Countdown to Disaster

The Last Days of the R.M.S. Titanic

Saturday, April 13, 1912

 Saturday, April 13th, 1912 was the third full day of Titanic's voyage, which had actually started four days ago on the 10th. Between noon Friday and noon Saturday, Titanic covered 519 miles. During the day the ships Borderer, Minnehaha, and Hellig Olav all encountered heavy ice directly in Titanic's path. Titanic would not hear of it, however, as the operators still had not managed to fix the wireless.

 At about 10:30, Captain Smith set out on his daily inspection of the ship. While in the Engine Room, the Chief Engineer, Joseph Bell, informed the Captain that the fire in Boiler Room 6 had finally been put out and the danger was over. However, the bulkhead that formed part of the coal bunker was damaged and a stoker was sent to rub oil on it. It would be an ugly scar that the ship would carry until she returned from the voyage, but it was better than having the New York Fire Department put out the blaze when they reach the United States.

 The ship's wireless was still being repaired, the damaged object being the secretary. Work on it began early, but it would not be fixed until the afternoon. That morning, Major Butt from the 1st Cabin came down to see it in action, but was informed by Phillips that it was still under repair. Though disappointed, Butt was impressed by the operator's dedication.

 At dinner, Dr. O'Loughlin raised a glass to the Titanic. Mary Sloan, a young Irish stewardess, recalled seeing him later leaning against one of the banisters of the Grand Staircase, speaking to the ship's designer Thomas Andrews, who had just come back from another of his inspections. He addressed Andrews by his Christian name, calling him 'Tommy.' Unbeknownst to nearly all aboard, Titanic was sailing straight for dangerous waters off Newfoundland.  

Countdown to Disaster has been prepared for ACT I by Titanic Researcher Addison Hart of DeKalb, Illinois.

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