Emergency Lifeboat 1

Emergency Lifeboat 1
Lifeboat 1 as photographed by Francis Browne
Type	Emergency cutter
Location on deck	Starboard forward
Time when launched from Titanic	1:00 A.M.
Launched by officers	Murdoch, Lowe
Capacity	40
Estimated occupancy at launch	12 (exact)
Estimated occupancy at rescue	12 (exact)
Previous lifeboat launched	3
Next lifeboat launched	8

Lifeboat 1 before being picked up by the Carpathia

Emergency Lifeboat 1 was the fifth lifeboat launched from the RMS Titanic at about 1:00 A.M, and the fourth to be launched from the starboard side. This lifeboat was one of two smaller emergency cutters, which mainly was serving as a quick rescue boat to pick up someone in case he had fallen of the ship during a voyage. Lifeboat 1 had a capacity of 40, but were launched with only twelve aboard, the least number of passengers to escape on the boat that night. Most of the inhabitants of boat 1 were men, although Captain Smith called for "women and children first." First Officer Murdoch, in charge of evacuation efforts on the starboard side of the ship, allowed a number of First Class male passengers to board the lifeboats to calm the women and move the process. Murdoch allowed five passengers and seven crew to board, and the lifeboat was lowered with only these 12 occupants.

Boat 1 did not clear the side of the ship for some time, perhaps not until about 1:15 A.M., following to a mishap encountered on its descent from the Boat Deck. A protuberance called a spar, at about the B Deck level, caught on the boat's gunwales, arresting the lowering process. It was not until the crew used a wire cutter to chop the obstacle away that the boat was freed and able to reach the sea.

Lifeboat 1 and its occupants were picked up by the RMS Carpathia sometime shortly after 4:10 am, being the second Titanic lifeboat to reach the rescue ship. The boat's occupants were subsequently photographed as a group on the Carpathia. The boat was hoisted aboard the Carpathia along with other Titanic lifeboats and brought to New York. One of the davits from which boat 1 was lowered remains upright today on Titanic's wreck in relatively good condition.

Due to rumors that Sir Cosmo had bribed the crew in his boat not to rescue people left in the water after the ship went down, some New York press reports dubbed boat 1 the "Money Boat". The appearance of Cosmo and Lucy Duff-Gordon as witnesses at the British investigation into the disaster drew the largest crowds seen during the inquiry. The Duff-Gordons were the only passengers to testify at the Titanic Inquiry.

Controversy

According to the British Inquiry testimony of crew member Charles Hendrickson, he had proposed returning to rescue survivors after the Titanic sank, but "the women objected." Consequently, he claimed, the boat did not go back to pick up swimmers, although he admitted there was "plenty of room for another dozen". It was also claimed during the course of the inquiry by lookout George Symons and others that it was Lucy Duff Gordon who expressed concern that the lifeboat might be swamped if it returned. She denied the charge and her testimony was supported by other crewmembers who revealed they had not heard her objection nor any proposal to turn back.

According to the testimony of Robert Pusey, a conversation concerning money occurred in the boat at about 3 A.M, nearly an hour after the Titanic sank. He claimed the discussion was prompted by a private comment Lucy Duff-Gordon made to Mabel Francatelli: "There is your beautiful nightdress gone." Overhearing the exchange, Pusey replied, "Never mind, you have saved your lives," afterwards complaining that he and the other sailors had not only lost everything but their pay had stopped from the time the ship went down. Out of sympathy but also in hopes of avoiding an argument, Cosmo Duff-Gordon responded, "I will give you a fiver each to start a new kit." On April 16^th, the day after their rescue by the Carpathia, each boat 1 crewmember received a £5 cheque from Cosmo Duff-Gordon.

The British Inquiry issued a report after reviewing the evidence of their probe, which included sworn testimony from every member of boat 1's crew as well as an affidavit from Mabel Francatelli. The report stated:

The very gross charge against Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon that, having got into No. 1 boat, he bribed the men in it to row away from the drowning people, is unfounded.

The report, however, admonished the occupants of Boat 1 for not making a concerted effort to rescue survivors from the water.

Occupants

• George Symons ------------------------------ Lookout Man (in charge)
• Albert Edward James Horswill -----------------Able Seaman
• Charles Osker Hendrickson ------------------- Leading Fireman
• Samuel Collins ------------------------------- Fireman
• William Robert Pusey--------------------------- Fireman
• James Taylor ----------------------------------Fireman
• Frederick Sheath -----------------------------Trimmer
• Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon ----------------------- First Class Passenger
• Lady Duff-Gordon ----------------------------First Class Passenger
• Miss Laura Mabel Francatelli ------------------- Maid of Lady Duff Gordon
• Mr. Abraham L. Salomon ----------------------- First Class Passenger
• Mr (Dr.) C.E. Henry Stengel -------------------- First Class Passenger

_{* = not certain}

Fictional Occupants

1. Mr. Hoyle
2. Seaman Hawkins

The Boat

All 12 survivors who had left the ship in this controversial lifeboat

Lifeboat No. 1 was one of two small "emergency" wooden cutters that were located one on each side of the Titanic; No. 1 was on the starboard side. Although they performed double-duty as lifeboats, their primary purpose was to serve the crew in the event of an emergency, such as a man overboard, and were therefore already swung out from the rail to be launched quickly. The standard clinker-built lifeboats on the ship had an official capacity of 65 (but 70+ is possible) while the smaller emergency boats' capacity totaled 40.

Popular culture

A Night to Remember (1958)

The occupants of Emergency Lifeboat 1, as seen in A Night to Remember (1958)

In A Night to Remember, Murdoch found no women in the vicinity of boat 1 other than Lady Richard, thus allowing Sir Richard and 3 other first-class men to fill the boat.

After waiting a while and still not having any women around, Murdoch assigned a group of firemen and crew to take charge of the boat. With only a dozen people on the boat, Murdoch began the boat launch, confusing one crew that the boat was supposed to accommodate 40 people.

After the Titanic sank, the passengers on boat 1 argued whether they should return or not. First class passenger Mr. Hoyle argues that they will be swamped, while Lady Richard says: "We've crowded enough as it is, I'm feeling most unwell".

A crew then gave the suggestion to wait a while until things were a little quieting down, then then they could try.

S.O.S. Titanic (1979)

Emergency Lifeboat 1 being prepared by 5th Officer Lowe and a Quartermaster in S.O.S. Titanic

In S.O.S. Titanic, Emergency Lifeboat 1 is seen being prepared by 5th Officer Harold Lowe and a Quartermaster. Lowe then told the Quartermaster to start preparing for boat number 3.

Titanic: Adventure Out of Time

Emergency Lifeboat 1 (forward right), as seen in Titanic: Adventure Out of Time

In the game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, Boat 1 is not mentioned, but it can be seen swung out and ready until the second sinking cutscene. It's gone at 1:30 AM.

Titanic (1997)

The occupants of Emergency Lifeboat 1, as seen in Titanic (1997)

The Emergency Lifeboat 1 swung out of the Titanic, as seen in the 1997 Film

In a deleted scene in James Cameron 1997 blockbuster Titanic, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon and Lady Duff-Gordon are shown seated in Lifeboat No. 1 when Fireman Hendrickson recommends rescuing people in the water. Sir Cosmo looks at his wife, who appears distressed, before replying, "It's out of the question."

2012 Miniseries Titanic

The occupants of Emergency Lifeboat 1, as seen in the 2012 Miniseries Titanic

In the 2012 television mini-series Titanic, Lady Duff Gordon is shown standing in Boat 1, urging her secretary to get in with her, saying, "Don't be a fool Francatelli, this boat isn't sinking, that one is," pointing to the ship. She is later shown telling Officer Lowe to allow some men to board, including her husband, then ordering him to lower the boat.

These scenes represent a grossly inaccurate, and even inflammatory, portrayal of her actions in the lifeboat that night, as well as an unfair depiction of Lowe. Sir Cosmo then bribes the crew to not go back, which is also inflammatory unfair portrayal of the events in the lifeboat after the Titanic sank. Also the number of occupations in the lifeboat is wrong, there are 11 in the boat compared to 12.

Gallery

"Seamen command this boat!"

The crew boarded Emergency Lifeboat 1 in A Night to Remember (1958 film)

Emergency Lifeboat 1 being lowered in A Night to Remember (1958 film)

Emergency Lifeboat 1 (forward right) in Titanic: Adventure Out of Time

From left to right: Lifeboat 7, 5, 3 and 1, as seen in Titanic (1997 film)

Emergency Lifeboat 1 swung out of the Titanic, as seen in the 2012 Miniseries Titanic

Emergency Lifeboat being loaded, as seen in the 2012 Miniseries Titanic

Sources

_{10. 'Titanic' ©1996 (second print, 1998) Edward P. De Groot}

11. https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic/lifeboats/lifeboat-1/