Southampton 10 April, 1912

Right after the dawn, I'm on my feet. Put on a fresh shirt, neatly tied a tie, a long ceremonial tunic called "full company dress", in which ship officers are supposed to be during meeting passengers and departing from the port. I looked in the mirror - very handsome. I need to change my haircut. This one is too simple.

"Welcome to Titanic" smiling I say to my reflection in the mirror.

At 6 am. Loading of cargo begins. Part was loaded yesterday, and the rest must be loaded today before sailing.

In the hold, I carefully monitor that the workers do not damage anything from the ship's property. I show them where to put and how to distribute the weight.

That's crazy how many things people sending across the ocean. Boxes of golf balls (are they not producing golf balls in America?).

Why a hundred boxes of mushrooms? They don't grow in America?

Next: tools, fabrics, alcohol. I was interested in 800 rolls of linoleum. It turns out that in 1912 linoleum was an expensive rare thing.

I imagine the total cost of the cargo. Who said that the consumer society has flourished in the 21st century? In my opinion, consumption at the beginning of the 20th century was no less. It's just that no one posted their food and shopping on Instagram. Although there were more reasons to brag than mass-produced sneakers or electric scooter.

At 8 am the final inspection of the crew begins.

At 8:30, a performance called "lifeboat drill". Show for the Board of Trade. I want to yell "what are you doing? We don't have many boats. They won't be enough for everyone. During the sinking, panic will begin. The officers will not have the time and opportunity for slow lowering the boats.

-Henry, why do you look dissatisfied? - captain Smith turned to me, - what's wrong?

- I'm sorry, sir, everything is wrong. Number of boats, lowering. We are not going to the park for a walk. If something happens at sea, we are sentenced. There will be no place for us in the boats. We pretended to care about the safety of passengers, and the inspection that believed us. Farce. Nobody wants to change anything. Until the first victims.

- Why did you suddenly become dissatisfied with the procedure of lifeboat drill?

- Everything comes to an end. Patience too. My opinion is not interesting to White Star's owners, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't think about it.

- We are on the safest ship in the world.

- Oh yeah, - my sarcasm knows no bounds.

Passengers began to arrive after 9 am. After breakfast, I'm standing on the boat deck and looking down. At the pier, the meeting of passengers and the loading of their suitcases begins. Some come by car, others by horse-drawn carriages. Elegantly dressed men and women of the first class, third-class passengers walking with suitcases and bags. Instinctively, I waited for Cal and Rose to arrive.

It is interesting to observe such a stratification of society. Nothing, in general, has changed in 110 years.

Cranes loading the car into the hold. That famous Renault. Nice car. Like a toy. In 1912 car is a luxury thing. Not a transport.

I was surprised by the almost complete lack of checking passengers and luggage. Come in whoever you want, bring whatever you want. And after all, there was no terrorism. Here they are much more afraid of lice than terrorists.

2 hours before departure. The baggage of various firms and joint-stock companies is loaded. The concept of "overweight" does not exist yet, take with you as much as you can carry

Half an hour left before departure. Visitors and reporters are asked to leave the Titanic. A warning signal sounds. The gangways are removed, the doors are closed. Exciting moment.

I go to the forecastle. Lightoller is already there.

We unmoored. The cables were handed over to tugboats. Titanic twitched as it began to move away from the dock wall.

I take a deep breath, puffed up with pride. A very impressive moment.

Lightoller is ironic, spoiling the solemnity of the moment.

-Wilde, it's like you're going to receive the order from king. This is just a transatlantic cross.

Ignoring his jokes, I look ahead.

Tugs carefully dragged the huge liner from the Test River to the open sea.

After approaching to a small two-pipe steamer "New York", we saw the decks filled with people. Nearby stood the same Oceanic crowded with curious people. Everyone wanted to see how the newest creation of the Harland & Wolff shipyard passes by.

Suddenly there was a loud noise like pistol shots. Instinctively, I crouched down, then rushed to the side where the sound came from. Who could shoot at us?

When I saw New York moving towards us, I froze. Now it will make a hole in our board.

Forg-o-ot. I'm just forgot about dangerous approach to the steamer New York. People who are interested in the Titanic know this story very good. The sound of the ropes breaking really did resemble pistol shots, as written in numerous publications. That's why I was confused. Hitting the railing with my head several times, said in a barely audible voice:

- Fool. How could I forget?

-What? I didn't hear, - Lightoller asked.

- Nothing.

The tugboats, straining, pull the New York away from us. Everything was shrouded in black smoke from their funnels. Titanic began to reverse machines back. From our stern shouted something into the loudspeaker, from the tugboat they shouted back. It was not necessary to listen. I already knew what the conversation was about. One of our "genius" suggested that the tug be placed between the Titanic and New York as a buffer. The captain of the tug, quite rightly, sent the adviser away. Since the outcome was known to me, I was more worried about the smelly black smoke that stung my eyes. Sneezing, I swore and brushed off my officer's jacket.

-I hate coal…terrible smell.

The second officer did not understand my annoyance. It was normal for him to stand in the smoke.

- Wilde, you're acting like a hysteric. Smokeless steamers have not yet been invented.

- Bad, - I replied with irritation.

The stern of New York passed literally a couple of yards from us. So close that I could easily jump on it.

It was hard to believe in the complete helplessness of a huge liner until you experience it yourself. Titanic was in reverse, secured by two tugboats. A few minutes later, the move stalled. Only after New York was securely moored, our giant again went forward to the sea. Lightoller and I were allowed to leave the forecastle post only when the liner was on course across the English Channel.

One of the most interesting days of my life. We were seeing-off by hundreds of people. We were followed by the press of Great Britain, the USA and all over Europe. I can't screw up. I must save this ship. Must.