The Ships That Did Not Answer

Name: The Ships That Did Not Answer
Genre: Documentary

Investigators widened the disaster beyond Titanic, examining failed distress responses and questioning another White Star crew.

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Transcript

Titanic was sinking—and nearby ships still did not answer its distress calls.
Four days into its maiden voyage, Titanic struck an iceberg off Newfoundland.
About four hours later, the largest passenger ship yet built disappeared beneath the Atlantic.
The Carpathia picked up Titanic survivors; the Senate investigation examined lifeboats and distress calls.
On April 19th, 1912, senators opened hearings at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The hearings were chaired by Michigan senator William A. Smith.
They examined Titanic's speed, ice warnings, lifeboats, and treatment of passengers from different classes.
The Senate investigation examined nearby ships’ failure to respond to distress calls.
The Senate hearings included an interview with crew members of Titanic’s sister ship, Olympic.
But Olympic had been about 500 miles away when Titanic sank.
The proceedings later moved to Washington's Russell Senate Office Building.
It was the first proceeding held in a room in the Russell Senate Office Building.
82 witnesses testified, and the transcripts grew beyond 1,100 pages.
A tragedy became a record of decisions, warnings, and silence.
The hearings recorded testimony from survivors and Titanic officers.

After the unanswered distress calls, the inquiry turned inward—to what happened between Titanic’s passenger classes.

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