The Titanic - 100 Years Later

Sunday April 15 was not only Easter for Coptic Christians. It was 100 years to the day since the sinking of the Titanic. As we were going through the Suez Canal, at mid-day we observed a minute of silence for those that died on the Titanic. We also learned a little about Carpathia - the Cunard ship that had been the first to reach the site of the Titanic disaster. That evening we had a special commemorative dinner for the role played by Carpathia in the rescue of all the Titanic survivors.

The dinner honored Arthur Rostron, Captain of the Carpathia, whose decisions saved so many people. The wireless operator on the Carpathia heard the SOS from the Titanic at 12:15 AM on April 15, 1912. He was untying his shoes, preparing for bed, but he still had his earphones on his head. The wireless operator raised Captain Rostron, who had retired.

Rostrom immediately ordered a change in course. The Carpathia was 58 miles from Titanic, traveling at 14 knots. At that speed it would have taken 4 hours to get there. Rostrom ordered the Chief Engineer to turn off all the hot water so that every ounce of steam could be used for the engines. All off duty stokers were used to shovel coal, The ship exceeded its maximum speed, eventually reaching 17 knots. Without radar, the ship sped past icebergs, only visible to the lookouts through the reflection of the stars. At 4 AM the Carpathia reached Titanic’s position. By 8:30 AM the last survivor had been rescued, and the Carpathia which started with 700 passengers had doubled her complement of passengers.

Though much decorated for his exemplary actions, Rostron was reluctant to speak publicly about the Titanic disaster. Many years later, in response to a journalist’s query, as to how the little ship had managed to travel at a speed beyond which she was capable, through ice in the dark, the deeply religious Rostron simply replied, “A hand other than mine was on the wheel that night.”