Mr Edneser (Ernest) Edward Wheelton

Mr Ednser Edward Wheelton, was born in Liverpool on 31 March 1883 (1).

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as Norwood Ho. Bellemoor Rd., (Southampton). His last ship was the Olympic. As a first class steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

At the time of the collision, he was asleep and thought the ship had dropped a propeller. He was just about to go back to sleep when he heard someone shouting, "Water-tight doors!" He was then ordered to get his lifebelt and go to his boat station. After pulling his pants over his pajamas and donning an overcoat and slippers, he went to lifeboat 5, which he assisted in 'getting away'. He was then ordered to the B deck storeroom to get supplies. On his way, he saw Thomas Andrews opening doors to cabins, looking for passengers. Retrieving a bottle of biscuits, Wheelton returned to the Boat Deck to find boat 5 gone. He then assisted at boat 7. One incedent he remembered was J. Bruce Ismay helping women and children into the boats and trying to regulate the lowering of the lifeboats. He was so intense in these actions that Fifth Officer Lowe snapped at him. According to Wheelton, "Mr Lowe told Mr Ismay to get the Hell out of it because I was the steward who stood in back of Mr Ismay."

After working boat 7 and boat 9, First Officer Murdoch sent Wheelton down to A deck to No. 11, which was by this time hanging on the davits. He got into the boat as Murdoch, standing on the taffrail on the top deck, called down, "Women and children first!" Shortly after that, Wheelton testified that "I shouted to Mr Murdoch 'The boat is full, sir'. He said 'All right. Have you got your sailors in?' I said 'No, sir'. He told two sailors to jump in the boat." After being lowered into the water, they rowed about 300 yards off. "We pulled toward a light but we didn't seem to get any closer to it. A lady back of me complained of the cold and I took my coat off and gave it to her."

Wheelton later reported there had been no boat drills on the Sunday. At the finish of his testimony at the U S Senate Hearings, he added: "I would like to say something about the bravery exhibited by the First Officer, Mr Murdoch. He was perfectly cool and very calm."

Notes
1. Sometimes listed as "Ernest Edward Wheelton"
2. One source (PEK) suggests his birth was registered in West Derby in the 2nd quarter of 1884.

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References and Sources
Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List
United States Senate (62nd Congress), Subcommittee Hearings of the Committee on Commerce, Titanic Disaster, Washington 1912

Credits
Pat Cook, USA
Peter Engberg-Klarström, Sweden
Brian Ticehurst, UK

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