On this day in 1912, passengers stepped off the docks of Southampton in England, unknowingly sealing their fate.
The RMS Titanic gleamed in the noon sunlight, a marvel of naval innovation. As the largest ship afloat at the time, her size was only dwarfed by the level of wealth aboard; some of the world’s wealthiest individuals — rail tycoon Charles Hays, billionaire John Jacob Astor IV, and new-money icon Margaret Brown, to name a few — made up the elite first-class passengers. Also on board were the Titanic’s chief architect, Thomas Andrews, and White Star Shipping Line Chairman, J. Bruce Ismay. The second and third class passengers, nearly 1,000 in total, encompassed over half the people aboard, though they were relegated to more cramped quarters below deck.
Southampton overflowed with nearly 100,000 people eager to witness the historic departure. Emotions were diverse: families wept, builders gazed upon their work in awe, and those on the railing waved goodbye with smiles beaming. The Titanic set her course for New York, promising a five-day voyage of opulence, comfort and excitement for the large number of immigrant passengers, most of whom looked forward to a new life in America.
Tragically, their optimism would be short-lived.
On April 15th, the RMS Titanic would infamously strike an iceberg around 2 A.M. in the Northern Atlantic. Within two hours, the “unsinkable” ship was swallowed by the freezing waves, claiming the lives of over 1,500 people. Today, the disaster is remembered as one of the most notorious and deadly in maritime history.
Omens of the Titanic’s fate can be found even in its celebrated departure from England. During her construction, a fire reportedly broke out in the hull. Over 50 ticket-holders refused to board on April 10th. Lifeboats were woefully lacking, merely enough for a fraction of the passengers. Edward Smith, the ship’s captain, planned to make the Titanic’s maiden passage his career’s last, which proved eerily true.
“I never saw a wreck and never have been wrecked, nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort. You see, I am not very good material for a story,” Smith reportedly said before the voyage.
As those on land said farewell to the ship, watching her vanish over the horizon, none could have imagined what lay ahead. None could have known it would be the last some saw of their mothers, fathers and children. The Titanic remains a sobering reminder of the sea’s indifference and man’s hubris.
