The Inquiry

to this vessel. At about the same time the officers of the "Californian" admit seeing rockets in the general direction of the "Titanic" and ...testify that the side lights of a large vessel going at full speed were plainly visible from the lower deck of the "Californian" at 11:30 p.m., ship's time, just before the accident."

"The committee is forced to the inevitable conclusion that the "Californian" [was] nearer the "Titanic" than the 19 miles reported by her captain, and that her officers and crew saw the distress signals of the "Titanic" and failed to respond to them in accordance with the dictates of humanity, international usage, and the requirements of law. The only reply to the distress signals was a counter signal from a large white light [from] the mast of the "Californian." In our opinion such conduct, whether arising from indifference or gross carelessness, is most reprehensible, and place upon the commander of the "Californian" a grave responsibility."

Senator William Alden Smith concludes:

"In our imagination we can see again the proud ship instinct with life and energy, with active figures again swarming upon its decks; musicians, teachers, artists, and authors; soldiers and sailors and men of large affairs; brave men and noble women of every land. We can see the unpretentious and the lowly, progenitors of the great and strong, turning their back upon the Old World, where endurance is to them no longer a virtue, and looking hopefully to the new. At the very moment of their greatest joy the ship suddenly reels, mutilated and groaning. With splendid courage the musicians fill the last moments with sympathetic melody. The ship wearily gives up the unequal battle. Only a vestige remains of the men and women that but a moment before quickened her spacious apartments with human hopes and passions, sorrows, and joys. Upon that broken hull new vows were taken, new fealty expressed, old love renewed, and those who had been devoted in friendship and companions in life went proudly and defiantly on the last life pilgrimage together. In such a heritage we must feel ourselves more intimately related to the sea than ever before, and henceforth it will send back to us on its rising tide the cheering salutations from on those we have lost."

So ends this chronological story of the RMS "Titanic." I have used many resources in telling this story, and am pleased to list them below:

"Unsinkable" by

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