Picture this: it’s April 1912, and a massive ship, the RMS Titanic, sinks on a chilly, starry night in the middle of the ocean. People on both sides of the Atlantic are eager for any news they can get, but the facts about what happened are hard to come by. Imagine newspapers trying their best to tell the story, but the information they have is limited, leaving a lot of unanswered questions. Some newspapers even make big mistakes, saying everyone was safe when, in reality, many lives were lost. The true details only start to become clear when a rescue ship arrives in New York a few days later. Even then, confusion and rumors swirl around, making it tough to separate fact from fiction.
Many of the people who lost their lives in the tragedy were the crew members and members of the third-class passengers. But it also affected some of the world’s wealthiest and most well-known families like, Isidor and Ida Straus and John Jacob Astor. The ship’s grandeur, its first journey, and its famous passengers made the sinking even more heartbreaking in people’s minds.
Thankfully, to preserve the story for history’s sake, government officials in the United States and Great Britain acted quickly to investigate the Titanic’s sinking. These investigations began shortly after the tragedy, starting on April 19 in the United States and May 2 in Great Britain.
Their inquiries were crucial in revealing many facts about the disaster that we now recognize. They found that the ship was going too fast considering the icy conditions, its construction made it more prone to sinking than previously thought, and there weren’t enough lifeboats for everyone on board, among other significant issues. These inquiries were like piecing together a puzzle, bringing forth critical details that shaped our understanding of what led to the Titanic’s tragic end.
Over a century has passed since the RMS Titanic, a ship that was regarded as unsinkable met its tragic demise on its maiden voyage in April 1912. Beyond the heart-wrenching tales of heroism, grief, fear, and despair the aftermath was marked by thorough investigation, inquiry, and reforms. This was one of the most important events in maritime history. Diving into the aftermath and investigations of the Titanic disaster reveals some important details, where lessons were learned and changes were implemented to prevent such fatal accidents in the future.
Investigations Begin: The Quest for Answers
Senator Smith Leads Titanic Inquiry
An American Senator named William Alden Smith, who was a lawyer, spearheaded the U.S. Senate’s investigation into the Titanic’s sinking. He acted swiftly, gathering important witnesses. There was a concern that these witnesses might leave the United States and return to England before being questioned. Smith and his team met the Carpathia upon its arrival at the New York dock to issue subpoenas to the surviving crew members of the Titanic, the captain of the Carpathia, and J. Bruce Ismay, the head of the White Star Line and a survivor of the disaster.
The inquiry kicked off the next morning, on April 19 at a New York hotel before relocating to Washington, D.C., a few days later. This investigation was a critical effort to gather firsthand accounts and information to understand the events surrounding the Titanic’s tragic sinking.
Senator Smith left no stone unturned, questioning a total of 82 witnesses, among them were four officers, 34 crew members, and 21 passengers from the Titanic. Their stories revealed shocking details: the ship’s fast pace, the captain’s seeming disregard for iceberg warnings, the crew’s lack of readiness in handling lifeboats, and a disturbing account of another nearby ship that ignored the Titanic’s signals for help.
Smith focused on blaming the SS Californian and its captain, Stanley Lord, whom he also questioned intensely. The investigation brought to light the negligence and puzzling actions of this nearby ship during the Titanic’s distress, stirring up a lot of questions and controversy.
Senator Smith’s subcommittee released a highly detailed report on May 28, which is still considered a crucial document for Titanic historians today. The report was commended for its thoroughness and significance in unraveling the disaster’s details.
However, Smith’s approach drew criticism. A London newspaper accused him of being harsh on witnesses, especially Ismay, who had faced severe backlash in the American press for his actions during the Titanic’s sinking. Critics worldwide highlighted Smith’s lack of maritime knowledge and ridiculed some of his questions to the Titanic’s crew. One infamous instance was when he asked Fifth Officer Harold G. Lowe, “Do you know what an iceberg is composed of?” Lowe, in response, wittily replied, “Ice, I suppose, sir.” The incident became a subject of ridicule in newspapers globally.
Despite criticism and mockery from various sources, including The New York Times, it was acknowledged that Smith, despite his shortcomings, managed to uncover vital information that the public deserved to know about the Titanic’s tragic sinking. The senator’s work shed light on the responsibilities—both direct and indirect—for the ship’s loss, providing clarity on the disaster.
Furthermore, Smith’s report served an important role. Documenting extensive testimony, made it incredibly challenging for the British inquiry to gloss over or overlook the disaster, as there were concerns it might. This record of testimony ensured a thorough examination of the incident rather than allowing it to be misrepresented or overlooked. The investigation ended on May 25, 1912.
British Barrister Steps into Titanic Investigation
After about two weeks following the Titanic sinking, the British Board of Trade launched the second major inquiry. Senator Smith had previously criticized this organization, blaming its loose rules and quick inspections as significant factors leading to the disaster.
In charge of this investigation was Lord Mersey, also known as John Charles Bigham. He was a lawyer well-versed in handling cases related to shipping.
Titanic historian Daniel Allen Butler noted in his 2009 book, ‘The Other Side of the Night,’ that many were surprised by the court’s unexpected impartiality, although those familiar with Lord Mersey were not taken aback. Over the following five weeks, the court displayed remarkable objectivity. Butler remarked that even the Board of Trade was not exempt from Lord Mersey’s astute observations and critical remarks.
Lord Mersey’s advantage was the wealth of evidence gathered by William Alden Smith’s subcommittee. Among Mersey’s personal papers related to the Titanic were his private notes on the inquiry, which included two copies of the American report.
Mersey’s court of inquiry examined 97 witnesses and released its report in late July. Although the British report covered similar ground as the American one, according to Wyn Craig Wade in his 2012 book ‘The Titanic: Disaster of the Century,’ the British investigators emphasized nautical and navigational aspects more than the human side of the tragedy. The report delved deeply into how the Titanic sustained damage and subsequently flooded.
The British report left some disappointed as they anticipated a harsher critique of the Titanic’s captain, E.J. Smith, particularly for not slowing down the ship. Surprisingly, it absolved him of negligence but acknowledged that he had made a ‘very serious mistake.’ Similarly, J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman, was let off the hook. The report concluded that had Ismay not boarded a lifeboat, it wouldn’t have saved more lives, just his own.
Captain Stanley Lord faced a different fate. In contrast to Smith’s treatment, Lord received a more detailed examination from Mersey. The final report concluded that “When the Californian first spotted the distress rockets, the ship could have navigated through the ice to open waters without significant danger and provided assistance to the Titanic. If this action had been taken, it might have potentially saved numerous, if not all, of the lives that tragically perished.
The recommendations put forward by the British inquiry encompassed crucial changes for safer sea travel. These suggestions highlighted the need for an ample supply of lifeboats, comprehensive training for crew members in managing them, increased governmental oversight in ship design and watertight compartments, mandatory installation of wireless telegraphs on all vessels, and sufficient staffing of operators to man them continuously.
Most notably, many of these recommendations were integrated into international maritime law by 1914, signifying their widespread acceptance and adoption to enhance safety standards for sea travel worldwide.
Debate and Speculation: The Controversy Surrounding the Californian’s Role in the Titanic Tragedy
The investigations by both the U.S. and British inquiries didn’t really put an end to the discussions and debates about the Titanic’s sinking. Much attention was given to the Californian. Those who supported Captain Lord, nicknamed “Lordites,” thought that he was unfairly blamed. They believed there was another ship, possibly the Samson, positioned between the Leyland liner and the Titanic, which many people eventually supported.
The crew aboard the Californian claimed they didn’t hear the distress signals, although according to U.S. and British investigators, they should have heard them if the ship was as close as they said. Moreover, people on the Titanic mentioned a vessel moving towards them, which couldn’t have been the Californian since it was stationary at the time. While it’s probably impossible to know for sure where the Californian actually was, many experts think it was about 20 miles (37 km) away and wouldn’t have reached the Titanic before it went down. Despite this, Captain Lord is still criticized for not doing more after receiving the distress signals.