Mike Poirier
Member
All the Horrors Seem to Happen at Night
- Thread starter Mike Poirier
- Start date
Michael H. Standart
Member
Indeed. It's good to see something meaty on the early career of a surprisingly obscure and little known officer. This tears some of that mystery away. Well done, Inger!
X----- X-------
Member
Gary Cooper
Member
Nice one Inger, very interesting. Moody has always seemed one of the obscure souls on the bridge of the Titanic, nice to see him given some due.
Mark Baber
RIP
Good stuff, Ing.
Dave Gittins
Member
Well researched and well written! Above all, it's not over-written.
Jesse D O'Neill
Member
Inger
Great Article. It will come in good use for future researchers on the subject
Great Article. It will come in good use for future researchers on the subject
Ryan McKeefery
Member
That was fantastic, Inger.
Well worded, well researched and very interesting, although I couldn't read it all in one sitting. I hope to see another soon.
Regards, Ryan.
Well worded, well researched and very interesting, although I couldn't read it all in one sitting. I hope to see another soon.
Regards, Ryan.
Inger Sheil
Member
Many thanks for all your feedback and comments - they are much appreciated.
Glad you liked the photos, Mike P! I tried to select images more contemporaneous with his early career, rather than the two c.1911-1912 images that are so often used. The first portrait, with the broad collar, was taken while he was attending the Rosebery House School in Scarborough, c. 1901.
The image of the fireboat comes from a postcard in my collection. Although undated, the caption refers to a Hoboken fire starting in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad yards, which leads me to believe that it was the fire Moody witnessed in 1904. The pc is not unusual, and was issued as late as the early teens.
Dave, I'm very pleased that you feel the piece was not overwritten. I had to resist the temptation to add an editorial gloss, as the letters are so rich in source material for the last days in sail that they offer much for analysis and commentary. I thought it would be better to keep the narrative as simple and direct as possible, as Moody writes a crackingly good yarn. I didn't want the barrier of my own 'interpretation' to stand between his story and the reader.
I'm also pleased that people feel that some of the mystery has been stripped away. I particularly wanted to address the idea that I've encountered in some circles - that Moody, as the youngest and most junior officer, was somehow inexperienced when he joined the Titanic. The Boadicea's crossing to New York was just the beginning for him - he was to experience other ferocious storms at sea. On one occasion, as they sailed through the Straits of Magellan in weather that ripped the doors off cabins, his explosives-laden steamer was nearly driven onto rocks ('Good job my will's made' he commented laconically). On another occasion his ship was given up for lost when she was overdue - her prop shaft had broken, leaving her helpless. Moody was no naive stripling when he joined the Titanic - he was a seasoned professional.
Glad you liked the photos, Mike P! I tried to select images more contemporaneous with his early career, rather than the two c.1911-1912 images that are so often used. The first portrait, with the broad collar, was taken while he was attending the Rosebery House School in Scarborough, c. 1901.
The image of the fireboat comes from a postcard in my collection. Although undated, the caption refers to a Hoboken fire starting in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad yards, which leads me to believe that it was the fire Moody witnessed in 1904. The pc is not unusual, and was issued as late as the early teens.
Dave, I'm very pleased that you feel the piece was not overwritten. I had to resist the temptation to add an editorial gloss, as the letters are so rich in source material for the last days in sail that they offer much for analysis and commentary. I thought it would be better to keep the narrative as simple and direct as possible, as Moody writes a crackingly good yarn. I didn't want the barrier of my own 'interpretation' to stand between his story and the reader.
I'm also pleased that people feel that some of the mystery has been stripped away. I particularly wanted to address the idea that I've encountered in some circles - that Moody, as the youngest and most junior officer, was somehow inexperienced when he joined the Titanic. The Boadicea's crossing to New York was just the beginning for him - he was to experience other ferocious storms at sea. On one occasion, as they sailed through the Straits of Magellan in weather that ripped the doors off cabins, his explosives-laden steamer was nearly driven onto rocks ('Good job my will's made' he commented laconically). On another occasion his ship was given up for lost when she was overdue - her prop shaft had broken, leaving her helpless. Moody was no naive stripling when he joined the Titanic - he was a seasoned professional.
Lester Mitcham
Member
Hello Inger,
A splendid well researched and documented paper. It gives a wonderful insight to the life of James Moody.
Regards,
Lester
A splendid well researched and documented paper. It gives a wonderful insight to the life of James Moody.
Regards,
Lester
Samuel Halpern
Member
A most enjoyable paper Inger. It gives you a taste of what life was really like and the hardships that were faced. Thanks.
Michael H. Standart
Member
>>I particularly wanted to address the idea that I've encountered in some circles - that Moody, as the youngest and most junior officer, was somehow inexperienced when he joined the Titanic. <<
I think you pretty well nuked that one. It's often overlooked that Titanic's officers got their start in sail. In fact, I recall that White Star required such experience. It was a brutal school to learn from too. The sort where incompetants got weeded out very quickly, one way or another.
I think you pretty well nuked that one. It's often overlooked that Titanic's officers got their start in sail. In fact, I recall that White Star required such experience. It was a brutal school to learn from too. The sort where incompetants got weeded out very quickly, one way or another.
monica e. hall
Member
Fascinating article, Inger. I'm thinking of making 19-year old James read it, who complained yesterday about having to shift trays of plants in the rain ....
Remco Hillen
Member
Hello Inger,
Congratulations on the article, very interesting to read.
It gives a very good idea on how a lot of White Star officers started their careers; what a way to do so!
Regards,
Remco
Congratulations on the article, very interesting to read.
It gives a very good idea on how a lot of White Star officers started their careers; what a way to do so!
Regards,
Remco