A Night to Remember

Captain Smith warned Philips and Bride that the Titanic’s power was fading as the water level continued to rise higher and higher within the ship. However, the two Marconi officers struggled to explain to the vessels within range the gravity of their situation. At 1:25am, the Olympic asked if the Titanic was heading in their direction. The Frankfort casually asked for updates, not seeming to grasp the urgency in the lack of time available to Philips and Bride to make conversation. By 1:45am, officers no longer had to persuade passengers to get into the lifeboats; the urgent need to get to safety was palpable. Passengers became unruly, many men trying to crowd the lifeboats and climb aboard without permission. Some had to be forcibly removed and pushed back. Ismay, who throughout the voyage had vacillated between humbly declaring himself a passenger and functioning as president of the White Star Line, bothering Captain Smith and making “suggestions,” saw an opportunity to save himself and quietly snuck into a lifeboat at the last moment before it was lowered.

Jack Thayer stood against the deck railing with a friend, trying to prepare for the Titanic’s inevitable sinking. Benjamin Guggenheim, already world-famous for his wealth and sociopolitical influence, solidified his reputation as the epitome of a gentleman in his stalwart and elegant decision to meet his end with dignity.