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Titanic 1912

The Titanic Bell

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One of the items recovered from the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean was the bell. It was the exact bell that was rung three times by Frederick Fleet, warning the ship of the iceberg ahead. The bell of a ship is known as her heart.

The bell is a collection piece on display at the Titanic Museum in Massachusetts. The bell is one of the first sought items when divers approach a shipwreck. They say there is nothing more representative of each ship than her bell.  

Titanic Survivors at Millbay Docks

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Two weeks after the sinking, some of the survivors, who were all crew, were taken to Plymouth. 86 crew members had to stay overnight and slept in passenger waiting rooms, while the 20 stewardesses were put in a nearby hotel.

The survivors were sent to Southampton on a special train. Captain Stoker was on duty at the time of the collision in the bowels of the ship. "I was on the eight to twelve o'clock watch...there would be 83 men on that watch. Eight of us out of the 83 are here. The rest of the 83 were drowned."----Captain Stoker. 

The Majestic Titanic

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The largest ship in the world was the Titanic. The ship could carry 3,547 passengers. The Parlour Suites were the most expensive and luxurious on the ship and cost over $4,350. The main voyage began on April 1912 from Southampton.

Most of the crew under Captain Smith were not trained sailors. They were engineers, firemen, stokers, stewards, and galley staff. The ship was only at about half of its capacity with 1,320 passengers and 892 crew members. 

Chairman of the White Star Line and Titanic survivor Joseph Bruce Ismay

Titanic Survivors/Gettyimages


Joseph Ismay was a chairman and managing director of the White Star Line. He was known as the highest-ranking White Star official to survive the sinking. He claimed he assisted people boarding the lifeboats.
He testified that about 20 minutes before the ship sank, he stepped aboard Collapsible C, and in the ship's final moments, he turned away. He was picked up about 3-4 hours later. "Ismay was staring straight ahead, shaking like a leaf. Even when I spoke to him, he paid absolutely no attention. I have never seen a man so completely wrecked." -----Jack Thayer

Titanic Memorial

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The memorial for Titanic victims was held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. There were at least enough people present to fill the cathedral twice. Thousands of people lined the street during the ceremony.

On the program for the service, it stated Memorial Service for those who perished through the foundering of the SS "Titanic" on Monday, April 15th, 1912. It is estimated that 1,517 people died in the sinking of the Titanic. 

Captain Edward John Smith

Captain Smith/Gettyimages


Edward Smith was a master of many White Star Line vessels, and he was the captain of the RMS Titanic. Smith was informed around 11:40 pm on April 14 that the ship had collided with an iceberg. There have been conflicting reports on Smith's leadership during the sinking. A first-class passenger said, "Captain Smith was the biggest hero I ever saw. He stood on the bridge and shouted through a megaphone, trying to make himself heard."------Robert Williams Daniel

Other sources have said he was ineffective and inactive in preventing loss of life. Steward Edward Brown stated that he saw the captain approach and say, "Well boys, do your best for the women and children, and look out for yourselves." He then stated he saw the captain walk onto the bridge alone. That was the last sighting of Smith. Smith died that morning when the ship sank to the bottom of the ocean. 

Titanic's departure from Southampton

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The Titanic was a British passenger liner ran by the White Star Line. The Titanic departed from Southampton on April 10, 1912. It was the largest ship, second to her sister ship, HMHS Britannic.

She is the largest ship to sink while in service. Liverpool was its home port. The maiden voyage was intended to be followed by many more between Southampton and New York. The ship would get to New York via Cherbourg and Queenstown, returning via Plymouth. 

Crowded Lifeboats

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The Titanic had 20 lifeboats, which could only accommodate 1,178 people. There were 2,208 on board with a total capacity of 3,547 passengers and crew. When the Titanic sank, 18 lifeboats were used.
Many of the lifeboats only carried half of their maximum capacity. Most of the lifeboats did not return to the wreck to help survivors for fear of being swamped by the drowning victims. Two of the lifeboats did return and help a few survivors from the water. 

Survivors on a tug boat

Titanic Survivors/Gettyimages


Many survivors shared their stories for years. One survivor, Jack Thayer, was on the ship with his parents. Thayer and the young man he met during the ordeal jumped from the rail just before the ship sank. Thayer was able to climb onto a lifeboat that had turned upside down.

He stated that at first, it was quiet, then the cries began. He stated that the cries became one long continuous wailing chant. The cries faded away, and the lifeboats did not return. "The cries fading away, and the lifeboats not returning was the most heartrending part of the whole tragedy."----Jack Thayer

Titanic's Last Meal

Presentation Of Objects Exhumed Of Titanic In France On December 15, 1992./Gettyimages


Many items have been exhumed from the Titanic and placed in exhibits all over the world. Those dishes were used to serve some fine meals. A huge staff labored in Titanic's massive gallery to prepare more than 6,000 meals a day. The last meal eaten by the wealthiest guests on Titanic's last night was decadent.

The feast began with raw oysters, followed by a choice of soup. Next, they were served lightly poached Atlantic salmon. For the fourth and fifth courses, the passengers chose from filet mignon, saute' of chicken Lyonnaise, lamb, roast duckling, and sirloin of beef. They had multiple sides, wine, rum, champagne, dessert choices, fruits, nuts, cheese, and coffee.

The Sinking of the Titanic

The sinking of the Titanic, 1912/Gettyimages


The Titanic took well over 2 hours to sink to the ocean's bottom after hitting the iceberg. At 11:40 pm, the ship hit the iceberg and began taking in water. The lifeboats were ordered to be lowered by Captain Smith. The ship's lights went out at 2:10 am, and the bow is now completely underwater.

As the back of the boat gets pushed out of the water, the ship breaks in two at 2:17 am, then at 2:19 am, the bow begins to sink, with the back of the boat sinking right after. The ship reached the ocean's floor at 2:24 am, and the wreck is still there today. 

Titanic Dining

Titanic/Gettyimages


The first-class dining room was the largest room on the ship and could accommodate over 500 passengers. The passengers dining in this room were very sophisticated and wealthy. The men would be dressed in white tie and tails and the ladies in gowns and fine jewels.

Dinner would be up to eleven courses and could last for hours. Breakfast was from 8-10 am, Luncheon from 1-2:30 pm, and Dinner from 7-8:15 pm. The ship's bugler would play "The Roast Beef of Old England" to alert meal time. 

Lady Duff-Gordon

Passengers on Titanic/Gettyimages


Major International Fashion Designer Lady Duff-Gordon was a survivor of the Titanic. She traveled with her husband and her maid. All three were saved on Lifeboat number one. Later, she wrote an autobiography.
"Everyone seemed to be rushing for that boat. A few men who crowded in were turned back at the point of Captian Smith's revolver, and several of them were felled before order was restored. I recall being pushed towards one of the boats and being helped in."-------Lucile Duff-Gordon

Titanic Expedition

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 The Titanic Wreck is at about 12,500 feet in depth and 370 miles southeast of Newfoundland. The two pieces are a third of a mile apart. The Wreck was located in 1985. Thousands of items have been recovered during expeditions.

The ship has drastically deteriorated since sinking. Most of the corridors have lost their walls, but the furniture is still in place in many cabins. In January 2020, the United Kingdom and the U.S. agreed to protect the wreckage of the Titanic. 

The Famous Grand Staircase

Luxury stairwells connection between the decks aboard the RMS Titanic/Gettyimages


The set of staircases in the first-class section is commonly referred to as the Grand Staircase, probably the most recognizable area of the Titanic. The staircase was located in the forward part of the ship and was the main connection between decks.

It descended in seven levels and was a point of entry to numerous public rooms. East staircase was built in solid English Oak, and each banister contained elaborate wrought-iron grills. The staircases were 20 feet wide. 

Lifeboat Carrying Survivors

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The Carpathia did not reach the lifeboats until 4 am, and the last lifeboat was collected at 8:30 am. The number of lifeboats was insufficient, but Titanic complied with the time's maritime safety regulations.

Titanic's crew were poorly trained on using the lifeboats. Titanic was designed with the capability of carrying many more lifeboats than were provided, but White Star Line preferred to maximize the amount of deck space for the enjoyment of the passengers. 

New York Times

Titanic Headline/Gettyimages


 After the Titanic sank, it was a fierce fight to get the story. The problem for New York is that they were a long way from the site and didn't have the tools to get there quickly. The Carpathia, which rescued the survivors, was under a virtual news blackout.

The reporters just had to wait. They planned to interview survivors as they disembarked the Carpathia. They tracked down the Titanic's telegrapher and dictated his account on the front page of the paper. 

The Hidden Binoculars

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There were binoculars on the Titanic, but no one knew it. They were stashed in a locker in the crow's nest, but the key to the locker wasn't on board. David Blair was reassigned to another ship and forgot to leave the key on the Titanic.

Fred Fleet, a Titanic lookout, later insisted that if binoculars had been available, the iceberg would've been spotted early enough to avoid it. Others have said it was too dark that night; the binoculars wouldn't have helped. 

Titanic's First Class Deck

Titanic Deck/Gettyimages


The Promenade Deck circled the entire boat of A-Deck. It was the outdoor space for the first-class passengers to enjoy the sea air. Deck chairs could be rented. The Deck was popular for playing games like shuffleboard, cards, dominoes, and chess.

The gymnasium and a large sun deck were available as well. After the sinking, many boats found floating debris, which included many deck chairs. About 10 deck chairs are in museums; one can be found in the Museum of the City of New York.

Crew Survivors

Titanic Crew Survivors/Gettyimages


Frederick Dent Ray was one of the crew members that survived the Titanic sinking. He served as a first-class saloon steward on the ship. He assisted passengers into the lifeboats. As the boat was lowered, a wrapped infant was tossed down to him. He caught the child and brought it to safety.

Ray survived the sinking. At the age of 97, when he died, he became the longest living among the surviving crew. After his death, only two crew members remained Frank Prentice and Sidney Daniels. 

Titanic Life Vest

A never before seen in public life prese/Gettyimages


The Titanic is infamous for not having sufficient lifejackets on board. But the ship carried enough life jackets for its 2,208 passengers and crew. The jackets were made of canvas-covered cork. Laura Mabel Francatelli survived the sinking wearing her life jacket.

Laura kept her life jacket and cherished it for the rest of her life. Now, Laura's jacket is on display at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge. There are only 12 known to still exist from the Titanic. Some of the jackets were linked to survivors and others to perished passengers. 

Lifeboats on the Titanic

Titanic Lifeboats/Gettyimages


At the time of the collision, most of the passengers were in bed sleeping. For the first hour, everything remained calm, and the crew and captain told the passengers numerous times that everything was fine and not to worry.

"As the lifeboats were being launched, many of the first-class cabin passengers expressed their preference of staying on the ship. Some of the passengers fought with such desperation to get into the lifeboats that the officers shot them, and their bodies fell into the ocean. I have learned since that twelve of the steerage passengers were shot altogether, one officer shooting down six." ------Washington Dodge

Second Class

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Second-class accommodations were close in comparison to first-class. There was a smaller proportion of space overall for second and third-class. The second-class cabins were a little smaller but very similar to first-class. 
Their rooms usually consisted of a large sofa, wardrobe, dressing table with washbasin, mirror, and storage shelves. All second-class bathroom facilities were shared. There were two staircases for second-class passengers. 

15 ton 13' by 30' Portion of the First-Class C-Deck hull

Titanic Artifacts Go On Display In San Francisco/Gettyimages


C-Deck was also called the Shelter Deck. It was the highest deck to run from stem to bow, and it included the two well decks. The bulk of the c-deck was first-class staterooms. The second class lounge and promenades were at the rear of the deck.

The c-deck was accessible from the Aft grand staircase and the grand staircase. Purser's office and the third-class poop deck were also on the c-deck. First-class occupied most of b and c-deck and a large portion of a. 

Watching the Titanic Sink

Sinking Titanic/Gettyimages


"When our boat was lowered, we had fifty-four women, four children, one sailor, one window-cleaner, two firemen, three stewards, and one officer; total, sixty-six souls. When the boat was in the water, we rowed clear of the ship. We then saw four other boats well clear and fairly well filled with women and children. We went to them and found none of them had an officer in charge. So the fifth officer took charge of the lot, ordering them to keep with him."-------Joseph George Scarrott

According to survivors, the lights were burning right up till it broke in two. They tied all the boats together so they could be seen better and quicker. Survivors also stated that it was hard to get back to people in the water because of all of the debris and dead bodies. 

St.Louis Post-Dispatch

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Carlos F. Hurd, from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was on the Carpathia ship when it hit the iceberg and sank. Carlos F. Hurd gave his complete account of the disaster. His story was revealed in 10 pages of exclusive coverage.

Carlos and his wife interviewed survivors when they arrived on the Carpathia. Together they had a front-page story. Carlos also called the captain of the Carpathia a hero for responding as quickly as he did. 

The Promenade deck

Passengers strolling past lifeboats aboa/Gettyimages


The Promenade deck was the First-Class area. Titanic opposed extra lifeboats because having the extra lifeboats would have made the deck more cluttered, leaving the passengers with less desk space.
Most of Titanic's lifeboats were located on the top deck, the promenade. Interestingly, a total of 8,000 cigars, 1,500 bottles of wine, and 20,000 bottles of beer were on board just for the first-class passengers.

Waiting for Survivors

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Friends and family of Titanic Passengers and crew had to wait in agonizing suspense for the Carpathia to arrive and know if their loved ones survived. The Carpathia arrived in New York three days after the disaster. 

Southampton was hit the hardest, whose people suffered the greatest losses from the sinking. Many survivors were left with nothing, especially third-class passengers. Fewer than a third of those aboard Titanic survived the disaster. 

Chief Officer Henry Wilde

First Officer/Gettyimages


Wilde served on many White Star Line Ships, including the Arabic, Celtic, Medic, Cynric, and the Olympic. Upon boarding the Titanic, Wilde wrote a letter to his sister, including, "I still don't like this ship...I have a queer feeling about it."After the collision with the iceberg, Wilde took charge of the even-numbered boats on the port side.

Wilde's actions during the sinking remain somewhat of a mystery. It was reported he worked diligently to load the boats once the seriousness of the situation became clear. He was last seen trying to free the collapsible from the roof of the officers' quarters. Henry Wilde died in the sinking of the Titanic. 

Titanic Logometer

Artifacts From The Titanic Previewed Before Being Auctioned/Gettyimages


The part of the ship that measured the Titanic's speed is the logometer. The logometer was recovered from the wreck and could be seen at the Air & Space Museum. This item and many more will be auctioned off.

The top speed of the Titanic was 23 knots or more than 26 miles per hour. Some believed that the Titanic was going too fast when it hit the iceberg and that Captain Smith was possibly trying to break a speed record. 

Titanic Distress Call

Titanic - Iceberg Telegram, 1912/Gettyimages


There is a telegraphic narrative showing how the Titanic had been given warnings of icebergs by other ships. The wireless operators sent messages to other ships. The senior wireless operator on the Titanic was Jack Phillips. 

Some messages sent through were; "Come at once. We have struck an iceberg," "We have struck an iceberg and sinking by the head," and "We are putting passengers off in small boats. Women and children in boats. Cannot last much longer. Losing power. ------Jack Phillips

Boarding Lifeboat & Saying Goodbye

Boarding Titanic's Lifeboats/Gettyimages


When the lifeboats were being filled, it was women and children first. Many wives and husbands saying goodbye, knowing they might not see each other again. The first lifeboat was not launched until an hour after the iceberg was hit.

Smith's order of "Women and Children First' was interpreted differently. Some thought he only wanted women and children on the boats, and some thought men could load as soon as all of the children and women were in the boats. 

First Class Passenger List

Boarding Titanic's Lifeboats/Gettyimages


Captain Edward John Smith was the only crew member that had information recorded. It was tough to tell how many died because some people signed in under an alias, some were signed up but didn't go.

There is no exact number of people aboard the Titanic or for those who survived. There were discrepancies, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and omissions with both names and numbers. 

William Theodore Ronald Brailey, Titanic Musician

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Brailey traveled on the Titanic in second-class as one of the eight-strong orchestra. The group played at tea time, an after-dinner concert, and Sunday services. The members were; Brailey, Roger Bricoux, John Clarke, Wallace Hartley, John Hume, Georges Krins, Percy Taylor, and John Woodward.

After the Titanic started sinking, the band members started playing music to keep passengers calm. Many surviving passengers have said that the band continued to play until the ship went down. All eight of the members died the day the Titanic sank.

The Titanic baby

Titanic Baby/Gettyimages


Eloise Hughes and her husband, Lucian Philip, boarded the Titanic on their way home from their honeymoon. She was about 2 months pregnant. Eloise survived the sinking, but her husband did not. Eloise gave birth to a baby boy in November of 1912.

There were two other newly married, pregnant women on the Titanic that survived and later had children. Eloise later married a fellow survivor, Robert Daniel. Her letters and other recollections were used in Titanic documentaries. Smith later passed away from a heart attack at the age of 46. 

Titanic Officers

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The first officer of the Titanic was William Murdoch. He was the officer in charge on the bridge when the ship collided. The orders that Murdoch gave to avoid the iceberg have been debated. After the collision, Murdoch was in charge of the starboard evacuation.

It has been rumored that Murdoch shot two passengers and then shot himself before the ship sank. Other crew stated that he was seen working to free Collapsible A and was swept into the sea. Some say they tried to hide the truth from his wife.

Over-Crowded Lifeboat

Titanic Lifeboat/Gettyimages


Only about 700 passengers made it into the lifeboats. Many jumped off the ship in hopes of surviving but died within minutes of leaping into the frigid water. The ocean waters were 28 degrees. There were only a couple of survivors pulled from the water.

Many crew members stated that the boats weren't full because many of the passengers refused to board them, believing it wasn't necessary. They also thought they would help passengers out of the water. "The whole thing was so formal that it was difficult for anyone to realize it was a tragedy. Men and women stood in little groups and talked. Some laughed as the boats went over the side. It was a strange night, like a dream."-----Margaret Brown

Examining Lifevests

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The Titanic did provide enough life-vests for all of its passengers. The life-vests were made of canvas and cork. They were flimsy in design and were only secured by fabric strings. Many passengers were knocked out by their life-vest when jumping off the ship.

Due to the vest design, many passengers drowned, broke their necks, or died of hypothermia in the frigid waters. Cork remained the main material for life-vests until after WWII. The loss of passengers on the Titanic motivated the improvement of the life-vests.

Explorer's Club Plaque

Plaque on Titanic's Capstan - stock photo/Gettyimages


Dr. Ballard was given a plaque from the Titanic Historical Society to place on the wreck as a memorial. The plaque was to honor the dead. Ballard wanted the plaque placed on the stern as it was the final haven for the hundreds who perished.

The Plaque was gone sometime in the first ten years of its placement. No one knows who took it or why they took it. There are many theories about everything; some even believe he never actually even placed the plaque. 

Molly Brown

Millionaire Molly Brown/Gettyimages


Molly Brown, the unsinkable Molly Brown, was an American socialite and survived the Titanic. She was on the Titanic traveling to see her seriously ill grandchild. Her daughter was supposed to travel with her but last minute had to cancel.

Molly helped others into the lifeboats and was eventually persuaded to get in the lifeboat. She unsuccessfully tried to get them to go back and help people in the water. She later organized a survivor's committee with other first-class survivors. 

Looking for Benjamin Guggenheim

Waiting For Titanic News/Gettyimages


Benjamin boarded the Titanic with his mistress, his valet, chauffeur, and maid. He and his mistress slept through the collision and awoke just after midnight. He helped the women and children load the lifeboats and then went and changed into his evening wear.

He was heard to remark, "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen. If anything should happen to me, tell my wife in New York that I've done my best in doing my duty."-----Benjamin Guggenheim

RMS Titanic's Propellers

Vintage maritime history photo of the RMS Titanics propellers as the mighty ship sits in dry dock/Gettyimages


Titanic's propellers were just as huge as the ship. There were two propellers, each with three blades. The propellers measured 23 feet and 6 inches and weighed 38 tons each.
They were made of bronze metal, and each propeller was powered by a separate engine. Together they created a power of 30,000 hp. It has been said these were the largest propellers ever built. Now they sit on the ocean floor.

RMS Titanic Interesting Facts

RMS Titanic Launched/Gettyimages


Dorothy Gibson, a silent film actress, survived the Titanic and immediately began filming Saved From the Titanic. She wore the same clothes and shoes in the movie as she did the night of the disaster. 

During the ship's construction, eight people died, so to some, it was already plagued. Violet Jessop was among the Titanic survivors, and she later survived the Britannic sinking. Another interesting fact is that at least 13 couples were celebrating their honeymoon on the Titanic. 

Survivors Waiting to be Questioned

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Survivors all had their own stories. Harvey and Charlotte Collyer and their eight-year-old Marjorie were on the Titanic, heading to Idaho for Charlotte's health. Charlotte clung to Harvey's arm when loading into the lifeboats, refusing to get in the lifeboat.

Charlotte had to be torn from her husband. "Go, Lotty, for God's sake, be brave, and go! I'll get a seat in another boat."-----Harvey Collyer
"My dear mother, I don't know how to write to you or what to say. I feel I shall go mad sometimes but dear, as much as my heart aches for you too, for he is your son and the best that ever lived. Oh mother, how can I live without him? He was so calm. The agony of that night can never be told...I haven't a thing in the world that was his, only his rings. Everything we had went down."----Charlotte Collyer

Playing Cards

Playing Cards from the RMS Titanic/Gettyimages


It has been said that people were playing cards when the Titanic hit the iceberg. Auction bridge was a very popular card game.
"Mr. Chevre said that he was playing bridge in the smoking-room when the collision with the iceberg happened. He pointed out that probably it was a submerged berg that the vessel struck, as he saw no sign of it afterward, though the water covered with floating ice. Even after someone yelled that we hit an iceberg, they proceeded with the game. ----Titanic Survivor

Playing cards were recovered from the Titanic Wreck. 

Shipping Register Entry 

Shipping Register Entry for Titanic/Gettyimages


The primary purpose of the Titanic was to transport mail, cargo, and passengers. The ship had many more voyages ahead. It was one of the largest and said to be unsinkable. The Titanic was built with efficiency in mind.

Other than the eight-person orchestra, there was no other professional entertainment. There were no shore excursions. There were no shops or pools onboard. It was meant to be practical but yet still magnificent. 

Katherine Gilnagh

Katherine gilnagh. one of the survivors of the titanic shipwreck shows the travel ticket she had bought in dublin to travel to new york/Gettyimages


Katie survived the sinking because of a white lie. She was told the boat was too full, so she cried, "But I want to go with my sister!" The crewman hesitated and then let her in. On two separate occasions, men acted to ensure that Katie made progress to the upper decks.

"God help me, I told a lie. At first, they didn't want to let anyone else into it because it was overcrowded. I said that I wanted to go with my sister. I had no sister aboard. They let me get in, but I had to stand because we were so crowded."----Katie Gilnagh

Titanic Survivors

Titanic Survivors Arrive/Gettyimages


Rhoda Abbott was another survivor. She was returning to America with her two teenage sons. They reached the boat deck by climbing a steel ladder into the stern and walking on the slanting deck. She knew her boys, who were 16 and 13, would be considered too old, so she stepped back.

As the boat was lowered, Abbott and her boys jumped from the deck. She got into the boat, but her sons were lost. She said that she never recovered from the loss of her sons and died in 1946. 

Millvina Dean

Titanic survivor Millvina Dean, who was nine weeks/Gettyimages


Millvina Dean was the last known living survivor of the Titanic; she was also the youngest passenger aboard. Her parents were leaving the United Kingdom. They were not supposed to be on the Titanic, but due to a coal strike, they were boarded as third-class passengers.

Dean was only two months old on the Titanic. Millvina, her mother, and her brother were placed in a lifeboat and survived. Her father did not survive and was never found. After finding out her father didn't survive, they returned to the United Kingdom.