police were deployed to control the crowds.  

White Star Offices crowds and mounted police


IJ Outside Bowling Green Offices 2019

White Star Offices - crowds spill into the street and Bowling Green Park
White Star Offices crowd - Bowling Green Park towards Customs House

 
 Bowling Green Park towards Customs House 2019

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

New York - Carpathia arrives with Titanic Survivors

On the evening of 18th April 1912 the RMS Carpathia arrived in New York with 705 survivors from the Titanic.




 
New York Harbour 2019
Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the background

 

New York Harbour 2019
Statue of Liberty
 
New York Harbour 2019
Ellis Island

RMS Carpathia entering New York
The Carpathia on entering New York harbour headed up the Hudson River towards Chelsea  Piers, where ultimately she would dock at Pier 54.

Chelsea Piers

New York Harbour 2019
Hudson River and Manhattan
New York Harbour 2019
River Hudson
RMS Carpathia New York

 


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




Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Belfast - Titanic Experience


Located next to the slipway that built the Titanic and Olympic opposite the Harland & Wolf Offices (now Titanic Hotel Belfast) is the Titanic Experience.

Titanic Experience Belfast
 


Titanic Experience Belfast
Model showing visitor centre and Titanic Slipway
The visitors centre records the background to the Titanic, it's construction, launch, and fitting out, before undergoing sea trials and leaving Belfast. The exhibits go on to tell of the maiden voyage, it's sinking and the finding of the wreck in 1985.





Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Experience Belfast
The first level outlines life in Belfast in the 1910's. Level two takes you to the top of the Arrol Gantry, boarding a ride which takes you through the shipyard as Titanic was being constructed. Level three places one on a gallery overlooking Slipway no 3 where Titanic was built and the launched.

Slipway no 3 from where Titanic was launched
Level four displays 1st / 2nd / 3rd Class cabins. A screen trip takes you through the Titanic from the Engine Room to the Bridge.

Titanic Experience Belfast
1st Class Staircase
Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic's Bridge
 Level five chronicles the maiden, and only, voyage. It provides an opportunity to stroll along the deck of Titanic and look at her lifeboats.  



IJ on board the Titanic
IJ inspecting Titanic's lifeboats

At 11:40 pm (23:40) April 14th 1912 Titanic struck an iceberg 620 km (400  miles) south of Newfoundland and sank two hours later. Level 6 tells the story.
 11:40 pm (23:40) April 14th 1912 Titanic struck an iceberg
Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Sinking

Titanic Experience Belfast
Titanic Sinking
The seventh level deals with the aftermath of the sinking and the inquiry into what had gone wrong. 


Level eight exhibits the myths and realities of Titanic, the book and films which the disaster has borne.
Titanic Movie 1997 
In September 1985 the wreck of the Titanic was discovered 600 km (370 miles) south east of the Newfoundland coast lying at a depth of 3,880 metres (12,500 feet). The bow section was recognisable with much of its interior preserved. The stern section was in poor condition and surrounding the area was a debris field which contained thousands of items spilled from the ship as she sank.
 
Level nine of the Titanic Experience provides a glass floor over which one can walk over the wreck site. 

 

Titanic Wreck site
Titanic Experience Belfast Wreck Site