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Lights Wrote:

I have always thought in my heart of hearts that Murdoch took his own life that night and that it happened largely as Pellegrino described it, but then I think MA knows why I feel that way.

 

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1st Officer William McMaster Murdoch
Of the officers lost in the Titanic disaster, I think 1st Officer Murdoch is the most likely to have committed suicide.
* he was in possession of a firearm
* it was because of his orders that Titanic was mortally wounded.

Murdoch may have felt responsible for the people who were about to die. Upon spotting the iceberg, he attempted to avoid it entirely. However, by running the engines full astern he compromised the rudder's ability to turn the ship. Without the wash from the central propeller, the rudder was, for all intents and purposes, useless. Therefore, instead of missing the iceberg (or hitting it head on which may not have sunk the ship) Titanic struck a glancing blow that sounded her death knell. Mr. Murdoch's mistake was forgetting his training and succumbing to instinct. Why would an otherwise exemplary seaman make such a gross mistake? Speaking as someone who has been in a similar situation - it's very easy. When crisis strikes, a human's brain can go blank. Unfortunately, that is the moment when lives hang in the balance.
Some modern theorists suspect that due to imperfections in her steel, even if Titanic had struck the iceberg head on, she would have foundered. The theory, when subjected to close scrutiny does not hold water, but such an idea may provide some solace to Murdoch's soul. If it was in fact Mr. Murdoch who took his own life, I do not believe it should be seen as an act of cowardice, but of penance. I think he blamed himself for Titanic's fate and felt he did not deserve to die a seaman's death - going down with the ship. I think he did it to punish himself for, in his perception, condemning 1000 people to death. ~ Sarah B. Houtby

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If it was infact Mr. Murdoch who took his ownlife, I do not believe it should be seen as an act of cowardice, but of penance. I think he blamed himself for Titanic's fate and felt he did not deserve to die a seaman's death - going down with the ship. I think he did it to punish himself for in his perception, condemning 1000 people to death.

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