This gallery will show photos of the Titanic before, during, and after the sinking. The Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912. It was only four days into her maiden voyage when the ship struck an iceberg.
The ship took two hours and forty minutes to sink to the ocean floor.
The Titanic Bell
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
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
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
Joseph Ismay was the 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
