Original subtitles

In 1898, a struggling author named Morgan Robertson wrote this book.

It was fiction.

It looked into the future and told the story of a fabulous Atlantic liner far

larger than any that had ever been built.

Its displacement was 70,000 tons.

Its top speed, 25 knots.

Its length, 800 feet.

On a day in April, she departed on a voyage across the North Atlantic.

Her capacity was 3,000 people.

But since she was considered unsinkable, she carried lifeboats for only a

fraction of that number.

Four days later, on a cold April night, she raced across the North Atlantic,

heedless of iceberg warnings, struck an iceberg, and went down, carrying the

rich.

and complacent aboard her to the bottom.

It symbolized the end of an age of luxury, class, inequality, of supreme

self-confidence, of man against fate.

The name Robertson gave his ship was the Titan.

The name of his book, Futility.

In 1912, 14 years after this book was published, a British shipping company,

the White Star Line, built a fabulous Atlantic liner far larger than any that

had ever been built.

Fast off the spring line!

Fast off the spring line!

Her displacement was 66,000 tons.

Her length?

882 feet.

Her top speed, 25 knots.

On

April

the 10th, 1912, she departed Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York.

Her capacity was 3,000 people, but since she was considered unsinkable, she

carried lifeboats for only a fraction of that number.

The name the White Star Line gave to its ship, the Titanic.

Four days later, on a cold april night she raced across the north atlantic

carrying passengers worth collectively 250 million dollars

this is the story of her last night as remembered by those who survived what

you will see all actually took place it is as accurate as man can reconstruct

that night this is not fiction this is fact

Although meals were included in the price of passage, here in the Titanic a

la carte restaurant, it was possible to be even more exclusive by paying

handsome prices for them.

Yes, sir?

The Wideners will be here any moment.

Have arrangements been made?

Yes, at the corner table.

Good. The captain will be dining with their party.

I'll look after them myself, sir.

Mr. Strauss, Mrs. Strauss, good evening.

How are you this evening?

Working in his stateroom at 6.45 that night was Thomas Andrews, builder

of the Titanic.

At 39 years old, the senior naval architect of Harland and Wolfe

shipbuilders, a shipbuilding genius.

Come.

Excuse me, sir.

But it's nearly seven o'clock and you'll be late for the Widener's dinner party.

Alfred, I designed the first class writing room as a place for ladies to

retire to after dinner.

But it hardly ever seems to be occupied.

Well, if I may be allowed an observation, sir, the ladies of the 20th

century are not as retiring as they formerly were.

I believe you're right.

At any rate, I'm going to make it smaller.

Thank you, Alfred.

And put in two more staterooms.

Although this was a working trip for Thomas Andrews, his official capacity on

board was that of a passenger.

As was that of Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, president and managing director of the

White Star Lines.

Of course, we haven't begun to see yet what he can do, but I have asked for a

speed run for tomorrow morning, and we'll see what happens when we give her

a head. Do you think we'll break the record in New York, Mr. Ismay?

Dear, no, we're not out to set a speed record with the Titanic.

We should get up to 25 knots without too much trouble.

25 knots? I'm just saying, yes, ma'am. Oh, excuse me, gentlemen.

I was wondering if you might have that message I gave you this morning.

Message? Yes, the wireless message, the iceberg warning from the Baltic. Yes, of

course. I was showing it to Mrs. Thayer and Mrs.

They're very impressed.

Oh, thank you. We're going into dinner. No, I'm being entertained by the

whiteness this evening. I'm sorry. Well, I'll see you later then.

Captain Edward J. Smith, 59 years old, senior captain of the White Star Line.

The man who had said... I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening

to a vessel of today.

Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that. The wireless warning Captain

Smith... had asked Mr. Ismay to return at 7.10 in the smoking room, was the

third warning the captain had received that day.

The Titanic Salon Orchestra under the baton of Wallace Henry Hartley.

The selection, the Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffman.

After all, Mr.

Andrews built this ship. Now he seems to spend his time prowling around trying to

find fault with us. My dear, that's very alarming.

What fault have you discovered in Mr.

Andrews?

If you're interested. But of course I'm interested.

Then we're having trouble with the restaurant Gallyhock Press.

The color of the pebble dashing on the private promenade decks is too dark.

There are too many screws in the stateroom hatchet.

I want my money back.

At 7.30, iceberg warning number four was received.

It indicated an area directly in the path of the Titanic.

Well, you should have seen Tom Andrews at the trials.

There's not a detail on this ship that he isn't familiar with. He's terribly

conscientious.

Four decks below in the Titanic steerage were 712 souls, 179

women, 467 men and 78 children.

At nine that night, a young Irish couple were performing a jig.

Enjoying their performance, Klaus and Hilda Carson and their daughter

Gertrude.

The wireless room of the Titanic.

First operator John George Phillips on duty.

He was coming to the end of his 14-hour day doing his job, for which his pay was

$30 a month.

or approximately 7 cents an hour. The time, 9.30 p.m.

What are you getting?

Another ice warning.

Ah.

The Masaba reports ice latitude 42 degrees north foot.

Where's that?

I don't know. I'm no navigator.

Yeah, do you think it could be this... Oh, don't leave me alone, will you? I'm

trying to get Cape Grace.

What's Cape Grace?

A relay station in Newfoundland. The passengers have got me loaded with

messages to send to the States.

They must think this is a toy.

Listen.

Lovely trip.

Found my beads.

Guess who I ran into at the Vatican, dying to see you.

Love, Lily.

And there's stacks of... Wait a minute, that's Kate Grace now.

The fifth iceberg warning.

Had Operator Phillips been a navigator, he would have known... that the Titanic

was already well within the latitudes and longitudes described in the message.

What's the temperature, Moody?

33 degrees, sir.

Oh, better send word to the carpenter to see that the fresh water supply doesn't

freeze. Yes, sir. And warn the engine room to keep an eye on the steam

winches. Right, sir.

The warning to protect the steam winches from freezing was sent by second officer

Charles Herbert Lightoller at 10 p.m.

Good evening, Mr. Lightoller. Good evening, sir. It's getting colder.

Yes, sir, one degree above freezing.

Not much wind.

No, sir, flat calm.

Pity the breeze didn't keep up while we're going through this area.

Ice is easier to see at night if there are waves dashing against it.

Oh, well, we should have warning enough on a night as clear as this. I should

think so, sir.

Well, if anything unusual develops, I'll be in my cabin. Right, sir.

Good night, sir. Good night.

30 miles away, aboard the Leyland liner Californian, bound from London to

Boston. The time, 10.30.

Third Officer Charles Victor Groves on duty.

What's the problem, Mr. Groves?

An ice shield, Captain. We're blocked completely.

Oh, yes. Can't proceed through that. Too dangerous.

That's what I thought, sir. Stop all engines. We'll stay away out till

morning. Send out a warning to all ships in the area. Aye, aye, sir. I shall be

in the chart room. Send out that warning immediately.

Aye, aye, sir.

The wireless shack of the Californian.

Operator Cyril F. Evans on duty. Time, 11 p.m.

Sparks, send this ice warning to all ships within range. We are stopped

tonight. It's too dangerous to proceed.

Right.

Aboard the Titanic, wireless operator Phillips got the Californian signal all

right. They were so close it almost blew his ears off.

He didn't wait for the message, but snapped right back.

His reply, shut up, shut up, I'm busy, I'm working Cape Race.

Good night, Mr. Dismissal. Good night, Ed Hill.

Good night, ma'am.

Aboard the Titanic, the passengers had settled down for the night.

All but a few diehards.

Here in the first-class smoking room, the White Star Line's usual rule against

Sunday card playing had been relaxed, and a small group took advantage of the

privilege.

Time all good people were in bed, really.

Everywhere, quiet, had settled down over the ship.

Five decks below, even the stokers were taking their ease.

It was 11.35, almost the end of their shift.

Would anybody take a bet that we make 25 knots tomorrow?

I'd take a little bet on that.

You know what we've made today?

22 knots.

That's not bad.

Seaman Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee were on watch in the crow's nest.

Time, 11.40.

Air temperature, 32 degrees.

Water temperature, 31.

Like glass, isn't it?

Now, if they're on the moon, one can see for miles.

Good God! Look at that!

What? What is it?

Bridge, what did you say?

Heisberg! Right ahead, sir!

Father? Father, we're landing.

That sounded to me as if something went wrong in the kitchen.

I don't know.

Kill it.

Kill it. You've hit something. Get the chargers. Quickly. Come on.

Depending upon their location in the ship, the initial jar was felt in

varying degrees.

Shipbuilder Andrews, concentrated on his work, did not feel it at all.

What was that?

An iceberg, sir.

I hard starboarded and reversed the engines and I was going to hard port

around it, but she was too close. I couldn't do any more, sir. Close the

emergency doors.

They're already closed, sir. Take a look below, quickly.

Report back, quickly.

Thanks for the ground, that's what.

I tell you, we lost a propeller blade, that's what it was. I know the sort of

shudder a ship gives.

Well, you know what that means, lad. Back to Belfast for repairs.

In Belfast for at least a week.

It went thus throughout the ship.

Rumours, counter-rumours.

But above the depths of the ship, in first and second class, where the jar

was barely felt, there was little excitement, little or no commotion.

Mrs.

John B. Thayer of Philadelphia was reassured. Well, I'm sure I couldn't

tell you, madam, but I'm sure it isn't much.

And at 11.45, life aboard the great liner returned to its usual pace.

Nothing seemed amiss.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

Yet not quite.

I tell you, it was a propeller blade. It happened once on the old boat.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Ross.

Why have the engines stopped?

There is talk of an iceberg, ma'am. They have stopped not to run over it. An

iceberg? That's right, miss.

Oh, I've never seen an iceberg. Neither have I. Let's run up and see it.

A few of the more hardy among the passengers got together on the deck.

Among them, Colonel Archibald Gracie and his old friend, Clint Smith.

What's up? Why are we stopped?

Would you like a souvenir to take back to New York with you, Archie? A souvenir

of what?

Ice.

Where did you get ice?

Up forward. There are tons of it in the starboard well deck.

Brushed off the iceberg and we went past it. Come on, I'll show you. Some of the

steerage people are playing with it. It's quite a lot.

She's making water, fast, sir. Where? Number six boiler room. Number five,

too. Then what happened? What did we hit?

Any of the others damaged? I don't know, sir. That's as far as I got. The

emergency door is locked. Captain, what is going on?

I regret to state, Mr. Ismay, we have struck an iceberg.

Is the ship seriously damaged, do you think? I'm afraid she is.

I've sent for Mr.

Andrews. She can't sink, can she, with her watertight compartment? Mr. Andrews,

what's happened?

We've struck ice, Tom.

He's taking water past the number five, number six boiler rooms. We're going to

have a look at it.

A second officer, Lightoller, returned to his cabin from inspecting the deck.

He knew something was wrong, but he was off duty, and he should be where they

would expect to find him in case of emergency.

He waited, like the good officer he was.

What are they doing down here? I don't know.

I'll tell you what's up. It's up to the anchors and water.

Here, come and take a look at the cabin.

nearly out of number six boiler room and then started back to the next boiler

room where pumps were so far staying ahead of the water at

11 55 back from their inspection shipbuilder andrews outlined the

situation to captain smith and president is may in the charter and there were 16

separate watertight compartments with watertight bulkheads between each as she

is taking water in the first six compartments the four peak number one

hold number two hold the mail room boiler room number six and boiler room

number five that makes six compartments gone it means she's suffered a gash of

nearly 300 feet what are her chances it comes down to

mathematics mr israel the titanic can float with any two of our 16 watertight

compartments flooded she could float with even three of her first five

compartments flooded.

She might even float with all of her first four gone.

But with her first six all gone, she cannot stay afloat. The compartments are

watertight.

They're not sealed on top.

The bulkheads go only as high as EDEC.

If the first five are flooded, the bow will sink so low that the water in the

sixth compartment will overflow into the seventh compartment.

And when that is full, it will overflow into the eighth and so on back.

There is nothing that we can do.

I'm afraid not, sir.

The ship must go down.

How long do you give her, Tom?

The water was about 14 feet above the keel in the first 10 minutes.

It's now nearly midnight.

It's been 20 minutes since we hit the ice.

Let's say two hours.

Certainly very little more than that.

The bridge of RMS Titanic.

The time, 12 midnight, April 14, 1912.

A night to remember.

Mr. Wyatt, you have had the lifeboats uncovered immediately and swung out.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Murdoch. Yes, sir. Have the passengers mustered on the top deck as

quickly and as quietly as possible.

There will be no general alarm rung, nothing to cause panic.

Aye, aye, sir.

Break out the list of boats' assignments for the crew.

Break out this light along, Mr. Pittsburgh. Aye, sir.

British shipping laws required all vessels over 10,000 tons gross to carry

16 light boats.

President Ismay's line, the White Star Line, met the requirements.

The Titanic, 46,328 gross tons, carried

16 lifeboats which, along with four collapsibles, was enough to accommodate

a little over a thousand of its total capacity of 3,000 people.

The law had been fulfilled.

Yes, sir. We struck an iceberg.

Send out the call for assistance.

The regulation distress call, sir? Yes, at once.

There's our position.

In the wireless room of the liner Californian, standing where she had

stopped ten miles away, operator Evans, off duty since 11.30, was joined at 12

.08 by Officer Groves.

Groves was an amateur Marconi addict.

Any news?

Don't ask me. I'm closed for the night.

Pretty soft life, if you ask me.

You try working 16 hours without relief.

I might have a fool around. Suit yourself.

Any boats around?

Only the Titanic.

Oh, really?

Where's the receive switch?

Bottom, on the left.

Nothing.

Well, no wonder you have to wind the detector.

The what? The detector. It's magnetic.

Runs by clockwork.

You have to wind it up if you want to hear anything.

Oh, well, I'm tired.

I think I'll turn in.

There was no general alarm, captain's orders, but quickly and quietly word

passed among the passengers.

Mr. and Mrs.

Lucian Smith of Philadelphia.

What's the matter, darling?

It's all right, dear.

We're in the north, and we've struck an iceberg.

Now, it doesn't amount to anything, but it'll probably delay us a day getting

into New York. Oh.

Oh, you frighten me.

However, as a matter of form, the captain has ordered all ladies on deck.

Oh, no.

Steward Etches and Mining King Benjamin Guggenheim.

How's that, sir? Doesn't fit.

It hurts. Oh, well, we let it out a bit, sir.

Where is that ballad of mine? He's never around when I need him.

There now, sir. Is that better? No.

I feel ridiculous.

Oh, you need them, sir. They'll all be wearing them.

Now, look here. I don't need that. It'll be very chilly, sir. I'm much better if

you wear it. What are you talking about? It'll be perfectly all right.

In the third-class hallway on Edex, there was less formality and even more

difficulty.

Order! There is no danger. But the captain asked you all to put on life

belts.

Others,

like Colonel Gracie and

his friend Clint Smith, receiving no official word, put two and two together.

Yes? Stand up straight.

I am standing up.

You're right. She's beginning to listen.

Clinch.

If worse comes to worse, let's stick together.

We might be able to be of some help here and there, if it is serious.

All right, Archie.

We better get into something warm.

I'll meet you here in five minutes.

Five minutes.

At 12.15, Officer Wilde removed the covers from the lifeboats and Officer

Lightoller started the loading.

The captain has asked for the women and children to board the boats, please.

Come along, please.

Please come along.

Will you please?

Colonel Astor expressed what they all felt.

The loading at 12.15 was slow.

At 12.20, wireless operator Phillips received the first answers to his

distress call.

The North German Lloyd Steamer, Frankfurt, 150 miles away.

The Canadian Pacific's Mount Temple, 50 miles away.

But on the other side of the ice field.

The news spread in ever-widening circles.

Cape Race heard it and relayed it inland.

On the roof of Wanamaker's department store in New York City, a young wireless

operator, David Sarnoff, caught a faint signal and passed it on.

The time, 1224.

An Associated Press dispatch crossed the news desk of the New York Times.

The Titanic was sinking.

My God, I don't believe it. While the whole world was snapping to agonized

attention, Henry Sleeper Harper aboard the Titanic remained unconvinced.

Of course it's nonsense asking us to bob about in a boat out there in the dark

when we can stay in here.

Besides, it's freezing out there. You're perfectly right, my dear.

And Mrs. Esther wasn't frightened, only curious.

There you are, you see.

It's cork inside.

Why, how clever.

The last time I saw you, I told you to put on your life belt.

Yes, but I thought... Put it on. Walk about. Let the passengers see you in it.

Isn't that rather mean?

If you value your life, put it on.

Not this afternoon.

We'd better spend just one day in New York.

I'll change the reservation.

We can take the train to Florida on the 18th.

Is this coat all right?

Pretty cold on deck.

Well, maybe I better take them both.

Oh! What is it? My jewelry.

My dear, it might be wiser not to bother with trifles.

Well, I'll just take these two.

Come along now, dear.

You have to unlock it!

We're trying to get Trinity out of the way!

Step back in there!

What's your name, destroying company property?

I'll report you. And I'll have a whole bunch of you arrested when we reach New

York.

At 12.42 p.m., over one hour after striking the iceberg, it took more

bravery, or more foresight, to leave the Titanic than to stay aboard.

And Officer Murdoch felt he could wait no longer.

Lower away!

And

the

first boat, number seven.

was lower its capacity 40 its passengers 20.

time 12 45 at the very stern end of the titanic quartermaster george

thomas rowe facing his watch reported an unusual sight

sir sir

there's a boat to float out here

Well, sir, I just saw it.

Quartermaster Rowe, sir, stern watch.

What, sir?

And one hour and ten minutes after the Titanic hit, Quartermaster Rowe became

the last man to learn what was going on. Yes, sir, right away, sir.

Captain, Captain, there's a ship up there, sir, not more than ten miles

away. We've been trying to reach it by morseland.

Any reply?

I thought there was for a while, sir, but it seems to be just her masthead

flickering. Roe. Yes, sir? Did you bring up the rockets? Yes, sir. Well, fire

one. And then fire one every five or six minutes. Yes, sir.

She'll respond to those all right. Yes, sir.

On the bridge of the Californian, Second

Officer Herbert Stone watched and counted.

By 12.55, he had counted five rockets.

I thought she was trying to signal us a while back, sir.

I think it was just her masthead flickering.

Strange she'd be firing rockets at night.

Have a look at her now.

She looks very queer out of the water.

The lights look queer.

She seems to be listing.

Looks like she's got a big side out of water.

Yes, what is it?

Sir, there's a ship on the port bow.

I know that. What about it?

She's been firing rockets.

I've counted five of them altogether.

Are they company rockets?

I don't know, sir.

But they appear to me to be white rockets.

Well, use them or slam.

We did, sir. Well, use it again.

And at 1 a.m., Captain Stanley Lord of the SS Californian finally got

to sleep.

The time, 1 a.m., April 15, 1912.

A night to remember.

The Titanic Salon Orchestra under the baton of Wallace Henry Hartley.

The selection, Hello, My Baby.

Any response to that ship?

Right now, sir. I thought for a moment she was signaling back, but it seems to

be just under the mast.

Fire another.

The sight of the Titanic's distress signals may have made little impression

on the SS Californian, but aboard the Titanic, they had their effect.

And

the

team of Gracian Smith was already functioning smoothly.

Now quickly here.

Dearest, dearest, I never expected I'd have to ask you to obey, but this is one

time you must. Now it's only a matter of form to have the women and children go

first. The ship is thoroughly equipped. Everyone on it will be saved.

Are you telling me the truth? Yes.

Now quickly here, into a boat.

Women and children only.

Lower away!

Oh, dear!

Get her if she goes.

Keep your hands in your pockets. It's very cold weather.

Women and children only was the rule of the night on the port side of the ship

where Officer Lightoller was in charge.

But on the starboard side, Officer Murdoch was more lenient.

There we are.

Entering lifeboat number three, Henry Sleeper Hopper.

His Egyptian dragoman, Hamadassar.

And his prized Pekingese, Sun Yat-sen.

We'll be down to escort the women and children on deck in a short time. Please

be patient. A small group of women and children had been sent up from steerage

at 12.30.

That had been half an hour before.

Now, at 1.05, steerage waited patiently for the most part.

All right. Which way? Stay this way.

At 1236 in the wireless room of the Titanic operator Phillips received his

first encouragement She's 58 miles away sir,

and she says she's coming hard

58 miles.

They'll be too late.

Please, there's not a moment to lose. We must get the women and children off

first. Will you hurry along there, please?

Will you lower away? Lower away there. Hurry. If you jump the hell out of the

way, I'll be able to do something.

You want me to lower away quickly? You'll have me thrown the whole lot of

them.

There had been no need for a lifeboat drill aboard an unseekable ship.

No procedure for abandoning ship.

With no fixed policy to guide them, each behaved as the moment and their

characters dictated.

Where is your life belt, sir? I gave it away.

But, sir... My valet and I have dressed my best and we're prepared to go down

like gentlemen.

Yes.

As the moment dictated, Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon.

The Duff Gordon's boat, number one, was lowered at 110.

Capacity, 40.

Number of passengers, 12.

As their characters dictated... I have always stayed with my husband.

Why should I leave him now?

I beg you, my dear.

We have been living together many years.

Where you go...

I go. But all the other ladies are getting in.

Where he goes, I go. Sir, I'm sure no one's going to object to an old

gentleman like you getting in, sir.

I will not go before the other men.

This was the decision of Mr.

and Mrs. Isidore Strauss of New York City.

Time 115, number 10 lowered, carrying 53 passengers.

120, number 9, Lloyd, carrying 55.

Lloyd!

125, number 11, Lloyd, carrying 70.

There was no longer difficulty filling the boats. The passengers knew.

And at 1.30, Officer Lloyd used his gun.

On the starboard side at the moment, there were no candidates at hand.

And at 1.46, President Bruce Ismay made his most important decision as

president of the White Star Line.

Is there no one else to go?

There's room for one more.

Is there no one else?

Lower away.

Lower away.

At the time President Ismay left his ship, there remained on board 1643

passengers. Among them, 168 women and 57 children.

were allowed to find their way forward and up to the boat deck by themselves.

At 1.56, at lifeboat number four, the Astors had become aware of the

situation.

May I accompany my wife? She's in a delicate condition.

Women and children only. What is the number of this lifeboat? Number four.

Come on, let's go.

Jack! Jack!

This boy goes with his mother. He's only 13.

Step back there, will you, please?

Go more, boy!

All right, just two more down here. One more, come on.

Hey, hey, this way!

This way, this way! Come on!

The time, 2 a.m.

the last lifeboat on the Titanic.

Officer Lightoller took a precaution.

Mrs.

John Murray Brown and Miss Edith Evans reached the boat with the help of

Grayson Smith.

off the Titanic 205, and 1,554 remained on board.

Still on board.

Operator Phillips, Operator Bride, Captain Smith.

And you have done your full duty. You can do no more.

Abandon your cabin. It's every man for himself now.

There's still a little power left, sir.

You look out for yourselves.

I release you.

That's the way of it at this kind of time.

Still on board, the Titanic Salon Orchestra.

The time, 2.15.

The selection, the Episcopal Hymn, Autumn.

The orchestra's final performance under the baton of Wallace Henry Hartley.

Still on board, Colonel Gracie and his friend, Prince Smith.

He didn't do so badly.

Not bad at all, Archie.

Good luck, Lynch.

Good luck, Archie.

But of the two, Colonel Gracie proved the better swimmer.

Still on board, young Jack Clare and his friend, Milton Long. Well, you coming,

boy? Go ahead.

I'll be right with you.

Of these two techniques for abandoning ship, young Jack Thayer's was the one

that worked.

Still on board? Thomas Andrews, shipbuilder.

The time, 2.20.

The freezing waters of the North Atlantic closed over the grave of the

Titanic. She carried with her 1,502 souls,

1,346 men, 102 women, and 54 children, all but one

of whom were steerage children.

If the Titanic had heeded any of the six iceberg warnings,

if the night had been rough or moonlit, if she had hit the iceberg 15 seconds

sooner or 15 seconds later, if her watertight bulkheads had been one deck

higher, if she had carried enough lifeboats,

if the Californian had only heated and come.

Had any of these ifs turned out right, every life might have been saved, but

they all went against her.

And never again has man been quite so confident.

An age had come to an end.

A Night to Remember

By Walter Lord, published by Henry Holt and Company.

Are cast in order of appearance.