United States Senate Inquiry

Day 18

Proces Verbal (SS Olympic)

Sunday, April 14, 1912 - New York Time


10.15 p.m.

Standing by for Cape Cod.

10.45 p.m.

Received four messages from Cape Cod.

10.50 p.m.

Hear Titanic signaling to some ship about striking an iceberg. Am not sure it is the Titanic who has struck an iceberg. Am interfered by atmospherics and many stations working.

11.00 p.m.

Hear Titanic sending out signals of distress, and I answered his calls immediately.

11.10 p.m.

Titanic replies and gives me his position, 41.46 N., 50.14 W., and says, "We have struck an iceberg." Reported this information to bridge immediately. Our distance from the Titanic505 miles.

11.20 p.m.

Signals with the Titanic. He says, "Tell captain get your boats ready and what is your position?"

11.35 p.m.

Sent message to Titanic: "Commander, Titanic, 4.24 a. m. G.M.T. 40.52 N., 61.18 W. Are you steering southerly to meet us? Haddock."

11.40 p.m.

Titanic says, "Tell captain we are putting the passengers off in small boats."

11.45 p.m.

Asked Titanic what weather he had had. He says, "clear and calm."

11.50 p.m.

Message to Titanic: "Commander, Titanic. Am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as can, Haddock."

11.55 p.m.

Sable Island calling me with traffic. Told him to stand by for a while, as having urgent communication with Titanic.

Monday, April 15, 1912 - New York Time.

12.30 a.m.

Signals with the S. S. Helig Olav. His signals strong. Asked if he knows anything of Titanic. He says, "No." Keeping strict watch, but hear nothing more from Titanic. Calling Sable Island at intervals. No reply from him.

4.15 a.m.
to      
5.20 a.m.

Calling Titanic. Now daylight; no reply. Sable Island calls up with traffic. Received following:

NEW YORK

Capt. HADDOCK, Olympic:
Endeavor communicate Titanic and ascertain time and position. Reply as soon as possible to Ismay, New York.

F. W. REDWAY

Sent following service via Sable Island:

OPERATOR, Cape Race:
Have you any particulars of the Titanic?

COMMANDER.

5.30 a.m.

Communication with La Bretagne, west bound. Ask him for news of Titanic, but he knows nothing.

5.40 a.m.

Signals with S. S. Asian with German oil tank in tow for Halifax. Says, "We are only going 5 knots." Ask him for news of Titanic. Says, "I think the Baltic was some way ahead of us, say about 200 miles. He would be passed her (Titanic) same way, I should think, but our ship Antillian (Leyland), if he was on watch, should have got Titanic. He was only about 60 miles astern, so the captain calculated. Who is 'M. G. Y.'? I informed him 'M. G. Y.' is the Titanic." Continues: "I last heard him at 11.58 p. m. calling 'S. O. S.' Had heard him previous to that, very faint, working to Cape Race." (This was sent officially again later.)

Calling Titanic at intervals until -

7 a.m.

Exchanged signals with Sable Island. Distance, 205 SSE

7.10 a.m.

Exchanged signals with Asian.

7.35 a.m.

Received following service message from Sable Island:

NEW YORK

COMMANDER, Olympic:
Keep us posted fully regarding Titanic.

FRANKLIN

7.40 a.m.

Service from Cape Race via Sable, received as follows:

Your signals good here. Watch and tune for us.

CAPE RACE.

7.45 a.m.

Following message sent via Sable Island:

ISMAY, New York: Since midnight, when her position was 41.46 north 50.14 west, have been unable to communicate. We are now 310 miles from her, 9 a. m., under full power. Will inform you at once if hear anything.

COMMDR.

Called Cape Race several times, but unable to hear him.

7.50 a.m.

Following message sent:

CAPTAIN Asian:
Can you give me any information Titanic, and if any ships standing by her?

COMMANDER.

8.05 a.m.

Communication with S. S. Athenai. He knows nothing of Titanic

8.06 a.m.

Communication with S. S. Scandinavian, bound east. He can give me no information either.

8.15 a.m.

Again called Cape Race, but can not hear him.

8.30 a.m.

Following service messages received from Asian confirming previous information:

CAPTAIN, Olympic:
Asian heard Titanic signaling Cape Race on and off from 8 to 10 p. m., local time, Sunday. Messages too faint to read. Finished calling S. O. S. midnight. Position given as latitude 41.46 longitude, 50.14. No further information. Asian then 300 miles west of Titanic and towing oil tank to Halifax.

WOOD.

13th April; iceberg reported in latitude 41.50, longitude 50.20.

WOOD.

Keeping close watch until-

9.25 a.m.

Communication with S. S. Parisian. He says: "I sent traffic to the Titanic at 8.30 last night, and I heard him send traffic just before I went to bed to Cape Race. I turned in at 11.15, ship's time. The Californian was about 50 miles astern of us. I heard following this morning, 6 o'clock:

"Would you like me to send service message to your commander? According to information picked up the Carpathia has picked up about 20 boats with passengers. The Baltic is returning to give assistance. As regards Titanic I have heard nothing - don't know if she is sunk."
(This information was given to the commander immediately verbally.)

10.10 a.m.

Sent two messages to the S. S. Berlin.

10.12 a.m.

Communication with S. S. Mesaba.
Can give no information of Titanic. Sends following service:

CAPTAIN Olympic:In lat. 42 to lat. 41.25 N., long 49 W. to long. 50.35 W. saw heavy pack ice and a large number of icebergs; also some field ice; weather has been very fine and clear.

CLARK

10.17 a.m.

Received following service from Cape Race, via Sable Island:
"No further news Titanic; we have batch traffic for you and your sigs. Good readable here."

10.25 a.m.

Sent following service message via Sable Island:

ISMAY, New York:
Parisian reports Carpathia in attendance and picked up 20 boats of passengers and Baltic returning to give assistance. Position not given.

HADDOCK.

10.35 a.m.

Received following message from the Parisian:

CAPTAIN Olympic:
Field ice extends to lat. 41.22; heavy to the northwest of that and bergs very numerous of all sizes; had fine clear weather.

10.55 a.m.

Communication with Cape Race; distance, 350 miles. He is just audible, and knows nothing more of Titanic; working Cape Race for next hour. Sent his three and received five messages, with assistance from the Scandinavian, who is able to read Cape Race. The S. S. Birma working to other ships and interfering with us considerably.

Noon

Scandinavian gives "BI" for lunch. Cape Race having no important traffic.

12.25 p.m.

Following service message sent to the Parisian:

CAPTAIN Parisian:
Many thanks for message. Can we steer 41.22 north, 50.14 west from westward, and then north to Titanic fairly free from ice. We are due there midnight. Should appreciate Titanic's correct position if you can give it me.

HADDOCK

12.50 p.m.

Receiving following service message from Parisian:

CAPTAIN Olympic:
Safe from field ice to 41.22. 50.14; as the ice was yesterday, you would need to steer from that position about northeast and north to about lat. 41.42 and 50, then approach his position from the westward, steering about west north-west. My knowledge of the Titanic's position at midnight was derived from your own message to New York, in which you gave it as 41.47, 50.20; if such were correct, she would be in heavy field ice and numerous bergs. Hope and trust matters are not as bad as they appear.

HAINS.

1.25 p.m.

Trying to receive from Cape Race his sigs dead week, and the Berlin is interfering with me badly; told the Berlin that it would be a serious matter for him if he kept on interfering. Scandinavian assists me in receiving from Cape Race.

1.40 p.m.

Succeeded in receiving the following message from Cape Race:

NEW YORK

WIRELESS OFFICER, Olympic:
We will pay you liberally for story of rescue of Titanic's passengers any length possible for you to send earliest possible moment. Mention prominent persons.

THE WORLD