Did one of Titanic's Officers commit suicide during the sinking?

In today video we take a look into the story that one of the officers onboard the Titanic during the sinking decided to commit suicide while the ship was going down.
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[@BHuang92]

When the movie was released showing the scene where Murdoch committing suicide, his descendants was furious at the portrayal and demanded an apology.

[@jadsmvs8651]

They got a personal visit and an apology from a number of writers. I'm not sure if any money was offered or anything though.

[@francispitts9440]

Yeah it’s something James Cameron is well known for. He adds too many Hollywood moments in his movies about historical events. I’ve noticed this in almost every movie he’s in charge of.

[@ClementinesCoins]

@@jadsmvs8651 i think money was offered but they didnt take it due to Murdoch's public image pretty much being permanently destroyed which is why its important to tell people who've only seen the movie that alot of it wasnt accurate

[@Dan_Ben_Michael]

I find it hard to believe that James Cameron made an error because he is renowned for the authenticity in Titanic. I think he put it in for hyperbole and it was a disgraceful thing to do as it besmirched a hero’s reputation and millions of people around the world who saw the movie (who aren’t history buffs) believe that Murdoch was a bumbling coward who lost his head. Murdoch in my opinion was a hero.

[@francispitts9440]

@@Dan_Ben_Michael Well there are many special forces members who would completely disagree with the term authenticity. Mr. Cameron routinely makes errors in his depiction of military protocol. Also there are several videos that point out all the blatant historical errors in Titanic. My opinion of him changed when I heard from one of his former lovers how he treated her. That’s something I can’t get past and I don’t care for him.

[@justcantforgetyou]

One thing that strikes me with Richard's testimony: He said he heard the gunshots after the bridge wing began to go under. At around that time, the first funnel was about to collapse. The funnels were held in place by cables. For the funnel to collapse, the cables had to snap under immense pressure. With so much strain on them, the cables would have incredible speed and cause a loud, snapping sound, just like a gunshot. So my theory is that the "gunshots" Richard heard were actually the cables snapping.

[@squishybackpack5675]

That’s a very Plausible explanation than you!

[@EpicJoshua314]

Also, the crew had to use their revolvers to free Collapsible A from the falls. This leads me to the next question, what officer, or who, shot the falls?

[@Wolfric_Rogers]

Actually, the cables snapped because the funnel was keeling over. Water pressure caused the base of the first funnel to implode.

[@micahgotracksplays340]

That’s actually a pretty good theory

[@Wolfric_Rogers]

@TheRealLoganYT, you do know why the cables were there, right? They only stop the funnels falling over when the seas are rough and the ship is violently rolling. The sea was anything but rough when the Titanic sank.

[@hwheelez24]

James Cameron has stated , that he regrets naming the officer that shoots the passengers and then himself, he apologized for doing this, and in hindsight wishes that he just left it as a nameless officer.

[@speed150mph]

Here’s one point though. It could be possible that Lightoller did see something and not report it. Being one of the ships senior officers, he likely knew all of the other officers personally. Could it not be possible that he had witnessed this, and chose not to tarnish the reputation and memory of one of his fellow officers, especially when the suicide had not had any bearing on the accident or the subsequent investigation. Not saying that’s what happened, but I would not discount it as a possibility

[@cob2076]

Exactly...or...whitestar couldve heard about it,pulled him aside and "nicely suggested" when he gives his statement to forget any shootings he may have heard or seen....wouldnt be a good look if one if your employees shot 2 ppl just trying to get safe and himself..

[@j.vonhogen9650]

My thoughts exactly! I never believed Lightoller's initial testimony and his later accounts of the sinking were accurate. I always thought he was hiding specific facts, possibly in order to protect certain interests. I'm not going to speculate what these interests may have been, but feel free to speculate about the possibility that it was Lightoller who caused the death of Murdoch. 🕵🏻‍♂️

[@norm4966]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@jimmycakes7158]

How would lightholler know no one else would identify the officer? It would make lightholler a liar

[@harrietharlow9929]

I personally believe that Lightoller saw something and what he saw was Murdoch shooting himself. Yes, there is his letter to Mrs. Murdoch, but I can't imagine him telling Murdoch's widow, "Yep. your husband blew his brains out right on the boat deck". I can see why he would have told her that "All rumors to that effect are absolutely false" (rough quote). First I'm sure that he would want to give what comfort he could to the widow of a very close friend. Secondly, there is the issue of life insurance, which, at the time would not be paid out if it was found that the covered individual committed suicide (fortunately today, that is no longer true, at least in the US). Plus the societal idea of that time said that someone who committed suicide was a coward. I think that's nonsense. No one knows what the breaking point of another is. But such was the view of society in 1912. Finally, before his death, Lightoller told a friend that he had seen an officer commit suicide that night.I think that he wanted to get that off his chest, but even forty years later, he would not say which officer. From what I have read, Lightoller, like other survivors, suffered from PTSD. Seeing his friend and fellow officer commit suicide would have made that PTSD worse.

[@michalreingraberskaliasmiz185]

Maybe Lightoller was lying to keep up Murdoch's honour and dignity.

[@harrietharlow9929]

That's my take on it. Even when he told someone that an officer shot himself that night, he never revealed his name.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

@Kitty Kat Yeah, Lightollers whole life is filled with good and bad. For the Good, he performed quite admirably as a captain in WW1 and was quite decorated, and he took his personal yacht to rescue British soldiers in Dunkirk. The bad, as you mentioned, he strictly forbade men from entering the lifeboats even though those weren’t Smiths orders, was involved in a different liner running aground in WW1 (though I don’t think any of that was actually his fault), he possibly murdered the survivors of a U-boat he sunk (there are differing stories, but honestly I think he was responsible for it. He famously hated U-boat crews). When he was younger working on the SS Medic, he and a few shipmates played a prank on an Australian fort making them think a Boer raiding party had attacked it. Which I would put it under bad but it was such an epic prank I can’t lol

[@dillon5155]

This is exactly what I was thinking

[@kiamyleston2590]

Maybe is the chief officer Henry Wilde

[@princessmoonwalker]

​@@kiamyleston2590That's what I think

[@ronalddominguez6641]

I have read countless articles and books about the Titanic for over 50 years. By no means am I an expert but I have found out many interesting things over those years. The supposed suicide is one of them. People can argue endlessly about this and obviously nobody can produce any factual evidence for or against it. However, I have discovered something very interesting about people in general after studying history and various accounts over the years. One of the most important things to remember TODAY is that people from the early 20th Century had an extremely different understanding about situations in general than people do today. It is a major mistake to think that people “then” thought and acted the same as we do today. Far from it... In this tail-end of the Victorian era certain things were either “just not talked about” or else hushed up. Suicide was one of the major things that people in polite society just did not talk about. If it happened in one’s own family, they bent over backwards to hush it up. It had a stigma that was very present and powerful. Even in the days of my own boyhood (mid-to-late 1950’s) some of this attitude was still very present. However, in studying history over more than 40 years I have found out an interesting quirk about people from the years after the Civil War to just after the loss of the Titanic. People would not talk about certain things that they witnessed and knew about BUT they wrote about them in private journals and diaries. There seems to have been a need to express what they saw but couldn’t talk about so they confided it to a written diary. One of my Titanic books, (sadly I don’t remember which one, I have so many of them) an account is written that in the last 20 years or so, two families found old, forgotten diaries left behind by family members. The two diaries, written by two men on the Titanic and who did not know each other wrote almost identical accounts about an officer whom they saw, shoot two passengers and then committed suicide afterwards, horrified at what he had just done. If any one person wrote such an account, you could easily dismiss it because you don’t know for sure who the writer was and how reliable the account is. But in studying history, whenever you find more than one account and they all mirror the event reasonably, you “can” reasonably deduct that something did happen there although the details may be unsure. The diary entries for each were made shortly after returning home. Because of these two, un-related diary entries, I think it is likely that the suicide DID occur. As to Murdoch, Lightoller and Gracie, a good many people, (fellow officers, friends and family members who knew him well all seem to have insisted emphatically that it was not in his nature to do any such thing. By many accounts he was a solid, no-nonsense person who would not suddenly blanch at the thought that he killed two people and then in a deep sense of remorse kill himself. Somehow, in all this I tend to believe it was not Murdoch in spite of the so-called circumstantial evidence that it was him because, in effect, he caused the disaster. Lightoller’s account of him being swept away also seems to re-enforce this. As to Lightoller’s denial that any such killing or suicide occurred, this is terrible of me to say it but in spite of the fact that Lightoller was the consummate professional giant and hero of the disaster according to all the movie and written professional opinions of him, I PERSONALLY am not totally convinced that he was the monument of truth that he is sometimes portrayed as. After the wreck, there are several instances where he bent-over-backwards to say things to exonerate the White Star Line and say anything he could to make things look better for the line in regard to many matters. It has been said that he became the darling of the White Star Line because he hoped that in doing this, the line, at some point, would reward him with a captaincy of one of their ships in the future. It didn’t happen. The White Star line never awarded a captain slot to any of the officers from the Titanic afterwards. So... was he telling the truth or was he covering an uncomfortable incident so that the White Star line would look better? I think there is a certain possibility that he covered an ugly detail in the hope that he would be rewarded in the future. As to Gracie, he was one of your professional military hero’s who always viewed life as a series of gentlemen doing gentlemanly things. A hero was to die honorably and not by a gunshot to the head by his own hand. It went against everything he seemed to believe in and therefore I believe that he may have been covering for an incident that made his hero beliefs look less real. Also, there supposedly are a few accounts that say some of his details of the accident were not exactly accurate. So, I also dismiss Gracie’s emphatic denials. In the end, I do believe that one of the officers DID commit suicide but I don’t know for sure who it was. I heard a story that it was one of the junior officers but while the account I read seems plausible I can’t say much beyond that.

[@relmag1947]

Actually I stopped Reading your comment after three hours or so, but the First Part with the diary was very interesting. The only thing is, that I can’t really believe you since you didn’t give me a source for that

[@_--Reaper--_]

@@relmag1947 lol

[@mrrandom1265]

After 6 months, I've finally finished reading this but I forgot what it was all about.

[@LindyQ]

Yall are rude lol I read it just fine and appreciate the info and outlook!

[@_--Reaper--_]

@@LindyQ how long did it take you? I still haven't finished...

[@RCassinello]

I believe it was actually Wilde who committed suicide. We don't have any kind of clear picture of his actions that night, except a couple of moments where he was shown to be frozen in indecision. Lightoller even refused to take Wilde's decision not to load the boats, and instead immediately went over his head to the captain. I consider it highly likely that Wilde fell into shell shock that night, and that ironically enough if you combine Titanic 1997's portrayal of shell-shocked Smith with Murdoch's suicide you probably get Wilde.

[@tonydeakin519]

Yes I agree with you I believe that was wide who did committed suicide one bit

[@cardwitch91]

Wilde is such an unknown actor on the night. However, we do know he was mostly on the Port side with Lightoller, occasionally dipping in to check on Murdoch, but those two did the lion’s share of the work from the sounds of it.. I also believe that Lightoller stated that he last saw Wilde as he “waved goodbye” as the bow dipped under. Seems almost like a veiled nod towards story of the officer who took his life saying goodbye to the crowd.

[@Third7Plays]

I do believe it could have been Wilde. He wasn’t really a senior officer, unless you consider 5th Officer a senior role. I don’t know much about him,

[@wbhfilm_7381]

@@Third7Plays Wilde was the Titanic's Chief Officer, technically the most senior officer rank next to the ship's captain.

[@Third7Plays]

@@wbhfilm_7381 I thought that was Murdoch-

[@missscarling]

If it did happen, Lightoller may have wanted to protect the reputation of the officer and also for their family's sake as well. Thanks for the video, very interesting and informative 😊

[@harrietharlow9929]

Add to that the life insurance. If he carried a policy on himself (Murdoch), his widow would not have been able to collect as his beneficiary if it became known that he'd committed suicide.

[@andyallen4554]

Bingo

[@daphneduryea9136]

@@harrietharlow9929 I agree. I think Lightoller & Gracie got together on Carpathia & agreed that they would not acknowledge that incident. For all of the reasons ppl have listed: his reputation.. & White Star's; and most importantly, so that Murdoch's wife would get the life insurance pay-out & White Star pension.

[@rockstarJDP]

I'm just wondering if the "gunshots" Richard heard were in actuality the guide wires snapping and hitting the water when the first funnel collapsed - it was at the final plunge after all right?

[@aLilSandWitch]

Maybe it was an office using their gun on the ropes holding collapsible A in place trying to free it.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@rockstar JDP. You know, that is very plausible, they (the wires snapping) would possibly sound like 'gunshots'

[@spiro3142]

@@rogerrendzak8055 I mean if you also account the fact that when the mournings for the New York snapped when Titanic left Southampton accounts say it’s sounded like several gunshots being fired which drew everyone’s attention.

[@connorredshaw7994]

RockstarJPD I believe that may be possible or the moment when officer's shot the falls on collapsable A to get it away from the ship

[@rockstarJDP]

Yeah, interesting points actually about cutting the ropes for the lifeboats, I'd not thought of that! I'd thought they did so only with knives, but using a revolver would make sense if it was all they had to hand!

[@anniebox9589]

As a suicide is likely to have happened we cannot rule out it was Murdoch unfortunately. Even if he did, it doesn’t cancel the fact the he was a honorable men and a good officer. It was an horrifying situation to be in. We might never know the truth but saying that Murdoch for sure didn’t do it means ignoring all the testimonies and historical proofs. I still think it could have been Murdoch or Wilde but we will never know for sure.

[@harrietharlow9929]

The possibility that Mudoch may have committed suicide has never made me think less of him. As to which officer actually shot himself, there was the element that since Wilde was officially assigned to the Titanic close to sailing time, Wilde and Murdoch would both have been wearing three stripes at the cuffs of their uniform jackets and on the epaulettes of their bridge coats. I'm putting a link to a photo taken of Murdoch and Lightoller at one of the gangway doors at Quuenstown. Lightoller is shown with two stripes at the cuff of his jacket, denoting a first officer. Yet we know that Wilde's coming aboard knocked Murdoch and Lightoller down a rank. So there is that confusing element i.pinimg.com/originals/10/00/11/1000118c1deb5625117946214cdbaf18.png.

[@anniebox9589]

@@harrietharlow9929 you’re right, I know the photo, and I know that many passengers referred to Murdoch as being chief officer because of the uniform. In the end, it doesn’t matter because both men did their duty to the last and saved lives.

[@leerogish7223]

Murdoch must have felt u imaginable guilt that night because he was the officer on duty when the ship struck the iceberg. Also he knew that even if he survived his career at sea would be effectively over and he would face tons of public scrutiny as a result of being the man who sunk titanic

[@anniebox9589]

I agree but i cannot help myself hoping he didn't blame himself too much. This thought pains me a lot.

[@cnote2458]

Both were incredible men. Reading how diffrent Lightholler and Murdoch were during the evacuation show how switched on he was even in danger. Not me ripping on Lightholler at all as don't think anything can prepare you for that situation. But Lightholler took woman and children to literally. And if there was none he could see before launch he sent boats out. Instead of filling it up with men. Not his fault at all i couldn't imaging the stress he was under and I still consider him a big hero of titanic. But Mordoch was the absolute daddy sent all his life boats out a lot quicker then everyone else and everyone full.

[@BouH444]

Wasn’t there a letter that Lightoller wrote to Murdochs wife where he told her what an honourable man he was and there was no truth behind the suicide story. Then years later he was reported saying that an officer actually did commit suicide that night but he will never say who it was. The theory is he was trying to protect Murdochs honour and reputation. Anyone know if there is truth to this? Something I read a long time ago!

[@HamburgerTime209]

It’s commonly rumored in the Titanic community that Lightoller twisted the truth on certain things to save certain people from consequences in his retellings of that night. Our best evidence of this being the breakup. He was very adamant during the inquiry that the ship sank intact, while most other people who were aboard Collapsible B with him that had anything to say one way or the other say she broke, which makes it seem unlikely that he could have been not only mistaken about this, but outspokenly confident that the opposite happened. It feels like, him being a man loyal to the White Star Line, he bent the truth about the breakup to save the company any allegations that the ship was not built strongly enough (which is dumb, no ship on earth could withstand the pressures put on that hull as it pulled out of the water). SO, if he may have lied about this huge thing, it seems hardly a stretch that he told a white lie to a grieving widow ease the pain of her husband’s death, his friend’s death. So it’s -in my mind - not the most unreasonable thing to question his statement about his last sighting of Murdoch. (Edited for grammar)

[@reminiscer15]

@@HamburgerTime209 Very true. Yeah just like how things are now, if he had admitted the Titanic broke in half while he was employed by the White Star Line, he could have been classified as a whistle blower since it would have looked like the ship was poorly built and made the company look bad. He was probably afraid of being fired, which is exactly what probably would have happened. I wouldn't be surprised that, if he did see a suicide, he kept it a secret just to spare the feelings of the family members. Easier for friends and family members to think their loved one died trying to save others rather than committing suicide. I'll be honest, I would have a hard time telling family and friends that their loved one took his or her own life as well. Because not only is the more painful, but it would also leave them thinking, had he or she not committed suicide, perhaps they would have survived the whole ordeal and still be with them. That would be very hard. So if Lightoller did see a suicide, I can see why he bent the truth. I would most likely do the same.

[@neilbain8736]

I'm sure I've heard doubt about Lightoller's testimony on various things, too, but I don't remember enough to be sure just what, except that he was one to watch out for.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@reminiscer15 I absolutely agree. Lightoller was no saint, but I can't picture him traumatizing the officer's widow or his family and friends.

[@harrietharlow9929]

I read that also a number of times whilst researching for my Titanic novel. If true, he didn't see fit to say who it was. Maybe it's something he needed to get off his chest, yet he just couldn't bring himself to say who. He and Murdoch were friends and fellow-officers. If that's who he saw kill himself, it would have been trauma on top of the other trauma caused by the sinking.

[@braves9652]

New subscriber here, with a curiosity of things that go bump in the night out in the mysterious oceans. Historic Travels; No flashy clothes. No tv hair. No cool lines. No show off props. Just a man with a simple boat to make things easier to understand and I am really enjoying your videos.

[@HistoricTravels]

im a normal guy that likes talking about history and ocean liners. Means a lot that people like you like my content.

[@RobCLynch]

According to Walter Lord's book 'A Night to Remember', Second Officer Lightoller fired three shots into the air, as the crowd was beginning to lose it.

[@TheSavagederek]

I believe this is more than likely why there were shots fired. It makes total sense as it would catch everyone's attention, even in a panic.

[@sleeming88]

Just to add to the confusion even more, Chief Officer Wilde and First Officer Murdoch both looked very similar (same age, similar height, build etc) and would have been dressed the same. The shake-up of the officers at Southampton with Wilde's transfer from Olympic and Murdoch's demotion was so last-minute that Murdoch never had the opportunity to obtain a First Officer's uniform so would have still been wearing his original Chief Officer's uniform. If either man had shot himself hardly anyone who witnessed it would have known which man it was. The only person to survive who knew them well enough to identify one or the other whilst being in the vicinity at the time was Lightoller but he may well have lied about it not happening or left it out of his testimony in order to protect the reputation of a fellow officer.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Wilde actually topped Murdoch by 5 inches, but similar strong build. The heights of Titanic's senior officers were: Captain Smith 5'8", Wilde 6'1", Murdoch 5'8 and Lightoller 5'10.5". A great site to check out about Titanic's officers is: titanicofficers.com

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Out of curiosity, why was Murdoch demoted?

[@sleeming88]

@@sirboomsalot4902 Smith wanted Wilde on board as Chief Officer for the maiden voyage so Murdoch and Lightoller had to give way and take demotions. The original Second Officer was removed from the ship altogether.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

@@sleeming88 Ah, ok, that explains it. Thanks!

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@sirboomsalot4902 To make way for Wilde to come aboard as Chief. It wasn't anything that Murdoch did. Capt. Smith tended to take the Chief officer from h9s former ship on the maiden voyage of the next. Wilde was available because of the coal strike, so Capt. Smith decided to go for it and take Wilde on the Titanic's maiden crossing (Wilde had been made Captain od the Cymric, but she couldn't sail because of the coal strike..

[@LorisTheUntethered]

Late comment but one thing to take into consideration, especially with Lightoller's testimony, is that these were British officers in 1912. Suicide in the line of duty would essentially bring eternal dishonour to that particular Officers name and completely ruin his family even more than his death. Lightoller had every reason to lie to protect his colleague's reputation and memory.

[@WileyCylas]

This channel: always answering & investigating every single major & obscure historical questions!

[@shobhitsingh6330]

If you see the movie you would know that the guy who played officer Henry Wilde resemble the real life Murdoch as shown in his photo in this video.

[@harrietharlow9929]

HE looks a lot like Chief officer Wilde. Which is one of the reasons he was hired for the role. ritalovestowrite.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/wilde_500-1.jpg I don't see the resemblance betewwen Chapman and Murdoch. About the only actor I ve seen who lopoks like Murdoch is in the 2012 miniseries Titanic. vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/titanic-itv-2012-miniseries/images/b/bd/First_Officer_Murdoch_(from_2012_Miniseries).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20171020165637

[@irenedezwaan4592]

Ewan Stewart was maybe not the best physical match, but he nailed the role.

[@nanxyrose]

wait .. you're kinda right

[@paulboger7377]

Will all the panic and confusion going on, who knows if a story was started and became canon. With the ship sinking and breaking up, noises could have been mistaken for gunshots, people that appeared to be shot may have been hit by debris, who knows.

[@ElderSnake90]

Exactly.

[@jonathanlee7355]

James Cameron apologized to the family of Murdoch. Stating that he was more focused on the story instead of what really happened.

[@johnking5174]

Notice in the 1997 film, who was the person Murdoch shot dead? It was a character from the movie who met Jack at the start of the movie, the Irish character Tommy. So Murdoch shot dead a fictional character. This shows the scene was done purely for dramatic effect.

[@jonathanlee7355]

@@johnking5174 exactly! I don't remember seeing this in any other titanic movie though. Shots were fired in other movies, but I don't remember seeing a suicide in any other one.

[@jonathanlee7355]

@Kitty Kat you're right! I totally forgot about that!

[@johnking5174]

@Kitty Kat Just to inform you, the 1996 CBS miniseries, which is appalling by the way, was filmed when production of James Cameron's Titanic was filming at the same time. It was rushed into production to try and make capital out of Titanic craze, and the scriptwriters actually had leaked information of James script, including the suicide scene, and so CBS simply copied it.

[@Kyle_Lurz]

Yes because they were furious and he wasn’t the only one who flew over to England to apologize.

[@thomasryan5427]

Another thing to think about would be that this was around the same time the 1st funnel was getting ready to fall, and the guy wires supporting it would be snapping which sound somewhat like gunshots

[@trainstorm1225]

I absolutely cannot stop watching your videos, Sam haha! Your passion for Titanic and maritime history in general is so admirable and I commend your extensive research. Well done!

[@AGlitterQueensWorld]

I've been obsessed with the Titanic since I had a report on it in 4th grade. This is the most informative channel I have come across. Binge watching your videos now😊

[@adrianghandtchi1562]

I can’t help but tell you I’m very grateful for all the videos you have been making, I know Honor and Glory has lost its steam but you haven’t and I’m glad your still filling my day up with my need for nautical history.

[@AmazingKevinWClark]

Don't forget that by your account people were panicking at this point and rushing the boats. It's very possible that one of the officers did shoot but not into the crowd and the witnesses in all the confusion mistaked thinking the shots were aimed at the crowd. When people are under a lot of stress they often make mistakes in what they saw because at the time their minds were more occupied with survival and in a daze.

[@elisefincher4478]

It was a little insensitive of Cameron to have the scene of murdoch killing himself if it hadn't been verified and was a disservice to not only murdoch but his family as well.

[@JayDeeDonuts]

Yes i agree

[@knownpleasures]

The family complained and got a sum of money for it which I think was given to suicide charities

[@GusMcGuire]

​@@knownpleasures In 1998 20th Century Fox's vice president made a donation to the local school, not the family, in a special PR ceremony in Scotland. At the time, Murdoch's nephew remarked: "In three or four years people will have forgotten about this ceremony but the film and video will still portray my uncle as a murderer when he was a hero and helped save many passengers" To date, both Fox and Cameron have stopped short of an apology, though in 2014 Cameron stated that he how thought it had been a mistake to attribute the suicide rumour to a specific, named member of the crew.

[@bishopfeathers3755]

In your opinion..Cameron having that in the movie is actually saluting and honoring Murdoch

[@knownpleasures]

It’s just surprising that scene passed the editing process and the legal team employed by the studio who should have researched and verified that particular suicide scene. Obviously it does enhance the dramatic power of the movie

[@hezekiah8765]

Some survivors reported hearing explosion sounds within the ship during the final plunge, and with all the screaming it mightve sounded like gunshots. It also could've been the sound of metal bending or buckling, that can be very loud

[@Truecrimeresearcher224]

I think the officers did have them but I don't think they were supposed to be loaded. I think it was more of a warning. But when the ship was sinking they probably loaded them to keep order. I think a few people said they heard them as the last few boats were being loaded and people tried to over load the boat

[@Jackmonster3231]

After contemplating on the information that I've read about this debate I personally believe Murdoch did kill himself. Lightoller couldn't have seen Murdoch because he was servicing another boat at the time. When the survivors returned there were all sorts of sensationalized stories about the heroic acts of the crew and passengers, and I doubt any of his crewmates would want to dishonor his memory by saying he not only shot one or two people but then himself as well. Murdoch was in charge of the ship when it hit the iceberg. He along with Captain Smith knew the passenger count and understood no matter what they did there was going to be a huge loss of life. There are a number of reports of Smith being visibly shaken by the passengers and crew, so it only makes sense that Murdoch would feel that way too.

[@applesauce4666]

I have also done a lot of research, and yes, I agree that Murdoch would have felt guilty since he was in charge of the ship when the iceberg hit. However, I disagree with the statement that since Smith was visibly shaken, Murdoch would have felt a similar way and committed suicide. Because Murdoch and Smith are two different people who acted very differently that night. I would say Murdoch's guilt is expressed through how he was very active in the lowering and launching of lifeboats, filling them as much as possible and getting them away as fast as possible. On the other hand, Smith was not so active in the evacuation process; as you said, he was visibly shaken. If Murdoch did commit, I believe it would have happened after he had made sure all boats had gotten safely away from the titanic; however, all lifeboats did not get safely away from the titanic. Also, witnesses claim that the officer who shot themselves shot one or two people before turning the gun on themselves. Murdoch being in charge when the iceberg struck does not make him any more likely to fire a loaded gun into a crowd of passengers than any other officer in those final moments. I personally believe that the shooting happened earlier at Collapsible D or C; gunshots were fired at both boats. The officer who shot people is the most likely candidate to commit suicide as shooting two people would feel more personal and in the moment. Whether that officer is Murdoch, I don't know. I agree with you about Lightoller's testimony; Hemming was a lamp trimmer who had crossed over to the starboard side with Lightoller and started helping Moody on top of the officer quarters. It's unclear what Lightoller is doing at this moment; it is possible that Lightoller walked forward on to wheelhouse to see how far the water had risen and how much time did he have to work on collapsible B since he knew collapsible A was in good hands and that could have been the moment the bridge went under, This scenario might be unlikely because we do not have any details about what Lightoller was doing. This is not to say Murdoch definitely did not commit suicide. It is just a counterargument. If you want to point out any flaws in my argument, please do. Even if I personally do not believe Murdoch committed suicide, I would like to try to solve this mystery and find the truth about what really happened that night.

[@christopherkerr1693]

Maybe it was the Captain? 😱

[@Airland_combat]

​@@applesauce4666Well, Wilde did have depression and was last seen on the bridge. No one recovered his body.

[@MHLegacy]

Two things stand out in the part about the two people that you noted denied the shooting ever happened: Lightoller was a friend of Murdoch, and Gracie specifically said Murdoch was "too honorable" to commit suicide, doing his duty right up to the end. We should take into account the contemporary cultural perception of suicide that these two would have had and the possible motives they would have in denying that Murdoch would have shot himself. It's quite possible that Murdoch did shoot someone, even by mistake, and became so guilt ridden that he shot himself. It's quite possible that they were trying to protect his memory. Would Murdoch's family have been harmed, either financially or socially, if such news got out? Lightoller may have thought so. Gracie may have seen Murdoch desperately trying to save people, get rushed, and make a mistake and thought it was wasn't necessary to tarnish his reputation. Lightoller was English and apparently Anglican. Gracie was American, an author and amateur military historian, and apparently Episcopalian. Many Christians believe that you won't go to heaven if you commit suicide and in the early 1900s, this belief was dominant in the most of the western world, including the U.K. and the U.S. at the time. Gracie would also have been particularly aware of how history is recorded, being an author himself. It reminds of the documentary on the "Falling Man" of the WTC on 9/11. The filmmakers theorize who it could be, including one of the chefs from the Windows on the World restaurant. Some of the chef's family members refuse to believe he would do that, citing religious beliefs and his views on suicide, etc. In essence, these family members prefer to believe he either died of smoke inhalation, burned to death, or was pulverized when the building collapsed than believe that he would have realized there was no hope of escape and chose to jump instead. If they chose to believe he somehow got out and somehow started a secret new life and told no one, it would be understandable, in a way, that they choose to believe that: denying his death rather than accepting it. That part of the documentary really stuck with me because it shows that despite the evidence suggesting the man could have been this chef from that restaurant, who ended up dead either way, the family prefers to think he died in the smoke and fire rather than jump. The manner of death is important to them as they came to grips with his death. I've even seen examples in my life when a close family member died suddenly and unexpectedly. He was 82, had macular degeneration, and was slowing down. His doctor was in the process of diagnosing him with early onset dementia...but nothing fatal or immediately life threatening. One day he took the garbage out, came inside and sat down in his favorite chair to watch TV, and fell asleep like he always did. He just didn't wake up. I miss him a lot. His passing was really sad and painful...but some of my family were convinced he knew something was wrong. But I honestly don't think he did. I think he would have done a few things differently in his final months if he had. He was getting old, becoming a little more frail, but in no way acted like he was preparing for the end. But if that makes them feel better and cope with his death more easily, than maybe that's "their truth." Or...maybe it's my truth to believe he didn't know. Maybe I'M the one who is wrong. It's certainly less objective than whether or not someone shot themselves or not. But without a body that either had a bullet hole in the head or not to serve as proof, then it could very well have been Lightoller and Gracie, either separately or together, choosing to save a man's reputation when they couldn't save his life. Murdoch was just as dead either way, but they chose to write his epilogue as more what they deemed to be "honorable," more "Christian," and gentler for the family to bear.

[@ChickVicious237]

I had very similar thoughts about the two deniers in the story. Especially Lightoller, who seems to have framed much of his testimony in an effort to spare his friends and company as much of the burden of the situation as possible. Understandably so, but unfortunately it does discount some of the trust in his word. I also read somewhere that years later he admitted privately to Murdoch's family in a letter that it was indeed Murdoch who took his own life that night. It's hard to know for sure, though. Thanks for offering your insight, the parallels with other situations is interesting.

[@expensivepink7]

Thank you for this!! Exactly!!

[@johnking5174]

The officers on any ship are fully trained professional seamen, who knew it was their duty to take care of their passengers. Even in the midst of a sinking, no British officer would ever consider such an ignoble way of ending their life. Think about it, they were minutes away from death anyway, with the ship well into the water, and they knew many would die. Suicide would be far from their mind.

[@RobertPSmith336]

Hey thanks for this video i was looking this up literally last night wondering.

[@laylaleannejepson7]

I've only just started watching your videos in the couple of weeks. They're really interesting, especially the Titanic ones. The first video I watched was actually the timeline of RMS Olympic. I really enjoyed that so decided to subscribe. Also love the use of the little models of the ships, they're cute and add character to the videos. I'm slowly working my way through the videos. Well done, Sam xx

[@WatchMaga]

Lightoller was a stand-up guy. The kind of stand-up guy who would cover for a friend and for the family of a friend. He and Murdoch had known one another for years. Lightoller would be the absolute LAST man on that ship who would dare verify Murdock committed suicide. If there was a suicide, Murdock would be the most likely candidate, as he was first officer when the incident occurred. As the disaster came to a climax, It is easy to imagine Murdock overwhelmed by his sense of responsibility.

[@Lily-zu1ln]

Thank you so much for making these videos. I love to learn about the Titanic but it’s so easy to find misinformation and conspiracy theories online. Your videos are very informative and entertaining. Where did you get your Titanic model?

[@jadsmvs8651]

The collapsable was filled with passengers right after this apparently took place and yet not a single person from that boat made mention of an officer shooting themselves or other passengers once they were rescued from the water by the Carpathia. Plenty of people mentioned it but nobody said "the officer shot himself then I jumped into the boat." I think your theory is pretty solid. I can't see how Murdoch would've shot himself but given the word of mouth, we can't discount the idea that an officer shot themselves completely.

[@shawnkeith1164]

Another well-done video with a startling topic. Josiah and Charis really enjoyed it.

[@nancyschaefer3851]

Sam, what a wonderful video, so well researched and prepared and such an interesting subject! I’m a huge fan of your channel and really appreciate your work.

[@fakumadda1632]

People wouldn't be talking about it if it never happened. Notice that the ones who deny it are crew members. They clearly didn't want to make a co-worker look bad so they lied. Still unclear who actually committed suicide though. Murdoch's body was apparently never recovered so we'll likely never know.

[@lizshoemaker8713]

New subscriber, I’ve been watching your content literally all day long. So much great and interesting information!

[@HistoricTravels]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@sanjosesharks3534]

Just tossing this out there Sam. People say Murdoch is the one who shot himself. My theory is this could it be possible captain Smith after he jumped ship he shot himself in the water? I know people are going to say he died on the bridge or was seeing swimming in the water. But after he left he was never seeing again. Could it have been him? Now remember him and Andrews jumped from the port bridge wing as it went under. So what do you think? Love to hear your feedback

[@byronthomas153]

@@sanjosesharks3534 I don’t think there guns would work in the water

[@sanjosesharks3534]

If it is a revolver it will work in water. We just don't know what kind of revolver.

[@dennisyates7668]

REALLY ENJOY HOW YOU PUT THINGS AND YOUR STORY TELLING IS FANTASTIC. THANKS FOR BEING TRUTHFUL AND SHARING ALL THIS INFO WITH US. XXX DENNIS.

[@benpope1585]

I personally believe that if an officer killed himself it would have been Chief Officer Wilde. From information I’ve read he suffered from serious depression and also lost an opportunity to be the captain of his own ship when White Star transferred him to the Titanic. Also, I believe if Lightoller did know about it he would have covered it up.

[@victorsamsung2921]

A man of dignity is Lightoller if true.

[@Airland_combat]

​@@victorsamsung2921Lightoller was, Lightoller would probably cover up a suicide during a sinking to prevent grieving and further suffering within the crew member's family. It's what I'd do.

[@Es24688]

From what I’ve heard, Wilde would be my guess as well

[@eloisebrynlee]

I agree and it’s possible he’d had suicide ideation over the tragedy of his family loss. I thought that maybe on the night that he just didn’t want to come out of it alive plus the fact it could well have tarnished up to that point what was a stellar career. He’d be hauled before an inquiry and the list goes on. He had time to think about some stuff like this while he was having the last cigarette. It wasn’t that sudden they didn’t have time to think. Just my thoughts.

[@GR3G921]

2nd Officer Charles Lightoller was on the port side launching lifeboats and he didn't kill himself. So could have it have been 6th officer James Moody who was also on the port side?????

[@HamburgerTime209]

Yeah possibly. He’s not usually considered most likely to have though, as he wasn’t issued a gun like the senior officers were. However Lowe had his own personally owned handgun, so it’s completely possible so did Moody.

[@sheldesroches745]

Moody was on the starboard side helping at Collapsible A according to Hemming. Wilde was last seen on the port side during the launch of Collapsible D.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@HamburgerTime209 I suppose that's possible, but from what I've been able to figure out, only senior officers were issued firearms. Still I suppose it's possible. It would depend what side of the ship he was working at that time. We know at one point he was working on the port side, but since this suicide was supposed to have happened on the starboard side, who knows?

[@sheldesroches745]

@@notevenreal971 The senior officers were (Smith, Wilde, Murdoch and Lightoller). The junior officers were not. Lowe brought his own personal revolver, but there is no evidence that Moody had one. If I recall correctly, the book On A Sea Of Glass mentions that a friend once offered to buy him a revolver and he laughed at the suggestion, saying he did not think he would ever have use for it. So it seems unlikely he would have one on the Titanic. Lightoller can obviously be ruled out since he survived, and Captain Smith was so recognizable that if he had shot himself there would be no mistaking it, so it comes down to Wilde or Murdoch. Another candidate who I think is worthy of consideration is the ships Master-at-Arms, who would also have been issued a firearm. But so far as I know, no one mentioned him being on deck during the sinking, and I don't know if people would have mistaken him for an officer. Maybe some of the passengers, but I doubt the crew would.

[@GR3G921]

Lowe was in a lifeboat 14 far away from the titanic how did he see moody?????

[@briangebbia6001]

1,500 people had just drowned to death in freezing cold water in one of the most dramatic shipwrecks of all time. Everybody on board the Carpathia, "Man, this one guy shot himself, it was crazy."

[@MrMonsterJamFan]

Your videos are very interesting to listen to I'm enjoying them quite a lot

[@teichbaum8108]

I suspect it might of been chief officer Henry T W. Apparently his wife passed away not long before the disaster, which (I dont mean to be dark here) might of sparked depression. He was last seen waving goodbye while smoking a cigar as the port side bridge wing went under, ultimatly accepting his fate before he might of killed himself... Although this is my theory, nobody should immediately belive that he was the one who shot himself.

[@ndingo]

It looks like the designer of the Titanic didn’t think of a good way of getting the collapsibles lifeboats off the roof

[@wildshadowstar]

The designer was probably thinking the collapsible boats were never going to be needed, since Titanic did have the nickname of “unsinkable”.

[@adrianghandtchi1562]

@@wildshadowstar I don’t think it was like that, also there was a video previously about other boats supposed to be nearby to ferry the lifeboats back and forth.

[@ministryofanti-feminism1493]

In their wildest dreams, no one could possibly have predicted the events of the 14th/15th April.

[@samroconnor]

As I understand there was a tool for lowering the boats in the forward cargo hold. By the time anyone realized it was well under water.

[@spiro3142]

@@wildshadowstar that’s not the reason but ok.

[@rolandrothwell4840]

Thank you Sam well researched and very interesting 👍

[@karissam5048]

This is my comfort youtube channel❤️

[@MasterAnakinSkyWalker]

The loud shots Richard heard might've been the forward funnel collapsing. When the wires snapped, they made a very loud noise that sounded like a gun. So that's probably what he heard. Unfortunately, his father was crushed by the funnel when it collapsed

[@alderusdmc]

I have a vague idea as to what Richard Norris William may actually have heard as he was running towards the Titanic's stern. The alleged "gunshots" might actually have been snapping support cables as the first funnel broke off.

[@uglyburgerO]

Thank you for making this

[@brentyboi3323]

Sorrry I am late banger video like always keep up the amazing work my friend. Lots of love from Turkey 🇹🇷

[@willnoiles2001]

Personally, I would take Lightholler's testimony with a big grain of salt as he was more interested in sanitizing the Titanic's end. Let's not forget that some of the surviving officers tried to say the ship sank in tact; that it never broke in two as the wreck clearly demonstrated was a lie.

[@mikehenson819]

To say that the surviving officers lied about the break up of the ship, is way to judgemental. There were others among the passengers who said the ship sank intact as well, and they had no reason to lie. Remember it was pitch dark that night, with no moon. And the lights of the ship failed before the break up. I think it depended on where those folks were in relation to the ship as to what the actually saw before the ship went under, that would determine their perspective.

[@cnote2458]

Lightholler made several mistake during the evacuation of titanic. But if you look at his action he was a man of honour. He later admitted a sucide did happen. But refused to say who it was. A lot of titanic experts suspect a junior crew member.

[@williamjohnson3093]

@@cnote2458 Were the junior officers equipped with firearms?

[@20thCenturyManTrad]

It is extremely difficult to see on a moonless night, lit only by the stars, it's like seeing a silhouette in starlight, you have to go out to a large lake a hundred miles from any habitation, with no streetlights, then you have to have a moonless night, with a clear sky and no moon, then you have to go out on a body of water with no waves on that night. It is a matter of perspective, Lightholler was at the bow, and was concentrated on keeping an overturned Collapsible from losing the people balancing on top of it, when you are in immediate peril, your vision is on directly on the main situation, in Lightholler's case, keeping the Collapsible from spilling those including himself off the boat and into the icy depths. So the Titanic's going down is merely peripheral and from his vantage point, it looked like it went down intact, watch Oceanliner Designs' video on this, he animates it all and shows how it would have looked like that night in lighting without the benefit of cinema lighting.

[@christopherkerr1693]

What benefit would come from deliberately lying about whether the ship broke in two? I think until the wreck was discovered, accepted opinion was the ship sank intact

[@whysosketch7591]

Archibald Gracie is such a badass name.

[@bramijdema759]

He’s also a badass himself. A colonel and soldier Helped in the evacuation Never considered saving himself; only saved others Sucked into the ship(like Fabrizio in the movie) and managed to pull himself out Swam to Collapsible B, knocked on his head with an oar Survived several hours on top of Col B Busy writing a book about Titanic, died a few months after the disaster

[@MissSA75]

I like your channel; it's the most fascinating Titanic channel I've ever seen. From London 🇬🇧

[@jordanalex2392]

Love your channel mate very informative 😁😁😁

[@CChrisL]

Didn't 2ND Officer Lightoller also say that the Titanic did NOT break in 2? I feel he was giving testimony that would help the White Star Line to save some face and to help whatever officer shot himself to also save face, because he felt that it was actually the more honorable thing for him to do. I also feel that Colonel Archibald Gracie being a retired officer would have also felt it was more honorable to help the officer who committed suicide to save face by saying it didn't happen. Also, I heard quite some time ago that Chief Officer Wilde might have been the other officer who could've shot himself.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

How would saying that Titanic did not break in two have helped White Star 'save face?' She wasn't any less sunk.

[@lisasummers5802]

How could have Lightholler known? He could have only heard the ship breaking in 2, not see it. For all he knew it could have been the boilers exploding. Also, regarding all the evidence, the gunshots were probably 3 warning shots from Lightholler himself, not an officer shooting himself.

[@MovieMaker-hw1uy]

So excited to watch I am a huge Titanic fan:D

[@MovieMaker-hw1uy]

😁

[@oufukubinta]

I'm not surprised that the fellow officers wouldn't choose to testify an unfavorable testimony about one of their comrades

[@LindyQ]

Love your videos Sam! I'll have to check out that book

[@idaliborbon6887]

Historic is making a stream

[@Klappadler7844]

He’s always has them at 6:00 On Sunday

[@idaliborbon6887]

Thx

[@TwistedTattoo.WarShorts]

Very interesting Sam thanks👍

[@nikkiamee2560]

Always wondered about this. Thank you! Cant wait for my sweatshirt!!!!! So excited! :-)

[@theallantaylor]

I grew up in the same town William Murdock grew up in so he is a little bit of a historical figure amongst the towns history. Talking about James Camerons portrayal of William Murdock is quite controversial, most people don't believe that he would've killed himself.

[@kalebwick3429]

Could you make a video describing the different class accommodations aboard the Olympic class, especially Second Class, as there is very little info out there?

[@johnlyon5366]

I hope it takes years for you take this night apart. So many untold storys

[@jamiedavis2219]

You should adapt these episodes for podcasts! Would love to listen to this stuff whilst walking and before bed.

[@makalism]

We’ll never know for sure what happened on Titanic the night she sank. That’s why she remains the most famous ship in the world

[@spiratonixcoxworthy7563]

There's definitely evidence and motive for Murdoch to have been the officer to shoot himself. He was commanding the ship when the iceberg hit, and probably felt responsible for the collision as a result (even though he made the right calls and did what any other experienced seaman would have). And it's entirely possible Lightoller didn't want to dishonor his crewmate's legacy, and thus lied about seeing Murdoch.

[@expensivepink7]

I agree with you completely

[@tmajcan94]

I'm so hooked on your channel! Wondered if it would be possible if you could cover how long it took to recover all the bodies and debris after the Titanic sunk? Keep up the amazing work!

[@johnking5174]

It took around three weeks spent at the site of the sinking before all bodies were recovered, and the debris area cleared as best as they could.

[@smanski078]

This is my new favorite channel!!!!

[@VanessaKittredge]

Trauma affects the brain, release of massive amounts of adrenaline and cortisol which is why everyone’s memory of the same exact event varies. Everyone processes differently so it’s no surprise that accounts vary. Time moved at a different rate for each of them and some blocked out certain moments all together.

[@expensivepink7]

YES!! Thank you!

[@guyincognito2851]

Officer Lightoller stated pretty emphatically that Murdoch did not commit suicide... I'm not saying Murdoch did or didn't... But of course Lightoller would say that. Murdoch was his friend and colleague. All anyone knew for sure was that Murdoch died that night, as did many people. If I heard those rumors about a friend of mine I would also most likely come to his defense and say no he did not. Honestly I first heard of the Titanic in 1989 when I was 5, and one of the first things I heard about the Titanic was that an officer committed suicide while the ship was going down. I suppose it could have been Wilde or Moody or someone else, but to me it seems if any one of Titanic's officers would be pushed over the edge by the sheer devastation and crushing responsibility that night, Murdoch would be a likely candidate. I felt that way long before the James Cameron film came out, and I supported his decision to portray that event in the movie.

[@JeffreyBarkdull]

Thank you for taking my request!

[@iRiley]

Such a great video Sam

[@andreraymond6860]

If you factor in a friendship between Lightoller anc Murdoch and Lightoller's possible wish to protect the reputation of his ship mate and friend.... Then you have an explanation of why Lightoller's testimony differs from those of several other eye witnesses.

[@Aculias]

I also wanted to add for the record in my own humble opinion. I read many comments addressing Lightoller's Comments about the ship sinking intact. I did hear his audio as well. I think at the time when the boat was at it's plunge & where he was at & when he saw it, I think it would be hard to tell if it broke in half or not. I also know that it would make the White star line look bad if the ship did break. I think he was honest for the most part on his interviews & his open opinions about the wireless operators etc etc. I do think he did lie about the suicide of an officer. I really think the suicide did happen & he is protecting that officer reputation. I also think he was being as honest as he could about the sinking. It was very intense & alot of emotions. Remember all lights went out on the ship right when it broke, so it would be hard to see if it broke at that exact moment & you only see a silhouette.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Agreed. It was nearly pitch-black out once the ship's lighting failed, so I can't imagine that anyone saw much of anything.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

However, what makes his denial of the breakup questionable is many passengers in the lifeboat he was in said the Titanic broke.

[@ColeGirlOne]

Hey, Sam, what's goin' on! Love your work. And I have an idea: raise your camera a little so there's not so much ceiling in your background. Or: paint a jaunty sea-faring scene on your ceiling.

[@emmaphelps1790]

You are the best KZbinr I have ever seen❤❤❤

[@poptart510]

The stream hasn't started but I know it's gonna be super eppppic

[@flatgrimace]

*Premiere

[@Cold-Blooded-Jay]

I think Murdoch did commit suicide. All the people saying he didn't seem bias in either they were his colleague or someone who respected the man. It would make absolute sense that after a calamity like that (at a time where there were no video cameras) that they would lie to try and protect Murdoch's image.

[@expensivepink7]

Yes, you get it

[@dan_38]

Interesting topic to read from. Was wondering wondering if you would do a video topic on the advancement of safety of ships since the titanic and costa concordia and comparing it to before the titanic disaster.

[@chrisstetson3115]

Great videos

[@marccru]

I cannot remember where I read this for the life of me, but I remember something in which either Lightollers daughter or niece said, after his death, that he did see Murdoch kill himself but did not want to sully his good friends name in death so he never officially told anyone. No idea if there is any truth to it but I definitely read that somewhere.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Sounds about right. I believe Lightoller took that secret with him to the grave.

[@chijako7990]

The way I've seen rumors build and get passed around my work (which is a pretty calm environment, but a warehouse so sometimes accidents happen), it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were people confusing some noises for gunshots, or people slipping and others wondering if they got shot, and those wonderings becoming reality later. I also remember in my criminal justice class when the teacher was making a point about witness statements and he asked a student to leave the room then asked us what color his shirt was and no one got it right. Then in watching a forensics documentary there was one witness describe a van as blue, and another witness described the same van as red but it turned out to be a blue van with red letters. So I guess it really is just as you said, we may never know for sure. There's testimonies that can be called into question, some may have lied, some may have thought they saw something that wasn't entirely accurate especially in such a chaotic environment, but some may be spot on.

[@Jim_61]

I almost cried in this scene, William Merdoch was my fav character.

[@91MustangLX]

It would be great to see you do a short video on MV Kathryn Spirit. Keep up the great work, its been great watching your channel grow

[@LaylasGarden]

Didn't even start and I have already given my like! ☺️

[@johncashman1298]

When Titanic first hit the Iceberg and her sinking was inevitable I’ve often wondered why they did not repeadly sound the Ships Horn or Siren especially as there was almost certainly a Ship nearby on the Night ( it might have drawn attention to the unfolding tragedy)

[@alandavies5570]

Wow good point

[@josephconray]

Murdoch probably was hit in the head against the lifeboat when he was swept away, killing him instantly, it makes sense, given he was with collapsible A, so Murdoch was likely hit in the back of his head by collapsible A when the Titanic returned to an even keel and the wave generated from that swept him and the boat away, assuming that the force of the wave pushed his head against the boat, killing him instantly. This can be backed up by the fact that Charles Lightoller was the last person to see Murdoch alive, and he saw him getting swept away.

[@4160boy]

Hey Sam! Have a great mid-week!

[@gervaisreed4473]

Good topic Still waiting on a video or 2 about the aftermath and inquiries

[@kurtallen5683]

Hey Sam, A "what if" question. If the cruising speed remained constant and only the course changed (to port), could the ship have missed the iceberg?

[@Engine33Truck]

Doubt it. Titanic was a 52,310 ton, 886 foot long ship. For comparison: RMS Titanic was larger and had greater displacement than HMS Hood, HMS Vanguard, Bismarck, or Tirpitz, and was roughly equal to an Iowa class battleship. On top of that, she had a single rudder - albeit a large rudder. That means she did not have stellar maneuverability. That large of a ship moving at about 22.5 knots generates a lot of momentum and a lot of water current moving around the ship. Even though her rudder was rather large and had a screw directly in line with it, it would take quite a while for the rudder to generate enough lateral force to overcome the ship’s momentum. So long story short, by time the iceberg was spotted, nothing could’ve been done to avoid hitting it. The only thing that would’ve saved Titanic would’ve been to spot the iceberg sooner.

[@trickyfoxx6941]

@@user-lv7ph7hs7l binoculars would not have helped with the false horizon they would have still been looking at the wrong horizon. On moonless nights moving through woods you have to squat low and get close to the ground to figure out your paths or you can walk off a cliff thinking its solid ground. Only way they would have seen the iceberg was if they could walk on water and be at the actual level of the base of the berg. A pitch black forest just looks black even when your eyes adjust you have to get low to see the differences in terrain like duck walking low it sucks but I've picked my way through a ton of woods with no light and you can barely make out your hand infront of your face

[@smudent2010]

I doubt it, faster speeds=larger turn radius so it would have likely hit more of the iceberg. Even if somehow it did miss the iceberg it would have likely just hit another one close by if titanic didn't slow down as it was the beginning of a very dense icepack that had forced multiple ships to stop for the night already.

[@claudiuspulcher2440]

I think that the stigma against suicide might make it so that his fellow officer might straight up lie about it happening.

[@SkyKing58318]

As always, I so enjoy your methodical analysis of history, Great Job! A few thoughts from somebody who has been a Titanicphile since the '60's, and who is a pilot who is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol and a former Safety Officer of the same organization. During my tenure as safety officer, I had to read the monthly preliminary NTSB reports on how people end up in flaming balls of shredded aluminum. It was a depressing but necessary duty, and I'd like to think my reports to the squadron may one day, make a difference in what someone thinks about and saves them when they encounter an emergency that may have been covered by one of my presentations. The NTSB has proven that people, good, honest helpful people who are eye witnesses, don't always get it right. The thing they see is so horrible that their inner mind tries to protect them. It's the hardest thing on earth to witness innocent people die. So, their mind protects them and edits their thoughts. 5 people can say that the plane blew up or the wing fell off and it plunged to earth, when something else happened as evidence by the wreckage; how it ended up, burn marks, damage, and other scientifically proven things that tell a different story. So, the evidence as witnessed in THE WRECKAGE will tell the truth and the people's testimony, while honestly believed, is usually wrong. And, remember, LIghtoller tried to protect WSL in the inquiries. He was a trained observer, but he also had motives of protecting the images of his employer and perhaps his shipmates. We will never know until H.G. Wells' Time Machine is invented and we can go back to get it all on our iPhones.

[@rileybridgham8881]

I love your videos.

[@deaj8450]

I think Lightoller was telling the truth about Murdoch, but lied about the events at Collapsible D. He also lied about the ship breaking apart, in my opinion to help the company avoid more damage to their reputation. I think he also didn't want to tarnish the reputation of an officer and possible friend he knew, and thought that it would also look terrible for the White Star Line. I agree with others here that Richard very possibly heard the cables snapping on the first funnel or the gunshots that went off to try and free Collapsible A.

[@crazyguy_1233]

I think those shots that were heard were from Lightoller's warning shots. If anyone would have seen it it would have been him and Archibald Gracie since the both of them were at that spot when it supposedly happened.

[@JakeDisselt]

Due to the consistency of claims that it was Murdoch I think it plays into the liklihood that it was Murdoch. Another thing, with the intense media scrutiny on the disaster immediately afterwards, White Star Line and the survivors involved may have been interested in protecting their image-Lightoller apparently denied Murdoch committed suicide to Murdoch's family but he also confided in a close friend that he did. Whether he survived or not, Murdoch's career at sea would have been finished after the sinking of Titanic. While I wouldn't say with absolute certainty that he committed suicide, I also wouldn't immediately discount it.

[@stanleymosley1437]

Hey this is great video But we should also take in consideration that officer light taller had white star line’s best interest in hand and he could have been lying to save some of titanic reputation when he testified.

[@Cashcrop54]

Another good video. I tend to think that none of the officers committed suicide. The shots were likely the warning shots Charles Lightoller fired himself. His testimony has over time been shown to be quite accurate. He's clear about where he was, what time it was, and what he was doing. He was also pretty sure of things he didn't see. Have you heard about the suicide, in 1965 , of the lookout, Frederick Fleet? I've also heard he claimed the bridge never answered his calls until it was to late. Interested in your thoughts.

[@cheeto8960]

the ship was already moving to port to avoid the iceberg when he grabbed the phone to call "iceberg right ahead"