As one of the oldest disasters in history, the ship sinking Titanic has inspired countless books analyzing every detail that can be imagined.
However, the personal documents of Judge Lord Mersey - who conducted the initial investigation just a few weeks later - were never known. Now, Lord Mersey's generation has included them in their upcoming major documentary for the first time.
The judge's records reveal his thoughts when listening to hundreds of witnesses. They show how much he was concerned about the Titanic lacking rescue drills and it could not slow down, despite moving at night and receiving a warning of ice.
The nearby cargo ship, the SS Californian, did not hear a vital signal from Titanic because the ship's wireless signal was turned off overnight. As the SS Californiaan was 19.5 miles north of Titanic, it sent a warning signal about the iceberg, but the people in charge of Titanic's wireless radio waves - most of whom worked to convey passenger messages - even scolded them for causing disruption.
In the documentary, titled Titanic's Lost Evidence (Appearance of Titanic's Disappearance), the nephew of the late judge, Ned Bigham, the Fourth Mersey, opens a box containing the red-leafed diary that Lord Mersey has kept with him throughout the investigation, recording observations and diagrams.
In his comments, Lord Mersey acknowledged Titanic's excessive speed, but stated that he "cannot blame Captain (Edward) Smith". He criticized SS California's Captain Stanley, who believed the ship was close enough to be able to come in to support the Titanic.
But private records show Lord Mersey is very concerned about why Titanic's engines are operating at nearly full capacity, despite warnings about ice covers and why lifeboat drills have not yet been conducted.
"The two ships informed Titanic: Ice Floating, ice mountains, ice caps". He has outlined images, trying to visualize the ice ngangles that the Titanic may have seen before it hit the giant ice ngangles 18 meters high and 122 meters long.
In one section, he crossed the line "no speed down", adding: "Speed, 21 knots/hour. And did not slow down until the time of the collision, despite warnings that ice caps were nearby and the ship was likely to crash into the ice.
cra cra crabs sopin, a budget expert and lawyer in Philadelphia, told The Sunday Telegraph: " Lord Mersey's personal thoughts were recorded at the same time as his statement. I have been practicing law for more than three decades. You cant see a judges note. You only see the final opinion... That is the important thing (here)".
sopin added: "For example, he questions why the Titanic went so fast..., why the lifeboat drill was canceled, why only two were sunk halfway in Southampton... Lord Mersey has maritime knowledge, when he wrote something suspicious, it was based on his experience."
The Titanic has 20 life boats. When used at full capacity, they can only accommodate half of the 2,240 passengers. Lord Mersey's comments suggest his concern that the crew may not have been fully trained to use those lifeboats.
Mersey's investigation has led to changes in the shipping industry, including more lifeboats for passenger ships and 24-hour radio communication.
