Today in Titanic History - April 15, 1912

12:00 AM
Captain Smith orders the first distress call to be made after Thomas Andrews says they have 1 to 2 hours before the ship is gone.

12:05 AM
The first lifeboat is uncovered and people start coming on the deck.

12:25 AM
People begin being loaded into the lifeboats. It is mostly women and children, but some men and crew are also allowed in. The Carpathia answers the distress call, but they are about 4 hours away.

12:45 AM
The first lifeboat is lowered.

12:50 AM 
The first of 8 distress flares is fired.

1:45 AM
The last message to the Carpathia is sent saying: '... engine room full up to the boilers..."

2:05 AM
Last lifeboat is lowered, but there are still two Collapsibles.

2:10 AM
Wireless operators are released from their duties.

2:17 AM
Titanic sends her last wireless message.

2:18 AM
The lights flicker and go out. The Titanic breaks in two and the bow sinks.

2:20 AM
The stern begins to fill with water and rises high in the air before slowly sinking into the ocean.

3:30 AM
Lifeboat survivors begin seeing rockets fired by the Carpathia.

4:10 AM
The Carpathia reaches lifeboat #2 and the first survivor is brought aboard.

8:30 AM
Second Officer Lighttoller is the last passenger aboard the Carpathia.

8:50 AM
After some debate, the Carpathia sets sail for New York. (Halifax was also considered because it was closer.)