Titanic was a rare ship in those days, which had 15 compartment walls with a double bottom and automatic watertight doors that could be closed from the bridge by an electric switch. Walter belford lived alone in a small flat in new york. The lookout officer, fred fleet, could have spotted the iceberg that ultimately caused the sinking much sooner, had he been oriented on where to locate binoculars commonly used by the lookouts. When his wife died shortly after christmas 1964, he became depressed and committed suicide by hanging two weeks later in january 1965. Fleet, who was 76 years old, was found hanging from a post in the garden of his southampton home. Frederick served on titanics sister ship olympic from 1920 to 1935 and signed on as ships lookout and able seaman. The official transcripts of the investigation include onduty lookout frederick fleets admission that. Fleet spotted the iceberg near the end of his watch, just after 11. Fleet is known by everyone and remembered for spotting the dreaded iceberg and warning the bridge with his words iceberg right ahead.
On the night titanic struck the iceberg, at about 9. However, 1,500 passengers and crew lost their lives in the maritime disaster. Edward john smith, was based in the liverpool area for 40 years. Apr, 2012 the song tells the story of frederick fleet, who was on lookout the night rms titanic sank on 14th april 1912. He joined the crew of the titanic as a lookout in april 1912 at southampton. Born in liverpool on 15 october 1887 to parents who abandoned him as a child, fleet grew up with numerous foster parents before first going to sea aged 16 in 1903. It was as a lookout that he joined titanic in april 1912. Visibility should have allowed him to spot the iceberg at yards or greater, but fred fleet never located the binoculars. He joined titanic in belfast, ready for the ship to sail to southampton for her maiden voyage, and remained with the ship for that voyage. The changeinpersonnel likely saved blair, but it cost others their lives. Along with fellow lookout reginald lee, on duty, aboard the titanic when the ship struck the iceberg, contrary to popular belief, fleet was most likely not the man who spotted the iceberg. Visibility should have allowed him to spot the iceberg at yards or greater, but. Frederick fleet and the other passengers on lifeboat 6 were rescued by rms carpathia on 15th april 1912 at 6. The song was written especially for the 100th anniversary of the ships sinking.
Another in the series of our blogs, written by one of our volunteers, rod cooper, that takes a look at the childrens society archives childrens case files in particular the case file of frederick fleet, who was most famously known as one of the lookouts on ss titanic on the evening of 1415 april 1912. Frederick fleet titanic pages titanic history website. Jun 15, 2016 another in the series of our blogs, written by one of our volunteers, rod cooper, that takes a look at the childrens society archives childrens case files in particular the case file of frederick fleet, who was most famously known as one of the lookouts on ss titanic on the evening of 1415 april 1912. The definitive chronology of the titanic s final hours, offering readers a realtime experience of one of the greatest dramas of the twentieth century. British wreck commissioners inquiry titanic inquiry. Fred fleet, the lookout who spotted the iceberg, was from liverpool, and he always maintained that if the binoculars had not been missing from the crows nest the outcome would have been very different.
He is joined by lookout frederick fleet and wireless telegraph operator harold bride and they gaze in awe at the ship of dreams there she is as the crew arrives. Merely one day after the titanic survivors arrived in new york city, a u. At fourteen he became a lookout and at the age of twenty four he was a chief lookout on the r. Alice fleet was born in liverpool, the daughter of dock labourer richard fleet and his wife ann, nee walkington and came from a large family.
Captain smith of titanic was based on merseyside for 40 years. Fred fleet is another important person in titanic history and his discharge book is another of the ths collections valued pieces. Behind and below them the ship, a white shadow with here and there a last winking light. Senate committee began investigation into the wreck of the great unsinkable ship. At 10pm frederick fleet and reginald lee took over from archie jewell and george symons.
November 20 discover the titanic of the great lakes, the lady elgin. High up in the crows nest of the forward mast that supported the wireless antenna, lookouts fredrick fleet and reginald lee strained their eyes in the darkness for any unwanted ice that may be in the path of the great liner. What is the entire quote from titanic, when the lookout calls. Lessons learned from the titanic article pdf available in proceedings baylor university. And sailed with the titanic from southampton, or from belfast. At 10 pm on the night of sunday, 14 april 1912, he took his position in the crows nest with fellow lookout, reginald lee. Wives beseeched husbands to join them in lifeboats. In evidence to the inquiry he told a hushed courtroom that he was the lookout who spotted the. Fleet returned to the sea and served briefly on the olympic and other ships before retiring in 1936 at. Frederick fleet, reginald lee, alfred evans, george hogg, george symons, and archie jewell stationed high up the ships mast in the crows nest, around 15 meters above the forecastle deck, it was the lookouts job to constantly watch the sea to lookout for hazards to the navigation of the ship.
When asked by a us senator how much sooner it might have been spotted, mr fleet replied. Frederick fleet at age 16, frederick fleet he began his career at sea. The calamity of disaster recognizing the possibilities. Fred fleet, titanics lookout who spotted the iceberg, was originally from liverpool. Stories 30 james street home of the titanic hotel in. What is the entire quote from titanic, when the lookout. However, titanic lookout frederick fleet, who was in the crows nest when the iceberg was sighted and remained there for another forty minutes, testified at the us inquiry that he did not see the lights of another ship while in the crows nest.
Two lookouts, frederick fleet and reginald lee, were stationed in the crows nest of the titanic. The ships passengers arrive, the titanic sets sail and the assembled company wishes her a safe crossing godspeed titanic. Start studying a night to remember walter lord characters. Fleet is known by everyone and remembered for spotting the dreaded iceberg and warning the. Titanic lookouts and crows nest titanic pages titanic. Rusticles or bust mission scenario a tale of the titanic by harry bohm and vickie jensen the north atlantic. In 1963, one of titanics kitchen personnel that kamuda had been corresponding with passed away. First published in 1955, a night to remember remains a completely riveting account of the titanics fatal collision and the behavior of the passengers and crew, both noble and ignominious. High up in the crows nest on the forward mast, fred fleet had passed a quiet watch. Mr frederick fleet lookout was born in liverpool, lancashire, england on 15 october 1887 and was the illegitimate child of alice fleet b. Fleet was scheduled for lookout duty on titanics 10 p. Frederick fleet lookout encyclopedia titanica message board.
And made this voyage from southampton, to the time of the collision the accident. Titanic lookout fred fleet titanic historical society. The liverpoolbased cunard liner carpathia rescued all 705 survivors of the titanic disaster. Lookout frederick fleet survived he was the first to spot the iceberg. Titanic facts 25 amazing facts about the titanic tragedy. Titanic lookout is dead by hanging after wifes death. Fleet phoned the bridge and shouted, iceberg right ahead. Meet frederick fleet, the young lookout stationed in the crows nest on that fateful night, april 15, 1912. The song tells the story of frederick fleet, who was on lookout the night rms titanic sank on 14th april 1912. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Alice fleet was born in liverpool, the daughter of dock labourer richard fleet. A night to remember walter lord characters flashcards. December 18 the christmas tree ship story in song by lee murdock. Unfortunately, many of todays regulatory standards have been placed due to the learning curve of experience associated with studying past disasters.
Edward kamuda ths founder titanic historical society. Having boarded the titanic in southampton the ship set sail and made two stops, one to cherbourg in france and the next to queenstown in ireland. Fred fleet was the lookout man on that fateful night in april 1912, when the titanic infamously struck the iceberg that would send it to the bottom of the atlantic. It was quite clear that floating icebergs lay ahead of the titanic. Some sacrificed their lives, while others fought like animals for their own survival. If something happens, like an object is not seen, then the blame for the accident may fall on the two men up high in the crows nest.
Lookout fred fleet sent his sketch of the iceberg and photos of some of his mates. Ss californian was a british leyland line steamship that is best known for its inaction during the sinking of the rms titanic on 15 april 1912, despite being the closest ship in the area. Lookoutfrederick fleet survived he was the first to spot the iceberg. He was an experienced seaman and was the first to spot the iceberg ahead at 500 yards, which is about a quarter of a mile. Lookout fred fleet, who survived the disaster in which 1,522 people lost their lives, later told an official inquiry that if they had binoculars they would have seen the iceberg sooner. Frederick fleet 15 october 1887 10 january 1965 was a british sailor, crewman and survivor of the sinking of the rms titanic after it struck an iceberg on 14 april 1912. He looked over at his crewmate reginald lee and smiled. Edward kamuda searched for other people who were interested in titanic by placing ads in newspapers and maritime magazines. Free membership gives you lots more titanic info, or take a low subscription for. He received repeated instructions from his commanding officers that he and his fellow lookout reginald lee must keep very alert because the ship was in the vicinity of icebergs. Fleet was in the last half hour of his watch from the crows nest when he saw a massive iceberg no more than 500 yards away. Frederick served on titanic s sister ship olympic from 1920 to 1935 and signed on as ships lookout and able seaman.
British wreck commissioners inquiry day 15 testimony of frederick fleet. A night to remember gives a gripping, detailed account of what happened the night the titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the atlantic ocean, killing more in fact, i picked up this book because nathaniel philbrick, himself a master writer, told the new york times that this was one of his favorite books of the genre. The job of a lookout is to sit up in the crows nest of a ship and look out for and danger that the ship may encounter during both the day and night. He survived the titanic disaster, working on several ships during his life. He was steering titanic at the time of the accident. Ultimately, he committed suicide in 1965 due to depression after his wife had died 2 weeks earlier. The definitive chronology of the titanics final hours, offering readers a realtime experience of one of the greatest dramas of the twentieth century. Sep 18, 2016 fred fleet was the lookout man on that fateful night in april 1912, when the titanic infamously struck the iceberg that would send it to the bottom of the atlantic. Along with fellow lookout reginald lee, on duty, aboard the titanic when the ship struck the iceberg, contrary to popular belief, fleet was most likely not the man who. He lived in waterloo, near liverpool, before moving to southampton in 1908. Titanic survivor stories lookout frederick fleet the job of a lookout is to sit up in the crows nest of a ship and look out for and danger that the ship may encounter during both the day and night. Tip united states senate inquiry day 4 titanic inquiry.
And you went on the trial trip of the titanic, did you not. Jun 18, 2016 meet frederick fleet, the young lookout stationed in the crows nest on that fateful night, april 15, 1912. Following the event, frederick fleet was called to attend the us and uk inquiries into the disaster. Frederick fleet 30 james street home of the titanic. As blair left titanic, he had the locker key in his pocket but forgot to give it to lightoller. Fall luncheon lectures spend your lunch break learning more about the world around you through a series of fascinating speakers. Fleet is the lookout for the read more pro members only join the stageagent community to read our character analysis for frederick fleet and unlock other amazing theatre resources. He was the man who alerted the officers on titanic s bridge of the iceberg. He only saw a light later after leaving the ship on a lifeboat. The united states senate inquiry and british wreck commissioners inquiry into the sinking both concluded that the californian could have saved many or all of the lives that were lost, had a prompt. The shipbuilder magazine in the summer of 1911 described titanic as the ship is practically unsinkable. Fleet was the one who shouted the famous phrase, iceberg, right ahead.
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