Emergency Lifeboat 1

**Emergency Lifeboat No. 1** was the fifth lifeboat launched from the *RMS Titanic* at about 1:00 am, and the fourth was launched from the starboard side. Lifeboats had a capacity of 40, but were launched with only twelve aboard, the least number of passengers to escape on the boat that night. Most of the inhabitants of Boat 1 were men, although Captain Smith called for "women and children first." First Officer Murdoch, in charge of evacuation efforts on the starboard side of the ship, allowed a number of First Class male passengers to board the lifeboats to calm the women and move the process. Murdoch allowed five passengers and seven crew to board, and the lifeboat was lowered with only these 12 occupants.

Boat 1 did not clear the side of the ship for some time, perhaps not until about 1:15 A.M., following to a mishap encountered on its descent from the boat deck. A protuberance called a spar, at about the B Deck level, caught on the boat's gunwales, arresting the lowering process. It was not until the crew used a wire cutter to chop the obstacle away that the boat was freed and able to reach the sea.

Boat No. 1 and its occupants were picked up by the RMS *Carpathia* sometime shortly after 4:10 am, being the second *Titanic* lifeboat to reach the rescue ship. The boat's occupants were subsequently photographed as a group on the *Carpathia*. The boat was hoisted aboard the *Carpathia* along with other *Titanic* lifeboats and brought to New York. One of the davits from which Boat 1 was lowered remains upright today on *Titanic*'s wreck in relatively good condition.

Due to rumors that Sir Cosmo had bribed the crew in his boat not to rescue people left in the water after the ship went down, some New York press reports dubbed Boat 1 the "Money Boat". The appearance of Cosmo and Lucy Duff-Gordon as witnesses at the British investigation into the disaster drew the largest crowds seen during the inquiry. The Duff-Gordons were the only passengers to testify at the *Titanic* Inquiry.

## The Boat

Lifeboat No. 1 was one of two small "emergency" wooden cutters that were located one on each side of the *Titanic*; No. 1 was on the starboard side. Although they performed double-duty as lifeboats, their primary purpose was to serve the crew in the event of an emergency, such as a man overboard, and were therefore already swung out from the rail to be launched quickly. The standard clinker-built lifeboats on the ship had an official capacity of 65 (but 70+ is possible) while the smaller emergency boats' capacity totaled 40.

## Controversy

According to the British Inquiry testimony of crew member Charles Hendrickson, he had proposed returning to rescue survivors after the *Titanic* sank, but "the women objected." Consequently, he claimed, the boat did not go back to pick up swimmers, although he admitted there was "plenty of room for another dozen". It was also claimed during the course of the inquiry by lookout George Symons and others that it was Lucy Duff Gordon who expressed concern that the lifeboat might be swamped if it returned. She denied the charge and her testimony was supported by other crewmembers who revealed they had not heard her objection nor any proposal to turn back.

According to the testimony of Robert Pusey, a conversation concerning money occurred in the boat at about 3 a.m., nearly an hour after the *Titanic* sank. He claimed the discussion was prompted by a private comment Lucy Duff-Gordon made to Mabel Francatelli: "There is your beautiful nightdress gone." Overhearing the exchange, Pusey replied, "Never mind, you have saved your lives," afterwards complaining that he and the other sailors had not only lost everything but their pay had stopped from the time the ship went down. Out of sympathy but also in hopes of avoiding an argument, Cosmo Duff-Gordon responded, "I will give you a fiver each to start a new kit." On April 16th, the day after their rescue by the *Carpathia*, each Boat 1 crew member received a £5 cheque from Cosmo Duff-Gordon.

The British inquiry issued a report after reviewing the evidence of their probe, which included sworn testimony from every member of Boat 1's crew as well as an affidavit from Mabel Francatelli. The report stated:

> *The very gross charge against Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon that, having got into No. 1 boat, he bribed the men in it to row away from the drowning people, is unfounded.*
>
>

The report, however, admonished the occupants of Boat 1 for not making a concerted effort to rescue survivors from the water.

## Occupants

* George Simons (in charge) *Lookout*
* Albert Edward James Horswill *Able Seaman*
* Charles Osker Hendrickson *Leading Fireman*
* Samuel Collins *Fireman*
* Robert Wiliam Pusey *Fireman*
* James Taylor *Fireman*
* Frederick Sheath *Trimmer*
* Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon *First Class Passenger*
* Lady Duff-Gordon *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Laura Mabel Francatelli *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Abraham L. Salomon\* *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. A.L. Soloman *First Class Passenger*
* Mr (Dr.) C.E. Hengry Stengel *First Class Passenger*

\* = not certain