Berth 44, Southampton, England
April 10, 1912
11:47 A.M.
Thirteen minutes to spare.
The sound of excited chatter and clambering of people mixed with the rumbling of heavy cranes lifting and lowering cargo into the metal giants cargo hatches. One was in even in the process of loading a brand new, sparkling red Renault Motor Carriage with a brass trimmings and black hatch top. Down below on the dock, a crowd of patrons gathered to sea Titanic and her passengers and crew off, waving to loved ones and friends who had gathered on the ship's decks.
On the port bridge wing, Samuel watched with a smile as many steerage passengers gathered at the edge of the forward well deck, shouting farewells in their own languages to those on the pier. Samuel even recalled when his sister and her family did the same when they departed for America on Olympic on her Maiden Voyage. This memory caused Samuel's smile to broaden, as he always loved visiting his sister in New York City, where she became a very successful seamstress, while her husband also gained notoriety as one of the finest stock brokers in the city.
"Nearly time, ain't it Old Chap?" a lite Yorkshire accent called to Samuel, pulling his attention to the grey-furred wolf, whose stunning ice-blue eyes he had last seen on Olympic twinkled with glee as a cheeky smile spread on his muzzle.
"Nearly, Humph," Samuel responded with a laugh.
When the original Junior Second Officer, Nars McNamara had fallen ill from a confirmed case of food poisoning, Humphrey had been pulled from his position on the Olympic as her Third Officer to fill the spot left by Nars.
Unfortunately, he was not alone.
When Titanic arrived in Southampton on April 4 after departing Belfast, Humphrey boarded the ship...Along with Olympic's Chief Officer, the dark brown-furred, blue-eyed Henry Wilde.
It would seem, that at the Request of Captain Smith, Mr. Wilde, who was slated to command his own ship after Olympic's voyage, was asked to remain behind with Humphrey, as Smith wanted "a crew he could trust," as he put it, to make Titanic's maiden voyage as smooth as possible. This had caused the famous "Officer Reshuffle."
Mr. Wilde took his place as Chief Officer.
This in turn caused Bill Murdoch to be bumped down to first.
Lights to second, making everyone shutter at the aspect of him and Humphrey being in the same place at the same time during the voyage.
All other junior officer positions renamed the same.
Which meant...
Mr. Blair was asked to leave the ship.
"It's a shame, Sir," he had told Captain Smith, "my mother was rather excited when she heard I was on Titanic."
"Well," Smith responded with a sad sigh and compassionate smile, "hopefully in time, she will come to forgive us."
With that, Mr. Blair packed his belongings and left the ship, unknowingly taking with him the keys to his locker...
Which held the binoculars for the ship's lookouts.
Titanic Facts & Misconceptions
Binoculars were not meant to be used as an alternative for keeping watch for obstacles. The best way to spot danger was with the naked eye, using binoculars only to verify an object. The conditions on the night of April 14 would have rendered binoculars almost completely useless.
Since Mr. Blair's departure, the other officers felt some contempt for Mr. Wilde, some believing he had caused the demotion of several deserving men. Even Samuel, who despite finding comfort in knowing he would be working directly with Bill, couldn't help but sneer whenever he saw Wilde. Especially know when he looked down at the ships forecastle, where said officer stood with Old Lights, preparing to cast off the bow lines.
A sudden, loud blast from the ship's whistle pulled Samuel from his ill-thoughts, making him jump as he looked at the steam billowing from the aforementioned instrument. Pulling out his pocket watch from within his uniform tunic, Samuel saw the time tick away.
11:55 A.M.
The whistle was a call for "All ashore who are going ashore."
Before long, Samuel and Humphrey looked back from the bridge wing, as over the next few minutes, mooring ropes were tossed away, landing in the water with a splash, and gangways were pulled away as gantry doors were heard slamming shut.
And then, at noon, another blast of the whistle came, followed by a chorus of lighter whistles from the tugs pulling her away from the pier. Cheers rang from the ship and berth, the passengers calling out final farewells to those being left that time. Once the tugs had pulled Titanic clear, Smith, who had returned to the bridge after receiving reports from Wilde, Bill, and Lights that all was ready, approached Samuel with a smile.
"Release tugs and Take her away , Mr. Davis," he called.
"Aye Sir," Samuel responded, before turning to Humphrey with a cheeky grin.
"Release tugs and All Ahead Slow, Mr. Chambers."
"Very good, Sir," Humphrey responded with a laugh as he followed his friend into the bridge, ringing her telegraphs to the desired speed as the sound of splashing tow lines could be heard outside.
Down in the engine, Archie and the others worked fast to get Titanic under way, and before long, Titanic was slowly cruising toward the river Test, where she would depart into the English Channel for Cherbourg, France. The port authorities in Cherbourg where made aware of their departure through the wireless, thanks to Mason transmitting the message himself.
But, as Titanic steamed along the river, the great shipped passed by two other vessels, the R.M.S. Oceanic, and the S.S. New York. In a span of seconds, Samuel, as well as several other passengers and crew heard what sounded like six shots of revolver being fired. Immediately after, frightened screams and shouts could be heard from the port side decks. Rushing over to the port bridge wing, Samuel, accompanied by Smith, could see that due to the displacement of the massive Titanic, the swell had caused New York to snap free from all six of her moorings...
Causing her stern to swing out toward Titanic.
"HARD TO PORT!" Smith called, "ALL STOP, PORT ENGINE FULL ASTERN!"
Quickly, Samuel ran back to the bridge , relaying the orders to the crew, who quickly went into action.
For several minutes, the crew and passengers of both ships and those on the pier held their breaths as New York's stern inched closer and closer to Titanic. For a moment, it seemed as if their was going to be a collision. But luckily, the blast of water from the port propeller going full astern manged to momentarily halt the New York, allowing some nearby tugs amble time to get the derelict liner under control...
Just as she had come within four inches of Titanic's hull.
Unfortunately, the incident did cause a one hour delay...
One which Mason and the wireless operators where none to happy about relaying.
"Here come the complaints," Mason groaned, as he knew the slightest inconvenience to First-Class passengers would result in them sending messages to family or businesses, either telling them of the delay and/or all out complaining about it.
Cherbourg Harbor, Off of Cherbourg France
6:30 P.M.
Terra Ramirez-Davis held her head, incredibly dizzy from the rocking motion of the White Star Tender Nomadic, which as this point was bobbing with her sister the Traffic, who was currently ferrying steerage passengers, in the choppy waters of Cherbourg harbor, the violet hue on the sky created by the setting sun offering little comfort to her as she placed a hand on her swollen stomach.
By her sides were her two best friends, Katelyn "Kate" Chambers and Lillian "Lilly" Reynolds, daughters of one of the men who had saved her father from bankruptcy all those years ago, Winston Maverick, who was currently chatting with her father, along with his wife Eve and his business partner Tony Reynolds, as to why they were being forced to wait on the tender.
The Titanic was due to arrive at 4 P.M. earlier that afternoon. But, for some reason, when the time came, it was nowhere to be found. The tenders were set to depart at 5, but still, no Titanic. It was only after the tenders cast off that the harbor master had received the telegram that Titanic had been delayed. Now, many of the passengers, Terra included, were fighting sea-sickness. But, Terra could find herself being sympathetic to another auburn-furred woman, who appeared just behind her in time of her pregnancy.
Nineteen-year-old Madeline Astor found herself being comforted by her black-furred, mustachioed husband, Colonel John Jacob Astor IV, who was thirty years her senior. The couples traveling party were just returning from there honeymoon excursion.
Also onboard was the silver-furred Benjamin Guggenheim, a man who had made his fortune by smelting Gold, a fortune that he spent like water. Mrs. Guggenheim was home in America, looking after their children as Ben traveled with his dark grey-furred valet, Victor Giglio, and his latest mistress, the young amber-furred French Singer and Socialite Madame Léontine Aubart.
Just behind the Guggenheim party was an elderly couple, their dull-grey fur a dead give-away to their age, chatting with the tan-furred, mustachioed southern Gentle-wolf, Colonel Archibald Gracie. This was Isidor Strauss, former U.S. Congressman and co-owner of Macy's Department Store, and his wife of forty years Ida, the couple returning home from a lengthy vacation.
But even taking in the many familiar faces didn't help Terra, who's attention was brought to Lilly, who eagerly patted her back to turn her gaze toward the vast ocean horizon.
"Here they come," she whispered excitedly, her violet eyes gleaming with mirth at the site of a four-funneled steamer heading there way.
At that moment, Terra forgot about her sea-sickness, and marveled at the massive vessel that pulled alongside them and dropped anchor in the harbor.
Due to Olympic and Titanic's large size, no pier in Cherbourg could accommodate either ship, which is the reason Nomadic and Traffic where built.
Once both tenders pulled alongside the great ship, the gangplanks were extended so passengers, with their luggage, as well as mail, could disembark into the majestic liner. Once onboard, the three young women gawked at the immaculate D-Deck Reception Area, which was right at the bottom of a flight of steps that were a part of the ship's beautiful oak Grad Staircase.
"Hello again Miss Kate, Miss Lilly," a lite cockney accent called to Kate and Lilly, who both turned to see a shortly-built, grey-furred wolf with yellow eyes, a friendly smile on his face as he addressed them. Kate and Lilly both beamed at the young Andrew Tibons, or "Shakey" as he was often called by passengers and crew alike, including Kate's husband, Humphrey, who was also one of Shakey's closest friends.
"Hello Shakey," Lilly greeted as she pulled him into a tender hug, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek, making the young steward blush through his fur. Unfortunately, the sweet moment was interrupted by a thud, followed by a loud, brash Missouri accent.
"Well I wasn't about to wait all day for you, Salty," a lithe, middle-aged, brown-furred female jabbed, handing a small luggage tote to a flustered Alexander O'Connor, or "Salty" as she had called him.
"Here, you think you can manage?" the woman continued as she thrust the tote toward Salty, who let out a grunt of annoyance as he struggled with her large trunks.
"Yes Mame," he responded in a lite Cornish accent, letting out a sigh of relief when Shakey came to his assistance.
The woman then made her way to the electric lifts located behind the staircase, passing by the trio of young ladies in the process, each sporting an amused smirk at Salty's predicament.
"Hey girls," she happily greeted as she passed, "see you at dinner."
"See you there Maggie," Kate giggled.
This was the wife of one of the biggest oil tycoons in the American Midwest, The "New Money" socialite returning to America upon receiving news that her eldest son had fallen ill...
Margaret Brown.
Everyone called her Maggie or Peg.
But history would call her "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
"Well Salty's going to have fun on this trip, wouldn't you say."
Kate froze upon hearing, as she put, the "most dashing voice in the world."
Turning on her heels, Kate was met with the smug face of her charming English husband, accompanied by her sister's husband, and Terra's husband.
"HUMPHREY!" she exclaimed, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck to plant a firm kiss on his lips, earning a muffled laugh from the officer, who just knew his wife would react upon learning he would be serving on the Titanic. As this happened, Terra and Lilly went to join their husbands, the latter giving a sad look as she watched Samuel greet his wife with a kiss, only to lower himself to place a tender kiss on her stomach, reminding her of the yearning she had for a family of her own.
Catching onto his wife's shift mood, Garth gently tilted her chin up so he could place a tender kiss on her forehead, which succeeded in gaining a small giggle from the snow-furred girl.
When all was said and done and Titanic had departed at ten past eight for Queenstown, Ireland, the trio of Officers, Humphrey having been granted the evening off by Captain Smith when he learned their wives would be embarking on the ship, treated the girls to a tour of the First-Class accommodations, from her state of the art gymnasium, to her heated salt-water swimming pool, to her squash court and Turkish bath.
But, then again, nothing they hadn't already seen on Olympic.
The men even showed the girls their own accommodations.
Much like Mason, because crew accommodations were only meant to hold a certain number, three cabins were always reserved on White Star Liners for the Junior-Senior Officers. For the Olympic-Class Liners, these were the suites A-1 for Junior First, A-2 for Junior Second, and A-3 for Junior Chief, located at the forward most part of A-Deck, which was in a perfect location just below the bridge.
Once the tour had completed, the three men escorted their wives to their rooms.
Samuel, upon kissing Terra goodnight, left to prepare for the 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. watch he had with Bill, passing by Mason on the Grand Staircase as the latter was preparing to turn in for the night.
Humphrey, after seeing Kate into her cabin, quickly shut the door as she let out a shriek, followed by an annoyed growl heard through door, after he gave a quick pinch of her tail. With that, Humphrey quickly jogged to his cabin to turn in for the night, so as not to be too tired when his morning 6 A.M. watch came.
Garth, however, found it harder than his two colleagues to bid goodnight to his wife. When Garth began to turn away after kissing Lilly goodnight, he found himself held in place by Lilly, who had a firm grip on his tie. Looking at his wife with confusion, the confusion quickly melted when he saw that Lilly's gaze was laced with passion, and even more dangerous...
Lust.
Unable to resist his wife, Garth found himself pulled into her cabin, the otherwise empty hall outside filled only with the sound of a door being closed and a bolt being locked, soon being replaced by the sweet music of the ship's band drifting up from the D-Deck Reception Area, accompanied by the gentle thrum of the ships engines.
One thing was for sure, Garth's Two A.M. to Six A.M. shift was going to be a long one.
April 11, 1912
1:45 P.M.
By the next afternoon, Titanic was steaming west from Queenstown, Ireland...
With nothing out ahead of her...
But Open Ocean.
On the bridge, Bill and Samuel stood on the starboard wing, the gentle sea breeze blowing through the fur on their faces, looking forward to relishing in it more when their watch ended in fifteen minutes.
The duo were soon pulled from their thoughts at the sound of footsteps approaching them, only to stop beside Bill.
"Take Her to Sea, Mr. Davis," Captain Smith proudly ordered.
"Let's stretch her legs."
A broad smile formed on Samuel's muzzle as he began to turn away.
"Yes Sir."
With that, Samuel walked into the enclosed navigation deck, calling to the brown-furred Sixth Officer James Moody, who stood at attention with his arms behind his back.
"All Ahead Full, Jim," Samuel called, moving to one of the brass telegraphs.
"Very good sir," Jim responded, moving to another telegraph, the sounds of their internal bells ringing through the air as they were moved to FULL AHEAD.
Down in the engine room, a single chime sounded from the receiving telegraph, a small indicator arrow pointing toward FULL AHEAD.
"All Ahead Full," the ginger-furred Chief Engine Joseph Bell called, earning a louder bellow from Archie, who, along with Artie Frost, gave orders to the thirty-five other engineers.
"ALL AHEAD FULL!"
Before long, the hulking engines began to pick up, the pistons going faster and faster as steam pressure from the boilers increased, all while Thomas Andrews watched in the background, taking notes in his little book.
In Boiler Room 6, Chief Stoker Frederick "Scar" Barret, so called for some nasty cuts he got during a bar fight, issued orders to the Black Gang.
"COME ON LADS!" he called in a thick Liverpool accent, straining his voice to be heard over the roar of the coal-burning furnaces, "STOKE 'EM RIGHT UP! WE'RE GOING FULL AHEAD!"
Before long, Titanic's engines were pumping with all their might.
For the first time since her sea trials...
Titanic was brought up to cruising speed.
Back on the bridge, Smith and Bill reveled in the stronger breeze blowing over the ship, the sound of the waves made by her wake music to their ears.
But soon, Smith's ears were filled with wonderful news.
"Twenty-One Knots Sir."
Smith turned toward Samuel, who at this point was sporting an even broader smile than the one before.
With that, Smith returned his attention back toward the horizon, his chest swelling with pride...
Assured that Titanic's future was a certainty.
.
.
.
Until it wasn't.