J. B. Ranson - The Sinking of The Titanic

The Sinking of The Titanic

As Captain of the RMS Baltic, he was sailing from New York City to Liverpool on 11 April 1912.

On Sunday 14 April 1912, the Baltic warned the RMS Titanic by radio that icebergs had been sighted. Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 that same night. This warning became notable after the sinking when Titanic's captain took the warning from the bridge and handed it to White Star Line managing director J. Bruce Ismay. He took it and reportedly later showed it to some other passengers. Ismay later said he gave the warning back when Captain Smith asked for it later that evening. Some Ismay critics have pointed to this as evidence that Ismay had convinced Captain Smith to increase the ship's speed, which Ismay denies, and that this was Captain Smith showing Ismay there was danger.

At 00:30, the ship Caronia relayed a CQ message from Titanic to the Baltic, and at 00:53 another CQD.

At 01:15, Baltic responded "Please tell Titanic we are making towards her".

At 01:35, Baltic reported receiving the message "Engine room getting flooded" from Titanic, and responded "We are rushing to you".

Later in the morning, at 08:07 Baltic radioed the RMS Carpathia to offer assistance with survivors. Baltic travelled 134 miles west toward the scene of the sinking of the Titanic before turning back toward Liverpool.

Ranson subsequently provided testimony about the warnings of icebergs and standard operating procedure, to the British inquiry into the Titanic disaster Tuesday June 18, 1912. In "EXPENSES OF INQUIRY PAID BY THE BOARD OF TRADE", Ranson is shown to have received 15 shillings in his capacity as Master of the Baltic.

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