Titanic Events for April 8-9, 1912

by Terri Bey

On April 8, 1912, the RMS Titanic is still docked at Berth 44. The S.S. Mauretania arrives early that morning in Liverpool. Stepping off that ship is RMS Titanic Bandleader Wallace Hartley, who will be onboard the new liner in two days.

On April 9, 1912, last-minute supplies and coal are loaded onto the RMS Titanic. There is a major shuffling of the officers. Captain Edward J. Smith asks Henry Wilde to serve as Chief Officer, which Wilde accepts. This forces a shift in the officer rankings. William Murdock is demoted to First Officer, Charles Herbert Lightoller is demoted to Second Officer and David Blair, who was supposed to have been the Second Officer leaves the ship that evening and accidentally took the keys to the locker which contains the glasses/binoculars for the lookouts.

Photographers come onboard the new liner to take photos.

White Star Line Managing Director J. Bruce Ismay's Private Promenade. Photo: Southampton Press

Titanic-Related Media:

Book Recommendation: "A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells' Story of Survival" by Julie Hedgepeth Williams

This is one of my favorite Titanic-related books that I have read. Julie Hedgepeth Williams writes an amazing story about how her great-uncle Albert and his wife Sylvia and their son left Siam, where they served as Presbyterian missionaries, to return to the United States, because Sylvia was extremely sick, only to wind up on the RMS Titanic's ill-fated maiden voyage. Ms. Williams deftly writes about how the Caldwells met and became missionaries. She discusses how difficult it was for the Caldwells to deal with Mrs. Caldwell's illness and for them to get permission to leave, due to her illness. I was intrigued by the harrowing trip that the Caldwells took with their baby son.

Also, in this book, the reader learns who really said, "God himself cannot sink this ship." No, it was NOT the White Star Line, Thomas Andrews, Captain Edward Smith, or even J. Bruce Ismay. IF you want to know who the person was, read this wonderful book to find out. Ms. Williams discusses how the Caldwells got tickets to go on the RMS Titanic and how the Caldwells were able to escape the sinking liner aboard Lifeboat 13. Also discussed is the aftermath of the Caldwells' survival.

This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.

You can buy this book on Amazon and also at Thriftbooks.com. Thriftbooks.com has it for a price as low as $5.29.

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

Contact: Alydace@Yahoo.com

Titanic Events for April 6-7, 1912

by Terri Bey

On April 6, 1912, a coal strike that kept many ships from sailing, finally ended. Hiring begins for the RMS Titanic in Southampton and many passengers are transferred from affected ships to the brand new liner, most notably Second Class passenger Eva Hart and her parents, Benjamin and Esther, who originally was scheduled to travel across the Atlantic on board the USS Philadelphia, so the entire family could emigrate to Canada. However, as the USS Philadelphia was affected by the coal strike, the Hart Family traveled on the RMS Titanic.

On April 7, 1912, many well-known passengers, such as Artist Frank Millet and multi-millionaire John Jacob Astor IV and his new wife, Madeleine approach the port of Cherbourg, France where they will board the brand new RMS Titanic on April 10. Millet is spending time in Rome and the Astors are celebrating their honeymoon in Egypt. The Astors will sail on the great liner to return to New York in order to prepare for the birth of their child.

Titanic-Related Media:

Documentary Recommendation: "Saving the Titanic" (2012)

This is a well-done documentary-docudrama about the electricians and the men known as the "Black Gang," meaning the firemen, stokers, trimmers, etc. who worked throughout that fateful April night to keep the stricken Titanic afloat for as long as they could so as many passengers as possible could have been saved. The documentary covers the "Guarantee Group" who were nine individuals who were chosen to represent Harland & Woolf. Ship designer Thomas Andrews was one of them and all nine went down with the ship. There was religious tension between workers while Titanic was being built and the religious tensions are touched on in the documentary, also.

The acting was very good. Of course, there are some accuracy issues, but overall, I recommend this documentary. This is one of my favorites.

Titanic Events for April 4-5, 1912

by Terri Bey

Due to the Easter holiday yesterday, I did not post a blog. I hope to all who celebrated, you had a nice holiday. To those who celebrated Passover, I also hope you had a good holiday, also. Now, to the blog.

On April 4, 1912, RMS Titanic is decorated as a salute to Southampton. The liner is decorated with flags. She is also being prepared for her maiden voyage on the 10th.

On April 5, 1912, Good Friday, RMS Titanic is decorated for Easter. Southampton citizens are able to look at the great liner, but unfortunately are not allowed to tour inside the ship. Preparations are still being made for the maiden voyage.

On April 5, 1912 a cargo ship, the Leyland Liner S.S.Californian leaves Liverpool on a routine trip to Boston. The cargo ship is lead by Captain Stanley Lord and his crew consist of Chief Officer Stewart, Second Officer Herbert Stone, Third Officer Charles Groves, Apprentice James Gibson, Marconi Wireless Operator Cyril Evans, along with a donkeyman (stoker) named Ernest Gill.

Titanic Related Media:

Book Recommendation: "The Titanic and the City of Widows it Left Behind: The Forgotten Victims of the Fatal Voyage" by Julie Cook

Julie Cook's great-grandfather was a stoker, who died on the RMS Titanic. Ms. Cook's book is about how her great-grandmother, Emily struggled to raise her family without her husband's salary. This is an awesome book about how Cook's great-grandmother and other "Titanic-widows" struggled financially, and how they had to follow certain rules to receive money from the Titanic Fund. Cook deftly describes how her great-grandfather and other men struggled to find work at the shipyards.

I found this book fascinating and I highly recommend it.

You can purchase the book on Amazon and Goodreads.

All feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

Contact me at Alydace@yahoo.com