At 11:40, a lookout in the crows nest spotted an iceberg dead ahead. He notified the bridge and First Officer Murdoch ordered the ship turned hard to port. He signaled the engine room to reverse direction, full astern. The ship turned slightly, but it was much too large, moving much too fast, and the iceberg was much too close. 37 seconds later, the greatest maritime disaster in history began.
This is how I can summarize the events that took place on that fateful night exactly ninety seven years ago.
The story was relatively new for me until I’ve watched the film “Titanic” starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. My main concern is just to watch how the massive Titanic would plunge into the icy water. But after seeing the movie, it tickled my imagination and instantly became a fan. I have collected several news clippings, books, pictures, a replica of the ship, vhs tapes and cd’s, posters and absolutely anything that talks about the Titanic.
So much have been said about the facts leading to the event. What I would try to impart are some of the least known things that were not highlighted but plays a vital role to the whole event. Let’s submerge to the icy water and explore the wreck of the Titanic;
1. In 1898, a book called Futility, telling how the largest ship in the world “Titan”, sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg, killing thousands. 14 years later, Titanic would suffer the same fate.
2. Just how big Titanic is? She is 852 ½ feet long, that’s about a sixth of a mile, enough to extend to four streets. 175 feet high from keel to the top of the funnels and 52,310 tons displacement, the weight of the water that had to move out when she sits on it.
3. Titanic’s passengers included some of the wealthiest people in the world during that era. The wealthiest was Col. John Jacob Astor. When his body was pulled out of the water, he had a gold watch, gold & diamond cufflinks, 225 pounds in English paper money, $2,440 in American bills, 5 pounds in gold & a gold pencil.
4. Accounts have it that the night was uncommonly clear and dark. The stars were so bright that one officer mistook the planet Jupiter (then rising just above the horizon) for a steamship light. The sea was also flat like glass, said many survivors, which makes it more difficult to spot iceberg.
5. The lookouts had no binoculars. Fleet and Lee used only their naked eye as binoculars were apparently misplaced. Fleet did not see the iceberg until it was a mere 500 yards or 37 seconds from impact.
6. Some Titanic mysteries have religious significance. One famous legend concerns about the number printed under the ships name: 3909 04. When looked at the mirror, the number spells out the words, “NO POPE”. Some have felt that this anti-Catholic sentiment has something to do with the disaster.
7. A native of Ohio, Doris Williams is always been afraid of ships and oceans. In 1960, Doris consulted a spiritual advisor about her strange phobia. The advisor hypnotized her but wasn’t able to find any pertinent childhood memories, so he’d thought to check back further. Sure enough, it was revealed that Doris had been reincarnated. In her previous life she was a man named Blackwell, a passenger who perished on board the Titanic! In a research, there was in fact a Stephen Blackwell who was lost in Titanic. Doris even revealed Blackwell’s address while under hypnosis. Dori’s case created a stir among Titanic fans as well as among psychic phenomena buffs.
8. Now that the wrecks true position is known, thanks to the ambitious expedition mounted by Dr. Robert Ballard, its ownership becomes an issue. It lies within the offshore waters claimed by Canada, a claim not recognized by the United States.
Titanic is truly a legend. Her story continue to delight me specially the mysteries that surrounds her. Today, as we remember that night of heroism, terror and tragedy, we must not forget the lives that were lost. All of the passengers in steerage section were lost, a classic symbol of rich against the poor. Sadly, that inequality continues to hound us up to this moment. Her story changes not only the maritime industry but also changes the course of history.
Titanic certainly lives on!
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento