The American inquiry into the Titanic disaster opened four day's after the sinking and lasted from
April 19 to May 25, 1912. Six U.S. Senators examined 82 witnesses in New York and Washington, DC including
29 US Citizens and 53 British Subjects. The lead role in the investigation was played by Senator William
Alden Smith who performed most of the questioning.
Unusual measures were taken to ensure that
witnesses remained in the US. Ever since the Carpathia docked in New York, surviving Crew members of
the Titanic had remained aboard the liner Lapland expecting to leave for England aboard the ship on the
morning of April 20, 1912. Shortly before the ship's departure that day, 29 of the Crew members were
served with Federal Subpoenas requiring them to remain in the US. By an oversight five Crew members had
not received Subpoenas and sailed out of New York aboard the ship.
A Federal Marshal aboard the
Tugboat Barrett was sent to intercept the Lapland at Sandy Hook and retrieved the 5 designated Crew members.
The remaining Crew returned to England aboard the Lapland, arriving on April 29, 1912. J. Bruce Ismay
was also forced to remain in the US during the inquiry. On May 2, 1912 he and the detained Crew members
finally left for England aboard the Adriatic reaching Liverpool on May 11, 1912.
Spectators and
Newspaper Reporters crowded the American hearings, and the British Press harshly criticized them. In
the Senators' 19-page report, their recommendations included enough lifeboat space for every person on
all Domestic and Foreign ships carrying passengers from US Ports; lifeboat drills for Passengers and
Crew; adequate manning of boats; and 24 hour operation of Radiotelegraph equipment. The report also condemned
Captain Lord of the Californian, a ship that had been near the Titanic's position for not responding
to the Titanic's distress signals.
Meanwhile, a British inquiry into the disaster was also proceeding.
Headed by Lord Mersey the Wreck Commissioner, the British hearings lasted from May 2 to June 29, 1912.
In their findings issued on July 30, 1912, the Commissioners concluded that the Titanic disaster was
due to the ship's excessive speed, that a proper watch was not kept, that the lifeboats were insufficiently
manned, that there had been no discrimination against third-class passengers in the saving of life, and
that the Californian might have reached the Titanic if she had attempted to do so. The British Commission
also recommended enough lifeboat space for every person aboard, more watertight compartments in ships,
and better regulation of Lookouts. Lord Mersey was especially critical of the British Board of Trade
for failing to update it's lifeboat regulations for ships, which had remained unchanged since 1894, despite
the enormous increase in size and carrying capacity of Liners.
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