In the Archives
During the testimony of Charles Lightoller, Senator Smith paused to ask about a simple procedure done during the trip. Could this one procedure give the crew the answers they need to avoid the ice?
Here on the In the Archives Podcast, we strive to give our listeners the full story. However, due to time constraints, some content occasionally gets cut. In our latest podcast episode about Charles Lightoller, the section about the water tests unfortunately had to be omitted. But just because it wasn’t included in the podcast doesn’t mean it’s unworthy of discussion. In this blog post, I’ll delve into the water tests conducted on the Titanic and provide the conversation about these tests between Senator Smith and Charles Lightoller.
Background Information
If you haven’t listened to our podcast episode, Human Nature vs. the Titanic: The Testimony of Charles Lightoller, here’s a brief summary:
The Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 PM on Sunday, April 14, 1912, and fully submerged at 2:20 AM. On April 18, 1912, the survivors arrived in New York City. The very next day, the U.S. Senate Titanic disaster hearings began.
On the first day of the hearings, Charles Lightoller, the second officer aboard the Titanic, testified on a variety of topics, including ship operations and the loading of lifeboats. One operation of particular interest was the water tests conducted every two hours aboard the ship.
Senator Smith inquired about these tests to determine whether the crew was aware of ice in the area. However, his line of questioning proved futile, as these tests ultimately did not make a significant difference. Below is the transcript from the hearing
From Tom Kuntz's The Titanic Disaster Hearings: The Official Transcripts of the 1912 Investigation
Smith: Had there been any tests taken of the temperature of the water?
Lightoller: A test is taken of the water every two hours from the time the ship leaves until she returns to port.
Smith: Do you know whether these tests were made?
Lightoller: They were.
Smith: Did you make them?
Lightoller: Oh, no, sir.
Smith: Where they made under your direction
Lightoller: No, sir
Smith: How do you know they were made?
Lightoller: It is the routine of the ship.
SMITH: You assume they were made?
LIGHTOLLER: Yes, sir.
SMITH: But you can not say of your own knowledge that they were?
LIGHTOLLER: Not of my own actually seeing: no, sir.
SMITH: How were these tests made?
LIGHTOLLER: By drawing water from over the side in a canvas bucket and placing a thermometer in it.
SMITH: How far down did you dim this water; did you try to get surface water, or did you try to get below?
LIGHTOLLER: It is impossible to get water below; jest the surface.
SMITH: it is impossible to get water below, just the surface.
LIGHTOLLER: it is impossible to get water below: just the surface
SMITH: You get surface water, entirely?
LIGHTOLLER: Yes.
SMITH: Those tests had been made that day?
LIGHTOLLER: Yes.
SMITH: At intervals of two hours?
LIGHTOLLER: Yes, sir.
SMITH: This was on Sunday?
LIGHTOLLER: Yes, sir.
SMITH: Did you hear anything about the rope or chain or wire to which the test basins were attached no reaching the water at any time during those tests?
LIGHTOLLER: The bucket, you speak of?
SMITH: Yes.
LIGHTOLLER: No, sir.
SMITH: Would a complaint of that character come to you if it had been true?
LIGHTOLLER: Very quickly, I should think, sir.
SMITH: How would it come to you?
LIGHTOLLER: From the person who saw it, I should think.
SMITH: It would be his duty to report to you?
LIGHTOLLER: Undoubtedly.
SMITH: Directly to you?
LIGHTOLLER: directly to the officer in charge of the ship at the time.
SMITH: And during that time two tests should have been made of the temperature of the water for the purpose of ascertaining whether you were in the vicinity of icebergs?
LIGHTOLLER: No, sir.
SMITH: For what purposes were the tests made?
LIGHTOLLER: They were routine, sir. It is customary to make them.
SMITH: Do you meant that you take these tests when you are not in the vicinity of the Grand Banks?
LIGHTOLLER: From the time we leave port, any port in the world, until the time we get to the next port in any part of the world, test tests are taken by the White Star Line…
[end of transcript]
What Are Water Tests?
Water tests are conducted to measure the surface temperature of the water. These tests are performed every two hours, from the time the ship leaves port until it docks, as a standard practice on the White Star Line. If the tests are not conducted as scheduled, it is reported to the officer in charge.
How Are These Tests Conducted?
Lightoller explains that water tests are performed by lowering a canvas bucket into the water to collect a surface sample. Once the water is retrieved, its temperature is measured with a thermometer and recorded in the ship’s log. This procedure is repeated every two hours throughout the voyage, from departure to arrival.
The Purpose of the Tests
Senator Smith asked whether the purpose of the water tests was to detect ice in the water. Charles Lightoller clarified that this was not the case. He stated that these tests are conducted regardless of location, whether in the icy waters of the North Atlantic or the warm waters of the South Pacific. The purpose is purely to measure the surface water temperature, as outlined in White Star Line protocol.
Why Ask This Question?
Senator Smith's main reason for inquiring about the water tests was to determine if they helped the crew identify the presence or risk of ice in the area. However, this line of questioning proved to be inconsequential. While the tests are performed every two hours, they are not intended to detect icebergs or assess ice-related hazards. Their sole purpose is to obtain accurate readings of the surface water temperature.
Relevance to the Disaster
It is well known that the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. This has led many to ask, “Could this accident have been avoided?”
On the day of the disaster, the Titanic received multiple ice warnings from other ships in the area. However, only one of these warnings was charted for the crew. If all the ice warnings had been properly documented and communicated, the crew might have recognized the presence of a large ice field directly in the ship's path. Unfortunately, because not all warnings reached the bridge, the crew remained unaware of the obstacles ahead.
Senator Smith may have believed that the water tests provided another means of detecting ice, but their sole purpose was to measure surface water temperature—not to identify ice. Although the crew was aware that ice was likely in the vicinity, no additional precautions were taken, such as increasing the watch or slowing the ship. As a result, the Titanic struck the iceberg while traveling at a speed of 22 knots.
Conclusion
The water tests aboard the Titanic serve as a reminder of the ship’s standard practices and the limitations of those procedures in the face of unforeseen dangers. While they were never intended to detect ice, Senator Smith's questioning highlights the broader issue of whether more could have been done to avoid the tragedy.
