‘Coward of the Titanic’ so traumatised he was sedated with opiatesTelegraph reportersThu, November 12, 2026 at 1:59 PM UTC
J Bruce Ismay survived the Titanic disaster - Corbis Historical/George Rinhart
The so-called “Coward of the Titanic” who saved himself in the disaster was so traumatised by its sinking that he had to be sedated with opiates, telegrams have revealed.
J Bruce Ismay, the managing director of White Star Line, which owned the ocean liner, was criticised by the public after he ended up on the rescue ship Carpathia with the other 700 survivors.
He appeared to have suffered a psychological breakdown after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
The telegrams, which belonged to Arthur Rostron, the Carpathia captain, are being sold alongside a series of photos including an image of what is believed to be the iceberg that sank the ship.
The picture shows a large block of ice very close to the wreck site in the North Atlantic. It was taken by a crew member tasked with recovering the bodies from the scene.
An image that is believed to show the iceberg that sank the Titanic - Henry Aldridge & Son
One image by Percy Bates shows three men in an open rowing boat lifting a lifeless body of a victim aboard. The body is dressed in a life jacket.
Another bleak photo depicts some of the Titanic victims in wooden coffins having been landed at Government Wharf in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The photos are expected to sell for between £3,000 to £5,000 each, while the collection of 38 Marconi telegrams that were used in the British Titanic Inquiry is likely to sell for £30,000.
One of the images shows three men lifting the lifeless body of a victim aboard - Henry Aldridge & Son
Another shows coffins on Government Wharf in Halifax, Nova Scotia - Henry Aldridge & Son
The items are being sold at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.
Mr Aldridge said: “The telegrams give a unique insight into what happened behind the scenes onboard Titanic’s rescue ship, Carpathia.
“Ismay went on to be known as the Coward of the Titanic for saving himself, but it is clear he was in a deep state of shock and suffering a mental health breakdown in the direct aftermath of the disaster.
“The Olympic was the sister ship to Titanic, about 500 miles away.
“There was an option to transfer the 700 survivors from the Carpathia to the Olympic, but it was clearly felt that the sight of a replica of the ship that had just sunk with the loss of 1,500 lives would have been too much for them.
“It would have been like a ghost ship appearing on the scene.”
Commenting on the photographs, Mr Aldridge said: “They show the grim nature of the work by the crew members of the body recovery ships.
“The SS Minia arrived at the wreck site after the main body recovery ship, the Mackay-Bennett. Crew members of both ships took photographs of the same large iceberg in the area.
“We can’t say for sure that this was the iceberg that sank Titanic but both crew members must have had their reasons for taking a photo of this iceberg.”
The SS Minia recovered bodies from the disaster - Henry Aldridge & Son
One of the photos was taken by John Snow Jr, a funeral director, who was on the Mackay-Bennett. It sold at auction two years ago.
The picture being sold now that was taken by Percy Bates is of the same iceberg from a different angle.
The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11.40pm on April 14, 1912 and sank at 2.20am on April 15.
The telegrams were sent and received by Capt Rostron on the afternoon of April 15 after Carpathia had picked up the 700 survivors from lifeboats.
At 3.10pm, he wrote: “Ismay is under opiate Do you think it advisable Titanic passengers see Olympic personally I say not Rostron... returning to New York with Titanic passengers.”
By 3.25pm Rostron had managed to speak to Ismay. His telegram, sent at that time, reads: “Mr Ismay’s orders Olympic not to be seen by Carpathia no transfer to take place Rostron.”
The Titanic sank on April 15 - Bettmann
At 8.14pm he sent a telegram to Carpathia owners Cunard in New York stating: “Titanic sunk struck iceberg... Carpathia picked up many passengers in boats will wire further particulars later proceeding back to New York Rostron.”
He then messaged Captain Haddock of the Olympic about the tragic fate of the senior crew of its sister ship.
He wrote: “Captain, Chief, First, and 6th officers and all Engineers gone. Also doctors, all pursers, one Marconi operator, and chief steward [gone]. Have 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th officers, [and] one Marconi operator on board.”
After news of the disaster broke, Rostron was messaged by George E Foster, acting premier of Ottawa in Canada.
He was seeking news of Isidor Straus, the American politician and co-owner of Macy’s department store.
He messaged: “Canadian Government desires to know whether Isidore Strauss [sic] and wife are on board Carpathia and all right George E Forster Acting Premier.”
Rostron replied: “Isidore Strauss and wife not on board.”
The wealthy couple died in the disaster. Straus’s body was recovered and buried in New York but his wife Ida’s body was never found.
The sale takes place on Nov 21.
Source: Crime
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