By Clifford Ismay and Kevin Hamel
CD Rom: Building Titanic>Three New Ships/ Another View
CD Rom: CQD-SOS>Bruce Ismay Escapes
Bruce Ismay's part in Titanic's story remains controversial. Considered the villain of the piece by the American Press, Ismay's reputation never recovered from the disaster.
Three New Ships and Another View present accusations levelled against Ismay, including:
Bruce Ismay Escapes describes the circumstances in which Bruce Ismay took a seat in a lifeboat, drawing on testimony to the New York Senate Titanic inquiry.
Activities for the Classroom
Hot Seating and Conscience Alley
All three scenarios provide children with opportunities for drama, and as a starting point for setting up their own Titanic enquiry in the classroom drawing on 'hot seating' techniques.
A new play, The Man Who Left The Titanic tells the story of Bruce Ismay's escape in collapsible lifeboat C, and questions whether Ismay just did what anyone might have done in similar circumstances.
Titanic Enquiry
Newspaper Reports
Bruce Ismay - A Personal Opinion
Clifford Ismay is the Great Grand Nephew of Thomas Ismay, father of J.Bruce Ismay. The editor wishes to thank Mr Ismay for his enthusiasm for The Wreck of the Titanic project, and for the personal view of Bruce Ismay's actions and motives which follows. Mr Ismay's observations make a valuable contribution to the Bruce Ismay debate, and should be carefully considered.
See also: Clifford Ismay's response to Lady Patten at http://www.titanicheritagetrust.org.uk/ismay-statement.htm
On 18th April 1912 RMS Carpathia arrived at pier 54 in New York carrying survivors from RMS Titanic. Among these was J Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line. But Bruce's welcome was far from friendly. By the time he arrived in New York, the American press had already accused him of cowardice, calling him 'J Brute Ismay'. This happened without Bruce having the chance to speak one word in his defence. As the American press and its readership were against Bruce Ismay, an impartial inquiry into the Titanic disaster was going to be difficult.
Why did the American press launch such a vicious campaign against Bruce? Was it only because Bruce was saved from Titanic or were there other forces at work?
I think most negative comments can be tracked back to the American press; particularly to those newspapers owned by the powerful and influential William Randolph Hearst. Hearst and Ismay had met years before in New York when Ismay was an agent for the White Star Line and they became good friends. Hearst asked Ismay to become a partner in his newspaper business, but the shy and private Ismay declined. As a result, their friendship ended.
Hearst never forgot, and in April 1912 his newspapers pursued a vicious campaign against Ismay. Stories were invented, and witnesses, wishing to strengthen dubious insurance claims for lost baggage against the company declared Bruce had in fact ordered Smith to make the crossing in record time.
An inquiry into the disaster was quickly set up at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, chaired by Senator William Alden Smith, hearing testimony from surviving passengers and crew members. Some believed that Senator Smith was not the ideal person to lead such an inquiry. The British press thought Smith as an opportunist, forcing an enquiry to gain political prestige. Smith had a reputation as a campaigner for safety on the railroads of the U.S. and he wanted to investigate any possible malpractices by railroad tycoon J. P. Morgan, Titanic's ultimate owner.
Despite both the British and American inquiries clearing Bruce Ismay, the damage had already been done by the American press, and Bruce was condemned as a villain in the minds of a large proportion of the public.
My personal opinion of Bruce Ismay is that he was not the coward he was made out to be.
Bruce was said to have ordered Captain Smith to cross the North Atlantic in record time. I do not believe this is so for the following reasons:
It is now accepted that Bruce helped with the lowering of several lifeboats and had directed many passengers toward them. Bruce left Titanic in collapsible lifeboat 'C', the last lifeboat to leave Titanic. Bruce Ismay only boarded this lifeboat after he had done all he could to help everyone aboard. When Bruce boarded this lifeboat there was no woman or child near, and when that lifeboat left Titanic there were seats available for others if they chose to use them. If Bruce had not entered that lifeboat, no one else would have been saved.
I feel that Bruce Ismay knew that Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews, the ship's designer would not survive. He probably did not know how many, if any, of the ship's officer's would survive. Bruce will have been well aware that someone well acquainted with the ship and the moments leading to, and after the disaster would be called to answer questions and to ensure that such a disaster could not happen again. Given the absence of the captain, the ship's designer and some, if not all of the ship's officers, he alone would be the person best placed to do this.
I believe that J Bruce Ismay was not the coward he was made out to be, and to some extent the reverse was true. I also believe that Bruce acted to the best of his ability in helping with the lifeboats and passengers, and certainly did not save his own life at the expense of others.
© Copyright Clifford Ismay 2011
image of J Bruce Ismay from Wikipedia
CD Rom: Building Titanic>Three New Ships/ Another View
CD Rom: CQD-SOS>Bruce Ismay Escapes
Bruce Ismay's part in Titanic's story remains controversial. Considered the villain of the piece by the American Press, Ismay's reputation never recovered from the disaster.
Three New Ships and Another View present accusations levelled against Ismay, including:
- Ismay's alleged determination to make the crossing in record time to regain the Blue Riband
- The issue of responsibility for Titanic's bulkheads
- Entering a lifeboat at the expense of other passengers
- That he stated the Titanic was unsinkable
Bruce Ismay Escapes describes the circumstances in which Bruce Ismay took a seat in a lifeboat, drawing on testimony to the New York Senate Titanic inquiry.
Activities for the Classroom
Hot Seating and Conscience Alley
All three scenarios provide children with opportunities for drama, and as a starting point for setting up their own Titanic enquiry in the classroom drawing on 'hot seating' techniques.
- 'Hot seating' provides excellent opportunities for children to research contrasting views of Bruce Ismay, and to explore his behaviour and motivation. If children are not experienced in this technique, it might be helpful if the teacher guides the questioning.
- 'Conscience Alley', is a helpful technique for exploring the dilemmas faced by a character. Bruce Ismay is faced with the decision to go down with the ship, or to save his own life. The class forms two lines and Bruce Ismay walks between them, listening to opposing advice. On reaching the end of the alley, he makes his decision.
A new play, The Man Who Left The Titanic tells the story of Bruce Ismay's escape in collapsible lifeboat C, and questions whether Ismay just did what anyone might have done in similar circumstances.
Titanic Enquiry
- Children should find out about the British and United States Senate Titanic enquiries, and consider Bruce Ismay's testimony. An online transcript can be found at www.titanicinquiry.org.
- Ismay's testimony was given on days 16 and 17 of the British enquiry, and days 1 and 11 of the Senate inquiry.
Newspaper Reports
- Children could research British and American newspapers' treatment of Ismay following the Titanic disaster. Do American and British newspapers reflect similar accounts?
- Some accounts, like those that Ismay dressed as a woman to get a place in a lifeboat are far fetched. What clues are there that this is the case?
Bruce Ismay - A Personal Opinion
Clifford Ismay is the Great Grand Nephew of Thomas Ismay, father of J.Bruce Ismay. The editor wishes to thank Mr Ismay for his enthusiasm for The Wreck of the Titanic project, and for the personal view of Bruce Ismay's actions and motives which follows. Mr Ismay's observations make a valuable contribution to the Bruce Ismay debate, and should be carefully considered.
See also: Clifford Ismay's response to Lady Patten at http://www.titanicheritagetrust.org.uk/ismay-statement.htm
On 18th April 1912 RMS Carpathia arrived at pier 54 in New York carrying survivors from RMS Titanic. Among these was J Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line. But Bruce's welcome was far from friendly. By the time he arrived in New York, the American press had already accused him of cowardice, calling him 'J Brute Ismay'. This happened without Bruce having the chance to speak one word in his defence. As the American press and its readership were against Bruce Ismay, an impartial inquiry into the Titanic disaster was going to be difficult.Why did the American press launch such a vicious campaign against Bruce? Was it only because Bruce was saved from Titanic or were there other forces at work?
I think most negative comments can be tracked back to the American press; particularly to those newspapers owned by the powerful and influential William Randolph Hearst. Hearst and Ismay had met years before in New York when Ismay was an agent for the White Star Line and they became good friends. Hearst asked Ismay to become a partner in his newspaper business, but the shy and private Ismay declined. As a result, their friendship ended.
Hearst never forgot, and in April 1912 his newspapers pursued a vicious campaign against Ismay. Stories were invented, and witnesses, wishing to strengthen dubious insurance claims for lost baggage against the company declared Bruce had in fact ordered Smith to make the crossing in record time.
An inquiry into the disaster was quickly set up at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, chaired by Senator William Alden Smith, hearing testimony from surviving passengers and crew members. Some believed that Senator Smith was not the ideal person to lead such an inquiry. The British press thought Smith as an opportunist, forcing an enquiry to gain political prestige. Smith had a reputation as a campaigner for safety on the railroads of the U.S. and he wanted to investigate any possible malpractices by railroad tycoon J. P. Morgan, Titanic's ultimate owner.
Despite both the British and American inquiries clearing Bruce Ismay, the damage had already been done by the American press, and Bruce was condemned as a villain in the minds of a large proportion of the public.
My personal opinion of Bruce Ismay is that he was not the coward he was made out to be.
Bruce was said to have ordered Captain Smith to cross the North Atlantic in record time. I do not believe this is so for the following reasons:
- Bruce Ismay was not in a position to order the Captain to do anything aboard Titanic neither would it have been in the interest of the White Star Line to do so.
- The first class passengers were a huge source of income for the company and Titanic was the most luxurious ship around. Because these passengers had paid to enjoy the comfort and opulence of the largest ship in the world they would not have been pleased to have this journey cut short by half a day or so.
- Dives to the wreck of the Titanic revealed that the last two boilers were never lit.
It is now accepted that Bruce helped with the lowering of several lifeboats and had directed many passengers toward them. Bruce left Titanic in collapsible lifeboat 'C', the last lifeboat to leave Titanic. Bruce Ismay only boarded this lifeboat after he had done all he could to help everyone aboard. When Bruce boarded this lifeboat there was no woman or child near, and when that lifeboat left Titanic there were seats available for others if they chose to use them. If Bruce had not entered that lifeboat, no one else would have been saved.
I feel that Bruce Ismay knew that Captain Smith and Thomas Andrews, the ship's designer would not survive. He probably did not know how many, if any, of the ship's officer's would survive. Bruce will have been well aware that someone well acquainted with the ship and the moments leading to, and after the disaster would be called to answer questions and to ensure that such a disaster could not happen again. Given the absence of the captain, the ship's designer and some, if not all of the ship's officers, he alone would be the person best placed to do this.
I believe that J Bruce Ismay was not the coward he was made out to be, and to some extent the reverse was true. I also believe that Bruce acted to the best of his ability in helping with the lifeboats and passengers, and certainly did not save his own life at the expense of others.
© Copyright Clifford Ismay 2011
image of J Bruce Ismay from Wikipedia
Re you comments about JB Ismay - I could not agree more.
Far from being the Tyrannical, money grabbing, uncaring business tycoon portrayed by the media, JB Ismay's personal life proved him to be exactly the opposite.
I often give presentations on the Titanic in my capacity as Curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum, and I take great pains to point out JB's true character.
I often utilise the story of his donation of £500 to a Liverpool orphanage he discovered, while out and about. (Roughly equivalent to £38,000 in todays money). Is this the action of a man who cares nothing for anyone else?
I dont think so.
JB - along with the poor Stanley Lord of the Californian are probably two of the most innaccurately maligned unfortunate people who survived the sinking of Titanic.
Well done on redressing the balance - it's something I will continue to do also.
All the best,
Nigel Hampson
Curator
Titanic In Lancashire Museum
Church Street
Colne
Lancashire
BB8 0RY
01282 861833