Lifeboat 10

Lifeboat 10
Port lifeboats of the Titanic
Type	Standard
Location on deck	Port aft
Time when launched from Titanic	2:05-2:10 A.M.
Launched by officers	Wilde
Capacity	65
Estimated occupancy at launch	40
Estimated occupancy at rescue	40
Previous lifeboat launched	D
Next lifeboat launched	A

Lifeboat 10 was the seventh boat to be lowered from the port side at 2:05-2:10 A.M. For some reason, preparation of this boat was massively delayed. It was quite possibly the last lifeboat to safely leave the Titanic. When boat D began lowering of boat at around 2:03, the ship's port list suddenly increased and it was decided to start lowering the boat while it was still being loaded. By that time, the Titanic's forecastle was submerged and it was difficult to stand on the tilting deck.

“When we got on deck, I noticed that the ship was already sinking. It had already tipped over to one side, so that the water reached a good distance up onto the deck. At every little ‘tip’ of the ship, someone could be seen slipping off the deck and into the sea.” – Selma Asplund, steerage passenger

“The deck of the bow of the ship was now washed by the sea and tipped down to such an extent that I saw people slip and slide down it into the water.” – Edward Ryan, steerage passenger

“The bow of the ship was down in the water and leaning to port. Due to the angle of the deck, it was very difficult to stand or walk.” – Elin Hakkarainen, steerage passenger

“On the upper deck, it was rather quiet - almost eerie. The deck on the ship’s bow was already underwater, and the loud sound of the steam escaping from the funnels had settled down.” – Elin Hakkarainen, steerage passenger

Mrs. Elin Hakkarainen, from Third Class, almost fell into the sea as she boarded following Ada Balls.

“One of the officers pointed at me, saying: ‘Room for one more, lady. Come on. hurry!’ As I stepped into the lifeboat, it was already moving downward. I lost my balance, almost falling between the lifeboat and ship, until someone in the lifeboat grabbed my arm and pulled me into a seat.” – Elin Hakkarainen, steerage passenger

Some survivors strangely thought that she had fallen in the sea or that she was pulled back onto the Titanic, including William Burke - who claimed to have caught her feet. Oskar Hedman took his chances, ran past the crew members, and jumped in. Ellen O'Dwyer, Kate Gilnagh, and Edward Ryan jumped in after Elin.

Chief Baker Joughin was meant to take charge of this boat and said that he more or less threw people into it owing to the large gap between the deck and boat caused by the heavy port list. Not only did that make loading difficult, but the woman were staying away from the edge, likely fearing the Titanic would tip to port again. According to Imanita Shelley, the boat's davits couldn't be cranked in to reduce the gap.

The youngest survivor, Millvina Dean, was in this boat together with her mother and brother. Her brother was taken care of by Mrs. Florence Thorneycroft who was with them. There were perhaps seven or eight ladies from First Class, possibly 15 or more Second Class passengers, including Mr. Hosono, who jumped into it at the last moment and possibly ten or twelve Third Class passengers apart from the four crew in it; a total of perhaps 40 people.

The boat was lowered in a janky manner and the Titanic was so close to sinking that the stern could be felt rising as the lifeboat descended.

“As the lifeboat continued its descent, the stern of the Titanic rose higher and higher. We wondered if the ropes lowering the lifeboats would be long enough to reach the water. We did reach the water, but could feel the boat rising with the stern before the ropes were released.” – Elin Hakkarainen, steerage passenger

As the boat settled, there was considerable trouble with the lowering tackle, and Frank Evans - in the bow of the boat - observed the "port bow light" only about 10 feet from the waterline. Some argue that this means portholes on the bow, but surely it would be worded "bow port lights" if that's what he meant rather than a singular port-side light. Most likely, he meant the port sidelight. A minute later, once the boat was free, Edward Buley - in the boat's stern - noticed that the "port bow light" was underwater as they pulled away. He used the same wording as Evans regarding the light.

“How much of the bow was under the water when you left? She was about 10 feet from the port bow light, sir.” – Frank Evans, able-bodied seaman

“Her [the Titanic's] port bow light was under water when we were lowered.” – Edward Buley, able-bodied seaman

There weren't men to row properly. As a result, Buley ordered the boat laid to only a couple of hundred yards from the Titanic, fully believing that the suction would drag them down. Fortunately, what little suction there was did not affect the lifeboat when the Titanic sank about 10 minutes later.

“We were lying to there. The people in the boat were very frightened that there would be some suction. If there had been any suction, we should have been lost. We were close to her. We couldn’t get away fast enough. There was nobody to pull away.” – Edward Buley, able-bodied seaman

Occupants of the boat were very contradictory regarding how long the boat had been away from the Titanic before it sank.

“How long after you were lowered and put in the water was it before she went down? I should say about 25 minutes to half an hour.” – Edward Buley, able-bodied seaman

“Someone said: ‘Careful, there,’ and I was dropped into the boat. She was pulled away and I sat up to look at the big ship. It could not have been more than seven minutes before there was a terrible explosion.” – Ellen O’Dwyer, steerage passenger

“I saw the ship go down. Ten minutes, I think, after we got on the small boat.” – Oskar Hedman, steerage passenger

“It seemed hours before the Titanic sank, but we had not got far away.” – Mary Davison, steerage passenger

When they encountered lifeboat 14 and other boats, the two able seamen, Frank Evans and Edward Buley were transferred to No. 14. On the other hand, ten or twelve others were transferred into the boat from No. 14 and No. 10 arrived at the Carpathia with 50 or so, the last boat but one to be rescued.

Occupants

Lifeboat 10, 12 and 14 being loaded, as seen in A Night to Remember (1958)

• Edward John Buley ------------------Able Seaman (in charge)
• Frank Oliver Evans -------------------Able Seaman
• Charles Rice -------------------------Fireman
• William Burke ------------------------First Class 2nd Saloon Steward
• Ethel Flora Fortune* (3?) -------------First Class Passenger
• Mabel Helen Fortune* (3?) ------------First Class Passenger
• Mary Fortune* (3?) -------------------First Class Passenger
• Alice Elizabeth Fortune* (3?) ---------First Class Passenger
• Cornelia Theodosia Andrews ---------First Class Passenger
• Anna Louisa Hogeboom -------------First Class Passenger
• Gretchen Fiske Longley --- ----------First Class Passenger
• Mary Graham Carmichael Marvin -----First Class Passenger
• Ada Balls ---------------------------Second Class Passenger
• Hannah Abelson --------------------Second Class Passenger
• Antoinine Mallet --------------------Second Class Passenger
• André Clement Mallet ---------------Second Class Passenger
• Elizabeth Nye -----------------------Second Class Passenger
• Lutie Davis Parrish ------------------Second Class Passenger
• Imanita Parrish Shelley--------------Second Class Passenger
• Annie Hold -------------------------Second Class Passenger
• Masabumi Hosono ------------------Second Class Passenger
• Barbara Joyce West ----------------Second Class Passenger
• Ellen O'Dwyer ----------------------Third Class Passenger
• Edward Ryan -----------------------Third Class Passenger
• Selma Asplund ---------------------Third Class Passenger
• Lillian Gertrud Asplund‏ -------------Third Class Passenger
• Edvin Rojj Felix Asplund ------------Third Class Passenger
• Mary Davison ----------------------Third Class Passenger
• Elin Matilda Hakkarainen -----------Third Class Passenger
• Elizabeth Gladys 'Millvina' Dean -----Third Class Passenger
• Bertram Vere Dean* ----------------Third Class Passenger
• Millvina Dean ----------------------Third Class Passenger
• Kate "Katie" Gilnagh ----------------Third Class Passenger
• Oskar Arvid Hedman - --------------Third Class Passenger
• Florence Kate Thorneycroft *(12?) ---Third Class Passenger

Transferred from lifeboat 14

• Clear Cameron ---------------------Second Class Passenger
• Ellen Wallcroft ---------------------Second Class Passenger

_{* = not certain}

Popular culture

A Night to Remember (1958)

Lifeboat 10 being loaded, as seen in A Night to Remember (1958)

In A Night To Remember, lifeboat 10 is incorrectly shown as the first lifeboat launched from the port side, and the first lifeboat launched overall.

When Sixth Officer James Moody attempted to load the lifeboat with women, most of them were still reluctant to get into the lifeboat. A woman refusing to get into the lifeboat yelled at Moody: "And catch my death of cold? Certainly not!". Second Class passenger Edith Eileen Brown then agreed to take her seat in the lifeboat.

Chief Baker Charles Joughin was initially assigned to take command of the lifeboat, but he gave up his seat to a woman so she could be with her daughter.

When Lightoller is starting to launch the boat, Bruce Ismay approaches demanding that the boats be lowered quickly. In reality, this scene took place with Fifth Officer Harold Lowe during the lowering of boat 5.

Titanic (1996 Miniseries)

Lifeboat 10 is the one that Jamie Perse accidentally falls into, which saves his life. He is helping people onboard before his drop and is fighting to get back onboard Titanic because he wants to go back to the Jack Family who presumably was still behind the locked gates, but he is calmed by fellow occupants and oozes away in unconsciousness.

Titanic (1997)

Lifeboat 10 (far left) being launched, as seen in the 1997 film Titanic

In Titanic (1997 Film), instead of being the last lifeboat to be launched on the port side as is the case in real life, in this film, lifeboat 10 is the third.

After the Titanic sank, Fifth Officer Harold Lowe gathered several lifeboats including boat 10, and transferred some of the passengers from his lifeboat to boat 10.

Sources

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