* A F A T E F U L L S U N D A Y *
Sunday, April 14 1912. Today marked the fifth day of the maiden voyage of the White Star Liner RMS Titanic. The Sea was calm, and the weather had been remarkably pleasant since the beginning of the voyage. First-class passenger Colonel Archibald Gracie had enjoyed himself for the last 4 days and decided upon this day to return to his usual shipboard routine of exercising. To begin his day, he met up with Titanic's squash instructor, Fred Wright, to play a game of racketball. Afterwards, Gracie took a swim in the 6-foot deep swimming bath. Which, to his delight, was heated to "a refreshing degree".
Colonel Archibald Gracie
After breakfast, Gracie attended the devine service held in the first class dining saloon on D-deck at 10:30 am. The service was specifically for the First-class, and was presided over by Titanic's Captain, Edward J. Smith. But this was not the extent of the activity that Sunday morning. John G. Phillips, the senior marconi operator aboard Titanic, and his assistant, Harold Bride, had worked all through Saturday and into Sunday morning on getting the wireless system to work properly for it had broken down. The malfunction seemed to lay in the secondary unit, and by early Sunday morning the wireless was busily sending signals to nearby ships in the area. At 9:00 am, the Titanic received an ice-warning from the Coronia which stated:
Bergs, Growlers, and Field ice 42* N from 49* to 51* W
This was in no way unusual. Icebergs were quite common at this time of year in the Northern Atlantic ocean. But what was unusual was that the winter of 1912 had been extremely mild, and many bergs had broken from the glaciers of Greenland had floated South into the shipping lanes. This created a much higher abundance of ice for the time of year.
Not much was thought of this warning, and it was simply sent to the bridge when there was time to send it. The wireless office was backlogged with passenger mail (mail from the Titanic's own passengers to their loved ones on shore) and Phillips and Bride toiled on to get the "In" box empty.
Many of the passengers made it their business to examine the ship's speed as well. A chart hung in the first class lounge on A-deck which depicted the Titanic's path and continued progress towards her destination. The chart now showed that Titanic had travelled 546 miles from Saturday to Sunday. It was also expected that Titanic would make an even greater distance from Sunday to Monday.
To help aid in this better run, 5 more of the 29 boilers were lit that morning. The shock of the Titanic laying on more speed woke some passengers with what Historian Walter Lord later stated as "A tremendous jolt. A jolt almost as big as the iceberg herself." Second officer Lightoller also expected that by Monday, Titanic would be travelling at her highest speed. Which was estimated at 23 knots (Nautical Miles Per Hour). But Titanic would never be tested under full steam.
The Day was calm and Beautiful, and many of the passengers took the advantage of the weather to stroll along the decks of the liner. But towards 5:30 pm, the temperature began to decline rapidly. The Temperature dropped 10 degrees from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and was, at 7:30, listed at 33 degrees. Still, despite the cold weather. Some passengers mingled up on deck to marvel at the spectacular sunset.
Titanic sailing towards the Sunset
At 6:00 pm, Second officer Lightoller relieved Chief officer Wilde on the bridge. He would be in charge of Titanic until 10:00 pm when he would be relieved and First officer Murdoch would take over. But Murdoch would be present on the bridge before 10:00 to help out. At 7:15 pm, Murdoch ordered lamp trimmer Samuel Hemmings to secure the forecastle deck hatch. The hatch had been opened, and access light was escaping from it, making the crow's nest's job of looking for ice all the more obscured. Hemmings went down, and closed the hatch as ordered.
Right: C. Lightoller Left: H. Wilde
At 8:30 pm, the Reverend Ernest Carter organised a hymn singing session in the Second Class Lounge. The session would end with the singing of the hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save" which includes the ironic lyrics "For those in Peril on the Sea". On the bridge, Lightoller made notice of the drop in the temperature and ordered Quartermaster Robert Hichens to tell the carpenter, John Maxwell, to watch the Fresh water supply so that it did not freeze in the night chill. He also ordered that chief engineer Bell watch the steam winches in the engine room.
For the better part of an hour, a special party had been held for Captain Smith in the Titanic's Ala' Carta Restaurant by First Class passengers George and Eleanore Widener. Now, Smith headed off towards the bridge and joined Lightoller there at 8:55 pm. Together, the two of them converse about the cold, and about the recent ice reports. But neither felt that the ice was of any threat to the magnificent Titanic. With confidence, Smith retired with the words "If in the slightest degree doubtful, let me know".
At 10:00 pm, the officer's watch changed hands and First officer Murdoch was now in charge of the Titanic. In the crow's nest, Lookouts Symons and Jewel were replaced by Lookouts Fleet and Lee. The Lights in the Third class general area were extinguished and the Titanic's passengers began to settle in for the night.
Right: Lookouts Symons & Jewel Left: Lookouts Fleet & Lee