Lot 32
32
S.S. Virginian: Titanic Disaster and Post-Disaster messages, 14th April 1912

Details
S.S. Virginian: Titanic Disaster and Post-Disaster messages, 14th April 1912
twelve messages starting (11.15pm) Hear MGY call CQD SOS has struck iceberg pos 41.46N 50.14W (11.35pm) We are putting passengers and -- off in small boats - weather clear. Titanic; including messages from Titanic (MGY), other vessels and Cape Race, seeking the nearest ship for assistance: (11.40pm) The MKC is making all speed for MGY but his position is 40.32N 61.18W You are much nearer to him. He is already putting women off in boats and he says weather is clear and calm Cape Race, (12.10am) Hear MGY very faintly power greatly reduced...(12.20am) Hear "V" faint in spark similar to MGY's (2.17am) Hear High tune spark probably MGY dg MBC spark died away abruptly (2.19am) same spark called ..[?]..and broke away and finally (12.27am) MGY calls unable to make out his signal Ended very abruptly as if power suddenly switched off -- His spark somewhat blurred, an out-lined footnote written vertically on the left side: Carpathia says MGY has gone down with all hands as far as we know with the exception of 20 [?] boatloads which they have picked Can't see anymore boats now

Unheaded paper stamped VIRGINIAN 14 APR 1912 (paperclip bonded to the paper with age) the signals written in pencil -- 10 x 7¾in. (25.5 x 19.5cm.);

and Post-Disaster Messages, mainly post-sinking "conversation" with Carpathia: noting Carpathia says Our Skipper is leaving here with all on board about 800 passengers chiefly third class and a lot of stewards.....There were three terrible explosions when the water got to the boilers and she went down like a pig of iron

The signals in pencil on Marconi headed service paper -- 8½ x 5½in. (21.5 x 14cm.)
See illustrations (2)
Provenance
William James Cotter (1885-1955), Marconi wireless operator from Virginian between March and August 1912 and thence by descent.

The Procés Verbal (illustrated) which is now in the Marconi Archive, is the neat, formal transcription copy of the signals made by Cotter from the hastier notes, here offered, which were taken as the drama unfolded. The handwriting of both appears to be identical.

Lot Essay

MGY is the call-sign for Titanic, the identity of MKC is Olympic (Captain Haddock) who was certainly further away than Virginian, Carpathia (Captain A.H. Rostron) was MPA and MBC was the Baltic (Captain R.B. Ranson)

The sheet with the Disaster Messages contains the last recorded call from Titanic, believed to have been received by the Virginian alone. This is the letter "V", a Marconi test signal which Cotter said was faint in spark and similar to MGY's. As Titanic sank, her aerial, which was suspended between the fore and aft masts, changed position, forcing the Titanic operator (probably Jack Phillips), to retune and send test signals to see if there was anyone still with him, which Virginian's operator was able to pick up. Minutes later the Titanic's generators crashed through her bulkheads and she slipped beneath the Atlantic. Cotter appears to have used both Ship Time and New York Time variously throughout the messages; Ship Time is one hour fifty minutes ahead of New York Time. This explains why the last messages were received at 2.19am and finally at 12.27; this time 12.27 (Ship's time 2.17am) coincides with the approximate time that Harold Bride reported his and Phillips' leaving the wireless cabin, shortly before the ship foundered.

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