World History Database / historysearch.co.uk

Permanent Titanic subject page

SS Californian and Titanic

Californian, Stanley Lord, rockets, signalling, wireless traffic and evidence concerning the nearby ship.

69Matching records
1912Year span

Archive records

These records are rendered directly from the current World History Database Titanic archive. The unrelated 2003 Edmund Hillary row remains excluded from the Titanic collection.

Charles Victor Groves

Nearby Ship Observation

Observes a nearby passenger vessel while Californian is stopped for ice and tries to signal it by Morse lamp.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Cyril Evans

Californian Ice Warning

Sends Titanic a wireless message warning that Californian is stopped among ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Californian Stops for Ice

Stops Californian for the night after encountering a field of ice in the North Atlantic.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Californian Boston Passage

Commands Californian on her westbound voyage from London to Boston when the Titanic disaster occurs.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Large Icebergs Logged

Records large icebergs encountered during Californian's passage on the evening before Titanic sinks.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Additional Iceberg Sighted

Records another large iceberg and further ice visible to the southward during the evening passage.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Californian Stops in Field Ice

Stops and reverses Californian after the ship reaches field ice extending across her intended course.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Californian Head Turned East Northeast

Turns Californian's head toward the east-northeast after stopping for the night among the ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Nearby Steamer Report Received

Receives reports that a steamer is approaching while Californian remains stopped among the ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Titanic Proximity Discussed with Evans

Asks wireless operator Cyril Evans what ships are nearby and is told that Titanic appears to be close.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Stopped in Ice Message Ordered

Orders Evans to advise Titanic that Californian is stopped and surrounded by ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Cyril Evans

Antillian Ice Report Transmitted

Transmits Californian's report to Antillian describing large icebergs seen near the ship's track.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Titanic Intercepts Ice Report

Learns that Titanic has intercepted Californian's wireless ice report sent to Antillian.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Ice Report Offered to Titanic

Offers Titanic the iceberg information after noticing that the liner is within wireless range.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Titanic Ice Report Acknowledgment

Receives confirmation that Titanic's operator has already copied Californian's earlier iceberg report.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Titanic Nearby Identification

Tells Captain Lord that Titanic appears to be near Californian based on the strength of the wireless signals.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Stopped and Surrounded by Ice Message

Transmits to Titanic that Californian is stopped and surrounded by ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Titanic Keep Out Reply

Receives Titanic's curt reply while her operator is working Cape Race traffic.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Cape Race Traffic Monitored

Continues hearing Titanic communicate with Cape Race before ending his wireless watch for the night.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Cyril Evans

Wireless Watch Ends Before Distress

Turns in for the night before Titanic begins transmitting her distress calls.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Californian First Watch

Keeps the first watch on Californian while the ship remains stopped among field ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Passenger Steamer Identified

Observes the lights of a nearby vessel and concludes that she is a passenger steamer.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Nearby Steamer Report to Captain

Reports the approaching steamer to Captain Lord while Californian remains stationary in the ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Morse Lamp Call Attempted

Attempts to call the nearby steamer with Californian's Morse lamp but receives no confirmed reply.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Nearby Steamer Lights Diminish

Observes the nearby steamer's deck lights diminish around the time the vessel appears to stop.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
James Gibson

Morse Lamp Signalling

Attempts to contact the nearby vessel from Californian by Morse lamp but receives no reply.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Rocket Report to Captain Lord

Reports to Captain Lord that eight white rockets have been observed and that the nearby ship has disappeared from view.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
Herbert Stone

Californian Midnight Watch

Takes the midnight watch aboard Californian while the ship is stopped among ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Titanic Rockets Observed

Observes a series of white rockets in the direction of the nearby vessel and reports them to Captain Lord.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Cyril Evans

Titanic Loss Learned by Wireless

Learns by wireless that Titanic has sunk after resuming duty aboard Californian in the morning.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Reports of White Rockets

Receives reports from the bridge that white rockets are being seen in the direction of a nearby vessel.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron

Californian Search Request

Arranges for Californian to search the area for a Titanic boat believed still to be unaccounted for.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticCarpathia Captain
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron

Missing Boat Search Arranged

Asks Californian to search the surrounding sea when a Titanic boat is believed to remain unaccounted for.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticCarpathia Captain
Harold Thomas Cottam

Californian Contact

Handles wireless communication involving Californian after the rescue operation is underway.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Carpathia
Captain Stanley Lord

White Rocket Report Received

Receives a bridge report that white rockets are being seen in the direction of the nearby steamer.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Morning Rocket Report Received

Is informed again before dawn that rockets had been observed during the middle watch.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Virginian Titanic Report Received

Learns by wireless from Virginian that Titanic has struck an iceberg and that passengers are in boats.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Californian Proceeds to Titanic Position

Gets Californian under way at full speed through the ice toward the reported position of Titanic.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticMaster of Californian
Cyril Evans

Morning Wireless Recall

Is awakened before dawn and returns to the wireless set after officers report that rockets were seen during the night.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticWireless Operator of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Middle Watch Handover to Stone

Points out the nearby steamer to Herbert Stone when handing over the bridge watch shortly after midnight.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticThird Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Californian Middle Watch

Takes charge of Californian's bridge for the middle watch while the ship remains stopped in ice.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Nearby Vessel Bearing Watch

Keeps the nearby steamer under observation after receiving instructions to report changes in her bearing or distance.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Five White Rockets Reported

Reports to Captain Lord that five white rockets have been seen in the direction of the nearby steamer.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Continued Morse Signalling Ordered

Directs continued Morse-lamp signalling toward the nearby steamer after reporting the rockets to Captain Lord.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Three Further White Rockets Seen

Observes three additional white rockets after Californian again attempts to signal the nearby vessel.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Nearby Vessel Appears Unusual

Remarks that the nearby vessel's appearance and lights look unusual while continuing to observe her.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Eight Rockets Message Sent to Captain

Sends James Gibson to tell Captain Lord that eight white rockets have been observed in all.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
Herbert Stone

Nearby Vessel Disappearance Report

Reports to Captain Lord that the vessel associated with the rockets has disappeared from view to the southwest.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticSecond Officer of Californian
James Gibson

Californian Midnight Watch

Begins the midnight-to-four watch with Second Officer Herbert Stone while Californian is stopped.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Nearby Steamer Lights Sighted

Sees a masthead light, a red sidelight and a glare of white lights from the nearby vessel.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Morse Reply Attempt

Attempts to answer what initially appears to be Morse signalling from the nearby vessel.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Rocket Watch Continues

Continues observing the nearby vessel with Stone while white rockets appear in its direction.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Captain Rocket Message Delivered

Goes to Captain Lord and reports that eight white rockets have been seen from the nearby vessel's direction.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Rocket Colour Confirmed to Captain

Confirms to Captain Lord that the rockets reported from the bridge appeared to be white.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
James Gibson

Vessel Observation Resumed

Returns to the bridge after reporting to Captain Lord and continues watching until the nearby vessel disappears.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticApprentice of Californian
George Frederick Stewart

Chief Officer Takes Morning Watch

Relieves Herbert Stone at four in the morning and receives an account of the rockets seen during the middle watch.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticChief Officer of Californian
George Frederick Stewart

Captain Called After Rocket Report

Calls Captain Lord before dawn and tells him that rockets had been observed during the previous watch.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticChief Officer of Californian
George Frederick Stewart

Morning Steamer Observation

Observes another steamer before dawn and discusses whether it is the same vessel associated with the earlier rockets.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticChief Officer of Californian
Ernest Gill

Passenger Steamer Seen from Deck

Observes the nearby vessel from Californian's deck and considers it large enough to be a passenger ship.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticAssistant Donkeyman of Californian
Ernest Gill

Two Rockets Seen from Californian

Reports seeing two rockets rise from the direction of the vessel he had been observing after midnight.

Great BritainNorth AtlanticAssistant Donkeyman of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

Senate Californian Testimony

Gives evidence about Californian's position, ice conditions and the ship's actions during Titanic's distress.

Great BritainWashingtonCalifornian Captain
Cyril Furmstone Evans

Senate Californian Wireless Testimony

Explains Californian's wireless traffic and communications with Titanic before the disaster.

Great BritainWashingtonCalifornian Wireless Operator
James Gibson

British Inquiry Californian Evidence

Gives evidence about the rockets and conversations on Californian's bridge during Titanic's sinking.

Great BritainLondonApprentice of Californian
Herbert Stone

British Inquiry Californian Evidence

Gives evidence about the rockets, Morse signalling and the nearby ship observed from Californian.

Great BritainLondonSecond Officer of Californian
Captain Stanley Lord

British Inquiry Californian Evidence

Gives evidence about Californian's position, the nearby vessel and the rockets observed during Titanic's sinking.

Great BritainLondonMaster of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

British Inquiry Californian Evidence

Gives evidence about the ship seen from Californian before the rockets are observed.

Great BritainLondonThird Officer of Californian
Cyril Evans

British Inquiry Wireless Evidence

Gives evidence about Californian's wireless communications and the ice warning sent to Titanic.

Great BritainLondonWireless Operator of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

Titanic Identity Opinion

States during the British inquiry that he later believed the passenger steamer he observed was Titanic.

Great BritainLondonThird Officer of Californian
Charles Victor Groves

British Inquiry Log Evidence

Gives evidence about Californian's log practices and the bridge observations made on the night Titanic sank.

Great BritainLondonThird Officer of Californian

Explore related Titanic material

Use the main Titanic timeline for the complete archive, search filters, historical overview, sources and other permanent subject pages.