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Titanic sank due to human error

Heard this on NPR, but no other experts came froward to support this theory.

Louise Patten, a writer and granddaughter of Titanic second officer Charles Lightoller, said the truth about what happened nearly 100 years ago had been hidden for fear of tarnishing the reputation of her grandfather, who later became a war hero.​

Well, maybe. I'll wait for someone else, who is more than just a "writer and granddaughter" to provide testimony.
 
First Officer Murdoch gave the order hard-a-starboard (the correct order) to turn the ship to port. The ship turned to port and the iceberg hit the ship on the starboard side. It is conjectured that had the ship continued and hit the iceberg head-on, it would not have sunk; but one can never be sure of what might have been.

Second Officer Lightoller testified that he was in his cabin with his light out, just going to sleep, at the moment of the collision, and that he went to the port side of the boat rather than the bridge when he got up, then to starboard, and then to the bridge.

Since Lightoller was not on watch at the time of the collision, I doubt that the orders given and the course of the ship would have had any bearing on Lightoller's reputation.
 
Agatha said:
First Officer Murdoch gave the order hard-a-starboard (the correct order) to turn the ship to port. The ship turned to port and the iceberg hit the ship on the starboard side. It is conjectured that had the ship continued and hit the iceberg head-on, it would not have sunk; but one can never be sure of what might have been.

Second Officer Lightoller testified that he was in his cabin with his light out, just going to sleep, at the moment of the collision, and that he went to the port side of the boat rather than the bridge when he got up, then to starboard, and then to the bridge.

Since Lightoller was not on watch at the time of the collision, I doubt that the orders given and the course of the ship would have had any bearing on Lightoller's reputation.
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And there we have it.
 
Pesky facts, so inconvenient when someone wants to sell books/cash in on an ancestor's claim to fame.
 
Agatha said:
Pesky facts, so inconvenient when someone wants to sell books/cash in on an ancestor's claim to fame.
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This was exactly what I thought when I heard the report this morning. I've read and heard rather consistent stories on how the Titanic went down, so I figured if this was an Earth-shattering revelation that re-wrote history, there would have been more to it. Since there wasn't, I pretty much discounted it as a writer trying to make a buck. Can't fault her there, but there it is.
 
According to my grandma, my 3X great granduncle was Captain Smith.
 
The only believeable thing I've heard is that Lighttoller wanted to protect the White Star line. I've read his account and he was QUITE proud to serve in the Merchant Marine and the White Star line, where sailors and officers were taught to think on their feet.

I've read three other primary accounts -- one from an American historian (Col. Gracie), one from a science and technology instructor (Lawrence Beasley), and one from a Marconi operator (Bride, I think) -- and haven't heard anything that matches what she's saying.

I think she's trying to raise a fuss to get publicity attention for her book...we are within a couple of years of the 100th anniversary.
 
i thought it was because of that huge hole in the boat :D
 
Wasn't Captain Smith's order to steam at full speed ahead, at night, in an area where icebergs had already been reported, enough of a human error in the first place?

Dave
 
DC said:
i thought it was because of that huge hole in the boat :D
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Nonsense!

Isn't it about time we did away with this ridiculous 'big hole in boat'-theory?
The Titanic sank because of all the icy water coming _inside_ the boat.
 
Eddie Dane said:
Nonsense!

Isn't it about time we did away with this ridiculous 'big hole in boat'-theory?
The Titanic sank because of all the icy water coming _inside_ the boat.
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The ocean is a dangerous thing and should be regulated. Without it, the rate of ocean liner sinkings would be near to zero.
 
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