The Titanic's Lost Crew Who Died To Keep The Lights On | Saving The Titanic | Absolute History

this channel is part of the history hit network the sinking of the orems titanic on the 15th of april 1912 has become one of the most profound moments in modern history news of the tragedy shocked the world signaling the end of an era where mankind had put its trust and belief in technology it was not just the death toll of over 1500 that added to the sorrow of the disaster the sinking of the titanic was a story of man challenging nature and losing she boasted to be unsinkable yet sank four days into her maiden voyage [Music] following the disaster there was an attempt to shift the focus from tragedy to one of heroism the name titanic came to embody not just a cruel act of god but the story of selfless bravery and duty to the last [Music] as the tale of titanic passed from generation to generation the stories of her class structure and the inevitable loss of life on a ship with too few lifeboats were well told what is not known is the story of the men below deck in her engine rooms the man who worked to keep titanic afloat and her systems running to the last minute saving many lives as she sank this group of men tried to hold back the power of the sea and save the titanic [Music] [Music] [Music] hell of a thing a hell of a thing really i mean just a hell of a thing have you counted it it's the same what all four days shot you're alive aren't you listen pal i know a guy who will park with forty dollars for anything you got what do you say [Music] hell of a thing [Music] ah and you must be leading fireman frederick barrett am i right no no please you care for tea or perhaps a glass of beer i'm sure no thanks sir very good straight to business then you have been singled out barrett is a potential source of valuable testimony in this case now do you know what that means you will be subpoenaed to give evidence at the inquiry and if you decide you're a lawyer sir we're trying to piece together a picture of what happened a picture we can all take pride in you see it's important that the public continue to feel secure traveling with white star now how do we help them to feel that by reassuring them that the crew people like you did their duty that night stayed at their posts followed orders yes at times like these grievous times times of anxiety people need well what do they need they need heroes barrett we need to present the board of inquiry and the public with heroes chief engineer bell did you see him at all that night i did did you see him did you see any engineers on i couldn't say i couldn't say more than i've already said well think about it it's important [Music] oh [Music] okay [Music] stop history it is a streaming platform that is just for history fans with fantastic documentaries covering fascinating figures and moments in history from all over the world whether you're looking to dive into life and crime in victorian london the lessons that can be learnt from the middle ages or the forgotten history that deserves to be heard history hit has a documentary for you just a click away we're committed to bringing history fans award-winning documentaries and podcasts that you can't find anywhere else sign up now for a 14-day free trial and absolute history fans get 50 off their first three months just be sure to use the code absolute history at checkout [Music] 2 30. oh hands to lifeboats yes sir all hands to the lifeboats [Music] very good man stand down drill over get back to your posts and stand by get slow ahead let's go ahead ease her up gently when she's under full away shut down the cylinder drain valves let's have a poke about shall we so these are reciprocating four-cylinder triple expansion engines we're still maneuvering at slower heads so we're only using the outer screws they have not yet engaged the lower pressure turbo come on oh what you want to know once at all you know it's a parson's direct coupled lower pressure reaction turbine the swiss loose valves are closed sealing the turbine off while it's not needed if you want to bring in the center screw you'll activate the changeover valves using a browns hydraulic engine so they are teaching you something double-ended scotch boilers 24 of them with six furnaces each five single-ended boilers back there hey you can take your coat off what about you father all this you need to go over that fire tree you're not getting the air through pretty good sir [Music] coal fed every working part of titanic her 29 boilers were the lungs of the ship consuming over 800 tons of coal a day [Music] they generated the vast amounts of steam needed to power the largest ship yet built [Music] for every five crew members that worked aboard titanic almost four of them hailed from southampton with a national coal strike underway in britain there were up to 17 000 unemployed men in the town eager to take up work nowhere would titanic's laws be felt more than in southampton's working-class community through the pick of southampton sir the very best all right man come on [Music] shepard over to the titanic ship well what'd you think of it can't y'all yet sir she's not the olympic not what i'm used to that's all i feel unfaithful wife a mistress i tell you she's perfect yes i can see that perfect this is all your ship once you're sanding lads up to your quarters d through g deck names and the doors titanic gentlemen first shift is in one hour one hour till first shift titanic's layout between decks was emphatic in its class structure and this was none more so evident than in the engineering quarters firemen greasers trimmers known as the black gang were given births at the front of the ship so as not to come into contact with titanic's passengers almost tell him but everybody calls me paddy through the night and you are foreign these quarters are for trimmers and stokers only according to this you're a leading fireman i'll get you a better belt if you want i'll be here suit yourself [Laughter] you don't have to take your hat off in here son you're not in charge you know [Music] so is it all right if i park myself here who plays dominoes [Music] kelly william kelly albert irvine kelly you say has anybody here seen kelly k e double l y has anybody here seen kelly [Music] find him if you can from her birth in 1909 titanic came to life in a country rife with political and religious tension in her shipyard harlot and wolf there were running battles between protestant and catholic workers [Music] nationalists had found a voice in the homeroom movement in turn creating a fervent resistance from unionists the divisive nature of the conflict would continue on board titanic [Music] on three i say keep that up here run a jungle over those bars hey four inches over the grid like this right yeah good man even titanic's boiler rooms had a class structure at the bottom was the trimmer bringing coal to and from the bunker to the furnaces and clearing out the ash above him feeding the furnaces with coal was the fireman and overseeing all this and controlling the pressure required from the boilers was the leading fireman need another pitch of coal down here come on get a move on [Music] bless us o lord and these i gifts we are about to receive from thy bounty through the mercy of christ our lord amen he's a grown lad perry make sure he gets double rations so tell me frank when did you start with harlander will last also mr ivy you said london mr andrews we weren't expecting you oh please would you join us thank you yes let me introduce my son mr andrews this is frank how do you do sir oh i've heard all about young frank bell great things we're expecting great things at frank bell you proud of the old man oh very much sir and so you should be he's the best engineer going isn't that right chops oh yes well they have to say that don't they ah thank you perry heart attacking weevils one know what i mean it frank this is the best time to be starting in shop building it's a golden age to the titanic mr andrews could i ask something of you no by all means frank no it's all right joseph sorry i'm frank well it's just it says in here it's impossible to conceive of any vital disaster happening to this [ __ ] that she's practically unsinkable do you agree with that but do you well just say for the sake of argument that the all were breached i don't know but that's important here for example let mr anderson it's all right joseph andy very well now even with both of these compartments completely flooded the ship won't found her yeah but what if and any of these forward compartments well i know that but what i'm trying to say but what these bulkheads extending from the bottom to the upper deck here and to the saloon deck here are completely sealable she's taking water in here and here and here and what happens um the captain releases the friction clutches on the waterside doors he saw that in the drill i'd say he doesn't have time or forget what then well the doors are fitted with floats beneath the floor plates if the floors are lifted the doors close automatically and then what have you got a lifeboat [Laughter] the titanic is its own lifeboat the grandest and most luxurious lifeboat in the world [Music] titanic's iconic look was deceiving only three of her funnels actually worked the fourth was a dummy added by white star as the public associated four funnels with speed you're coming what's the matter heights now you stay here and keep watching are you sure freddie george bloody brother come on what do you say if we get caught your wife's keeping watch we're not doing anything wrong anyway i suppose this funnel is used for swank might as well put it to some use [Music] what can you see oh would you look at them all down there flags and a marching band they're like ants like an ant's nest all stirred up can you hear the band oh come on up don't they'll see you that's so what if they do i could be like john mccormick this could be my chance imagine it the world at my feet like christmas you really do captain's orders we sail at noon let's get some steam up sir so that's my boy our old giraffe to be to work in a white style liner now why would you be asking that i wonder 16. but i don't want you getting any notions i want you getting qualifications hey do you understand yes father would everyone not sailing on the titanic [Music] see about my joining the titanic on the next crossing hey you'll have enough when you play at ireland a move i know but i'm sure if you just ask i'll give it some thought sorry to interrupt sir frank there's something i need you to say take care of your mother for me see you in a moment [Music] [Music] could have been burning since belfast sir marsh yes with the call strike this is all we could get you'll have to dig it out it's too set in for smothering need a 12-man crew strict rotation each watch i'll draw a ballista what's wrong with these chaps ooh stop digging up that fire [Music] pass me your banjo [Applause] fires and coal bunkers were a common problem in the age of steam with a major coal strike underway titanic had taken on board cheap coal that caused it to combust deep within boiler room number six this fire within the bunker would play an important role in the coming disaster weakening part of titanic's hull [Music] ah nice and easy mr harvey let's see what you're made of old girl increase the pressure nice and easy barely breathing open the regulating valve let's steam into the high pressure cylinder gentler that's it check the drip feed oil boxes that the head tanks are topped up and the wicks are all primed is that clear we're full away now so keep your eyes peeled remember you want to know if a bearing's too hot spit on it spits back too hot [Music] did you ask him to do that what's he playing at some of these carving brushes are worn and the commutator needs some attention but we're not using the force set well just in case what's that sound main turbine right underneath us we're on their way boys you ever been to new york kelly first time at sea it's your first time at sea oh has anybody here seen kelly k double l why is anybody here [Music] oh so hey shall we add a little frequency to proceedings what is it a good stuff is it homemade is it homemade he's asking homemade strain through the seat and my wife smalls now don't tell me you can get more homemade than that fire in the whole day want to see the messes here is in the all together i did notice not party got a picture of your old lady yeah you're married man birth i was i'm sorry pass away did you thanks for the wet hey dear frank i hope that you got to belfast all right i got your wire from liverpool we've made a good run from southampton everything working a1 we nearly had a collision with the new york and oceanic when leaving southampton the wash of our propellers made the two ships range about when we were passing them this made the mooring ropes break and the new york set off across the river until the tugs got hold of her again no damage was done but it looked like trouble at the time keep well and be a good lad loving father j bell [Music] dear mother we've had everything working nicely so far i have four hours work and eight hours off we had a full dress rehearsal of an emergency the alarm bells rang for 10 seconds then 50 doors all steel slid down into their places so the water couldn't escape from one section into the next so you see it is true it would be impossible for the ship to be sunk the next call is new york your loving son barely [Music] this is the leading fireman's table trimmers is over there he's with me okay he's a trimmer it's rules it's a principle oh that's a principle is it [Music] [Applause] come on come on hit me hit me what nerds is going on here ask the question i will not tolerate fighting on this ship is that understood sorry i was there leave it party if you have enough energy to fight you have enough to work a double shift hey i was in the coal bunker [Music] huh [Music] why do you do that what that all that alter boy stuff clothes it's habit i suppose my father's a draper it's just how it was at home this is a protestant ship it's built in a protestant yard got just as much right to be here as you so you called for me sir hey still call fire still burning sorry i take a man as i find him barrett i did my job sorry i don't doubt it will that be all sir hi work another double shift tomorrow god my god three days before the disaster titanic had received its first iceberg warnings from ships further into the atlantic the titanic changed course hoping to steer clear of trouble [Music] [Music] it was magic just the two of us weren't married then hardly even knew each other knew we wanted to if you get me mean here i was spring ground by the river was all covered in wild garlic bluebells ragged robin in the lake was kissing and cuddling under the threes in the sunshine remember sunshine barrett she wouldn't let me get a hunter ain't not properly but still like adam and eve that's what i thought of the time adam and eve and this is the garden of bloody [Music] he didn't do anything listen i've lived with them i know they're like you don't think i put up a much worse than that every day looking off my back that's why i left sligo i mean they would kick us out if they had the chance home rule is romero look you're on the titanic and you're worried about working with a catholic he's nothing but a bloody papist i fold uh god [Music] [Music] waves mighty ocean deep his own appointed limits keep oh hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea oh christ his voice [Music] deep and [Music] for those in parallel the sea so 22 and a half knots nice shiver [Music] [Music] she's hungry tonight hey cheers oh well bart yes sir the problem with this ship is there are no problems could get a little boring don't you think better to be busy than boards maybe sir devil finds work for idol hans and all that something to the short sir what is it i'm sure shut the dumpers at 11 40 p.m when watchouts first spotted the iceberg orders were sent immediately to the engine room enter room receiving understood stop all engines stop all engines shut the doors come on shut the doors shut the dampers i said shut them down lads as the engines came to a stop titanic tried to steer clear of the approaching iceberg come on shut the dockers pass it now shut them down now drifting it took 30 seconds until impact what the hell freddy did you hear that [Music] release the ball have we dropped a propeller blade i don't know sir we'll cut off the turbines and redirect steam to the main condensers hey shep raise the bridge which is an old girl what's the matter one of titanic's key safety features was now put into action our watertight doors were shut down sealing off the ship's 16 compartments [Music] drop the dampers on those what in boilers name is happening i'm not sure sir water came through for full stop bring her up all standing and that's it i'm trying to raise the bridge but i'm just getting standby and then use forward nothing said where's harvey slowest stern slowest stern 11 45 activate the reversing engines slow ahead what the hell are they playing on well seriously once the dynamo is running as if nothing's happened and what has happened what you think they tell a bunch of greasers someone said we've run aground off newfoundland banks and what would you know about anything i heard that too just get the power up on sets find out what's going on with the phones that's all he said so that's all you need to know [Music] [Music] telephone and lighting circuits shorter than boiler six five four that can't be right that's what i'm looking at funny how you get used to the noise don't notice it till it's gone like she's on dry dog you feel that she's down a bit at the head i'd say when the iceberg hit titanic's starboard side it ripped along nearly 300 feet of her hull allowing cold sea water to pour into her forward compartments firemen and engineers working in boiler room 6 were among the first to witness the flooding yet at this stage they would not have known the true extent of the damage many of the men retreated backwards to boiler room 5 as titanic's watertight doors came down sealing off the ship's compartments one by one titanic's engineers now needed to clear the remaining boilers of their coal cold sea water hitting a fully pressurized boiler could cause a thermal explosion your bloody box into it come on what is it you better say this shut down the cylinder drain valves when all the condensate is blown out what's your name son dylan sir but everybody calls me paddy i want you to open up this door for me dylan sure we're not supposed to you follow orders don't you ah give him an answer with each of titanic's compartments now sealed off by her watertight doors the senior engineers needed to get forward to find out what had happened and assess any damage four separate boiler rooms now separated the engine room from the incoming water towards the bow of the ship [Music] feel that what sir it's like a turkish bath down here she's taking water up ahead shut the door what's happening we need to keep it shut close it barry what's up i'll take you through the hatch sir seemingly cut off from the flooding the iceberg had in fact breached a fifth compartment a tear of just two feet within a cold bunker located in boiler room five was slowly taking water the ballast pumps how many are there fives of capacity i'll buy 250 tons an hour i'd say that's an estimate and they're reversible i mean we can use them to bear water rather than for trimming absolutely sir through the ash ejectors the bilge pumps uh three of those slightly less capacity i'd say uh 150 tons an hour or something like that very good engage the pumps in yes sir how many all of them need a team of carpenters down here right away to take soundings and tell them to bring charring equipment i need someone to go into six and report back chef you go with him sir jesus [ __ ] over [Music] [Music] [Music] the olympic my cabin would have been just down there on the left this isn't the olympic sir excuse me are we in new york yes no mom is anything to matter i felt something nothing's the matter it's just routine probably best to go back to your cabins mr andrews joseph check that it's on florida the burn oil what's the news there's a hole in the hull and she's making water well that's what they're saying anyway she'd be limping in new york at this rate until she doesn't turn back that doesn't look good i'm not a white star anyway andres is already to be there for [ __ ] who's andrews does that mean we get overtime you're joking look you signed up for a single trip and agreed to pay it all right karl marx don't change however long it takes her to get to new york how'd you like to sign the six bob for a month's work a month how much water what how much how much water is she taking you know your alphabet joseph should i be seed you know what man you're a b c and d i don't follow from the bell she can fill all of these compartments that's a b c and d but e compartment t boiler room five whatever you want to call it that's her dead sentence but the soundings have carpenters in all forward compartments i mean she's hold surely the amount of water the amount of water is immaterial she can take on more water just not in this way her neck is in the noose this chef well sank that gave her an hour an hour and a half at most i won't let that happen let me show you something [Music] feel that water coming in below is forcing the air up she's saying [Music] the forward sections of titanic were filling uncontrollably as each bulkhead was breached the weight created by the water forced titanic's bow further into the ocean do the lads call this sir this is the devil this is hell get the fire can y'all straws me i want you to go up top as per drill and await further orders is that understood you heard the man get above decks die come on not you barrett you stay down here with shepard and harvey and help man the pumps sir have you transferred steam pressure to the ash injectors believe mr harvey has sir keep those fires drawn you know what the pressure building up and blowing the joints can you keep them pulled i did my job sir as titanic slowly listed forward the fireman's bunk rooms towards the front of the ship were among the first areas to start flooding it was now clear that water was pouring over titanic's bulkheads didn't bargain in an early nice bath clean for those burning hairs [Music] maddie what's all this orders i need you to fetch me some lamps from the port side storeroom g deck for the workshops and i thought we were pals [Music] as titanic's first distress call was sent for the small group of electricians on board their role became vital they were now in charge of diverting power through miles of circuits that ran throughout the ship keeping essential systems working [Music] all right come lads looks like we're going to have to put in a little extra on this one no we're busy you just got busier bell you want the auxiliary sets working turn on the light bulb winches life faults i'm just a messenger the emergency steam supply pipe runs above the watertight bulkheads through to the auxiliary dynamos on d-deck they're on the outside of the turbine engine room casing how much power will they give us 30 kilowatts each at 100 volts there's a cross connection here we need to take steam from boiler rooms two three four and pass it up to the emergency dynamo there's a valve here here and another one that's just gonna leave us the lights can you isolate these circuits [Music] [Applause] [Music] the fires are being pulled in five the water hits the boilers that blow every remaining amount of pressure i need to power the ballast and bilge pumps so what are we supposed to use for the emergency circuit the lifeboat went isn't the lights down here divert the port side boiler from two what's your name son irvine sir how old are you about 18 sir from two there hi good lad [Music] kelly have you found those bloody switches [Music] who's that the hell do you think it is how would you bloody believe it as the first lifeboat was lowered it had a capacity for 65. there were 28 people on board right gentlemen we're going to make our way up top orderly fashion now henry allen walter binston edward mcgarvey i need some man below to help me pull the fires in five but bell said i need some man [Music] kelly get up what's the matter with you [Music] [Music] right last time to work come on somebody on starboard get off your nose but i want all these boilers drawn i get all that color get all those coals out right get the ball out it seems so big like a cathedral now we can feel it all pressing here on me i think about the ocean how deep it is underneath us of it do you think i'll ever get off [Music] you know the last person i saw leave this [ __ ] i was a kid about my age he looked at me and i knew what he was thinking he was thinking i wish i was in that uniform i wish that was me you're bloody good at your job kelly i've seen you bloody good difference would that make i don't know none probably but you're wearing the uniform aren't you the battle to save titanic was now taking place in boiler room number five titanic's pumps became a lifeline for survival normally used to keep the ship on an even keel they were now given a new role stopping the incoming water from overwhelming the ship oh ah give me your scars come on [Music] oh sir i need you to start the fourth generator there's not enough pressure in the system sir people are trying to get off this ship we will give them the best chance we can we have the auxiliaries running off the boilers in three we have the port side borders and two it's there's the starboard side and four hi if we keep her in steam we can cross-connect from the supply lines to the reciprocating engines do it [Music] a series of events had by now brought titanic towards her end oblivious to what had taken place above tax the engineering crew were now battling against rising sea water slowly taking over the ship by now the senior engineers would have realized the fate of the ship the situation turned from saving titanic to one of delaying her sinking man i need steam for the pumps the generator for this ship i'm offering you a choice you can take your chances up top with everybody else stay down here with me we'll try and keep her afloat as long as we bloody can that's not my order it's your decision so and i thought we were pals so long paddy right lads need to keep boilers two three and four in steam all right i feel like bloody king canoe blowing it another thing that always struck me about that story what's it people think it's about how arrogant and foolish he was trying to hold back the tide i don't see that way i think all canoe was trying to say what's a king compared to the sea nothing i mean the ship has a gymnasium a library swimming pool for god's sake what is she compared to the sea nothing the remaining boiler rooms not yet taking water were now used to create steam through firing the furnaces the dynamos could provide essential power so that people and crew could make their way towards the other decks don't you do it good thing you cleaned those brushes where's middleton does he know how to work it white see that lever push around clockwise slowly come on come on come on come on [Music] there she blows [Music] so it's working it's only bloody working the stress upon titanic's hull as she was being pulled further into the water was immense the weight of the sea pouring into her forward compartments and finally brought her to breaking point move it boiler room 6 had by now completely filled with water and its bulkhead collapsed [Music] ah [Music] good evening old man don't mind if i do chairs barrett go up top with the others i'm gonna pump out boiler room number four all right when i opened the door i thought she'd be alone but she wasn't he didn't see me at first but she did when he sees her looking at me and he knows him there behind him and i wanted to kill him both and i could have done she's hiding under the sheets and he's up against the wall and i'm thinking i could drive me fast into his throat i could kill them he knows it oh he's expecting it he closes his eyes it's all right loved her i mean i worshiped that woman so i left them there and i was going to sign up for this so they're safe because i can't get at them all right i'm going to go i'm going to pump my butter in number four barrett i need you to do something for me [Music] so [Music] what's your name it's white so i want you to go up top and report back what's happening want to know what you see what you hear everything is that clear yes sir why everything twinkle twinkle little star [Music] and i wonder what you are like a diamond in the sky then if i were in the dark i would thank you for your spark [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] go friendly [Music] this is chief engineer bell are you receiving me is this bell in the engine room i repeat are you receiving me better bleach eyewitnesses all testified to seeing titanic's light still burning just minutes before he disappeared into the ocean heroes mr barron men who died fighting to the last so that others might have a chance of life now can you give us the heroes we need i can't tell if this is false modesty or pig-headedness you're a hero aren't you byron why for standing by your post and following orders that makes me a hero it you're a hero in my book barrett because it suits you because it suits white star you're a hero for what you did mr barrett what did i do i survived and then you cut my pay the moment she goes down your dead heroes come cheap i'm alive foreign i'm a stalin star but everybody calls me potter it will never be clear if engineers managed to make it above dexa's titanic sank for many it would have been impossible as they were isolated deep in the hull of a dying ship without doubt the men of the engineering section had worked to keep titanic from sinking for up to an hour and a half longer than was expected saving hundreds of lives [Music] you frank boyle yes i'm bill i made a promise to your father he wanted you to have this [Music] my dear frank i feel sure by the time you read this they'll be saying all sorts of things about what has happened here they'll find their villains and their heroes tell their stories to make sense of the senseless they'll tell you i hope that you can be proud of your father but all i can think of now is how proud i am of you remembering you knowing you know knowing for certain what you will become [Music] i have the strength to do what i have to do look after your mother for me keep well and be a good lad your loving father j bell [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Absolute History

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Keywords: history documentaries, absolute history, world history, ridiculous history, quirky history, history documentaries history channel, titanic documentary, titanic sinking, saving the titanic, saving the titanic trailer, saving the titanic pbs, saving the titanic full movie, titanic crew members, titanic crew scene, titanic crew tribute, titanic chief engineer, titanic engineer, white star

Id: UoyWSRBvS5I

Length: 90min 36sec (5436 seconds)

Published: Sun Jun 12 2022