Source 1: Testimony of Cyril F. Evans

By: Titanic Inquiry Project

Summary by: Aeryn Lagman

Revision by: Alexandrah Naranjo

Abstract

Senator Smith interviews Mr. Cyril Furmstone Evans about himself, his work, and the Titanic. What will interest you most is when he asked Mr. Evans what he was doing during the sinking of the Titanic and if he received anything from Jack Phillips, the Titanic’s radio operator. Evans was told to send an iceberg warning to other ships and he completed the task. When he sent it to Jack Phillips, he was rudely told to go away. Rather than re-sending the warning, Evans turned off his equipment and turned in for the night.

Notable Quotations

“Senator SMITH. : What time did you receive the C.Q.D. call from the Titanic Sunday night?

Mr. EVANS. : I did not receive, it, sir.

Senator SMITH. : You did not receive it at all?

Mr. EVANS. : No, sir.

Senator SMITH. : What time did you communicate with the Titanic?

Mr. EVANS. : In the afternoon, sir. I was sending a message to the Antillian, of our line. I was sending an ice report, handed in by the skipper, sir. I was sending to the Antillian and the Titanic called me up and we exchanged signals, exchanged an official T.R. We call it a T.R. when a ship gets in communication with another. I said, "Here is a message; an ice report." He said, "It's all right, old man." He said. "I heard you send to the Antillian." He said, "Bi." That is an expression used among ourselves.” (Testimony, p 26)

Source 3: Titanic, Voices From the Disaster

By: Deborah Hopkinson

Summary by: Denise Eichenauer

Abstract

To somewhat summarize what this was discussing, the radio operator of the Californian in charge on the day the Titanic submerged was Cyril F. Evans. Evans had warned the Titanic they were surrounded by ice. Jack Phillips, the operator of the RMS Titanic, sent back a message. “Shut up! Shut up! I am working Cape Race.” Cyril F. Evans received the message. About 45 minutes later, the Californian received a CQD from the Titanic which was sent out to all of the ships surrounding. A CQD is a call of distress. The titanic had hit the iceberg.

Notable Quotations

“Just before 11 p.m., the Californian ‘s wireless operator, sent a message to the Titanic , using the slang commonly around Marconi operators: “Say old man, we are stopped and surrounded by ice” (Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, page 108, paragraph 3)

“Jack Phillips replied; “Shut up! Shut up! I am busy! I am working Cape Race” (Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, page 108, paragraph 4)

“At 11:35 p.m., before Phillips began to radio distress signals, Evans did stop. In fact, he turned off the wireless apparatus and went to bed.” (Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, page 108, paragraph 6)

“And, after all, Jack Phillips may have figured that by now this was old news: Hadn’t the Titanic been getting ice warnings all day?” (Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, Page 108, paragraph 5)

“Researchers now estimate that the Californian was between ten and twenty miles away from the Titanic.” (Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, page 108, paragraph 2)

Source 5: Mr. Cyril Furmstone Evans

By: Anonymous

Researcher: Morgan Eun

Abstract

This short, yet informational article confirms what Cyril Evans had to contribute to the Titanic and it’s sinking. He was a radio operator for the Californian, and gave iceberg warnings, that they were nearby, but was “rudely” interrupted by the realization that Jack Phillips, the radio operator of the Titanic, had not gotten his signal because he was sending private messages. Afterwards, he stopped for the night which resulted to Evans not getting the distress call that was later sent by the Titanic, which is why he is a contributor to the sinking.

Notable Quotations

“After this Evans turned in for the night thus failing to hear the distress signals from Titanic which were broadcast a short while later.” (Mr Cyril Furmstone, paragraph 2)

“...he warned Titanic that ice in the vicinity had forced them to stop, but he was rudely rebuffed by the wireless operator of the Titanic, Jack Phillips,..." (Mr Cyril Furmstone, paragraph 1, lines 2 through 5)