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Thread on RMS Titanic
107 years ago today the White Star liner Titanic was on her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to NYC. She was 882.5 feet long & one of the most luxurious ships ever built. Her passengers were elite of elite & even 3rd class travelers knew this was special
107 years ago today the White Star liner Titanic was on her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to NYC. She was 882.5 feet long & one of the most luxurious ships ever built. Her passengers were elite of elite & even 3rd class travelers knew this was special
The building of #Titanic at Harland & Wolff shipyard in Ireland was major event. Here is one of her anchors.
The opulence of #Titanic's dining rooms was unparalleled. This is a film recreation from "A Night to Remember"
#Titanic stopped in Cherbourg, France, & Queensland, Ireland, before heading across Atlantic towards NYC. Could she set new transatlantic speed record? Her owner J. Bruce Ismay and builder Thomas Andrews were onboard to witness.
Variety of postcards show how same image was used
Variety of postcards show how same image was used
It was cold night in north Atlantic & lookouts were told to watch for icebergs. Other ships had reported them prowling. Alas, #Titanic's lookout didn't have proper equipment & was using his naked eye. Too late.
Many songsheets like this one were produced after.
Many songsheets like this one were produced after.
#Titanic went hard to port (left) to avoid iceberg but not enough. She struck starboard (rt) side, like glancing blow. But it ripped open part of her side & watertight compartments began to take water. She was doomed. It was 11:40 PM, April 14, 1912.
Her sister ship #Olympic was 500 miles away. They used new telegraph device to communicate. This original marconigram sent right after hitting iceberg attempted to coordinate mtg btwn ships to try & transfer passengers & crew. But time was not on their side. They were too far.
This was first time S.O.S. as distress call was sent from sinking ship. Controversy still exists today over whether SS Californian was sitting just 10 miles away. But like most ships at the time, her radio operator had gone to sleep. #Titanic's cries might as well not existed.
Shouts went out women & children first to lifeboats. #Titanic's officers knew ship was doomed & not enough lifeboats existed for everyone even though they actually had more than legally required. The chaos grew as ship slowly sank further & further beneath the water.
Many different depictions were created in aftermath of disaster as to how it was believed #Titanic slipped beneath the waves.
One of my favorite movie posters of the sinking
One of the best known films, based on Walter Lord's book of the same name. Revived tremendous interest in disaster. Of course, just 45 + years after sinking many survivors were still alive.
Many lifeboats left #Titanic half full. Hundreds of more ppl could have been saved. Water temp was only abt 27 degrees F. We can only survive few minutes under such conditions.
RMS Carpathia was only ship to rescue survivors next morning. Only 705 survived. More than 1500 perished
A series of real photo postcards of #Titanic's lifeboats approaching Carpathia are still eerily captivating 107 years later.
Carpathia & Olympic communicated via Marconigram to coordinate picking up survivors. Alas, Carpathia reported no more were expected & warned Olympic, who looked almost exactly like #Titanic, not to meet her for fear of scaring survivors.
Investigations in US and UK immediately commenced. Here is an original British report.
Hearings before US Congress were held & surviving crew members were called to testify.
The "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, wealthy heiress who survived sinking, gave medals to all of Carpathia's crew. I loaned one of my original bronze medals (jr officers got silver & Captain/top officers got gold) to Molly Brown Museum for 100th anniversary exhibit.
Here's a close-up of the medal. Few original boxes exist.
Many memorials, especially in UK, were built. This was for engineers. You can date early postcards by display of fence which was melted down for WWI.
For #Titanic enthusiasts a trip to Southampton is a must. Many of her crew came from that area.
I've been fascinated by #Titanic since I was child. I joined Titanic Historical Society, created in 1963, when I was 14.
I later helped form Titanic, International, in 1990 and ultimately served on its Board of Trustees. We provided historical support to recovery expeditions to #Titanic.
#Titanic has been subject of many books & films. One of the best fiction works is #CliveCussler's "Raise the Titanic". Alas, not a very good film.
[END] I could go on all day w/items from my collection. #Titanic's short life & legend will likely never fade. On this 107th anniversary we remember those who perished. Of course, new safety rules regarding lifeboats & ice patrols were created in aftermath.
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