The RMS Carpathia was sailing on its regular route between New York City and Croatia when wireless operator Harold Cottam received a distress signal from the RMS Titanic saying it had struck an iceberg at 11:40pm. He learned that for quite some time, Titanic had been tapping out wireless messages looking for any ship to come to their rescue. Harold Cottam ran to the Captain's cabin with the message.
Captain Arthur H. Rostron, commander of the RMS Carpathia, was assured by Cottam that it was authentic so he didn't bother to confirm the message. Some wireless operators had been known to play pranks on one another to pass the time on boring voyages. Captain Rostron immediately ordered his ship to turn to Titanic's reported position. He posted extra lookouts to spot icebergs.
After Captain Rostron received Titanic's distress call at 12:15am, it took nearly four hours to arrive at Titanic's position, traveling at its full speed while dodging dense ice.
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| The RMS Carpathia |
However, at 3:30am when the Carpathia arrived at the coordinates of Titanic's last report, the Titanic was not there. Captain Rostron ordered green starburst rockets to be launched to alert survivors. He ordered the engines to be shut off and for the crew to start searching for survivors in the water. A flare from one lifeboat shed light on more lifeboats spread out around them. By 8:30am, more than 700 people had been rescued from the icy water.
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| Bringing Titanic's lifeboats on board the Carpathia |
J. Bruce Ismay, White Star Line director, was among the survivors and wanted Captain Arthur Rostron to change the Carpathia's course from Halifax to New York City. The Carpathia arrived on April 18 to crowds of welcoming spectators.
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| Newspaper reporters and families stand in wait |
Aftermath
Medals were awarded to crew and passengers who helped on the Carpathia. Margaret T. Brown (the unsinkable Molly Brown) started a relief effort while still aboard the Carpathia. Later, she awarded medals to the crew and passengers who helped on the Carpathia. Bronze medals were given to the crew, silver medals were given to the officers and a huge silver cup was given to Captain Rostron.
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| Molly Brown presents a silver cup to Captain Rostron. |
In the United States, for his leadership and bravery, Captain Rostron was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by Congress. President Howard Taft invited him to the White House.
Captain Rostron also testified at the inquests and inquiries in both the United States and Britain.
In 1925, Captain Rostron was knighted by King George V. He continued on the Carpathia for about a year. For the last two decades of his career, he was Captain of the RMS Caronia, RMS Carmania, RMS Mauretania, and RMS Lusitania.
He died in 1940 at the age of 71.
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