QM Rowe's exact position

Arun Vajpey

Member
We have all read repeatedly that QM George Rowe was on "Poop Deck Watch" at the time the Titanic struck the iceberg. But what I have not been able to find out (might have missed it) is whether this meant he could have been anywhere on the poop deck - a fairly large area - or was he required to stand within a designated smaller area called "afterbridge"? Since Rowe had access to a telephone, I have assumed that there was such a spot where the instrument was also located.

As far as I could see, BB's deckplans showed the poop deck but not any demarcated spot where the QM on watch should position himself.

Also, approximately for far aft of the navigating bridge would Rowe's position have been that night?
 
Hello Arjun,


Quartermaster George Rowe was stationed near the docking bridge, which was on the poop deck. During the collision he stated he was on the starboard side on the docking bridge.
1640437509877.png


The docking bridge was one of the three places outside of the ship that had a telephone, a loud speaking telephone to be exact which was directly connected to the wheelhouse. The phone-box, with it's doors open, can be seen here as photographed by the Irish press while in Queenstown.
1640437024718.png


1640437198007.png

In 1985 the phone box was seen at the debris-field near the stern.



The docking bridge was located about 615 feet away from the navigating bridge and wheelhouse.


I hope this helps.



Yours sincerely,


Thomas
 
Thanks Thomas. That info helps a LOT.

The docking bridge was located about 615 feet away from the navigating bridge and wheelhouse.
That would mean that QM Rowe on the Docking Bridge on the poop deck was more than twice the distance away from the Crow's Nest (and the Bridge) than QM Olliver was on the Compass Platform, which was about 250 feet from the navigating bridge. Since dissipation of sound obeys the law of inverse squares, any sound from the Crow's Nest (such as the 3 bells) would be less than quarter the intensity when it reached Rowe's position as compared with Olliver's. That would explain why Olliver (just) heard the 3 bells but Rowe did not.
 
Back
Top