seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon
The 13th of April , 1867 , the sea being beautiful , the breeze favourable , the Scotia , of the Cunard Company 's line , found herself in 15 ° 12 ' long . and 45 ° 37 ' lat . She was going at the speed of thirteen knots and a half . At seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon , whilst the passengers were assembled at lunch in the great saloon , a slight shock was felt on the hull of the Scotia , on her quarter , a little aft of the port-paddle . The Scotia had not struck , but she had been struck , and seemingly by something rather sharp and penetrating than blunt . The shock had been so slight that no one had been alarmed , had it not been for the shouts of the carpenter 's watch , who rushed on to the bridge , exclaiming , `` We are sinking ! we are sinking ! ''