Ismay: Hero or Coward

The actions of Joseph Bruce Ismay have fallen under much scrutiny in regards to the Titanic and he has been a favorite person to be made the villain ever since the sinking by newspapers, films, and books. It is my hope in this post to uncover the truth regarding what happened and why he is hated so much. J. Bruce Ismay was the son of Thomas Ismay, one of the founders of the White Star Line (WSL) which was a ship company. The WSL was bought by J.P. Morgan who was the owner of the International Mercantile Marine which had almost a complete monopoly on all companies that were using the North Atlantic run. J. Bruce Ismay followed in his father's footsteps and eventually became the Managing Director of the WSL. The Titanic was actually Ismay's vision from the beginning. He and Lord Pirrie who owned Harland & Wolff, the ship building company that built nearly all of the WSL's ships, were talking after dinner and the two came up with a plan to construct three new ships that were bigger and more luxurious than any ship that had ever been built. Soon after that, they began making plans and Ismay ordered the three new ships. The Olympic was first built and it was very popular. Ismay went on board as the representative of the WSL for the maiden voyage as he often did and I would think was impressed with her. The Titanic came next. One thing that is not generally realized about Ismay is that he was a very shy man. He was in reality a kind and caring gentleman when you got to know him, but with WSL, he was devoted to the success of his father's company which has caused some to view him as arrogant or difficult to deal with. He may very well have been arrogant, but he pretty much had a right to be. His company was building such wonderful ships. Contrary to popular belief that the Titanic disaster forced him to retire, he put in his notice that he would resign around the time the third ship, Britannic, would launched in January of 1912, 4 months before the Titanic set sail. It is true that he had 20 lifeboats put on board rather than 64. However, you need to put yourself in his shoes. He was a man who was trying to sell passage on his ships rather than anyone else's and you had these "unsinkable" ships which even if they did sink, would have sunk so slowly that there would have been enough time to ferry people between the ships and shore or another ship. In looking back, it was a stupid move. But back then, it seemed like a good decision. When the Titanic set sail on April 10, 1912, Ismay was one of the first passengers on board, having stayed at a hotel near by and boarded at about 9:30 A.M. During the voyage, he would socialize with the 1st class passengers. Because he had sailed with many of them on previous vessels, he was one of the most well known passengers on board. He stayed in one of the best suites on board which encompassed B-52, B-54, and B-56. It was nicknamed the "Millionaire's Suite" because it included 2 bedrooms, a sitting room, and a private 50 foot long promenade deck.  It would cost $50,000 to stay in that room. It was originally supposed to be occupied by J.P. Morgan, one of the richest men in the world and the owner of the White Star Line, but he canceled at the last minute which allowed Ismay to occupy it instead. Passengers claimed that Ismay urged Captain Smith to increase the speed, which is against WSL policy. All WSL officers are required to sign a contract that they won't interfere with the way the ship is run and leave that to the captain. With this being reportedly Smith's last voyage, however, he didn't have much to lose. 1st class passenger Elizabeth Lines said that Ismay and Captain Smith were talking about it in the Reception Room. Ismay was talking loudly and Captain Smith just nodded. Ismay was reportedly urging Smith to increase the speed to get to New York early and make the headlines, adding in that he was just a passenger and that it was up to him. Such claims, I believe, are exaggerated. He admitted to asking about the possibility of increasing speed of Captain Smith and Chief Engineer Joseph Bell, but due to the policy, I think that he pushed Captain Smith to increase the speed. During lunch on April 14th, Captain Smith handed Ismay an ice warning. Ismay apparently showed it to other passengers because he was waving it in front of Mrs. Thayer and Mrs. Ryerson on the Boat Deck, explaining that they were nearing ice. Captain Smith eventually retrieved the message from Ismay. Looking back, we can easily say that it was idiocy to speed through ice. However, at that time, it was natural to try and get out of an area that had ice as fast as you could. Furthermore, you had the best and more experienced crew of the WSL. He showed it to 1st class passengers Marian Thayer and Emily Ryerson on the Promenade Deck and may have shown it to other passengers before Captain Smith asked for it back. Ismay generally ate his dinners at a table in one of the alcoves of the 1st class Dining Saloon except for the 12th in which he ate at Captain Smith's table and the 14th when he ate in one of the alcoves of the A La Carte Restaurant during a party held by the Wideners in honor of Captain Smith. He sat at the table on the Aft Starboard side. Afterwards, it is likely that he went with the rest of the gentlemen to the 1st class Smoking Room a couple of decks above for a smoke and maybe a card game. Afterwards, he retired at about 10:00 P.M. At 11:40 P.M., the Titanic struck an iceberg. The collision caused the ship caused a slight shudder of the ship, but not too bad. It was enough to wake Ismay, though. He went out and inquired about what had happened. He went to the Bridge for the first time during the voyage and saw Captain Smith. Ismay asked, "Do you think that this ship is seriously damaged?" "I'm afraid she is", was the reply. That was enough for him. The order was given to rouse the passengers and lower the lifeboats. Ismay never bothered to into something warmer. I think that as the Managing Director of the White Star Line and one of the guys that came up with the idea, he felt some responsibility. He stayed on deck, helping women and children into the lifeboats and lowering away. He got so passionate in fact, that 5th Officer Lowe, not realizing who he was, harshly rebuked him and told him to stand back. Ismay continued following the officers, often Murdoch, and helping with the loading and lowering throughout the sinking. Now we've come to the point which is most controversial, Ismay's escape. It was 1:40 A.M. and Collapsible C, the last lifeboat on the Starboard side began its descent. The details, unfortunately, are not clear. Some said that the deck was clear and that there were no other passengers. Others said that there was a lot of people and that there was panic. I have always found it hard to believe that with all these stories of panic and with so many left on board, that the deck would be empty with the lowering of the second to last boat on that side with water 1-2 decks below. Jack Thayer mentioned a mass of people around the boat and so did Hugh Woolner. I think that they are right, despite other claims including those of Ismay. There may have been no other passengers (or women or children) in sight, but I find it difficult to believe that there were NO people around the boat. They began to lower the boat and as they lowered it, Ismay and another 1st class passenger, William Carter, got in. Carter from the get go said that they were asked to get in. Ismay on the other hand didn't say so at the inquiries but did admit privately that he was asked. Rowe said he didn't see them talking with any of the officers, but with all the confusion and voices it would be difficult to hear someone at that distance unless they yelled. Lightoller said that on the Carpathia (the rescue ship), Ismay told him, "Women and children went down, I should have gone down too." With this in mind, I think we can picture the scenario. Ismay was standing there, watching the boat go with Carter right beside him. Suddenly, a voice behind them says, "There are no more women on board this ship." Carter said that Wilde told them, "You can get in if you help row." Lightoller described Chief Officer Wilde as a big, powerful chap and the type of man that didn't argue long. Ismay and Carter, believing that the men could justifiably get into the lifeboat and following Wilde's orders, got in as Collapsible C was being lowered. Ismay rowed throughout the night. He looked back once at the Titanic, but then turned away and didn't look back again. He later said at the inquiry that he didn't care to see her go down. On board the Carpathia, Ismay, who already was a sort of reclusive type person, was so shaken up by the tragedy that he was given a room and hated when anyone bothered him. He left all the decisions up to Captain Rostron. He did, however, arrange via the wireless telegraph for a ship to be ready to take the crew back to England. When he got to America, however, he was issued a subpoena and ordered to remain in America for the duration of the Inquiry. Ismay was called to testify and did on days 1 and 11 in the American Inquiry. He was in fact the first one to testify. He later testified at the British Inquiries on days 16 and 17. In America, one man ruined his reputation forever. His name was Randolph Hearst and he was the newspaper magnate. He was a man who hated Englishmen and with such a sensational story as the Titanic tragedy, Hearst couldn't help targeting the one man he could blame and not be lamblasted due to accusing a man who died a hero (like Smith or Andrews) of being at fault. That one man he could blame was J. Bruce Ismay and he did so without mercy. He even nicknamed him, "J. Brute Ismay". He was portrayed as a coward that snuck into a lifeboat like a rat. He sold many newspapers and profited off Ismay's reputation's demise. The British Inquiry and people, on the other hand, was more lenient. The British Inquiry in speaking about Ismay said that if he had died, he would have been just another name on the list of the dead. That is true, considering that he took no woman or child's place. If I may add to that, he also provided some valuable and interesting facts that we likely wouldn't have if he had died that night. Ismay, after he retired, almost never spoke of the Titanic. He did write to Marian Thayer who was also on the Titanic, but his wife prohibited the mention of the Titanic in his presence. Apparently, the tragedy had affected him so much it was better to forget it than relive it. He donated his own money to help the victims of the Titanic disaster and still led a public life afterwards, serving on various boards, but was more withdrawn. It is a mistake to assume that he became a recluse because of the Titanic disaster. He was always that way. He was forced because of his job to be more public and social. The Titanic disaster probably did probably make him more anti-social, though. My conclusion is that he was a hero. He did make a bit of a nuisance of himself during the voyage and sinking of the Titanic. However, his intentions were good. He was simply the victim of circumstance. The portrayal of him in the numerous Titanic films have all been wrong and have made him out to be a cowardly fiend and scoundrel. The Ismay I see historically was a bit of an anti-social man who hid it from public view and was genuinely a kind-hearted man when you got to know him. Because of Hollywood, I don't think Ismay's career will ever recover. However, I hope that one day more people will realize his honorable and dutiful actions during the sinking and justifiable rescue.

100 Years Ago Today-April 15, 1912-2012

‎100 years ago today, the greatest liner the world has ever seen slipped beneath the waves of the North Atlantic forever. With her went over 1,500 men, women, and children some willingly putting women and children and married women before themselves. The 705 people the boats were picked up by the Carpathia which was captained by Arthur Rostron, a Christian. The first thing they did after getting picked up is have a service of thanks to God for protection. Many on board had become widows that night. For nearly all of them, their lives wouldn't be the same. After leaving the Californian to search for more boats, the Carpathia turned and steamed towards New York. The world wouldn't know what happened until she docked there.

Anniversary

Today, April 18, 2010, the Carpathia entered New York Harbor in place of the Titanic carrying the 705 survivors and 18 of the 20 lifeboats.  The Carpathia first lowered the Titanic's lifeboats.  God Only know what happened to the lifeboats after they were brought back to England on the Olympic, Titanic's sister ship.  The world finally came to the full realization that the Titanic had sunk and there was a great loss of life.  On that rainy night, many wept for their husbands, fathers, family members, and friends who would never greet them on the those docks.

Was God in the Midst of the Titanic Disaster?

God is in the midst of everything, even the greatest maritime disaster in history. John Harper a Presbyterian minister, preached God's word and led many to Christ just as the ship started to list greatly. One man came to God after hearing Harper witness to him in the water. Father Thomas Byles led many to Christ on the Poop Deck, hearing confessions and helping to pray with them. God preserved the life of Archibald Gracie, and even caused the Holy Spirit to move Mrs. Gracie to pray for her husband knowing that he was in some sort of danger. He who made and controls the wind and the waves, caused the sea to become as calm as a mill-pond which turned out to be a blessing, due to the overloaded, swamped, and overturned lifeboats. You can see that He was merciful to 705 souls, allowing them to live a little bit longer before joining Him or being separated from Him for eternity. The approximately 1,500 souls that died on the Titanic acted on His will and plan. Although I don't understand why He would allow the people He loved to die a horrible death, I do know that all happens for God's glory. In fact, this disaster caused man to look upon how arrogant they were in even saying that God could not sink this ship, and to see that not everything is unsinkable, nor indestructible. God who controls the wind, waves, and all that happens in it, caused the iceberg to be in that path and actually sank it and carried with her, many of the richest, and most prominent people of Europe and America. Today, man doesn't challenge God by saying that even He can't sink or destroy anything. The merely try and make it things the best that they can, and even man's best creations usually have glitches. The Titanic Disaster has allowed man to try and prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

Survivor of All Three Sisters

Violet Constance Jessop was born on October 2, 1887 to William and Katherine Jessop near Blanca, Argentina. William had emigrated from Dublin, Ireland around 1884-1885, and his fiance Katherine followed him in 1886. Violet Jessop was the firstborn of 9, although only 6 survived. Violet got tuberculosis at an early age, but recovered despite the doctors' prediction that she wouldn't live a month. She and her family moved to Great Britain after her father died, and she continued her education in a convent school while her mother was a stewardess. After her mother got sick, she quit school and became a stewardess at the age of 23 for the Royal Mail Line. She was then transferred to the White Star Line. She was paid £2 ($10) per month, working 17 hours per day. She boarded the R.M.S. Olympic on October 20, 1910. One voyage ended shortly, after a collision with the H.M.S. Hawke in 1911. She continued as stewardess on the Olympic, until being transferred to the R.M.S. Titanic, Olympic's sister ship. She boarded on April 10, 1912 like most of the crew. She served as 1st Class stewardess and in her memoirs, she wrote that Thomas Andrews took her suggestions on improving the ship, and earned her admiration along with all other crewmen because he actually listened and gave them advice, and respected eachother, with both being Irish. She also claimed to have been friends with Scotsman and bandleader, Wallace Hartley. On April 14-15, 1912 when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank. She was able to board a lifeboat, and was given an infant. She cared for the infant until reaching the decks of the rescue ship, Carpathia. Then, once on deck, the infant was snatched from her arms by a woman without a word, and ran off. She went on the Britannic (Titanic and Olympic's sister ship) in 1916, as a nurse (the Britannic had been turned into a hospital ship due to WWI). The Britannic struck a mine on the Aegean Sea, and began to sink. She was asleep, and immediately grabbed a toothbrush (a lesson learned after the Titanic, going for several days without a toothbrush and getting several cavities) and ran up on deck. She boarded a lifeboat and it was launched. However, the captain tried to beach the Britannic. So, with the propellers rising out of the water, the boat began being sucked towards it. She jumped despite her fear of water after the Titanic, and was sucked under the Britannic. Then, she went straight up and her head hit the bottom of the Britannic. She went into panic, and then she felt a hand which she could tell was alive. Then, they went up together and were pulled aboard a lifeboat, just as the Britannic made her final plunge. She later had severe headaches and went to the doctor where she found out that she fractured her skull. Afterwards, she continued to work for the White Star Line, and then worked for the Red Star Line, Royal Mail Line. She had a short marriage in the 1930s (the groom has never been identified), and retired in 1950 in Great Ashfield, Suffolk after 42 years at sea. One night, she got a phone call from a woman, asking if she saved a baby on the Titanic. After Violet said yes, the woman revealed that she was that infant. She laughed, and hung up. No one has ever identified the caller, or the infant. She was interviewed by Woman Magazine, and by Walter Lord for A Night To Remember. Throughout her life, she was a devout and Catholic. She was a very strong believer in prayer. She in fact, always carried a rosary in her apron or around her neck. Violet Jessop died of congestive heart failure in 1971. There is a book called "Titanic Survivor" (pictured above), telling the story of her life which is based off of her memoirs.

Alice Cleaver

Alice Catherine Cleaver was born on July 5, 1889 in St. Pancras, London to Joseph Cleaver and Lavina Alice Cleaver. When she became a teenager, she went to work as a made for several English families before becoming the maid/nurse for the wealthy Montreal family, Hudson and Bess Allison and their children, Lorraine and Trevor. In 1912, the Allison family were going back home on the Titanic taking Alice along with them. On April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck ice. Hudson went out to see what was going on. While Mr. Allison was gone, Mrs. Allison broke into hysterics. SHe either left with Trevor and got the servant and cook for the Allison family in 2nd class, or Hudson returned with the rest of the party and they got separated. She then went into Boat No. 11, assuming that the rest of the Allison family would do the same. Unfortunately, they didn't. No one knows what happened next. Either they went looking for Alice and Trevor, or they waited too long to get into a boat. Lorraine was the only child in 1st Class to die on the Titanic. The servant and cook from the Allison family along with Alice didn't realize that the Allison family except for the precious child that she was holding didn't survive, until the next day on the rescue ship Carpathia. Trevor was returned to the Allison family after they arrived in New York. All of them went up to Montreal where they recovered from the disaster, and then the servant, cook, and Alice was returned to England. To avoid the reporters, she went under the name of Jean. She was disgraced later by false reports. There were stories that she murdered her own baby before she met the Allisons, but that was mistaken identity with another woman named Alice Mary Cleaver. It was also said, that she ran away from the Allisons on the sinking ship in hysterics although that can not be proved. Alice returned to England, and married Edward James Williams and had two daughters. She died on November 1, 1984 in Hampshire, England.


In a letter, Alice Cleaver Williams wrote this letter to Titanic author, Walter Lord:

"I was acting as a nurse to the two children of Mr and Mrs Allison. Having taken the position two weeks before we sailed as their own nurse decided not to go at the last moment -Lorraine was 3 years old at the time and Trevor 10 months.There is not much I can tell you in a letter. I had some difficulty in persuading Mr.Allison to get up and go to see what had happened after the crash, which they did not hear at all and thought it was my imagination. Some long time after the engines had stopped he decided to go and find out the trouble.

While he was away I was warned we would have to leave the ship, so prepared the children and Mrs.Allison - but she became hysterical and I had to calm her. About that time an officer came round to close the cabins and advised us to go on deck - here met Mr.Allison outside the cabin but he seemed too dazed to speak. I handed him some brandy and asked him to look after Mrs.Allison and Lorraine and I would keep Baby, the child I managed to get off the ship, some confusion occurred outside as to which deck we should go and that is how he came separated, afterwards I learned from one of the staff that Mrs.Allison was hysterical again and that Mr.Allison had difficulty with her and I can only surmise that is how they lost their lives - as there was plenty of room in the lifeboats because people refused to leave thinking it was safer on the ship."

TITANIC in Court

Click HERE to read all that transpired at the inquiry.

When word reached Washington D.C. that the TITANIC sank, they decided to have an inquiry to make some sense of what happened that night. A couple of nights before the Carpathia was to arrive with the TITANIC survivors, a telegram was sent to the White Star Line office in New York to have a ship ready to take him and the crew to England after they land. It was signed, Yamsi. It doesn't take a mad scientist to figure out that this is the name Ismay spelled backwards. Senator William Smith of Michigan came out to New York and decided to hold the inquiry the day after the Carpathia landed. As soon as the Carpathia landed, a warrant was issued for some certain passengers and crew to appear at the Astoria Hotel for questioning. However, Ismay the owner of the ship was met by the senator and other men and escorted by car to the Astoria Hotel where he would stay the night and appear in the lobby the following morning. The inquiry lasted 18 days and some witnesses were recalled two or three times. All the officers, some crew-members, Ismay, and some of the most important men and women were called up to the stand. The newspapers published the dirt about everyone and mostly Ismay. When the American Inquiry was done, the British set up an inquiry of it's own and nearly all of those that returned to England, were called up to another stand. That lasted 36 days! Each day had a new questioner or examiner. The inquiry has helped greatly. Without those testimonies, there would still be a lot of questions unanswered.

A Communication Across the Sea

In Archibald Gracie's account of the sinking called "The Truth about the TITANIC", He said something very interesting. He was in the water and he thought he was about to die. He was praying for his wife and his family. His wife Mrs. Gracie was staying at her sister's house in New York awaiting his return. Here is what Mrs. Gracie said about what was happening to her while the ship was sinking:

"I was in my room at my sister's house, where I was visiting, in New York. After retiring, being unable to rest I questioned myself several times over, wondering what it was that prevented the customary long and peaceful slumber, lately enjoyed. 'What is the matter?' I uttered. A voice seemed to reply seemed to say, 'On your knees and pray.' Instantly, I literally obeyed with my prayer book in my hand, which by chance opened at the prayer 'For those at Sea.' The thought then flashed through my mind, 'Archie is praying for me.' I continued wide awake until a little before 5 o'clock a.m., by the watch that lay beside me. About 7 a.m. I dozed a while and then got up to dress for breakfast. At 8 o'clock my sister, Mrs. Dalliba Dutton, came softly to the door, newspaper in hand, to gently break the tragic news that the TITANIC had sunk, and showed me the list of only twenty names saved headed with Colonel Archibald Butt (of whom actually died); but my husband's name was not included. My head sank in her protective arms as I murmured helplessly, 'He is all I have in the whole world.' I could only pray for strength, and later in the day, believing myself a widow, I wrote to my daughter, who was in the care of out housekeeper and servants in out Washington home, 'Cannot you see your father in his tenderness for women and children, helping them all, and then going down with the ship? If he has gone, I will not live long, but I would not have him take a boat'."

Mrs. Gracie later met him when he was coming off the rescue ship Carpathia. He indeed helped women and children into the boats and never entered a lifeboat. He was swept off a ship and was nearly drowned. He later scrambled onto Collapsible B. There he stayed until he was picked up.

Distress Rockets

Distress Rockets were first used on the TITANIC because it sank so slowly, that there was time to fire them. While firing, a ship near by called the Californian saw them from 11 miles off. However, they thought it was for some sort of celebration. Fireworks were invited by the Chinese as weapons and then was used in Italy for celebration due to their stunning and explosive beauty. The TITANIC fired eight rockets which was all that was in stock. After the TITANIC sank, the rescue ship Carpathia used the rockets it had to signal the lifeboats until the darkness lifted. Today, nearly all vessels have flares or rockets in case of distress.

"Sparky"

Arthur Henry Rostron was born on May 14, 1869 in Astley Bridge England. He was educated in the Bolton School from 1882-1883 and Astley Bridge High School before being apprenticed to the clipper, Saxon. There he remained until when he was transferred to the Red Gauntlet as second mate. He then went on a series of ships and was even almost 1st officer on the famed Lusitania but was transferred right before the maiden voyage. After that, he served on the Carpathia. Which went from New York to Fiume, Italy and back again. He did this several times and on the night of April 14, 1912, Rostron was asleep when Harold Cottam, (the wireless operator), opened the door without so much as knocking and awoke Rostron. He explained that the TITANIC was sinking and needed their help. Rostron immediately threw on his coat and ordered that the Carpathia head towards the TITANIC. While dodging icebergs, he said many prayers and ordered the stewards, stewardesses, and doctors to stand by. When the Carpathia got there four hours later, the TITANIC had already gone down and all that was left was lifeboats. He used green rockets to signal the lifeboats and after all the lifeboats were picked up, he returned to New York where he was decorated and was bestowed upon with many honors (His actions earned him the name "Sparky"). Rostron was captain of many ships including the Lusitania and the Maurentania(He took command of the Maurentania 4 times)! He was made Commodor of the Cunard Fleet and made Commander of the the Order of British Empire. He was then made Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He retired on May of 1931 and died in May of 1940. His wife died three years later.

R.M.S. Carpathia

Click HERE for the first of three videos on the Carpathia returning the Titanic Survivors.

Click HERE for the second of three videos on the Carpathia returning the Titanic Survivors

Click HERE for the third of three videos on the Carpathia returning the Titanic Survivors.



Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson built the Carpathia and finished on August 6, 1902. It was 8,600 tons, 541 Feet Long, and 64.4 Feet Wide. Its captain was Arthur Rostron. The Carpathia was a cruise ship going from New York to Gilbraltar.
one of the passengers, Charles H. Marshall, had 3 nieces on the Titanic. But, on April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg. As the Titanic was sinking, Jack Phillips, the wireless operator, sent an S.O.S and C.Q.D., signals that were in morse code. When the Carpathia’s wireless operator named Harold Cottam got the Titanic’s distress signal, he went to the bridge and told the First Officer, Mr.Dean that the Titanic was sinking. Mr. Dean threw open the door to Captain Rostron’s cabin and told him that the Titanic was sinking. Then Rostron headed north at 21 knots and one of the officers recalled seeing him praying silently. The Carpathia had to steer around six huge icebergs. By the time they got there, it was 3:30 a.m. It took 3 hours to rescue everyone from the lifeboats. It took 4 days to reach New York. Arthur Rostron was awarded lots of medals and became commander of the entire Cunard Fleet. U-55 sent the torpedo that sank the Carpathia on July 17, 1918 in WW1. She was found in 1999 by Clive Clusser 500 Feet down and upside down off the coast of Ireland.