Countdown to Disaster

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

Sunday, April 7, 1912

 Sunday, April 7th, 1912 was Easter Sunday. Titanic spent her fourth day resting in Berth No. 44 at the White Star dock in Southampton, preparing for her maiden voyage. The tide in Berth 44 was up to a depth of 40 feet above the main tide. The same would be true for Berth 43, which had previously held Titanic's sister ship Olympic, which had departed Southampton April 4th, the day Titanic arrived. Due to Easter, there was very little activity at the White Star dock, most of the crew was gone as well.

 There was no time to send Titanic any newly mined coal, so she was loaded with coal from five other I.M.M. ships, as well as with left over coal from the Olympic. The new ship's huge boilers had already consumed 415 tons of coal in the last week (mainly to heat the ship and to operate her cargo winches). The ship had arrived in Southampton with 1,880 tons of coal. 4,427 tons of the stuff had been brought aboard in Southampton, mainly on the previous day.

 In all, aboard Titanic, all was peaceful. The dock was completely deserted due to the significance of the day. The only movement on the ship was that of the Blue Ensign that had been hoisted up that evening, which gently fluttered in the breeze. With evening came the lookout, who rang the ship's bell to mark off the hours.

 These were to be the last quiet hours Titanic would ever know.

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

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