 2:17 a.m. Titanic's bow plunges under while
hundreds of 2nd and 3rd Class passengers hear confession from Father Thomas Byles gathered
at the aft end of the Boat Deck. Collapsible B is pushed off the roof of the officer's
quarters, and lands upside-down on the boat deck. On the other side of the ship,
Collapsible A is in the process of being loaded when the the bridge and boat deck go
under. The resulting wave sweeps both boats off Titanic, and washes out most of A's
passengers.
 2:18 a.m. A huge roar is heard
as all moveable objects inside Titanic crash toward the submerged bow. The lights blink
once and then go out, leaving Titanic visible only as a black silhouette against the
starlit sky. Many are convinced that the hull breaks in two between the 3rd and 4th
funnels. The ship achieves a completely perpendicular position and remains there for
several minutes.
2:20 a.m. Titanic settles back slightly
and slides down to the bed of the North Atlantic some 13,000 feet below. Only one lifeboat
returned (Lifeboat 14) to help the 1500 victims.
 3:30 a.m. The Carpathia's
rockets are sighted by those in the lifeboats.
4:10 a.m. Titanic's No. 2 lifeboat is
picked up.
5:30 a.m. After being advised by the
Frankfort of Titanic's loss, the Californian makes for the disaster site.
8:30 a.m. Californian arrives just as the
last boat, No. 12, is rescued by the Carpathia.
8:50 a.m. The Carpathia leaves the
searching for survivors to other ships and heads for New York. She carries only 705
survivors. An estimated 1,522 souls have been lost.
J. Bruce Ismay sends the following message to the White Star Line's New York offices: "Deeply
regret advise you Titanic sank this morning after collision with iceberg, resulting in
serious loss of life. Full particulars later."
Earl Chapman on the Titanic Discussion List originally published this
chronology of events. Earl modified it slightly in 1997. The 1997 version formed the basis
of this timeline.
|
