The Cunard Liner "Carpathia" was outbound from New York bound for the Mediterranean with 750 people on board when her wireless operator, Howard Cottam, received the Titanic's distress call at around 11:40 pm. After asking the "Titanic" if he should tell his Captain (Cottam testified later that it was his personal policy to question messages of such import), Cottam ran for the bridge and gave the message to the first officer. Both then burst into Captain Rostron's cabin without knocking. Rostron asked Cottam if he was certain it was from the "Titanic." Cottam was positive. Captain Arthur Rostron, a 27-year veteran who had sailed as the "Lusitania's" chief officer before coming into command of the "Carpathia", swung into furious activity. Rostron immediately gave the order to turn the ship around and head for the wreck site, 58 miles away. As he dressed, Rostron worked out a course for the "Titanic" and then sent for the Chief Engineer. When he arrived, the Captain ordered an extra watch of stokers on duty and told his engineer to make all speed to the "Titanic." Rostron then ordered his first officer to clear the deck, prepare all lifeboats, and prepare all spare gear to assist in a rescue.
Finished with the first officer, Rostron called in the heads of the ship's departments: doctors, purser, and Chief Steward. At the Senate hearings, Rostron actually produced a written record of his orders on that night.
"English doctor, remain in first class dining room. Italian doctor, to remain in second class. Hungarian, third class. Each doctor to have supplies of restoratives, stimulants, and everything to hand for immediate needs of probable wounded or sick. Purser, with assistant purser and chief steward to receive the passengers, etc. at different gangways to assist Titanic passengers to the dining rooms and get names. Inspectors, steerage stewards and master-at-arms to [keep the "Carpathia's" own third class passengers out of the way]. Chief steward: that all hands would be called to have coffee, etc. ready to serve to all crew. Have coffee, tea, soup, etc. in each saloon, blankets in saloons, at the gangways, and some for the boats. See all rescued cared for and immediate wants answered to. My cabin and all official's cabins to be given up. Smoke rooms, library, etc., dining rooms would be utilized. All spare berths in steerage to be utilized for Titanic's passengers, and get all our own steerage passengers grouped together.
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