Arun Vajpey
Member
I have read several survivor statements, testimonies, contemporary expert opinions etc about loading and launching of Lifeboats #13 and #15, the rearmost starboard lifeboats, which were launched one after another between 01:40 am and 01:45 am. But I still find it difficult to work out the sequence of events and the work of the men involved. Based on a review of some older posts, I have changed my opinion about how Murdoch, Moody and the others shared these tasks and wanted to bounce it off other ET members.
The following is what I have worked out, subject to corrections based on others' opinions.
While Murdoch and the others were supervising launching of the forward starboard lifeboats, #13 and #15 obviously remained on the boat deck along with #9 and #11. At some stage around 01:00 am Moody ordered QM Wynn to prepare Lifeboat #9 for loading but Moody himself went to the port aft boats soon afterwards and was involved with supervising preparation of Lifeboats #16, #14 and #12 and actual loading and lowering of #16 before crossing back to the starboard side later. By then Murdoch and probably McElroy were loading Lifeboat #9 and Moody arrived just as it was about to be lowered and hustled Mrs Futrelle on board (her statement in an interview). After Murdoch moved to Lifeboat #11, Moody likely went further aft to where Lifeboats #13 and #15 were prepared and started loading both, with Lifeboat #13 probably a bit ahead.
One uncertain point is where McElroy was at this time. He spent most of his time on the starboard side and I wondered if he was involved with loading and launching Lifebats #13 & #15?
I believe once Murdoch lowered Lifeboat #11, he joined Moody at Lifeboat #13 and ordered the partially filled boat to be loaded to A-deck for further loading. I now believe that when that was done, it was Moody who went down to A-deck to complete loading of #13 from there while for the moment Lifeboat #15 remained on the boat deck with Murdoch supervising its loading. As some stage Boatswain Nichols arived on A-deck to help Moody to complete loading of Lifeboat #13 and when this was almost done, Moody left Nichols with #13 and went back to the boat deck to relieve Murdoch at Lifeboat #15; Murdoch himself then crossed over to the port side to attend to Lifeboat #10 while Moody continued loading of #15. Just as Nichols was about to lower Lifeboat #13 from the A-deck to the sea, Barrett arrived and saw that there was no officer present but he could hear one giving orders above on the A-deck; IMO that would have been Moody getting ready to lower Lifeboat #15 to the A-deck for further loading.
Nichols ordered Barrett into Lifeboat #13 to help with the rowing and started to lower the boat towards the sea. At the same time, Lifeboat #15 arrived on A-deck to complete its loading; I wonder if McElory went to the A-deck starboard aft at that stage to supervise it? In any case further loading of Lifeboat #15 was completed very quickly and it also started to be lowered onto the sea, leading to that mini-drama between Lifeboats #13 and #15.
I stress that a lot of the above account is my conjecture based on what is known. Others might have different opinions that would be nice to share.
The following is what I have worked out, subject to corrections based on others' opinions.
While Murdoch and the others were supervising launching of the forward starboard lifeboats, #13 and #15 obviously remained on the boat deck along with #9 and #11. At some stage around 01:00 am Moody ordered QM Wynn to prepare Lifeboat #9 for loading but Moody himself went to the port aft boats soon afterwards and was involved with supervising preparation of Lifeboats #16, #14 and #12 and actual loading and lowering of #16 before crossing back to the starboard side later. By then Murdoch and probably McElroy were loading Lifeboat #9 and Moody arrived just as it was about to be lowered and hustled Mrs Futrelle on board (her statement in an interview). After Murdoch moved to Lifeboat #11, Moody likely went further aft to where Lifeboats #13 and #15 were prepared and started loading both, with Lifeboat #13 probably a bit ahead.
One uncertain point is where McElroy was at this time. He spent most of his time on the starboard side and I wondered if he was involved with loading and launching Lifebats #13 & #15?
I believe once Murdoch lowered Lifeboat #11, he joined Moody at Lifeboat #13 and ordered the partially filled boat to be loaded to A-deck for further loading. I now believe that when that was done, it was Moody who went down to A-deck to complete loading of #13 from there while for the moment Lifeboat #15 remained on the boat deck with Murdoch supervising its loading. As some stage Boatswain Nichols arived on A-deck to help Moody to complete loading of Lifeboat #13 and when this was almost done, Moody left Nichols with #13 and went back to the boat deck to relieve Murdoch at Lifeboat #15; Murdoch himself then crossed over to the port side to attend to Lifeboat #10 while Moody continued loading of #15. Just as Nichols was about to lower Lifeboat #13 from the A-deck to the sea, Barrett arrived and saw that there was no officer present but he could hear one giving orders above on the A-deck; IMO that would have been Moody getting ready to lower Lifeboat #15 to the A-deck for further loading.
Nichols ordered Barrett into Lifeboat #13 to help with the rowing and started to lower the boat towards the sea. At the same time, Lifeboat #15 arrived on A-deck to complete its loading; I wonder if McElory went to the A-deck starboard aft at that stage to supervise it? In any case further loading of Lifeboat #15 was completed very quickly and it also started to be lowered onto the sea, leading to that mini-drama between Lifeboats #13 and #15.
I stress that a lot of the above account is my conjecture based on what is known. Others might have different opinions that would be nice to share.
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