 12:45 a.m. Starboard lifeboat
No. 7 is safely lowered away with only 28 people, while it can carry 65. At about this
same time, the first distress rocket is fired by Quartermaster George Rowe, under the
direction of Boxhall, from the bridge rail socket on the Boat Deck by the No. 1 emergency
cutter. 1:00 a.m. There were five
lifeboats in the water. Yet, many people still did not realize the seriousness of the
situation or could not come to grips with reality. Word was still spreading that everyone
was to put on their lifejackets and prepare to abandon ship. Many passengers continued to
place hope that the nearby steamer, whose lights still remained visible, would come to
their rescue. Other passengers assumed that many ships would be racing to their assistance
and arrive long before a ship such as the size of the Titanic could sink.
1:15 a.m. Water has reached Titanic's
name on the bow, and she now lists to port. By this time, seven boats have been lowered,
but with far fewer passengers and crew than rated capacity.
1:20 a.m. The tilt of the deck
grows steeper and boats now begin to be more fully loaded, with starboard No. 9 lowered
with some 56 people aboard.
1:20 a.m. A wireless from Cape Race,
Newfoundland arrives at the offices of the New York Times reading:
"Sunday night, April 14th (AP). At 10:25 o' clock tonight the White Star Line
steamship Titanic called "CQD" to the Marconi station here, and reported having
struck an iceberg. The steamer said that immediate assistance was required."
 Although everything
appeared calm on the boat deck, deep within the bowels of the Titanic crewmen still
labored hard to keep the lights burning and the pumps working, despite risking their own
safety. In boiler room No.5, which was directly below the forward Grand Staircase, a
gigantic wave of green foam suddenly came pouring from the forward boiler, flooding the
room.
Stoker Fred Barrett was climbing up an escape ladder when he watched in horror as two
engineers were engulfed by water. Unable to help, he continued climbing.
Steward F. Dent Ray had returned to his room to get his overcoat when he discovered
that the water had reached E deck in the forward part of the bow. The corridor was flooded
almost as far as the main staircase.. As the forward compartments filled with water and
spilled over into those farther aft, the rate of sinking increased.
1:30 a.m. Signs of panic begin to appear
as port No. 14 is lowered with 60 people, including 5th Officer Lowe. Lowe is forced to
fire three warning shots along the ship's side to keep a group of unruly passengers from
jumping into the already full boat.
 Smelting
magnate Ben Guggenheim, along with his manservant Victor Giglio return to their cabins and
change into evening dress explaining, "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared
to go down like gentlemen".
Wireless distress calls tapped out by Phillips reach desperation status, with messages
such as, "we are sinking fast" and, "cannot last much
longer".
 1:40 a.m. Most of the forward boats have left and
passengers begin to move to the stern area. Collapsible C was soon filled with women and
children and, as it was being lowered, two gentlemen stepped on board. One was William
Carter, the other Bruce Ismay. With the Titanic close to sinking, Ismay had clearly
decided to save himself in shame. When J. Bruce Ismay leaves on collapsible "C"
with 39 aboard, it is the last starboard boat to be lowered. The forward Well Deck is
awash.
2:00 a.m all of the Titanic's rockets had
been fired. Collapsibles A and B were still lashed upside down to the roof of the
officers' quarters.
By this time, the third class passengers had broken out of the locked stairwells.
 2:00 a.m. Water is now only 10 feet below the
Promenade Deck. At about this time, Hartley chooses the band's final piece 'Nearer, My
God, to Thee'. Hartley had always said it would be the hymn he would select for his own
funeral.
2:05 a.m. With more than 1,500 still on
board, and just Collapsible "D" available, Lightoller instructs the crew to lock
arms and form a circle around the boat, permitting only women and children to pass through
the circle. "D" begins its downward journey with 44 people out of the rated
capacity of 47.
2:10 a.m. The sea is pouring on to the
forward end of "A" Deck, and Titanic's tilt grows steeper. At this same time,
Captain Smith goes to the wireless cabin and releases Phillips and Bride telling them that
they have "done their duty". On the way back to his bridge, Smith tells several
crewmen "It's every man for himself".
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