Titanic: The Novelization (110th Anniversary Edition)

The Inquiry

The passenger lists posted in America and England became more accurate following Carpathia's arrival in New York. The crowds outside White Star and the newspaper offices watched with hope and fear for familiar names. Southampton was hardest hit by the news that only about two hundred of Titanic's nine hundred crewmembers were saved. The London Daily Mail reported:

"In the humbler homes of Southampton there is scarcely a family that has not lost a relative or friend. Children returning from school appreciated something of tragedy, and woeful little faces were turned to the darkened, fatherless homes."

The Daily Sketch embellished with a more sensational tone.

"In this district there are many families for whom the spectre of want is in ambush if the bread-winner has sunk with the Titanic. A rumour is persistent that a young mother who had given birth to twins and whose husband was a fireman, has died of shock."

On Friday, April 19, England observed a national day of mourning for Titanic. Roughly ten thousand people attended a memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, including King George V, his wife Mary of Teck, their children and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Randall Davidson. Those who could not find room inside, paid their respects in the street. The dead were mourned and prayers of thanks were offered for those who were rescued. Churches and other cities were also crowded with those gathering to remember the tragedy and pray for it's victims. In Queenstown, flags flew at half-staff for the sons and daughters of Ireland, who would never fulfill their dreams in the New World.

Even as the United Kingdom mourned, America was asking questions. Senator Smith convened an inquiry the morning after Carpathia docked. America was still reeling from the shock of the disaster and Smith was moving quickly to collect survivor testimony while the incident was still fresh. His colleagues knew that he had created the subcommittee and appointed himself as chairman because he was an outspoken opponent of J.P. Morgan. Titanic's loss might have proven to be an avenue of attack against the owner of International Mercantile Marine, White Star's parent company. As a former railroad lawyer, he was familiar with Morgan's business strategies. Smith's dislike for both influenced his antitrust attitude during his Senate career.

When he learned of the Titanic disaster, and understood that the ship was technically owned by Morgan, he led the move for an investigation, forming the subcommittee and the chairman nomination for himself. Smith's most powerful tool in his quest to prove corporate wrongdoing was the authority to subpoena anyone whose testimony he required, including British citizens on American soil. The other Senators that he chose to investigate the disaster were Jonathan Bourne, Jr. of Oregon; Theodore Burton of Ohio; Duncan U. Fletcher of Florida; Francis G. Newlands of Nevada; George C. Perkins of California and Furnifold M. Simmons of North Carolina. Each was chosen because of party affiliations rather than knowledge of shipping and shipwrecks.

In order to be close to Titanic's survivors as they disembarked from Carpathia, they would spend two days at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, before the hearings would be moved to Washington D.C.. They continued from there until May 25.

Senator Smith, ensuring that he would have a full range of Titanic survivors represented at the hearings, quickly prepared a federal subpoena for everyone who might have played a role in the sinking, the evacuation, and the rescue. Smith received his temporary authority over British citizens on American soil after hurried conferences with President Taft and Attorney General Wickersham. Smith found all the names on the list sent ahead by Carpathia, and he made some guesses as to which ones might best help his case. Although his main focus was on officers and crew members, he was very interested in hearing from Bruce Ismay, who was obviously a key decision-maker. His scope widened to include Titanic passengers, and certain officers and crew members from Carpathia and Californian. The day after Carpathia's arrival, most of Titanic's surviving crew was sent back to England on the Red Star liner Lapland. At the last minute, Senator Smith had his U.S. Marshals stop the ship off Sandy Hook, New Jersey with subpoena for five more crewmen.