Lifeboat 5

**Lifeboat 5** was the second boat lowered from the *Titanic*, launched at 12:28 A.M. It was launched from the starboard side, like Lifeboat 7 about 3 minutes earlier. Third Officer Pitman was sent in charge of the boat, having five other crew with him as well as two stewardesses. Passengers were still a bit reluctant to enter the boats at this time.

"*In our party were Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Beckwith and Mrs. Beckwith's daughter, Miss Helen W. Newsom, all of New York. As we started out from our staterooms orders were being shouted to put on life belts. We did so quickly and then ran for the top deck, the superdeck. There was a strained calmness aboard the ship. We met Captain Smith and he shouted to all to put on life belts. Most of the passengers were gathering on deck A to get into the lifeboats. Mr. Ismay was directing the launching. When Mrs. Beckwith reached the second boat she asked Mr. Ismay if the men could get in too. 'Certainly, Madam,' answered Mr. Ismay. Then we stepped into the boat. After we were in I heard Mr. Ismay calling out, 'Are there any more to get into this boat? None appeared. Mr. Ismay was calm and cool and giving orders without any indication of fear. We waited three minutes, and when no one else appeared he directed that the boat be lowered. The officer in charge of our boat did not dare row back toward the* Titanic *for fear we would be swamped by some of the hundreds we could see swimming not far away. We floated until dawn and were about one mile away from where the* Titanic *went down when the* Carpathia *picked us up...."*
*- Mr. Behr, New York Herald, Saturday, April 20, 1912*

Several couples entered the boat, including the Kimballs, Goldenbergs, Chambers and Harders. Mrs. Stengel did not want to leave her husband. He stayed on the ship but later found refuge in lifeboat 1. Mrs. Warren entered the boat with Miss Ostby and believed Mr. Warren had followed her into the boat, but he stayed on the ship and was lost. When no more women were found, some men passengers were allowed to enter it.

During the process, Bruce Ismay was complaining about how slowly the boat was getting filled. "Hurry up, there is no time to waste! Fill the boat with women and children!", he said to Pitman, who had no idea who Ismay was.

## Lowering

During the lowering, Ismay freaked out again, this time to Lowe. He grabbed the falls, shouting "Lower away! Lower away!" Lowe did not know Ismay either and yelled back: "If you get the hell out of the way, we'll be able to do something! You want me to lower faster? You'll have me drown the lot of them!" Ismay was completely stunned. This was exactly the same harsh voice his father always used. Without saying a word, Ismay walked forward. The seamen at the boat were shocked as well, like this incident between Ismay & Lowe was the worst that could happen that night.

When the boat was in the process of being lowered, some people were slightly anxious, as it seemed they were going to 'turn turtle.'

After having rowed away, they encountered lifeboat 7 in mid-ocean and four people changed boats. Third Officer Pitman said that he wanted to row back to look for survivors in the water, but apparently passengers persuaded him not to do this.

**Based on a lifeboat summary by Peter Engberg**

## Occupants

Mrs. Warren thought there were 35 or 36 people in the boat, Officer Pitman estimated over 50, Karl Behr thought there were about 40, Mrs. Cassebeere thought 37 and Dr. Frauenthal stated 34, half of whom were men.

* Herbert John Pitman (in charge) *Third Officer*
* Alfred John Oliver *Quartermaster*
* Henry Samuel Etches *1st Class Bedroom Steward*
* Elgar John Guy *Assistent Boots*
* Alfred Shiers *Fireman*
* Karl Howell Behr *First Class Passenger, Tennis Player*
* Richard Leonard Beckwith *First Class Passenger*
* Sallie Maybell Beckwith *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Edward P. Calderhead *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs Genevieve F. Cassebeer\* *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Norman Campbell Chambers *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Bertha G. Chambers *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Catherine E.H. Crosby *First Class Passenger*
* Harriette Rebecca Crosby *First Class Passenger*
* Washington Dodge Jr\* (7?) *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Ruth Dodge\* (7?) *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. John I. Flynn *First Class Passenger*
* Dr. Henry W. Frauenthal *First Class Passenger*
* Isaac Gerald Frauenthal *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Clara H. Frauenthal *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Max. Frölicher-Stehli *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. M. Frölicher-Stehli *First Class Passenger*
* Miss M. Frölicher-Stehli *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Samuel L. Goldenberg *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Edwiga Goldenberg *First Class Passenger*
* George Achilles Harder *First Class Passenger*
* Dorothy Harder *First Class Passenger*
* Edwin Nelson Kimball *First Class Passenger*
* Susan Gertrude Kimball *First Class Passenger*
* Helen Newsom *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Helen Ragnhild Ostby *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Spencer V. Silverthorne *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Annie May Stengel *First Class Passenger*
* Mr. Elmer Z. Taylor *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Julie C. Taylor *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Anna Warren *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Emily (Borek) Richards\* *Second Class Passenger*
* Master George S. Richards\* *Second Class Passenge*r
* Master William R. Richards\* *Second Class Passenger*