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Message: [QUOTE="John M. Feeney, post: 87515, member: 166039"] Hi, James: I'd have to agree with Michael Standart's excellent analysis here. To have proceeded toward those lights might well have been suicidal. The explosion danger was presumeably apparent, and the additional pressure induced by forward acceleration might have further weakened the already critically damaged bow and bulkheads. Whatever mistakes were made prior to collision, I'd have to assume that the consultations between Captain Smith, Thomas Andrews, Chief Engineer Bell, and others resulted in a strategy befitting the circumstances. As was pointed out in a similar discussion on the Newsgroup alt.history.ocean-liners.titanic, there also wasn't sufficient time under the prevailing circumstances of inundation to ready and fill ALL of the available life boats -- the last two collapsibles merely floated off as the bow went under, one capsized and the other empty save for those who made the last-ditch leap aboard. Had there been more time, these boats might have been properly filled. Had there been even less, perhaps none of the collapsibles (or worse) might even have been readied. Michael, thanks for sharing that somewhat disquieting revelation on Brittanic's abortive moving lifeboat launch. Certainly not an exodus I'd like to try! Cheers! John Feeney [/QUOTE]