I have over the short time I've been on ET said my peace more often than is warranted over the incident of boat 1.
I really ought not to reprise my arguments for fear of yet again boring or even alienating my friends here but, against my better judgement, I will take the risk and hope they will excuse me.
Though I agree it would have been great had others been collected by the crew to go in boat 1, I do not want to be too censorious of Officer Murdoch. In light of the ultimate price this fine brave man paid that night, I cannot permit myself to disrespect his memory by making speculations that might be misconstrued. But it is not only for discretion's sake - for I truly do feel this man was a hero and while in retrospect it can be reasonably contended that boat 1's leaving with less than its full capacity was ill-advised, I strongly believe Murdoch did as he felt was best at that time. I believe Murdoch and Lowe and others who were assisting in the evacuation at this point (and Inger and Ilya can speak to this better than I) were more aware than many people of the Titanic's increasingly grave condition and would therefore have been very anxious to get all the boats away. They were, in my opinion, in a hurry (and I do not mean haste necessarily) to get the aft boats down which is what they proceeded to do once #1 was cast off.
As to the odd situation of the boat deck's being deserted at this juncture, this has been examined before at length. And there seems no doubt that this was indeed a fact. However I do not believe there were a great many first class people left on the forward starboard deck after #3 was cleared anyway. Most had already gone off in #7, 5 & 3. Those that were still there after #3 went off may have not felt the emergency boat or collapsibles would be utilized (the collapsibles, for instance, were probably not even uncovered yet) and so either crossed through the foyer to port or went aft to the second class deck. If you check the number of first class people who left in aft starboard boats there are only a handful. Mme. Aubart and maid (#9), Miss Rosenbaum (#11), Dr. Dodge (#15), and a few others whose names escape me were among them.
It was in my estimation an unfortunate fluke that only the Duff Gordons, Miss Francatelli, Mr. Stengel, and Mr. Salomon were at hand to go in boat #1 when it was ready.
By the time #1 was slung off - at approximately 1:10-1:15 AM - the ship was settling well at the head and was heeling slightly to port, the latter I think partly accounting for #1's getting hung up as it was lowered. We know from Lookout George Symons, placed in charge of #1 by Murdoch, that as they were cutting loose he looked forward and saw what must have been a frightening sight - that of the bow almost submerged, the water lapping at the ship's nameplate just under
C-Deck.
We also know (and again I defer to the experts on this point) that somewhere around this time, Murdoch said to steward Hardy as they were walking along the deck to the next boat that "I believe she's gone." If this was his frame of mind at the time boat 1 cast off - and I imagine it was - I think that that is what prompted his decision to let it go without its full complement.
Just an added word here about the fact that #1 had only 12 aboard rather than 40. #1 undeniably held the least number of people but I do think it would only be fair to note that other boats left less than half-filled as well - #7 with only 28 aboard though it could hold 65. #2 I believe left with only 18-20. In #7's case, being a larger craft, it had MORE empty spaces than 1! About 37 empty spaces. I think #6 and 8 also left with only a few on board.
I mention this because for some reason beyond me writers love to insinuate that the Duff Gordons were a) somewhow responsible for the fact that #1 left so underfilled and b) that it was alone in not returning to the wreck site to pick up swimmers.
Even on the Dalbeattie site, so hotly contested of late here on ET, a researcher who should know better recounts these absurdities and even goes to the extent to accuse the Duff Gordons of behaving "disgracefully." I think that's going too far.
No one ever singles out for criticism anyone else in any other boat for a) being responsibile for their boat's having less occupants than it should and b) not going back to rescue others. The boats, as a group are critized for failing to go back, but whenever specific names are brought up it's always the Duff Gordons. They've become the convenient scapegoat for the lifeboats' failures that night and that is really unfair.
Well, as usual I've said much more than I need to!!!
