Chapter 6
Captain Rostrom of the Carpathia went to the ship surgeon's quarters where J. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star Line, was staying for the duration of the trip. The crew was given strict instructions to not permit a soul to see him besides Captain Rostrom. On one occasion, Ismay had asked to see the wireless operator Harold Bride, but he had been the only person besides the Captain allowed. The captain had consulted with Ismay on what to do about the passengers. The Carpathia had been headed to the Mediterranean and the Titanic's survivors had been bound for New York. Ismay was really of little help; he left it up to Captain Rostrom to decide what was best. It was he who made the call to return the Titanic's survivors to New York. Certainly they had been through enough already. Ismay agreed.
Now, a most peculiar situation had arisen that the captain felt necessary to bring to his attention. The Californian who had arrived to assist with the rescue operation had found a lone survivor in the water. The young man had a broken set of handcuffs around his wrists and had been clinging to a door. Immediately, the Californian transmitted a message to the Carpathia informing them of the incident. Captain Rostrom had asked if the master-at-arms was on board and sent for him immediately. The master-at- arms confirmed that he had indeed taken a young man under arrest after he had stolen jewels from Mr. Caledon Hockley, and a coat from a Mr. Ryerson. They then located Mr. Hockley who was furious that this "gutter rat" had even survived and insisted that he be prosecuted to the furthest extent of the law upon their return to New York. He also explained that his fiancé had taken a liking to this man and that she might be with him, but the Californian confirmed that he had been the only one rescued and there was not another soul, dead or alive, anywhere near him when he was discovered. They also confirmed with the doctor attending to Jack that he had no family aboard. The only one he questioned about was miss Dewitt Bukater, who they had already established was missing.
"What would you like us to do Mr. Ismay? Would you like us to send a message to your office, notifying them of this person?", asked the captain.
Ismay sat quietly in the chair, barely moving or showing any sign of emotion from the news. He had hoped the Californian would find more survivors but they had found only one, a crook nonetheless. No, there was no need to make a scene of this news. There were children aboard, hoping for the good news that their father had survived. Wives anxiously awaiting news that their missing husbands had been found. There was no sense in creating false hopes for those already so devastated. Even if they found he was not their missing loved one, it would recreate hope for them that maybe their loved one was also still alive, clinging to a piece of wreckage waiting to be rescued. It was impossible given the conditions, but still they would hope.
"No", Ismay finally replied.. "For a man with no family waiting, it would do more harm than good. Please urge your crew to keep quiet about it and have the Californian do the same. I will handle the matter personally when we get to New York."
"Understood", the captain agreed and left to alert his crew. They all agreed it was the best thing to do.
Captain Rostrom of the Carpathia went to the ship surgeon's quarters where J. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star Line, was staying for the duration of the trip. The crew was given strict instructions to not permit a soul to see him besides Captain Rostrom. On one occasion, Ismay had asked to see the wireless operator Harold Bride, but he had been the only person besides the Captain allowed. The captain had consulted with Ismay on what to do about the passengers. The Carpathia had been headed to the Mediterranean and the Titanic's survivors had been bound for New York. Ismay was really of little help; he left it up to Captain Rostrom to decide what was best. It was he who made the call to return the Titanic's survivors to New York. Certainly they had been through enough already. Ismay agreed.
Now, a most peculiar situation had arisen that the captain felt necessary to bring to his attention. The Californian who had arrived to assist with the rescue operation had found a lone survivor in the water. The young man had a broken set of handcuffs around his wrists and had been clinging to a door. Immediately, the Californian transmitted a message to the Carpathia informing them of the incident. Captain Rostrom had asked if the master-at-arms was on board and sent for him immediately. The master-at- arms confirmed that he had indeed taken a young man under arrest after he had stolen jewels from Mr. Caledon Hockley, and a coat from a Mr. Ryerson. They then located Mr. Hockley who was furious that this "gutter rat" had even survived and insisted that he be prosecuted to the furthest extent of the law upon their return to New York. He also explained that his fiancé had taken a liking to this man and that she might be with him, but the Californian confirmed that he had been the only one rescued and there was not another soul, dead or alive, anywhere near him when he was discovered. They also confirmed with the doctor attending to Jack that he had no family aboard. The only one he questioned about was miss Dewitt Bukater, who they had already established was missing.
"What would you like us to do Mr. Ismay? Would you like us to send a message to your office, notifying them of this person?", asked the captain.
Ismay sat quietly in the chair, barely moving or showing any sign of emotion from the news. He had hoped the Californian would find more survivors but they had found only one, a crook nonetheless. No, there was no need to make a scene of this news. There were children aboard, hoping for the good news that their father had survived. Wives anxiously awaiting news that their missing husbands had been found. There was no sense in creating false hopes for those already so devastated. Even if they found he was not their missing loved one, it would recreate hope for them that maybe their loved one was also still alive, clinging to a piece of wreckage waiting to be rescued. It was impossible given the conditions, but still they would hope.
"No", Ismay finally replied.. "For a man with no family waiting, it would do more harm than good. Please urge your crew to keep quiet about it and have the Californian do the same. I will handle the matter personally when we get to New York."
"Understood", the captain agreed and left to alert his crew. They all agreed it was the best thing to do.