Shipbuilder (39 page)

“The hull buckled real sudden,” they told him, “like holes being poked all along the side. Water’s pouring in.”

He ran down the last flight of stairs to the tank top, which was really the top of the double bottom. The watertight doors to the sixth compartment were closed here, and as above, there was water pooling on the deck. He could see no other damage here, and he took a few minutes to run the length of the deck he could reach, checking for cracks. It looked clear.

Remembering that Officer Boxhall would perform a cursory examination and report no damage to Captain Smith, Tom abandoned his investigation and raced up to the bridge. As he approached, he heard Bruce Ismay’s voice.

“Perhaps we should restart the engines and head for Halifax. I believe it’s the nearest port.”

Tom moved faster, entering the bridge nearly at a run. “Don’t move this ship!” he shouted. Smith and Ismay turned, startled at his appearance. Ismay’s lips tightened in annoyance, but Tom addressed the Captain. “The hull’s been damaged in the forepeak and at least four compartments. Further investigation is needed to determine the full extent. But sir, you must not start the engines again until we know exactly where we stand. If the bottom is damaged the tank top could rupture.”

This is what happened in the other timeline, according to Sam. Moving the ship forward, even for a few minutes, had greatly increased the flow of water into the ship. It had been the final, fatal mistake.

Ismay spoke before Smith said anything. “Andrews, how soon can we be under way?”

Captain Smith stood straighter, his expression stern and determined.

“Have you seen the damage?” he asked Tom quietly, ignoring Ismay. “You’ve been below?”

“Aye, Sir. I need more time to look it over.”

Smith nodded once, and gestured to Tom to lead the way down. “Let’s go see for ourselves, shall we?” He turned to Murdoch. “Remain at full stop. Send the carpenter down to help sound the ship.”

Tom felt a brief rejoicing.
At last! Something has changed!
He left the bridge with Smith behind him.

At the first compartment, they climbed the short ladder to the upper hatch, swinging it open. They stared in dismay at the water flowing freely down the bulkhead and pooling on the deck below. It was worse the farther forward they went. The forepeak was completely flooded. Tom estimated the flow rate in each compartment as best he could. They discovered holes in the sixth compartment as well. The water flow was much slower there, moving in a thin, but solid, stream down the wall in three places.

“The post office is flooded,” Tom remarked as they reached the staircase on their way back to the bridge. He spoke quietly as there were a few passengers about, whispering to each other or to stewards. They looked curiously at Smith and Tom, but no one approached.

Smith’s face was tight. “I’ll see if they need help moving the mail. Would you bring the ship’s plans to the bridge? We’ll discuss the damage with the staff in a few minutes.”

They parted and Tom went to his room to retrieve the plans. He paused a moment as he entered. His stateroom was quiet and clean, just as he had left it. Vertigo seized him and made the room spin for a moment. He rubbed his face with his hands.

The entire world had changed. He’d known it was coming, but now that it was here, he felt inadequate and guilty, full of fear.
All this time, I’ve never faced the reality of this. It’s all been hypothetical. I never believed it would really happen.

He should have stopped it.

Smith, Lightoller, Chief Officer Wilde, and Bruce Ismay were waiting in the chart room when he arrived. He spread the plans on the table.

Six compartments were flooding. Tom showed them the consequences of their collision, pointing out the sections on the plan. “The watertight doors are all sealed, but these compartments are filling with water. Once the water reaches C Deck, it’ll start flooding into the stair wells.”

Ismay sputtered, but Captain Smith held up a hand to silence him, never taking his eyes off of Tom. “Will she stay afloat?”

“No sir.” Tom thought for a moment that those words would kill him.

“That’s ridiculous! This ship can’t sink.” Ismay moved next to them, sounding angry, but uncertain.

“Without a double hull, the water is filling those compartments. It will reach the top of the bulkheads on C Deck and from there will flood the rest of the ship. We have no way of blocking off the stair wells past that point.” Tom could barely bring himself to look at Ismay, he was so angry.

“What about the pumps?” the Captain asked.

Tom shook his head. “The pumps have a new efficient mechanism developed recently, but they can’t stop it. They buy us time, though. A few hours, maybe.”

He reached for paper and pencil, making a rough calculation. “Conservatively, we can stay afloat for about four hours, maybe five.” Whatever else, they were in better shape than in the other time line, when the ship had sunk in two-and-a-half hours. “We need to get everyone off this ship, quickly, and call for help.”

~~~

RMS Carpathia, North Atlantic, 1:30 a.m.

Harold Cottam sighed with relief as he pulled off his dratted boots and pulled down the sheets. This was the last time he ever went to sea as the lone wireless operator. In the future, if he didn’t have a backup, he wouldn’t take the job. He had hoped to turn everything off and be in bed an hour ago, once he received a reply from the liner Parisian. But that reply had required a response, and now he was waiting for a confirmation to that. But that was it. He was going to bed the second the response came through.

Once he was ready for bed, to keep himself awake for the reply, he switched over to the
Titanic’s
frequency. He’d heard several messages come in for them, but they had not been replying.
Eejits,
he sniffed disdainfully.
They
had two wireless operators and still couldn’t keep up!

Ah, they were transmitting, now. Too tired to translate, he leaned on his elbow and listened to the clicks, until something made him sit up. What was that? Had that been a CQD? All Stations Attend: Distressed. He started translating automatically. The
Titanic
was broadcasting her position. He wrote it down and waited. Nothing else happened and he tapped quickly:
Repeat your message. Did you say CQD?

The reply came back in an instant:
Yes. Come at once. We have struck a berg Old Man. Going down by head. CQD. CQD.
They repeated their coordinates.

“Blimey,” Cottam breathed. Throwing on his boots and jacket, but otherwise not bothering to dress, he grabbed the message and ran to the bridge. He presented his disheveled self to the first officer, who read the message and pulled Cottam with him to the captain’s quarters.

Captain Rostron had just fallen asleep, leaving him groggy and irritated at the interruption, but the message he read woke him instantly. Dressing quickly, he took the others to the chart room to determine distance and course. He sent Cottam back with a message for
Titanic
:
we’ll be there in four hours.
Then he immediately began giving orders to turn his ship into a rescue boat.

~~~

Dunallon, Monday 15 April 1912, 4:00 a.m.

Neither Sam nor Casey knew when they could expect news. The telegraph office opened at six, but they had no idea when a specific telegram would be sent to someone at Harland & Wolff and from there, to them. They did expect that telegraphed messages were flying through the airwaves from ship to ship as
Titanic
called for help, and these would be picked up by various news sources. News should be getting out soon.

If events followed the original timeline,
Titanic
would have hit the iceberg at 3:40 a.m., Belfast time. By 6:20, she would have sunk and Tom would be gone. Casey, fighting rising panic and despair, fainted twice, until Sam insisted she lie down on the sofa. He put a pillow under her feet and a cool rag on her forehead and forbade her to move.

At seven o'clock, the doorbell rang. Ham stood on the step, his hat in hand, his long face miserable, as he faced Sam. "Dr. Altair," he began, and paused in shock as Casey came into view. Sam realized how strange her appearance must seem to Ham: her hair was loose and wild, her face pale and pinched, with deep lines around her mouth, her eyes groggy and unfocused.

Ham seemed to throw off his shock, though, stepping inside and gripping her shoulders. "Casey, I have some news. Let me say first that, as far as we know, Tom is okay."

Her expression didn't change and he took an uncertain breath. "We're still trying to find out what's happened, but wireless messages between ships at sea have been picked up by several news services. Mr. Kempster received a call about an hour ago from a reporter who had heard about the messages."

He glanced at Sam, instinctively begging for help with Casey's blankness. "
Titanic
hit an iceberg sometime last night. We don't have details, so we don't know when it happened or what the damage was. The last we heard, they're loading people onto boats. We know that several ships are working their way to her. That's all I know."

Casey stared at him a moment, her hands on his chest, but before she spoke, Sam put a hand on each of them and turned them toward the parlor. "Sit down, Ham," he directed, as he guided Casey to a divan. She went with no argument, staring blankly at the floor. Sam sat next to her, bringing his attention back to Ham. "Do you have any idea of when or how you'll learn more?"

Ham swallowed, hard. "
Carpathia
is excepted to arrive within the hour. We'll have to give them time to rescue everyone, which could take several hours. We hope to hear more sooner than that, but we're uncertain." He shifted as Casey's haunted eyes moved up to watch him. "You see, they are much closer to New York than to us. The messages we're getting are being passed on from other ships as they move in and out of range. It's quite haphazard, I'm afraid. We've sent inquiries, but have not received any replies. We don't expect to, really. We must allow them to concentrate on their situation, and understand they cannot take the time to send information."

Casey placed a hand on Sam's arm and stood up. Both men stood awkwardly, not sure what to expect. Her gaze at Ham was direct, with eyes that were suddenly clear. "Is there someone at the telegraph office? How is Harland & Wolff getting the information?"

"George Cummings is down there, with a few of the office boys. Since we're not having any telegrams addressed to us, Mr. Kempster thought it best to remain on the scene. George is having the boys run information to us, although someone at the telegraph office is letting him use a phone there, too." Ham twisted his hat and held out a hand to her. "We're getting it in bits and pieces, Casey. I'll return to the office and call you every time I get more news. Is that all right?"

"Has anyone contacted Tom's parents?"

Ham shook his head. "We wanted to talk to you first."

She nodded. "I'll talk to them. Go back, Ham. Let me know everything. Even if it doesn't make sense. Even if you don't trust it. Call immediately."

He nodded, giving her a piercing look before heading for the door. She turned to Sam, lips tight, cheeks flushed with color against her paleness.

"There's been no change." She was almost accusing him.

"That we know of," he reminded her. "We really have very little news. Remember, even if the collision occurs exactly as before, we have higher bulkheads, better pumps. This will certainly give them more time. We have forty-eight lifeboats and perhaps enough time to load them up. Don't lose hope."

She reached for his hand. "Will you gather the staff? I'll speak to them after I talk to Tom's parents."

Chapter 41

15 April 1912 Titanic, 12:08 a.m.

Captain Smith ordered all hands on deck and assigned Chief Officer Wilde to see to the lifeboats. He sent crew to wake all passengers, to tell them to dress warmly, put on their life belts and where to wait. Blankets were collected. Tom offered the help of the guarantee group. His electrician, Billy Parr, was already below, but the others could help with the lifeboats and in assembling passengers. Captain Smith agreed.

Tom took immediate action. This scenario had been discussed at length with Sam and Casey over the years, and he already knew what he wanted the guarantee group to do. "There was chaos in third class," Sam had told them when they first discussed it a few years ago while sitting in the garden. "No one gave them instructions, and they all just waited below until it was too late. Those who tried to find the lifeboats got lost because they didn't know their way around the ship. A lot of them didn't speak English, and there were no translators."

Tom knew that some stokers had probably died when the iceberg hit. He was determined to not lose another soul to this disaster. That meant taking charge of third class. He gathered the guarantee group and gave them instructions.

"Billy is staying below to help the electricians keep the lights on and the pumps working. I need the rest of you to help out with organizing people. There are about seven hundred third class passengers, and they've been down in steerage the whole time. They'll not have any idea of where to go in order to find the lifeboats. I want each of you to get down there and help organize those people and bring them in groups to the boat deck. It might be helpful to locate a few capable third class men to help you with this. They'll respond best to each other. Work with the crew that's down there, but don't let them tell you those people can't come up here or can't go through first class areas."

"One other thing," Tom looked for Artie Frost and pointed at him, "A lot of those people will not speak English. Artie, this'll be like when we work with the deaf people at Mission Hall. You know how to do that. Yelling louder at them in English won't get your message across, right?"

Most of the group laughed at this, but Artie nodded; he knew what Tom meant. "I think you can figure out how to communicate with them, so I'm leaving that up to you. All of you," Tom looked around at them, "make sure they all have their life belts and warm clothes. We only have about three hours to get everyone off, so move those people up here."

The group took off for their assignment and Tom turned to the boat deck. The crew was working in teams to unhinge the lifeboats and swing them out. Tom went from team to team, racing from port to starboard, showing them the best method for working the davits. As he worked, he felt his mind narrowing to a focus:
get everyone through it. Don't stop, don't hesitate. You know what needs to be done, Tom. Just do it.

At 12:20, when no people were queuing up for the boats, he stopped and looked around. Spying Lightoller releasing another boat from its davit, he stepped to his side and jostled his elbow. "Where are the passengers? Why aren't they loading into the first boats?"

When he answered, Lightoller's tone was high and frustrated as he kicked the davit loose. "Cap'n hasn't given the order to load 'em, yet." At Tom's astonished expression, he continued defensively, "He only ordered the boats swung out. Said to wait for his order to load the passengers."

"Hell and blast!" Leaving Lightoller to his task, Tom dashed for the bridge, but spied the captain near the bow, looking into the darkness. "Captain!" he called as he turned that way, but the man did not respond. Tom called again as he reached his side and slowly Captain Smith turned his head, taking several moments to recognize Tom.
Oh, this is wonderful,
Tom thought, exasperated.
He's in shock. Sam never said anything about that.
"Sir, most of the first boats are ready. Shouldn't we begin loading the passengers?"

It seemed an eternity before Smith nodded. "Quite right," he answered, his voice sounding dead. He turned to Murdoch, standing behind Tom. "Give the order, Mr. Murdoch. People must load up."

Murdoch exchanged one brief, frustrated glance with Tom as he turned to shout out the order. Tom headed through the first class entrance and into the fray of passengers milling around and on the grand staircase, and below in the promenades and dining rooms. Lifting his arms and raising his voice just slightly, he got the attention of most of the nearby people.

He spoke forcefully, but calmly. "Captain Smith has ordered all passengers to load into the lifeboats. Please begin queuing up immediately on the boat deck. Ship's crew will direct you to your boat. Wear your coats and lifebelts and move with expedience. There are many people to load up."

Instead of following his orders, they began peppering him with questions. What had happened? The ship was not going to sink, was it? Wasn't it true that this ship was unsinkable?

Murdoch entered and repeated the captain's order, ignoring their inquiries moved through the crowd. Tom followed his example and stopped answering questions. He moved quickly through the crowd, instructing them to load onto a boat, and moving on.

He realized his mistake when a waiter impeded his progress. "Would you care for a drink, Sir?"

Tom turned to stare in astonishment at the proffered tray of wine and champagne. He noticed another waiter with a tray of canapés and he turned in a bewildered circle, seeing the chatting groups, the orchestra playing jauntily, the fur coats and sparkling jewelry. He turned to answer the patient waiter.

"You are a member of this crew. Put these drinks down, put on your lifebelt, and report to a lifeboat. Encourage everyone you see to do the same. The Captain has given the order."

The waiter nodded. "Aye, Mr. Andrews. I know. But it's cold outside and people want to be comfortable while they wait their turn to load."

"Comf…" Tom stopped. Sam and Casey had mentioned this.
I always thought they were exaggerating. Trying to show me the excesses of this time.

He shook his head and moved to the starboard exit. He grabbed a crew member. "Put your lifebelt on, now. I need you to help me."

The skinny boy nodded and fumbled with the belt in his hand. While he was doing that, Tom turned and tucked a hand under the elbow of a lady he recognized as Mrs. Appleton. She had come aboard at Southampton.

"Madam, please put on your lifebelt and follow this crewman to a lifeboat. I see your sisters are here as well. All of you, move smartly, please. We have many people to load."

"Surely, this ship will not actually sink, Mr. Andrews."

"We certainly hope not, madam. But the Captain refuses to take chances with the lives of the passengers and crew. Hurry now."

He saw them out, instructing the young boy who was still buckling his lifebelt, "See them into a boat and return for more passengers. Move sharp."

He repeated this scene, starting with those closest to the exit and slowly widening his circle. Murdoch had moved to the boat deck and was supervising the loading of portside boats. Everywhere Tom saw a crew member, he put them to work guiding passengers outside.

He stopped when he came upon John Astor for the second time. "Sir, I thought you already got into a boat. Where is your wife?"

Astor bit his lip and stood straight. "Women and children first, Mr. Andrews. I asked to go with my wife, as she is in a delicate condition, but the officers are not loading men at this time."

Blast.
He'd forgotten about that. He dashed to the starboard boat deck and found Lightoller. "Listen, I know it goes against the grain, but don't turn men away. We don't have time. Make sure every boat is loaded to the full. They'll be warmer, too and there will be more people to help with rowing."

Lightoller looked doubtful and Tom shook his arm. "I'm serious, man. Fill those boats up! We're getting people out here as quickly as we can. Get them into boats! Don't send any away less than full."

 He raced portside and gave Murdoch the same speech. Murdoch was more receptive. "Aye, I'm trying to load women and children first, but if they're not here, I'm putting men in." He hesitated, but went on. "The boats haven't been completely full. We're worried about the weight."

"Nonsense!" Tom blew his breath out in frustration. "These boats have been tested for up to seventy men in weight! Fill them up!"

Damn,
he thought as he turned away.
How could I forget they'd do that? What else am I forgetting?

Back inside, he ushered Mr. Astor out again and reminded every crew member he saw to tell the men to load up along with the women and children.

"We have time to get everyone off this ship. But we can't be sloppy about it." They all nodded and agreed to see all passengers loaded.

He stopped in despair when he spied a group of ladies, lifebelts tied snugly around their warm coats, standing near the orchestra.
What in thunder is going on now?
"Ladies, I thought you were in line for boats. Why are you back inside?"

Miss Elizabeth Eustis, a handsome spinster traveling with her sister, placed a flirtatious hand on his arm. "Oh, Mr. Andrews, don't be angry with us, sir. But it's so cold outside. We thought it better to wait in here and listen to the music."

An idea struck him and he reached for the first violinist, interrupting his playing. "Mr. Hartley. May I have your assistance?"

The orchestra had stumbled to a stop at Tom's interruption and Mr. Hartley did not look happy. But he remained polite. "Certainly, Mr. Andrews. What can I do for you?"

"Do you have your coats and lifebelts?"

Hartley gestured behind the stage. "Aye, we do."

"All of you, put them on and come with me."

"What?" Hartley began to sputter. "Where? We're needed, here."

"No, sir." Tom said. "I need you in a lifeboat. You can play once you're on the water. It will help immensely with getting these people to load up. I'm afraid that by playing, you are slowing things down considerably."

There were protests from the bystanders and Hartley considered Tom as if he'd grown a second head, but he put his instrument down and reached for his coat. The rest of the orchestra followed his example. Tom helped them with the belts, pushed their instruments into their hands and guided them starboard.

"Mr. Lightoller. May I ask for your sufferance for one thing? Please load these gentlemen into this boat and send it out straightaway. We'll sacrifice space, just this once."

Lightoller waved the orchestra into the half-filled boat, shaking his head at Tom. "Mr. Andrews, you are crazier than a fox in a henhouse. But if it will keep you happy…"

Tom turned his head back to see several more people crowding onto the deck after the orchestra and glanced at Lightoller with a grin. "Didn't Handel write "Water Music" for the King of England, to be played on the Thames? We'll have our own version."

 Hartley heard him and sputtered in laughter. "All right, Mr. Andrews. The first request is for Water Music. As soon as we're down, I promise."

The crowd waiting to load began to laugh, and the word got around: if they wanted to hear the music, they needed to get into boats.

With the party atmosphere subdued, loading began to move more efficiently. By 1:10, just one-and-a-half hours after the collision, they had launched twelve boats. A good number of people waited near their assigned spaces, and others stood ready to take their places once they were loaded. The guarantee group were coming and going at a steady clip, bringing thirty or forty third-class passengers as far as the first class promenade on A deck. From there, they could easily reach the boat deck and were loading onto boats as efficiently as first- and second-class passengers.

Tom had a chuckle seeing Roderick Chisholm, his chief draftsman, guiding a group from third class with a small girl sitting snugly on his shoulders. She couldn't have been more than two, but she was looking around in a serious manner as Rod approached Tom. "Her parents are lost," Chisholm informed him. "Don't think they speak English. You haven't noticed any frantic people looking for a child, have you?" Tom couldn't say that he had, and Chisholm nodded briefly. "Well, I'll head back down for another group. She's got a good perch and she'll spot them right enough. Doubt they got on a boat without her." He headed off then, with the child clutching to what little hair he had, chatting a blue streak to her about keeping an eye out for her wayward parents. As Rod was approaching the stairs, the child suddenly spotted her parents, and with a shouted “Maman!” used Rod’s head as a launching pad to jump into the arms of her frantic mother. Tom treasured the moment.

~~~

The list of the ship was getting worse.

As the pumps began to lose their battle with the seawater, which relentlessly filled the bulkheads, the ship leaned more and more to starboard, making it harder and more dangerous to lower the boats on that side. Tom went below to see what was happening, stopping in waist-deep water at D Deck. He rested his head against the cold metal of the ladder, his body heavy with despair and fatigue. He felt the ship’s pain, heard her groans and creaks as she fought against the pressure of water where no water had a right to be.