The Titanic Enquiries

Following the Disaster there was an immediate outcry on both sides of the Atlantic. Before the Carpathia landed with the all too few survivors Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan had arranged a formal inquiry into the disaster. A subpoena was served requiring Bruce Ismay to testify whilst he was still on board the Carpathia. The Inquiry began the following morning in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and after three days moved to Washington D.C. Smith conducted the Inquiry, and asked the majority of questions himself despite a lack of knowledge when it came to Maritime Affairs. The British press, in uproar at the fact the Americans refused to release Titanic's crew, made a great deal of the Senator's question "What is an iceberg made of?" However, it is due to this Inquiry that we know such a great deal of what went on. The British Enquiry had to wait for the Americans to release their witnesses before Lord Mersey could begin his investigation. A number of points had been raised by Senator Smith's Inquiry, chief of which were navigational negligence. These in the end were not resolved as ultimately the Board Of Trade would have had to be blamed for the lack of lifeboats. Instead the loss of life was placed partly on the shoulders of Stanley Lord, Master of the Californian who had failed to respond to reports of rockets that were seen coming from Titanic's direction. Thanks to the sterling effort of some Titanic Researchers. The Transcripts of both Inquiries can be found online. Look on the links page for the relevant site. Also available is the 1992 Reappraisal of Evidence Relating to SS "Californian". This brief report attempts to settle the Californian issue, but in vain. A good companion to the above volumes, and worthwhile reading for anyone interested in the issue.