100th Anniversary of the sinking of Titanic – 15th April 2012
One hundred years ago today, the RMS Titanic sank on its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg on the way to New York.
Below is the story of its final hours told in tweets from The History Press:
#officer 3 gongs coming from the lookout and a report on the telephone – Iceberg Right Ahead. Hard-a-starboard!!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer The ship's head is swinging over to port as the tiller is now hard over to starboard – surely not….
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering Boiler room telegraph bell ringing, red light on the illuminated telegraph – FULL STOP!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering Water pouring in 2ft above stokehold plates in boiler room 6 and in the empty starboard side forward bunker of boiler room 5!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering Coal is falling around everyone's feet along with the water – I have no idea how to save us…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#quartermaster Entering the bridge to see a flurry of activity – the peak of an iceberg has just passed the bridge!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain *COLLISION WITH ICEBERG* Just been woken by a tremendous crashing sound, what is going on out there?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain Just entered the bridge to see chaos. Mr Murdoch – what have we struck?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Captain has ordered us to close the WTDs – already closed. The ship is swinging hard to starboard!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering A terrible hissing sound coming from the forepeak tank – must be the air escaping. Engines now in full reverse!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew The ship's engines have stopped – I need to investigate. What on earth was that?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering Are the ship's engines moving again? I can't understand why that would be, we need to stop!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Was that a 'half speed ahead' sign from the captain? I must have mis-understood amidst all this chaos…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering The forepeak tank is filling quickly; air is coming out and water coming in!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#passenger Everyone is up and talking about what they heard. I am more worried about the enormous jolt, ice perhaps?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer The ship is still moving around 4-6 knots through the water – it will take a while to stop this immense vessel.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew The iceberg off the starboard quarter is disappearing into the night – we are still moving but not by much. Ice all over the well deck
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass What on earth was that?? It felt like the very earth was moving!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain Ismay has come up on deck on and is asking what happened – all we know is that we struck an iceberg. Damage yet unknown.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain Engines now set to full stop – we are clear from the iceberg. It has disappeared off the starboard quarter.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#carpathia Sending out our final communication with Titanic – apparently some mishap has taken place but I assume it isn't serious.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer All men have been ordered to return to stations – we need to assess the damage sustained.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew An officer has come out of his quarters and quickly decides the collision was nothing serious, has he not heard up from engineering?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Just reported to the captain that holds 1,2 and 3 are flooding quickly – he has gone below deck to meet up with an officer.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass Everyone is rushing up on deck to see what the problem is…it is just me or are we tilting?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering The floods are now 8ft over the stokehold plates in boiler room 6. Someone just said they are at 7ft in hold 1 to. Good God….
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Water coming in from starboard side as I look down from G Deck – someone needs to tell engineering.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering All the lights have suddenly gone off in the stokeholds – we need lamps for boiler room 5 quickly!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain Heading down the working staircase onto E Deck and the engine room, I need to see this damage for myself.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Lights are out all through engineering, we have been tasked to get some lamps to the stokeholds immediately.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain I have returned to deck and given the order to the boatswain, all lifeboats need to be ready for lowering immediately!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#fireman I was woken with a shout from someone and had to wade through water to get to the staircase. What on earth has happened?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster Come along chaps, get your stuff together, the captain has requested our presence in the first class lounge.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster No questions, I have received an order to play, and play we will.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#passenger Why are the lifeboats being readied? This ship is unsinkable, this cannot be happening!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain The boatswain has given the order 'All hands up and about the boats', we need to muster the list for loading the passengers…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Clocks did not need to go back this time due to the accident – more pressing issues at hand!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#engineering The lights have come back on in the stokeholds thank God. Boiler room 5 gauges are low, we need to get men to draw fires!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Water is only 2ft of F Deck, although it seems to have slowed down. Nevertheless it is still rising and we have to abandon ship.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Now inspecting the line of boats being readied on the port side, the men are working as fast as they can!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew The chunks of ice in the well deck are enormous! Someone needs to investigate the damage under the forecastle head as well.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain How can holds 1, 2 & 3 be gone already? This ship is supposed to be unsinkable and those holds watertight!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#thirdclass Water is beginning to build up, this is not looking good! Where is my wife God damn it?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#passenger All this water…it is only within a few feet of reaching the E Deck staircase. How can this be?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster Just going down to give them a tune, cheer them up a bit.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer The captain has returned to give the order. All lifeboats to be swung out and passengers brought on deck with lifebelts on.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew How can this be happening? This ship is unsinkable!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer 13 men have been ordered up to place 4 loaves of bread in each lifeboat, who knows how long it will be until we are found?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass The band has started to play in the lounge, at this late hour!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain I have told the two Marconi operators that they may need to send a CQD – but not to do so until I give the order.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#passenger Everyone is being ordered up immediately for boarding onto the lifeboats. They will never take all the passengers on board!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#ThomasAndrews I cannot believe this. The ship cannot be saved, she only has 1 to 1.5 hours at most before she goes under…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster Gentlemen, let us move up to the foyer, I believe that is where we are needed most.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass This is tiresome, but I suppose one has to show willing. Come along darling, out on deck, as they say.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain The decision has been made; boats are to be loaded with women and children first. No man is an exception to this rule!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Captain has told us to signal for assistance and report our current position, please God let someone hear this….
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain 1 and a half hours is nowhere near long enough, how can we save everyone?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer First CQD transmitted with distress coordinates sent – we wait to see who responds…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew I can't make it out but I may have seen a light off Titanic's port bow. I hope to goodness I have, we may then have a chance.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Ypiranga We have received a distress call from Titanic, she requires immediate assistance!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Caronia Distress call received from the Titanic. Why would she require assistance? She is unsinkable.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Carpathia Titanic has sent a distress signal, they have struck an iceberg and require immediate assistance!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew The first lifeboat has been launched, No. 7, starboard side forward. We have a crew member on board and in charge.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster We are needed on deck, fetch your lifejacket and report back to the port-forward first class entrance.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#first class I don't see why I should get on that lifeboat, it is much safer on the ship surely.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass I say, watch it! A fellow with a cello just pushed passed in a real hurry.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Captain Smith will not leave deck – he insists on overseeing the loading and lowering of the boats.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#captain Both the Mount Temple and Frankfurt have heard our calls. I have instructed the crew to find out Frankfurt's position.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Boat No. 5 is launched but it is chaos on deck. Everyone is pushing and shoving to get their children or themselves on a boat.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass On to the lifeboat my dear, don't worry there will be one for me later. Come along now, don't get upset.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass My darling, the band are still playing, there is plenty of time for me to get on another lifeboat.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer There is water flowing down the stairs from E Deck to F Deck, there can be no saving her…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#bandmaster Land of Hope and Glory next I think.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#steward The water on E Deck is up to the second funnel casing by the main first class stairway port and starboard sides. It's unstoppable.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#firstclass No sir, I will not put on a lifejacket, we are dressed in our best and prepared to go down like gentlemen!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Olympic I think we intercepted Titanic's communications, it says they have struck an iceberg and are sinking. That can't be right…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Carpathia We have called Titanic to confirm both positions – we must come to their aid.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#Olympic We are trying to contact Titanic to confirm – we need to know their position and get there quickly if reports are true.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#crew Boat No. 3 has now been launched with chaos still overwhelming on deck. The panic is becoming more apparent.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 14, 2012
#officer Boat No. 8 launched on the port side forward. There is no way we will be able to fit all these people on the boats…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#Ypiranga We hear Titanic's SOS-CQD and her position. We are on our way to assist.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#Olympic We can now clearly hear their distress call but we need a position, currently trying to answer but with no response.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Boat No. 1 now safely launched. Things are starting to get very heated amongst passengers; it is only a matter of time…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#engineering We have finally received some portable suction pipes, but I feel it is too little too late. Four brave men are in boiler room 4
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#thirdclass Did you see that? That woman just fell from right up there! They saved her though, pulled her back in on deck.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#quartermaster Boat No. 6 has been launched, and I am in charge of it. I feel relief but also pity for those who will not be as lucky…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#Olympic Finally a message from Titanic, they have struck an iceberg and require assistance. Our position is 505 miles away…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer This is not looking good, the water level is up to the second row of ports just under Titanic's name at the bow…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Boat No. 16 has launched with the Master-at-Arms in charge. The ship is starting to pitch violently and water levels are rising.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#engineering All that could have been done has been done…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer We are going down fast at the head, the captain's predictions may not turn out to be accurate. God help us all.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Another boat launched, No. 14. Numbers 13 and 15 are also preparing to be lowered with people scrambling to get aboard…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#captain All the boats are being lowered but there simply aren't enough. No one planned for this circumstance…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer Major panic is beginning to set in and guns being pulled out by officers to control the crowds. Women and children first!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#thirdclass Why won't they let my wife and son on board a lifeboat? They have as much right as those in first class!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Boat No. 14 overwhelmed by a sudden rush of gentlemen trying to board the lifeboat. A warning gunshot has been fired!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer The ship is now listing noticeably to port – lifeboat 10 has only a 2.5ft gap between the side of the rail on the Boat Deck!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#engineering The engine room is now beyond saving, it is severely flooded with more water coming in by the minute. We need to save ourselves
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#Olympic We are lighting up all possible boilers to make haste to Titanic's location, please say we will make it there in time…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer Women and children in boats cannot last much longer. What else can be done?
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#captain I have told all those in the wireless cabin to leave and look out for themselves. There is nothing more they can do.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Collapsible boat C has been launched with the quartermaster in charge. I fear I will never be able to leave this ship…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Good God, people are jumping from the ship into the sea. They will all perish in the ice cold water…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#quartermaster Fortunate enough to be on boat C as boat D is also launched. The well deck is completely submerged. I hope they got out…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#bandmaster Gentlemen, the end I fear is fast approaching, what to play next… Nearer My God To Thee I think.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#captain I retire to the bridge. She cannot be saved, but I will go down with my ship. I have told the crew – Be British.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Did you hear that? An enormous crash as if the iron is parting from the ship. I must get on deck as soon as possible!
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#officer The ship took an enormous dive then, something must have buckled. The water is now up to the crow's nest and into the forebridge.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#BoatNo1 All the lights have now dimmed, pure darkness. Only screams can be heard…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#BoatNo1 She has split in two abaft the expansion plate! The stern has righted itself but the bow is lost, sinking quickly…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#BoatNo1 Good God, the stern came well out of the water then and the ship is pitching – Look at those poor people…
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#crew Here we go…the ship took a huge plunge and righted herself again. Everyone is panicking, what do I do??
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#BoatNo1 The stern has pitched straight up, dear Lord it sounds like thunder! All the boats are quiet, and all we can see are people falling
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
#BoatNo1 She is gone…The unsinkable ship….Lost in the depths….All around check their watches 2.20a.m. – exactly.
— TitanicVoyage (@TitanicRealTime) April 15, 2012
A Few Ramblings... 
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