The RMS Carpathia was sailing from New York City when her wireless operator received a distress signal from the RMS Titanic. She immediately set course at maximum speed toward the last known position of the Titanic. Her captain managed to squeeze 17 knots out of a supposed 14-knot vessel, an amazing and dangerous feat, due to the risk of structural damage from excessive vibration, and boiler explosion from excess pressure. After working her way through treacherous ice fields, Carpathia arrived on the scene at 4 o'clock in the morning, and was able to rescue 706 people.