At the time of her launch, Titanic, was the largest man-made object yet moved. Preparations for the event included lubricating the 772-foot-long sliding way with 22 tons of tallow and soap, providing a one-inch-thick coating which would bear the three-tons per square inch pressure of the hull's weight. To check the vessel's momentum once it entered the water, three heavy anchors were placed in the river bed on each side of the ship; each connected with seven inch steel wire hawser to eyeplates riveted to the shell plating. Two parallel piles of cable drags, each weighing over eighty tons, were likewise connected with eight-inch steel wire hawser. They were arranged so that the anchors and drags would simultaneously in bringing the ship to a standstill once it cleared the end of the ship.
The launching on 31 May 1911 was witnessed by more than 100 000 people, stationed both in the shipyear itself and at other vantage points on both the river banks. On the County Antrim side, the Harbour Commissioners enclosed a portion of the Albert Quay and charged a small admission fee, the proceeds going to several Belfast hospitals. Sightseers without tickets swarmed at every vantage point, from the roofs of coal sheds to the masts and yards of harbor shipping.
Earlier that morning special guests and members of the press were ferried across the Irish Sea from Fleetwood, Lancashire, to Belfast aboard the specially sharted steamer Duke of Argyll, arriving at Dongall Quay at 7:30am. They joined the thousands who were pressing down Queen's Road to Harland and Wolff gates, where entry was strictly by ticket only . Three stands had been erected within the yard: for the launch party, distinguished guests and the press.
The day was bright and clear, the warm May weather tempered somewhat by a southerly breeze which rippled the river's surface and caused the flags on top of the gantry to stand straight out: the British Union Jack at one side, the American Stars and Stripes at the other; and at the centre, the White Star pennant, below which signal flags spelled out 'Success'. .
Lord Pirrie, leaving the party of guests that included John Pierpont Morgan, J Bruce Ismay, E C Grenfell Sanderson, Chalres Torrey, Mr Graves, Mr Curry, Mr Hale and Mr Concannon, made a final inspection of preparation before giving the launch signal. During the morning a small army of workmen had added final touches to pre-launch work. Now the forest of shores under the bilges had dwindled to a few stray clusters, and these were being knocked away one by one with the aid of heavu rams and rolled out past the rope barriers that guarded the ship on either side. In the gloom under the hull one vaguely could see moving figures and catch the clink of iron as wedges were dirven into the ways. Finally the vessel was being held on the ways soley by hydraulic triggers. They required only the opening of a valve for release, which would allow the huge bulk to glide gracefully into the water.
As Pirrie descended the gangway and consulyed briefly with Charles A Payne, who had charge of the launching apparatus, the hoisting of a red flag on Titanic's stern gave notice that the launch would soon take place. At the same moment a red rocket was fired as a warning to all shipping in the river to Stand Away!
Pirrie gave a brief command and all the foremen's whistles blew shrilly. There was a cry taken up all along the lines men 'Stand Clear' and on this word swam of men came darting out of the holes in the launchway while the crew of painters, with one eye on the launching gear, dabbed hastily at the marks left by the last of the shores. Again the warning cry rang out on this occasion with an empatic 'Hurry on!' added to it.
One worker, James Dobbins, aged 43, had to be dragged out. He had been using a large cross-cut saw to separate a wood support from one of the shores, and upon release of the support the shore has collapsed and pinned his leg underneath.. He was hurriedly extricated by his fellow workers and pulled to safety from under the hull. Mr Dobbins was removed by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital where, following an operation, he died the next day from contusions and shock.
At thirteen minutes past twelve o'clock Pirrie gave a signal to Payne, who spoke the final order. A second rocket roared into the air. A couple of formen tuggedt at the handle of the releasing valve, a jet of dirty black water foamed out of the escape pipe, and the large triggers canted over. On the stand bearing the launch party there was no ceremony, no bottle of champagne, smahed across the heavy, though graceful, metal bows.
Sixty-two seconds from the time she began to move, the whole bulk was afloat in the Lagan. She had not moved her whole length after entering the water before the anchors and drags brought her to a standstill.
The Making of History
| Owners | A
Grand Design | Construction | Sister
Ships - Olympic and Britannic
|
| Strict Segregation | Outdated
Lifeboat regulations | The Aura of Invincibility
|
| Launch | Specifications
|
Leaving for the New World
| Southampton | Southampton
- The New York and a Near Miss | Cherbourg
| Queenstown |
Provisions |
Passenger Lists
| First Class | Second
Class | Third Class |
Alphabtical list | Crew
| The Band |
Lifeboat Lists
| Lifeboats 1- 3 | Lifeboats
4 - 6 | Lifeboats 7-9 | Lifeboats
10-12 | Lifeboats 13 -16 |
Collapsibles |
Aftermath
| American Inquiry |
| Causes - An extract from February 1995 Edition
of Popular Mechanic |
Facts and Figures
| Harland and Wolff's 101 Answers to
the most asked questions about the RMS Titanic |