<P> Cottam took the message and coordinates to the bridge, where the officers on watch were sceptical about the seriousness of the distress call . Agitated, Cottam rushed down the ladder to the captain's cabin and awakened Captain Arthur Henry Rostron, who immediately sprang into action and "gave the order to turn the ship around", and then "asked the operator if he was absolutely sure it was a distress signal from the Titanic". The operator said that he had "received a distress signal from the Titanic, requiring immediate assistance", gave Titanic's position, and said that "he was absolutely certain of the message". Whilst dressing, Rostron set a course for Titanic, and sent for the chief engineer and told "him to call another watch of stokers and make all possible speed to the Titanic, as she was in trouble ." Rostron testified that the distance to Titanic was 58 nmi (67 mi; 107 km) and took Carpathia three and a half hours . At the same time, Rostron had Carpathia's crew prepare hot drinks and soup for the survivors, prepare the public rooms as dormitories, have doctors ready to treat any wounded survivors, and to have oil ready to pour down the lavatories to calm the water on the sides of the ship should the sea become rough . </P> <P> Rostron ordered the ship's heating and hot water cut off in order to make as much steam as possible available for the engines, and had extra lookouts on watch to spot ice . Cottam, meanwhile, messaged the Titanic that Carpathia was "coming as quickly as possible and expect to be there within four hours ." Cottam refrained from sending more signals after this, trying to keep the air clear for Titanic's distress signals . Carpathia reached the edge of the ice field by 2: 45 a.m., and for the next two hours dodged icebergs as small growlers of ice ground along the hull plates . The Carpathia arrived at the distress position at 4: 00 a.m., approximately an hour and a half after the Titanic went down, claiming more than 1,500 lives . For the next four and a half hours, the ship took on the 705 survivors of the disaster from Titanic's 20 lifeboats . Survivors were given blankets and coffee, and then escorted by stewards to the dining rooms . Others went on deck to survey the ocean for any sign of their loved ones . Throughout the rescue, Carpathia's own passengers assisted in any way that they could . By 9: 00, the last survivor had been picked up, and Rostron gave the order to get underway . </P> <P> After considering options for where to disembark the passengers, including the Azores (the destination with the least cost to the Cunard Line) and Halifax (the closest port, although along an ice - laden route), Rostron consulted with Bruce Ismay and decided to disembark the survivors in New York . News of the Titanic disaster spread on shore, and the humble Carpathia became the center of an intense media attention as it steamed westward toward New York at 14 knots . Hundreds of wireless messages were being sent from Cape Race and other shore stations addressed to Captain Rostron from relatives of Titanic passengers and journalists demanding details in exchange for money . Rostron ordered that no news stories would be transmitted directly to the press, deferring such responsibilities to the White Star offices as Cottam provided details to Titanic's sister ship, Olympic . On Wednesday, 17 April, the scout cruiser USS Chester began escorting Carpathia to New York . Cottam, by then assisted by Titanic's junior wireless operator Harold Bride, transmitted the names of third - class survivors to Chester . Slowed by storms and fog since the early morning of Tuesday, 16 April, Carpathia finally arrived in New York on the evening of Thursday, 18 April 1912 . </P> <P> For their rescue work, the crew of Carpathia were awarded medals by the survivors . Crew members were awarded bronze medals, officers silver, and Captain Rostron a silver cup and a gold medal, presented by Margaret Brown . Rostron was knighted by King George V, and was later a guest of President Taft at the White House, where he was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honour the United States Congress could confer upon him . </P>

When did the carpathia arrive in new york