titanic
Chapter I MAKE A WISH The hauntingly beautiful legacy of Titanic has never ceased to capture the imagination of all who surrender to her majestic spell. ... It is impossible to understand the genesis the Titanic without looking at the men who conceived the idea of a giant ship and the reasons why they ever imagined such an extraordinary vessel, without some notion of the ruthlessly competitive international shipping business - British, American, German – of which they were part. ... The man behind the Titanic was Canadian. ... During the next half century, largely thanks to his leadership, Harland & Wolff became the greatest shipyard in the world and the birthplace of Titanic. ... Titanic was of British registry, even though her owners, the White Star Line, were owned by the International Mercantile Marine ( IMM ), owned by J. ... The first would be named the Olympic, the second the Titanic and the third the Gigantic. ... Work began on Olympic and Titanic during 1908 – 1909. Titanic’s older sister, Olympic, launched on october 20, 1910 , served as a reliable member of the White Star Fleet until she was scrapped in 1935 after striking and sinking the famous Nantucket lightship off the eastern cost of the United States. Her younger sister, Britannic, met a fate similar to that of Titanic during World War I when she struck a German mine off the coast of Greece and sunk in less than an hour. Britannic was originally to be named Gigantic, but further reference to size in the wake of the Titanic was thought by White Star to go against public sentiment. Titanic was the middle ship of the three new super liners. ... Titanic was launched on May 31, 1911, just past noon, to a formidable crowd of well-wishers. ... After just sixty - two seconds the Titanic slid safely down into the River Lagan and on her way to the fitting out basin. Sea trials for Titanic began on April 2, 1912. ... Titanic’s sea trials, perfunctory at best, lasted only half a day. ... With the trials succesful, Titanic obtained her passenger certificate and was dutifully handed over to her owners. ... Titanic was thought to be unsinkable by some, though she was never actually advertised that way by either Harland and Wolff or White Star. In fact, White Star advertised Titanic and Olympic simply as the “ largest and finest steamers in the world “. The idea of considering the Titanic unsikable resulted from the conviction the builders had that they had done everything possible to really make her so. ... The description of it appeared in Philip Gibbs’s pamphlet called “ The Deathless Story of The Titanic “ : “ each door is held in the open position by a suitable friction clutch, which can be instantly released by means of powerful electric magnet controlled by the captain’s bridge, so that in the event of an accident, or at any time when it might be considered advisable, the captain can, by simply moving an electric switch, instantly close the doors throughout – practically making the vessel unsinkable “. ... At the official inquiries passengers and crew testified that they had reacted slowly at the collision because they thought the Titanic unsinkable. ... On the morning of April 10, 1912, the Titanic was about to set out on her maiden voyage to New York. ... Even though she was as large as her sister ship, the Olympic, many remarks were made as to the "titanicness" of the Titanic. ... As the bow of the Titanic came near with that of the New York, suction caused by the motion of the Titanic dragged the New York away from her berth. ... After about an hour long delay, the Titanic began to move forward again, but this time, the Oceanic strained at her mooring lines. The lines held, but she did not stop straining at them until well after the Titanic had passed by. Once clear of the port, the Titanic sailed for Cherborg, France without incident, arriving at dusk. Here, more passengers boarded, then the Titanic set out for Queesntown, on the southern coast of Ireland, arriving off Roches Point about noon on April 11. ... The Titanic departed in the afternoon and sailed into the open sea. ... The Titanic was now out to sea on her maiden voyage, sailing to New York. ... The Titanic would try for high speeds on most of the voyage and her crew planned to go for a speed record on Monday, April 15. The Titanic was the prize of modern technology, and her existence gave men a great pride in what they could do. Man wanted to subdue nature, and many felt that the Titanic was an excellent start. After all, wasnt the Titanic UNSINKABLE? The route chose for the Titanic to cross the Atlantic aroused many rumors after the sinking. Did Captain Smith choose a daring route across the Atlantic for the Titanic? Well connected elderly Englishmen recall well connected friends saying years ago that the secret of the Titanic disaster was that she was taking a shortened route, too far north, because she was lacking coal as a result of the 1912 coal strike. ... The Titanic had to get coal in Southampton from other ships, which were consequently delayed. ... Titanic was on the southern. ... But though the Titanic’s route turned out to be fatal, there was nothing unusual about it. Aboard the Titanic for her first Atlantic crossing, the crew numbered just over 900. ... Titanic’s maiden voyage would be commanded by Edward J. ... Smith was transferred to Titanic from her sister Olympic, for what he expected to be his final voyage before retirement. At sisxty-two, and twenty-six years with the White Star Line, Titanic’s first Atlantic crossing would be his last. ... Among Titanic’s First Class passengers were Mr. ... Second Class mainly consisted of professionals on holiday and families who may have booked First Class passage on other ships but were excitedly “ forced “ to downgrade to Second Class accommodations on Titanic. ... More than just a ship, Titanic was a virtual floating palace, more of a hotel than an ocean liner. ... In fact, Titanic and her sisters were bulit on a cost plus arrangement. ... And no expense was spared when it came to Titanic’s appointments. The four parlor suites (located on B - Deck) on the Titanic were the most expensive accommodation aboard. ... The massive First-Class dining saloon was over one hundred feet in length, seating capacity 554 and, like everything else on the Titanic, beautifully designed. ... Elegant was the word for the First-Class "A la Carte Restaurant" aboard the Titanic. ... The "A la Carte Restaurant" was an innovation of the White Star Line for the Titanic and Olympic. ... The Titanic had one of the first swimming pools ever seen on an ocean liner, this feature was unique to the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympic. ... Another unique feature of the Titanic was her gymnasium, located on the starboard side near the First-Class entrance. ... The Third-Class cabins were located in the lower parts of the ship (F-Deck and G-Deck) and were the least desirable of accomodations aboard the Titanic. ... Chapter III THE END OF A DREAM As early as Friday the 12th of April the Titanic received her first warning from the French liner La Touraine. The next day the Rappahannock morsed directly to the Titanic’s bridge that she had encountered an ice field and had sustained damage to her bow and rudder. ... the Titanic was nearing a point in her course known of as “ the corner “, where she should change her course from southwest to west-northwest. ... icebergs had been reported very close to the Titanic’s course and more were coming in. ... In spite of the numerous reports, no extra lookouts were posted and the 22-1/2 knot speed of the Titanic was not slowed significantly. ... As the other ship came closer, she began to signal the Titanic with her Morse lamp. ... “ The message was received by the Titanic, but no precautions were taken to avoid the possible danger, now no more than 40 miles ahead of her, her speed was still 22.