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THE TITANIC CONSPIRACY
EPILOGUE "Conspiracy, Holmes?" The doctor was visibly appalled "Yes, Watson. Two elements were made public during the hearings, but were largely ignored as evidence for that, possibly due to the grief that involved the nation at the time." "Pray tell me, which were they?" "You might remember that several ships sent wireless messages to Titanic warning her crew about icebergs present in the area." "Yes. I read that they were largely ignored." "Well, Watson, one of the last messages never reached the bridge." The doctor was impressed. "Is that so?" "That last ice warning about a field of ice right ahead of her position was received by Bruce Ismay himself and duly put in his pocket. He reportedly had it with him after the sinking, as he sat safely in a lifeboat." "Good heavens, Holmes! Why did he keep it? Why didn't he forward it to the bridge?" "Because possibly he didn't want to," Sherlock Holmes replied coldly. "That was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for, if I am correct: to send his unsinkable ship directly to an ice field. And of course, there's another element." "By Jove, Holmes, what is it?" "There was a passenger who testified at the hearings that stated Ismay had pressed Captain Smith for more speed, in haste to match the Olympic's record and hit the headlines of the morning papers, making it cheap and profitable publicity for White Star Line. Ismay of course denied the accusation , but of course by admitting to it he would have most likely confessed his intentions." "That would be correct ,Holmes," reasoned Watson, "but what connection does that have with a conspiracy?" "A conspiracy, my friend, is a deliberate, premeditated attempt to commit a crime by a group of persons. " Holmes lit his pipe. "Now let's speculate a trifle upon the facts we have, Watson. We have a vessel on her maiden voyage with the owner and her builder on board. To have these on board would have been enough pressures upon the crew. Then that last minute change in the officers-" "I'm sorry, Holmes, but there is something I know nothing of. What 'change' are you talking about?" "Ah, Watson. That was another fact which was mostly ignored by the general public but vital for my little theory. Moments before leaving Southampton, there was a change in part of the crew, being the most important one of second officer Blair for Lightoller." "Pray tell me, Holmes, what that has to do with anything." "It's elementary! The second officer who was substituted had placed certain safety equipment, such as binoculars for the lookouts – which you know were reported as missing before the collision - in a place, which only he knew. Such was the haste in the substitution that no-one had time to inquire where the equipment had been kept in . My theory is that someone didn't want first officer Murdoch to know where the binoculars were, thus increasing the risk of a collision." "Good heavens, Holmes! If you are right, the whole subject could become a national scandal!" "Yes, yes, Watson. Listen, and I will give you in whole my personal thoughts about the whole business. I think it is getting late. Let us go back to my small retiring residence and we'll talk as we get there. Watson was almost sorry to leave Mrs Huston's boarding house as he remebered how untidy his friend's home was. He got up, settled the bill and they walked out, the sun already going down. Sherlock Holmes got to his feet, filled his pipe, and lighted it as he walked away, wishing Mrs Huston a good night. They walked the path calmly, and appreciatted the Sussex sunset as they went on “You don’t see that kind of thing back in London”, remarked Watson. “In fact, you are right,” Holmes sighed “ However, sometimes I miss the theatres, the big-city excitement and of course, crime.” “Can’t you come back?” The doctor’s voice sounded almost fearful of the reply. “My time has passed, dear friend. Information moves far too fast these days, and I do not feel comfortable with that. Anyhow, I have my bees to tend. Now, back to Titanic. Watson, here's what I think. As you know, my theories are based on the principle that one you dismiss the impossibilities, all remaining possibilities, however improbable, can be the truth." Watson smiled. "Yes, Holmes. I've spent the best of my years repeatedly listening to precisely that." "Very well. I believe the owners of the Titanic did not intend to cause the ship to founder. However, I believe, they did have the intention to have her go through some fashion of casualty. You see, to have the greatest ship ever built suffer an accident and survive would have gained wide press coverage. However, what kind of accident would be possible? Ramming another vessel was out of the question, and so was hitting known submerged rocks. That would have needed Captain Smith's collaboration, and he would never have agreed with such procedures, at least in his final crossing. They would have to find a way to do it without Smith's help. How could they? Well, they knew there would be a number of icebergs floating around the North Atlantic in the spring. They were also aware that in case the ship sailed too fast, she would most likely collide with a berg, since the crew wouldn't be able to avoid it. Finally, of course, shipping companies established ridiculously tight schedules for their vessels. All one had to do was to ensure this unfortunate combination would cause and unfortunate and manageable 'accident', but with favourable profits and publicity."
Watson rose an eyebrow. "Profits, Holmes?" "Of course! Supposing Titanic had actually survived the collision, everyone would wish to board the unsinkable vessel and her sisters, thus raising fare prices for White Star, since tickets would never be enough for them. And there's also the fact that any damage to cargo or ship would be fully insured..." "A fact that led many insurers to bankruptcy," added Watson. "Indeed it did, Watson. Anyhow, as we speculate, let us draw an imaginary picture of those hours before all those poor lives were lost." "Do continue." "As we all know today, many vessels sent ice warning to Titanic that fateful day. However, the most important message was given to Ismay, as I said before. Later, the Californinan sent another one, but was interrupted." "Wasn't that the ship that was nearby as Titanic sank?
"Great Scott! Do you think, Holmes, that smith was aware of the bergs on the way?" "Most likely. Icebergs are common in that time of year in The North Atlantic . Anyhow, he ordered more speed, believing that if any were actually spotted, they could be easily avoided. "Quite a silly notion, if I may say so," remarked Watson. "Not if you consider Smith's experience. As you know, it was due to the captain's skill that a collision with the New York was avoided in Southampton1. 'Silly' is hardly an appropriate label for the captain's decisions. You see, Watson. He was under severe pressure at that time." "I understand, " said Watson "Let us move on to that last night", said Holmes, his eves shining with the opportunity to use his detective's mind once again. "I understand the sea was very calm then," said Watson. "So it was. 'Like a millpond', as someone quoted Captain Smith later. That would obviously make icebergs hard to spot, especially with the binoculars missing. If a conspiracy was actually planned, everything was running very smoothly. At 11:30 PM, the lookouts saw the berg, and the officers tried in vain to port round it, causing the gash we know caused the ship to founder." "Indeed a bitter end to the World's greatest vessel", said Watson, in a sad tone. Sherlock Holmes and his friend reached his home , and for a moment they silently gazed at the wide variety of flowers on his garden. “The more varied the flowers, the better the honey,”remarked Holmes. “This is not yet the end, Watson. Let us get in. " They entered the house and lit the lamps. The small fireplace made Holmes' study quite comfortable to stay in. They both sat down as Watson tried to reason through Holmes' ideas. The sleuth put a kettle on the fire, and in a few minutes the two were calmly sipping tea. After a few moments of silence, Watson turned to Holmes and said, " Holmes, the ship hit the berg and went down. What else is there to say?" "Well, let us picture the events immediately after the collision.
Both Ismay and the ship's engineer, Thomas Andrews, inspected the ship
after she hit the berg. It was then that both would proudly announce
that although damaged, the unsinkable Titanic was safe. However, as we
know, after the crew had sorted out the damage, Andrews actually told
Captain Smith that his ship was going down, since the first five
compartments had been flooded - Titanic was doomed. White Star's
conspiracy had backfired terribly, with the cost of 1,500 lives.
Technically, if my theories are correct, it was a case of mass murder."
Watson stood up and started pacing around the room. "Good heavens, Holmes! If you are right, the authorities must be warned! Someone must be punished for this terrible genocide!" Holmes smiled. "My dear Watson, please sit down. You see, as for this pitiful situation, I'm afraid nothing can be done about it." Watson was baffled. "What?" "To prove what I have to say", the detective continued," I need evidence. Everything I have said comes from mere speculation based on actual facts. Most of the players who could give me the answers are no longer living, and my biggest piece of evidence lies several miles under the sea." "What about Ismay? He still lives!" The ageing detective smiled, satisfied by his friend's reasoning. "Ah, Watson. He has been punished in a way or another. He is no longer chairman of White Star line, and society has execrated him due to the fact that he wasn't man enough to go down with his ship. Due to that,he now lives in absolute seclusion. Anyhow, I believe that British shipping and the families of those lost have suffered enough. No one would benefit from learning that History's worst tragedy at sea was possibly a heinous crime. It is wiser to leave my conclusions unknown and let history itself take its course. Watson nodded silently, with a peaceful expression . The retired detective then stood up. " We shall check upon the bees to-morrow morning, Watson. You might want to take Mrs. Watson a jar of my great Sussex honey when you leave to London after this weekend." "Elementary," said Watson, smiling. THE END READ LAST WEEK'S A writer needs feedback in order to write properly.
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richard e. schiff,
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An Untold Sherlock Holmes Story During a conversation ,as Dr. Watson
visitied his now retired friend, great detective Sherlock Holmes at his
estate in Sussex, the sleuth reveals his theory of a possible conspiracy
leading Titanic to its fateful demise. Could the terrible disaster have
been an elaborate publicity scam that went terribly wrong? 
