EHS Titanic

[Major Major]

RMS Titanic, North Atlantic Ocean, Monday 15 April 1912

The engine rooms were a source of comfort now. They were hot, but that was preferable to the cold of the water and air without. Chief Engineer Bell had been standing to his duty, keeping the engines running even as the boiler rooms were flooding.

He wasn’t inclined to take orders from a deck officer, or a Navy layabout. All the same, this one seemed to know what he was doing. “They should have the last of the passengers off by now. You can start evacuating the engine crew.”

Some of the men didn’t seem to believe it. They were going to live.

Shackleton had gone below and argued with the crewmen at the companionways to the Third Class cabins. “All the other passengers are almost off by now, you can bring them up.” Then he led the first exodus. The deck of the Titanic was visibly sloping by the time they got up, and only two of the gangways could still be used. It looked like quitting time on the Underground.

They should be off by now. Shackleton stood by Mr Bell and watched as the stokers and firemen, the trimmers and electricians filed out of the dim hot compartments upwards to safety. The engineering officers followed and then the explorer said, “Let’s go.”

The Chief Engineer almost seemed unwilling. Shackleton said, “You’ve done your part and more. Someone will have to explain.” He seemed reluctant, but followed as Shackleton led him up through the slanting passageways.

There were only a few of the officers left on the deck by the time he reached it: Murdoch, Lightoller, Lieutenant Dauenhauer of the Marines from the Invincible, and a couple of other Navy and Merchant officers. Shackleton said, “Where is the captain?”

“He said ‘every man for himself’ and went off,” Boxhall, the Fourth Officer said.

“Sir Ernest, sir, I have orders from the Admiral. You’re to return to the Invincible as soon as possible,” the Marine said.

Shackleton looked forward — almost looked down. He seemed to be reluctant. “Gentlemen, then. Mr Lightoller, if you will show me the way?”

The officers filed off over the now-shaky gangway. Lightoller led the explorer, while Murdoch was last off. Across on the deck of the Invincible, the band of the Titanic joined with the battlecruiser’s Marine band to play some cheery ragtime.

“It could be something ‘uplifting,’” Murdoch said as they crossed the last few feet.

“Like what?” Lightoller said. “‘Nearer my God to Thee’?”

[trekchu]

Methinks Hearts of Oak might be smarter.

[neopeius]

Originally Posted by juanml82

I've never expected to read people making informed arguments about something as detailed as the colours the RN painted their ships a hundred years ago

It's second nature for those of us who play naval miniature games in the Pre-WW1 era.

And yes, white ships look very smart.

[Uff Da the optimist]

A truly fascinating timeline, do go on!

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Uff Da the optimist

A truly fascinating timeline, do go on!

I hope to but work has picked up the last few days. I have some written ahead but don't want to use up my backlog, as it were.

[sharlin]

damn well written and great updates, a great disaster averted (save the loss of the ship of course) and this could produce some very very intersting butterfly effects.

[SgtD]

I suppose this will mean that the requirement for adequate lifeboats that was implemented after the the Titanic sinking won't be implemented in this timeline.

Anybody know of another sinking where a notable person was saved and may not be in this timeline? Can't think of an example myself.

[StevoJH]

Originally Posted by SgtD

I suppose this will mean that the requirement for adequate lifeboats that was implemented after the the Titanic sinking won't be implemented in this timeline.

Anybody know of another sinking where a notable person was saved and may not be in this timeline? Can't think of an example myself.

I don't see why that requirement would not have been introduced. Hopefully they will realise how lucky they were to get away without massive casualties. Should also expose other faults in the design that can be avoided in later ships.

[NHBL]

There will be photos and experts watching as the ship goes down. This should give a more accurate accounting of it than shocked survivors floating in the water.

This is a good, and plausible, account.

Incidently, now that she's been abondoned, she'll sink faster.

[Mostlyharmless]

Nice idea and very different in its consequences from http://alternatehistory.com/discussi...d.php?t=136399 or http://counter-factual.net/upload/sh...ad.php?t=14914

[A. Morgan]

IIRC there would have been sufficient lifeboats on Titanic if owners had not reduced the number in Thomas Andrews initial design as they "spoiled the lines" of the ship.

[phx1138]

Originally Posted by SgtD

I suppose this will mean that the requirement for adequate lifeboats that was implemented after the the Titanic sinking won't be implemented in this timeline.

It's likely the USCG Ice Patrol doesn't get created, either, which has potential butterflies on North Atlantic shipping.

Considering the number of people aboard, the butterflies from their descendants, even only counting the celebs, are likely to be enormous.

[Major Major]

HMS Invincible, North Atlantic Ocean, Monday 15 April 1912

The ship was sagging, the flooding clearly increasing. In spite of the cold, many of the crew, and some of the passengers, as well as many of the crew of the Invincible, stood on the deck to watch the death struggles of the liner.

The forward stack toppled, then fell, raising a great splash. The lights, still working as the engines ran in their final moments, went out, then came on again before finally dying. There was a flash on the ship as something, somewhere, exploded. The hull heaved, broke in two. For a moment, the rear section remained afloat as the forward one disappeared beneath the sea, but then it too went under. Ripples broke the cold water, and in the swell, debris surrounded the site of the sinking.

“She’s gone,” First Officer Murdoch said, breaking the silence. On the stern of the warship, a single trumpeter sounded the Last Post, as the White Ensign was lowered to half-mast.

Captain Culme-Seymour snapped out an order. “Boats to move to the site, see if there are any survivors in the water.” Down below, one of the boats from the Invincible moved away from the ship and headed to the site, followed by two more that had been from the Titanic.

Culme-Seymour said, “We have wireless messages from the Carpathia, she should be here by sunrise. We can send off some of the passengers, reduce the crowding.” He paused. “Wasn’t there a ship off on the horizon?”

“The captain . . . the captain had Mr Boxhall try to signal them with a lamp. No reply. No response on the wireless, either,” Murdoch said.

“Yes, I tried to raise them too. Sir Ernest, what do you think?”

Shackleton had been as bothered as the others by the sight of the great ship’s demise. “About what? Some of those ships don’t have a full-time wireless office. I didn’t think the Carpathia should risk going too fast, no point in having two ships hit bergs and sink. Mid-morning should be good enough. What do you hear from New York?”

Culme-Seymour said, “They seem to be immeasurably relieved.”

Murdoch yawned. “Captain, Sir Ernest, I think we have had a long night. We will have to prepare a report and I want to turn in so I can start without being all fuddled. Perhaps you should also.”

“With the log and the passenger list, that should be possible. Who is tallying the passengers?” Shackleton said.

[Whanztastic]

I wonder what will come of fledgling artist Jack Dawson?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Whanztastic

I wonder what will come of fledgling artist Jack Dawson?

He gets slapped in the brig for standing on the bow of the Invincible, arms around the waist of a First-Class passenger who is shouting, "I'm flying, Jack!"

[Whanztastic]

Originally Posted by Major Major

He gets slapped in the brig for standing on the bow of the Invincible, arms around the waist of a First-Class passenger who is shouting, "I'm flying, Jack!"

This, I approve of.

[Richter von Manthofen]

Originally Posted by Whanztastic

I wonder what will come of fledgling artist Jack Dawson?

Thou shalt not go there!

[StevoJH]

Originally Posted by Major Major

He gets slapped in the brig for standing on the bow of the Invincible, arms around the waist of a First-Class passenger who is shouting, "I'm flying, Jack!"

Very nice!

[Thucydides]

Interested to see where this is going.

[Major Major]

HMS Invincible, North Atlantic Ocean, Monday 15 April 1912

“Sir Ernest, sir, they want to see you.”

A respectful, but urgent, Royal Marine private was awakening the guest. Shackleton had made a trip through the passageways belowdecks before going to his berth. It was appalling; the crowding would have disgraced a third-rate bum boat taking lascars to the South African mines. There was a decided shortage of everything except smell and crowding. Then he went to where they were housing the third-class passengers.

Yet . . . people looked up to him. They tried to touch him, just touch him. How many of them had thought themselves doomed?

Shaken by the respect, as if he were being catapulted into godhood, Shackleton had fled to his cabin, which curiously enough no one else dared to share, and tried to get some rest. Now this.

He groaned. “Five minutes.” This was barely enough to make a decent toilet.

Then when he went out he saw. There was another liner there, that Carpathia they had mentioned. She had lowered her boats; more boats were in the water by the Invincible. But no one was in them.

A voice cut the chill air. “THREE CHEERS FOR SIR ERNEST!!!”

Time to smile and be affable. They would give money for the next expedition, the crossing of the continent. Shackleton took off his cap and waved, and the cheers waxed. Then the passengers began filing on board the boats to be taken over to the Carpathia.

The officers’ mess was somewhat overcrowded, what with the officers of the Titanic still there. The topic of that strange ship that had not responded during the night came up, was discussed, and dropped.

Then Murdoch said to Shackleton, “There is one thing . . . Sir Cosmo is staying on board.”

“I haven’t his acquaintance.”

“Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon. One of my mistakes.”

“Pardon me?”

“I let him take one of the boats off only about a third full.”

“Oh, so that was who was sneaking around! I think I may have a word with him.”