Titanic Text Messages - A Streaming Log of Distress Transmissions 

Titanic: *literally sending messages about it sinking for hours* Frankfurt: what is the matter bruh

TITANIC: WE ARE SINKING FRANKFURT: VOT IS IT YOU ARE SINKING ABOUT?

His name was Jack Philips. He had just turned 25 years old. He didn’t leave his post until the radio room was flooding. Lots of comments about the bravery of this man but no mention of his name.

A lot of grief being thrown at the Frankfurt here. She was a small ship, under 7500 tons, and still relied on sails to make up a good portion of her limited 13 knots. She didn't have the best wireless receiver but did have a very powerful transmitter, which meant she could send messages well beyond the range she could receive them. When the first CQD from Titanic went out Frankfurt could barely hear it, she was so far away that it came out garbled and almost unreadable. The Frankfurt's wireless operator could only make out the ship posting it's position and assumed that Titanic was asking for Frankfurt's in turn, a common practice to keep ships from colliding, so he got up and went to the bridge to get their most recent reading. He missed Mount Temple's message, giving their position only 50 miles away. When he got back, he found the wireless chattering, nonstop. Wondering what the hell is going on, he posted his ship's position and asks, "What is the matter with you?" Seconds later, he was running back to the bridge to tell the captain that they need to move, a ship was sinking. He didn't receive Carpathia's message saying they are 58 miles off and making full steam. Even if he was at his post, Capathia is on the other side of Titanic, well outside Frankfurt's receiving range. All Frankfurt knows is that a ship is going down, that they are close by, and that they have a duty to respond. When he got back, transmissions were flooding in. Carpathia at 12:40 AM, only four hours away. He couldn't hear the message. Baltic at 1:15 AM, 243 miles away. Not close enough. Virginian at 1:20 AM, 170 miles away. Not close enough. All he knew was that Frankfurt was the closest ship at 120 miles and closing as fast as they can. Then, at 1:20 AM, water reached boiler room 4, forcing the stokers and engineers to abandon the room and retreat back to boiler room 3. The loss of these boilers cut steam to the dynamos powering the ship, dropping Titanic's transmitting range to below Frankfurt's receiving range. 1:23 AM was the last time Frankfurt heard from the Titanic, the liner's transmissions fading out to nothing. Olympic's exchange at 1:27 AM is the last time a ship within Frankfurt's receiving range confirms they got a response from Titanic. For the tiny German ship, this was a nightmare. Imagine hearing someone screaming for help in the distance, and as you rush to their aid, telling them to hold on, the screams just end. You were the one closest to the victim, and other people are calling out to them, but no one is telling you anything and you're only getting what you hope is half of a conversation. You don't know if someone has made it there in time, or if its already too late and you're calling out to the dead. All you can do is head east as fast as you can, begging for the victim to hold on, help is coming. For many onboard the Frankfurt, the Titanic was already gone, sunk just after Olympic's message exchange. All the little steamer can do was listen as ship after ship shouts out into the void, with no response back. Frankfurt didn't hear Titanic's message at 1:27 AM, saying that they are putting out lifeboats with women and children. Frankfurt didn't hear Titanic at 1:30 AM, saying that they are losing power and don't have much time left. Frankfurt didn't hear as the calls get more and more desperate, the engine room and boiler rooms filling with water. Frankfurt didn't hear Phillip's response to their question at 1:50 AM, only knowing that they may be the closest ship in the area. Frankfurt didn't hear the last transmission from the liner cut out at 2:17 AM as the radio room floods. Frankfurt arrived at the last position they received just after 11:00 AM. Her engines are worn out, her crew is exhausted, the galley staff is asleep at their posts surrounded by a mountain of fresh baked bread for the survivors, there are blankets and hot drinks waiting at the railings, and space has been made in every available part of the ship. All they can do is help Mount Temple and Californian collect the dead.

TITANIC: WE ARE SINKING!!! WE ARE SINKING!! REQUEST ASSISTANCE! PEOPLE ARE PANICKING AND DYING!! OLYMPIC: oh ok, How is the weather? TITANIC: quite calm actually.

2:17 a.m *CQD THIS IS TITANIC* 2:17 a.m *CQD THIS IS* wow thats a little sad and scary...

The last transmission from the Titanic came at 2:17AM. The Titanic split into two at 2:18AM and sank at 2:20AM. Jack Phillips was valiant to the very end. He is an exemplary hero.

Crazy how these people were able to converse like this in dots and dashes. Their skills were phenomenal.

FRANKFURT TO TITANIC: HAVE YOU TRIED TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF AGAIN?

1912 : a bunch of ships talking 2019 : a regular discord chat

The tone changing abruptly from light-hearted messages from passengers to 'CQD THIS IS TITANIC' is gut wrenching

Titanic's wireless set had failed that Sunday morning and was down for several hours. It needs to be said that the _only_ reason Phillips was able to send distress signals at all is because he and Bride disobeyed their written company orders. Marconi policy of the time explicitly stated that operators were not to attempt repairs on equipment under any circumstances; they were only to secure their gear and inform company offices in New York upon arrival. Defying their employer, Phillips and Bride spent those hours of down-time in the silent room troubleshooting their gear; they got the transmitter back online and even boosted it's performance a bit. They then stayed at their posts, squeezing every watt out of that transmitter they could, until their cabin began flooding. Were it not for their actions, _everyone_ aboard Titanic would have died that night; the ship would have sunk without a word, taking most of the victims with her, the others would have frozen to death in their lifeboats waiting for rescue and no one would have even suspected anything about it until she failed to arrive in New York as scheduled.

Poor guy spent his last hours repeatedly explaining to everyone what happened

RU-vid is truly amazing. To be able to sit down in your underwear and experience something like this is unreal

31:50 seeing Olympic telling everyone to shut up not to jam Titanic's comunaction is actually very depressing... It felt like Olympic was treating titanic like a human sister

the way it goes from lighthearted messages between ships to a relatively calm distress call to pure panic and repeated SOS SOS CQD is actually so scary. in a weird way the fact that so many ships were racing to get to them even though they knew they'd never get there in time is heartwarming.

1912: ALRIGHT OLD MAN 2019: ok boomer

(Titanic) 20 missed calls

God bless the guy from Cape Race. He's obviously monitoring the channels and listening to the message's going out. When he thinks one of Titanic's messages has not gotten through, he repeats it on his own to make sure everyone heard it.

For 1912 this type of communication is mind blowing.

Titanic:OMFG PLZ HELP! WE HIT AN ICEBERG! WE'RE SINKING! Frankfurt: Lol wtf? Brb

I can't even believe to understand the level of frustration at play here.

“CQD THIS IS-“ the unfinished sentence is so eerie

What's most heartening about this is that the entire nautical community stopped what they were doing and started trying to help.

"CQD THIS IS-" no ending to the message. gave me chills

So, talking to Frankfurt was like talking to an Indian call center. Just with so much more at stake.

What always grabbed me is that the radio set had broken during the voyage, and, against company orders that only technicians in port were allowed to service the set, Philips and Bride had stayed up all night and actually managed to fix it. If they'd followed company rules, there would've been no working wireless that night, and nobody would've known that anything had even gone wrong until days later when Titanic didn't show up in NY. Titanic would've just disappeared without a trace somewhere in the Atlantic, and every so often for the next couple years someone would have come across a lifeboat or two full of frozen corpses. Every single person who survived is because they broke the rules and got the set working.

Would be so cool to see an animation of this. Like using an ocean map like where they are exactly in the ocean while communicating with each other and racing against time to reach Titanic.

This must have been frustrating to keep sending the same stuff and having no one understand you when you are about to die.

Titanic: “COME AT ONCE. WE HAVE STRUCK A BERG. IT’S A CQD OLD MAN.” Carpathia: “ShAlL i TeLl mY CaPtaIn? Do YoU ReQUiRe AsSIsTaNcE?”

It was insanely loud on the sinking Titanic, so it was extremely difficult to hear the beeps as is. Also, imagine having to listen carefully and translate beeps into words during this crisis. Jack was doing this until the last possible second.

Starting at 30:31 I don't know why but Olympic's request to "STOP TALKING" due to jammed signals is morbidly amusing to me. It's like telling a room of panicked people to "just shut UP! everyone!" so they can hear Titanic. Reminds me of an elementary school classroom.

the next day: FRANKFURT TO TITANIC: BUT WHATS THE MATTER WITH YOU?

The saddest part is that clearly everyone is racing to the Titanic to help, yet they were all too far. It could have been the greatest rescue at sea of all time, but instead it was the greatest disaster.

I know this is really tragic and it should be taken seriously but I find it kinda funny that at one point all the transmissions get jammed and Olympic just says “STOP TALKING.” 😭😭

Olympic was such an underrated big sister. Telling everyone to be quiet so her crew could hear her sister's distress calls, and being 500 miles away yet still rushing in to help in any way she could. May the memory of those who died that terrible night and the memory of those who tried to help be eternal ❤️

TITANIC: COME AT ONCE. WE HAVE STRUCK A BERG. IT’S A CQD OLD MAN. CARPATHIA: DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE? *Boi*

It’s even sadder when the first message isn’t even a distress call, it’s a message about coming to New York :(

“Dining with you in spirit tonight” broke me man. They had no idea.

Feels like i just watched a chaotic WhatsApp group chat. Titanic pleading for help, Californian sleeping through the whole thing, Olympic telling all stations to stfu and poor Frankfurt getting yelled at even though it was the first to respond. This so heartwrenching.

The legend says that Frankfurt's radio operator's grandchildren, still send radio messages asking Titanic what is the matter.

Titanic: *WE HAVE STRUCK AN ICEBERG. SINKING. REQUEST IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. WOMEN AND CHILDREN ONBOARD. COME AT ONCE.* (message sent 20 times) Frankfurt: _What's the matter with u?_

Carpathia to Titanic: We are coming your way coming at full speed doing 15 knots. Hats off to Capt. Rostron and all the Carpathian crew on that fateful night.

Wireless Call Signs: MGY - Titanic MPA - Carpathia MCE - Cape Race MWL - Californian DYA - Ypiranga DFT - Frankfurt SPCJ - Mount Temple MKC - Olympic SBA - Birma MRA - Caronia MBC - Baltic MGN - Virginian MKL - Asian

The way Titanic and Carpathia called each other Old Man, the two operators must have been friends :'(

Frankfurt is the definition “a bit confused but got the spirit”

The way the formal communications were replaced to panicked and rushed ones were heartbreaking. 😭

0:51 - This part hurts hard my soul; Titanic:"weather delightful. Feeling fine. Hope all... "

Titanic: *sending messages about sinking for hours on end* Frankfurt: do ya’ll hear sumn?

2:46 Frankfurt, the first ship to respond the distress call, the last one to understand what's going on. Oh, the irony.

Kinda made me cry. Imagine being alone in the darkness of the ocean, realizing your ship is sinking and hoping that these little beeps in your ear will manifest in aid for the lives on your vessel.

“Fool. You fool! Stand by. Stand by. Stand by and keep out! Keep out!” That message to Frankfurt was unspoken by a human voice. However, the anger and desperate frustration behind it as Phillips’ ship was quickly dropping from underneath him, knowing the situation was deteriorating and that his short life was likely coming to an end along with many others, makes his emotions in that moment quite palpable even through coded messages and text.

Frankfurt to Titanic: we are 100 miles off. what is the matter with you? Titanic: *fool. you fooL-*

"CQD THIS IS....", can't imagine what a moment like that would be like

Imagine how fast time flies when you're as busy and panicked as Philips increasingly was. Suddenly there's water coming into the room and the ship breaks up minutes later. That's the scariest part of the Titanic for me. The people left aboard had legit minutes to react once all doubt was removed near the end.

Every time they say “Old man” I feel sad. It’s very endearing and almost hopeful, like “Hang in there old man were coming to the rescue, hang on!”. But they were too late ):

we're sinking frankfurt: u wot m8?

you can _see_ the operator slowly becoming more panicked over time. that’s scary

48:20 I can’t imagine just how frustrated he must of been hearing that message after spending hours frantically sending out messages

Titanic to Olympic: "Sis, come quick!" Cape Race to Californian: "Why the hell aren't you helping?"

Olympic to Titanic: Hey! what weather have you been having? Titanic to Olympic: OUR ENGINES ARE BEING FLOODED

Titanic: BRO WE GOING DOWN Frankfurt: 🆗🆒

Jack Philips had just turned 25… The amount of bravery all of these men had on the Titanic was insane. It makes you cringe so hard at “Captain” Schettino, who wrecked the Costa Concordia

I love how the distress call was sent out and everyone who heard it endeavoured to help. Sadly they couldn’t but they all wanted to.

The boilers had to release steam pressure building up or they would explode. It made a very loud shrieking noise and that's what the radio operator means when he says can not hear you because of steam noise.

the last 20 mins kinda got me sad the man spent his last moments typing. even though he was offered a life boat. this is a true man.

It's very emotional knowing that once all the other ships were fully aware of Titanic's state, they all raced to her as fast as they could. Some being able to go much faster than others, and especially Olympic deperately trying to get to her sister but far, far away. Everyone that could do something, did something, and risked hitting icebergs themselves doing it. It's easy to pick on Frankfurt, but they were also one of the earliest to respond and there was confusion and shock not to mention the language gap. It's just extremely unfortunate that nobody was closer at the time, and those that were, weren't manning their radios at midnight. What was going through Captain Smith's mind as his quarters filled with water. A lifetime of admirable service to the navy and WSL and he was to retire the next day and raise his daughter in the States. Unreal.

He may have lost his life that night but we are here all these years later remembering him and his last acts. Well done Jack you were clearly scared to die but stayed at your post even after the captain relieved you. Good show OM

Man the most heartbreaking part is when the Olympic told everyone to shut up and tried to talk to her sister ship for a final time. Unable to help being just too far away.

Legend has it "Frankfurt" is still out there, aimlessly searching and wondering "What's the matter?!"

The fact that they all worked so hard (all of them) makes me cry. Especially to the ships trying to stay in contact and telling Titanic to stay with them. Lots of people tried to help. They were just too far.

1. Jack Phillips and Harold Bride were relieved of their duties by Captain Edward Smith by 2 a.m. Titanic time, Knowing that the power to the Titanic was almost *COMPLETELY* out. They were told that they've done all they can and should start saving (or bracing) themselves. But Phillips stayed despite their spark was almost out, that's why he's testing out "V" (51:13) 2. While this man was frantically communicating sending out CQDs and SOSs, Another crew member sneaked in and tried to steal Phillips' life-vest, But he's struck and foiled by Bride. 3. Only by 2:17 a.m. Titanic time when the water flooded his post, Phillips and Bride get out of their post and split up, with Bride heading forward and Phillips heading for the aft. That was the last time Bride ever saw Phillips.

"We're abandoning ship! We're going to die!" "So, how's the weather?" "Pretty good."

The end is absolutely terrifying when you realize the last message ever sent by the Titanic wasn't even completed - they probably didn't have time to finish the message as water was coming inside the wireless room.

the ending is absolutely terrifying, the last distress signal sent by the titanic wasn’t even finished and it was sent at 2:17 AM, keep in mind that 2:17 AM was approximately the time when the titanic was starting to split apart

I know some things in Morse code and learned a lot about it but I've never guessed about the high level of Morse code skills and knowledge radio operators should have just to type simple phrases They're very fast, wow

Can you imagine the poor guy sending messages while he can hear people shouting and screaming, water coming in, the boat bending and snapping around him. Terrifying. He was a true hero to stay as long as he did.

This is sobering... But the Olympic telling the other ships to shut up was hilarious

Crazy to think that the messages at the beginning of the video were 12: 15 am, which is over 30 minutes after the ship hit the iceberg. The ship was sinking but the telegram operators were still working on passenger messages at first. Just shows how the drastic nature of the situation wasn't immediately obvious.

Everyone in it's range were ready to help. It's very distressful how it was basically inevitable fate for the ship, and everyone knew that all they would find would be scraps left to collect.

Titanic SOS for several hours Frankfurt: VOT EEZ EET Titanic: fOoL

*”Don’t you hear Olympic calling you?”* Why did that give me chills

Cheers to the person who not only typed up all of the transcriptions, but also created the Morse code. To imagine that these sounds could communicate all the action that happened in the Atlantic ocean that dreadful night.

I'd like to see a movie told from Carpathia's perspective. Hearing these transmittions and dropping everything to help

WEATHER DELIGHTFUL. FEELING FINE. HOPE ALL WAIT NVM SEND HELP

Went in thinking, this looks mildly interesting but there’s no way I’m going to sit through almost an hour of this, I’ll just watch first few minutes then skip to end. I watched the entire thing.

Love the contrast between the shrill beeps of the tiny shipborne transmitters and the powerful, booming voice of the shore station at Cape Race. You can bet all the operators at sea sat up straight when the Cape came on the net!

31:37 olympic really said "everyone shut up" but in 1912 ship language

Imagine calling 911 and having the Frankfurt's wireless operator on the other end -"I've been shot, please send help" -"What's the matter with you?" -"I just told you, i've been shot, please send me an ambulance" -"oh ok, will do" -"Thanks, good god" ... -"What's the matter with you?"

you have to understand the Frankfurt was under the impression the Titanic was a lighthouse

Is it just me who feels the horror emanating from these musicless, wordless sounds, they contain the message of death.

All they have is dot dash, yet every capable operator trying their best to help their friend in distress. This thing gets me so emotional, much more than the movie itself

For those wondering, Titanic sent out those V's to test the signal after starting to use emergency power.

This is actually incredibly haunting. Scarier than any dramatisation I've seen.

This is one of the most heartbreaking, haunting, yet fascinating things I've ever seen. The timestamps of the lifeboats being launched is chilling to me.

I know you made this a long time ago, but if you ever felt like making a part 2 I’d be interested to hear the communications in the hours after she sank too.

damn I need a friend like the SS Baltic 200+ miles away and still coming to help full speed

Those first messages "dining with you in spirit!" Oh how terribly right he was

Right when all the signals jam, it’s as if everyone finally realizes Titanic is absolutely screwed. It’s sad

Once I started watching it was impossible to look away. Gripping and heartbreaking. All one can think is: "If only"