The Collision

• Lookouts spotted an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. but without binoculars (locked away due to a mix-up). First Officer William Murdoch ordered a "hard-a-starboard" turn and engines in reverse, which partially averted a head-on collision but caused the iceberg to scrape along the ship’s starboard side.
• Damage: Contrary to early beliefs, the iceberg didn’t rip a long gash in the hull. Instead, it created a series of small punctures over a 300-foot area, breaching six watertight compartments.

The Evacuation and Lifeboats

Thomas Andrews, Titanic's chief designer, inspected the damage and concluded the ship would sink within a few hours. Captain Smith ordered the lifeboats to be uncovered and prepared for evacuation.

Lifeboats: Titanic had 20 lifeboats, enough for 1,178 people—far fewer than the 2,224 passengers and crew on board. This was actually more lifeboats than required by maritime law at the time, which based lifeboat numbers on the ship's tonnage rather than passenger capacity.

Confusion and Delay:

The first lifeboat was launched underfilled at 12:45 a.m., with only 28 people despite a capacity of 65. Many passengers were reluctant to board lifeboats, not believing the ship was in danger. Officers were unsure about how much weight the lifeboats could safely carry, leading to more boats leaving half-empty.

In first class, the "women and children first" rule was followed strictly. However, many in third class faced difficulties reaching the boat deck due to locked gates and confusing passageways.

The Band Plays On