TITANIC AND ​THE ISMAY FAMILY

 

J Bruce Ismay, chairman and managing director of the White Star Line, was a passenger on Titanic. At the age of 39 he was also president of the International Mercantile Marine Company, a giant combine and owner-operator of several transatlantic businesses, at the head of which was White Star. The myths surrounding Ismay are many but almost all centre on allegations of his cowardice in escaping the sinking ship whilst fellow passengers, notably women and children, were left to fend for themselves. The claims made at the time and repeated today were that he 'saved his own skin' whilst others died.

 

'Ismay's fault was that he survived'...

 

In reality Ismay helped with loading and lowering several lifeboats and acquitted himself better than many of the crew. He only entered a lifeboat (collapsible 'C') when it was about to be engulfed by the sea, and no other women or children were in the vicinity. Some witnesses stated he was ordered into the lifeboat but, whatever happened, Lord Mersey said at the British enquiry into the loss of Titanic, 'Had he not jumped in he would simply have added one more life, namely his own, to the number of those lost'.

 

Ismay's fault was that he survived and as a consequence laid himself open to the high and somewhat dubious moral code of the US press. Almost universally condemned in America, when he finally arrived home he was cheered and applauded as he descended the gangway at Liverpool. The British press had treated the whole episode in a far less judgmental way.

 

In a second, more serious allegation, it was claimed he ordered Captain Edward J Smith, Titanic's commander, to 'make a record crossing' thus indirectly causing the collision with the iceberg. It is unlikely that an experienced shipmaster like Smith, on his last voyage before retirement and the highest paid commander in the mercantile marine would defer to Ismay on matters of navigation. No firm evidence has ever come to light to suggest that Ismay in any way interfered with the navigation of Titanic and, other than talking with the various heads of departments on the ship, conducted himself like many other passengers. Yet the opposite image of him exists today.

 

'All of the negative stereotypes can be tracked back to the American press'...

 

But where did all these stories come from? All of the negative stereotypes can be traced back to the American press and in particular to those newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst, one of the most powerful and influential men in America. Hearst and Ismay had met years before in New York when Ismay was an agent for the White Star Line. Herst had requested Bruce to become a partner in his newspaper company but the shy and private Ismay disliked press attention and the two men fell out as a consequence of his refusal to co-operate.

 

Hearst never forgot, and in April 1912 his syndicated press prosecuted a vicious campaign against Ismay, who was defenceless in the eye of the hurricane. It is alleged that stories were invented and witnesses, wishing to strengthen exorbitant insurance claims for lost baggage against the company declared he had in fact ordered Smith to make a record crossing.

 

Did J Bruce Ismay interfere with the navigation of the vessel?

 

After the sinking of the Titanic there were stories that Bruce Ismay had ordered Captain Smith to increase speed thus making it impossible for the Titanic to avoid the iceberg.

 

The truth was:

At Queenstown, Bell who was the chief engineer came to Bruce Ismay's cabin, B56 on 'B' Deck to discuss with him the coal which was to be consumed on the voyage. Ismay wished it to be conserved and the ship not forced at all. It was, however, arranged between them that a speed trial should take place on the following Monday morning, weather permitting. It was this conversation which was later twisted into a declaration that Bruce Ismay had interfered with the navigation of the vessel, a statement which was untrue, as Bruce never intruded on the captain while at sea.