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de Grancy
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Officer Murdoch's Death
I know that this can be a touchy subject, and I would like to begin by apologizing to Murdoch's Aid for any pain this topic might cause.
I've read the reports of Officer Murdoch's death both pro and con the suicide scenario. What is the general consensus on the board regarding what happened that night?
I know what I feel but I have spoken to someone who claims to be in a position to "know" and they say different.
I certainly understand Dalbeattie's view on the thing, especially regarding the implications made by Cameron's film. Those people would have skinned Cameron for that. Scots don't take slights to their own people well, God bless them.
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Nov/26/2005, 9:34 pm
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Mr Titanic
Spirit of the Night
Location: Gotham City
Posts: 1355
Rivets: 13 (+13/-0)
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
This is indeed an emotional subject. Although the portrayal of Murdoch in the Cameron film may not have been accurate, I do like to think the negative stood out, and that to some degree it was incorrect to portray Murdoch as someone who took bribes. That honestly was fictatious and an unessesary aspect of the film that caused offence. However the shooting and final suicide afterwards (as witnessed by George Reims) is still debateable and very much acceptable providing evidence is present. So I like to leave it as a matter of belief.
While the Titanic sailed, it was common beleif among seamen that she was unsinkable, the testimonies at the inquiry and such do reveal that, and the technology for the time was excellent. Along the lines of that thought, Titanic was permitted to sail with 20 Lifeboats, an insufficient amount. This was due to expired Board of Trade Rules and Regulations, as well as the White Star refusing to place the nessesary 48 Lifeboats required to save all aboard in case of an emergency.
Murdoch on April 14th at 11:40 PM was at the Bridge and was aware of the iceberg, (he gave the commands to Hichens to steer away from it), the damage and the sinking from the begining. Murdoch after Captain Smiths command begins to load lifeboats, and allows (a few) men aboard lifeboats, unlike Lightoller who allows none at all. Lightoller mistook the Captain's command as Women and Children only when it was "First", he also still thought Titanic was unsinkable, while actually sinking. Murdoch, again, knows of the sinking vessel, and the limited time, and tries to save as many souls aboard as possible. Murdoch did whatever it took to see to it that the boats were filled to capacity, regardless of who was in them, gender at that point meant little when trying to save lives and lacking enough boat space and time to do it. Murdoch launcehd boats quickly .. though Lightoller had spent so much time trying to fill the boats with women and children that he wasted precious time.. So Murdoch crossed over to Port to try and help Lightoller with launching his 4 aft boats. By 1:30 AM Murdoch Launched boats 14 and 16 to full capacity (Ms. Futelle credits Murdoch as the man who saved her life, and Steward John Hardy explains to the US Senate: "I was walking along the deck toward him and he said, I believe she's gone, Hardy, and that was the only time I thought she might sink, when he said that." - Murdoch knew Titanic was going down.)
At that point, the slant of the deck made it clear to all passengers who regarded Titanic as unsinkable, Lightoller, and Murdoch (refrence to the above stated quote) that Titanic would founder. So pandemonium breaks loose (as expected). Boat A was filled with women, and was at the risk of being swamped and brought down with the Titanic's bow section (Testimony of Steward Edward Brown). To try and save lives, according to Dr. Pellegrino required "despirate measures" and according to the choas that the reality of the sinking sparked, such measures were inveitable. A snared Boat A would not keep Murdoch from saving lives, especially considering his heroic character spoken fondly of by survivors that night woudn't pass on the challenge. This is where Dr. Pellegrino and I see eye to eye:
Quote:
When a final rush made him shoot to kill, he judged it, almost certainly, a necessary killing; and from all accounts the necessary shock value of the killings (even the stunned silence that followed the military salute before Murdoch allegedly, according to George Rheims, put the gun to his own head) - worked. The crowd stayed back, giving the women at his back a few seconds more to get away, and the crew a few seconds more to cut the ropes. However small a hope those few seconds gave.
Boat A was dragged down with its ropes only partly cut, but cut apparently just enough to snap it loose and let it float back to the surface. In the water, eleven who swam away from the Titanic climbed into the torn and empty wreck of Boat A; and it is probably fair to say they owed their survival to the few seconds more of cutting time bought by First Officer William Murdoch.
Murdoch's final attempts were to save lives, a mirrored action of all his other heroic acts that night. He knew Titanic was to sink, and he knew he would loose his life, if he was going to die, he was going to be damn sure his death was not in vain. That is what I believe according to testimonies, known facts of boats Murdoch Launched and his locations thorughout the night. Murdoch was one of many heros that night. His body however was never recovered, and that I'm afraid is currently too broad of a mystery. 
Last edited by Mr Titanic, Nov/26/2005, 10:52 pm
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Nov/26/2005, 10:47 pm
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de Grancy
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
Oh yes, I have no trouble whatsoever believing that Mr. Murdoch did all he could to fill the boats.
I've felt that he was rather a tenderhearted man and would have had a devilish hard time willfully consigning people to death.
At this remove it can only be speculation but he seems to have been the sort who would have had things prey upon his mind had he lived.
I am happy that his old townsfolk still defend him.
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Nov/26/2005, 11:28 pm
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MurdochsAid
Lady of the Sea
Posts: 1968
Rivets: 15 (+21/-6)
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
The following, is how Lights described to me, via email, what he bore witness to that horrible wee hours of the morning of April 15, 1912...
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I was up on the roof of the Officer's Quarters, looking down on the starboard boat deck. I saw Will shoot himself that night. I wanted to save him, but it was just as if I was paralyzed. I was completely unable to move; I mean I was unable to move even so much as a muscle to keep him from taking his own life. The memories of his suicide are still with me. There was poor Will, looking up at me, saying his farewells right up to his final breath--that he would find me, even if he had come back through the great divide between the world of the living and the dead -- as he looked up at me with those beautiful hazel eyes of his -- a pair of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen -- in both lives. Then, still looking up at me, he put the barrel of his revolver to his temple and put a bullet in his brain. The horrific images of his suicide are burned everlastingly into my memory. After that, I saw him lying on the deck, his face turned to one side since his head had struck one of the lifeboat chocks. Struck, blood, bone, and brains sloshing and mixing with the rising water, those preternaturally-beautiful eyes of his as they ceased their movements, now staring sightlessly as death had finally taken him.
When I first read this, I literally broke down crying. Several days passed by, before I could thoroughly reread this email Lights sent me. Finally, when I did come back to it, I showed Will just how strong a woman he married...by printing it out on my printer.
A couple nights later, he had me dream above final minutes of life, about what he saw as he laid dying. He did it purely out of his deep love for me, his Aid.
MA
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Nov/27/2005, 5:28 pm
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Lights
Deck Officer
Location: Anyplace on Water
Posts: 637
Rivets: 17 (+17/-0)
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
I have never felt that William Murdoch was anything less than a hero that night. I have always taken issue with the portrayal of Murdoch in Cameron's Titanic, though in Cmeron's defense, I must say...look at the look on Ewan Stewart's face after Billy Zone hands him the bribe. To me it looks as if Murdoch wangs to say "Are you a %#$*&! or are you just trying to give me that impression." However I believe that had something such as this really happened (and I do not believe it ever did), I believe William Murdoch would have sent him flying on the first puch. Also a note here: Murdoch was much more open on his policy of whom he allowed into the starboard boats--not only would a bribe have been rebuffed, it wouldn't even have been necessary!
Degrancy, your post hits the nail right on the head. He would never have been able to live with himself in view of all the lives lost that night. Adn yes, he was an incredibly tender-hearted sort of man, very kindhearted. I consider him one of the greatest heroes of that night and always will. 
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Nov/28/2005, 2:54 pm
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de Grancy
New Passenger
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
Well, I can see by your avatar that you are a Lightoller man through and through.
Might I say that I expect Mr. Murdoch would have felt Lightoller to be equally deserving of the title Hero and would not have been a bit surprised to see his old mate go on to live a long and happy life.
I know he would have wished him well.
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Nov/28/2005, 3:00 pm
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Lights
Deck Officer
Location: Anyplace on Water
Posts: 637
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
I do believe you are right there! 
And old Lights did himself proud at Dunkirk.
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Nov/28/2005, 3:02 pm
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de Grancy
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
I simply shake my head in admiration of Lightoller. I think the poor man grew up quite a bit after the loss of Titanic.
Fortunately he never grew "old" in spirit.
I can imagine Murdoch looking down at his old friend and laughing. Everyone had to know that Lightoller wouldn't "buy the farm" He was too blamed stubborn.
I'll never understand how Lightoller could walk away from things and be unscathed. Poor Will put so much heart and blood into everything he did. He was always suffering and second guessing himself, despite making it look easy.
Lightoller simply seemed to enjoy himself and for him it *was* easy.
Of course I could be wrong. It is a bit late to guess someones state of mind.
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Nov/28/2005, 3:12 pm
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Lights
Deck Officer
Location: Anyplace on Water
Posts: 637
Rivets: 17 (+17/-0)
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
True...I think Lightoller kept a lot inside and went on...when one survives one has no choice.
I have always thought that Murdoch would have LOVED to see old Lights do his thing at Dunkirk. I think many were the times that Will looked down and laughed not only at but with his friend.
As for "buying the farm"....well there were the chickens, now weren't there...lol
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Nov/28/2005, 3:50 pm
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de Grancy
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Re: Officer Murdoch's Death
True. I think Lightoller afforded Will many opportunities for laughter, and naturally they were not AT Lights but WITH him.
Somewhere I see Will wiping his brow and hoping that passes the censors.
I think that these two each had something the other admired and wished he could emulate.
That's what made them such good friends.
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Nov/28/2005, 4:08 pm
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