It’s been 100 years since the Atlantic engulfed the “unsinkable” ship. April 15, 1912 was a day of lost hope and horror. Days after embarking on its maiden voyage, the Titanic suffered a terrible fall. Now, one century after this catastrophe, the ship continues to draw questions and curiosity from around the world.
The Titanic was the ship of dreams. The rich and famous flooded the luxury liner on April 10, 1912, spending the upcoming days lounging in their comfortable cabins and enjoying the finest dining. The world was infatuated with their lives, however the majority of passengers were crewmembers and guests sailing in the 2nd and 3rd classes. But in the end, whether they were extravagantly wealthy or unbearably poor, five days later they all experienced the same fate.
Late on the night of April 14, 1912 the Titanic sank.
In the hours before the accident the Titanic received multiple warning messages regarding ice masses and freezing cold waters, however the officers ignored their significance – continuing into the frozen Atlantic at full speed, surrounded by endless darkness. A large iceberg was spotted, but with what little time they had, their efforts were useless. The bulk of the ship scrapped along the hard ice, causing multiple tears along its side. Sinking began immediately.
Most passengers who were inside the ship, enjoying the remainder of the night or sleeping in their rooms, were initially unaware of how severe the damage was. As the lower levels of the ship began to fill with water, chaos broke out. The passengers were now well aware – the Titanic was sinking, and fast.
As the ship continued plummeting into the ocean, officers sent an SOS to a neighboring ship, the Carpathia, but sadly it was not nearly close enough to help.
Chief Draughtsman was responsible for the design of the ship’s lifeboats; there were barely enough for half of the ship’s passengers. Families were split apart, and no men were permitted on the lifeboats.
The Titanic disappeared from sight within 3 hours with the lingering notes of “Nearer, My God, to Thee” swimming around the sunken ship.
Of the 2228 people on board, only a shocking 705 survived.
After this night the Titanic was not seen again until September 1, 1985, when the ship’s remains were finally found, hidden in the depths of the Atlantic, 2.4 miles below the water. Sadly its hopeful destination – to reach New York City – never became a reality.
The world was overcome with shock at the sinking of the famous luxury liner. The ships passengers and stories lived on in the hearts of millions.
This popularity blew up with the premiere of the movie: The Titanic, in which the stories of two fictional characters, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, are explored. Their forbidden romance and undying love lured in an endless audience, allowing for the film to win 11 Oscars – making it the most nominated movie in history.
Currently, the award-winning movie is being readmitted to 3-D theaters across the nation, in remembrance of the Titanic’s 100-year anniversary.
One century after the tragedy the ship continues to be explored, in hopes of determining all of its buried secrets. Some say the remains of the ship may be rapidly deteriorating; some large sections have already fallen apart. However, it has not yet been determined when the Titanic will fully vanish from the vast Atlantic.
Whether visible or not, the “unsinkable” ship will forever be remembered.