THE TITANIC STORY

On April 12 , 1912 the Titanic set out with 3000 people . Throughout April 12, 13 and 14 the Titanic steamed westwards at high speed, and by midnignt on the 14-15 the titanic was about 300 miles southeast of Newfoundland. Initially, the captainof the Titanic was not out to break records. However, one of the officers decided that to arrive on the 17 that would be more convenient than on the 18, so the captain went ahead with attemting to break the record. As the Titanic steamed ahead, the officer got a radio report from other boats that there were icebergs which the Titanic would pass. As the night passed the temperature fell from 43 degreeF at 19.00 to 33 degreeF at 21.00. About 20 minutes to midnight, most of the passengers had gone to their cabins, and only a few people were awake in the smoking room and the third class. Before 11.40 the lookout reported to the captain "Iceberg" and then the officer ordered "Hard a starboard" followed by "Full astern", but it was too late to avoid the iceberg. The ship's bow swung to port and it scraped down her starboard side.

Many of passengers were unaware that the Titanic had hit an iceberg. After the accident, Captain Smith called his officers to release the news. Stewards went from cabin to cabin instructing the passengers to put on warm clothing and to take their lifebelts up on deck. One officer ordered stewards to fill the lifeboats with women and children. Unfortunately, there were only 16 lifeboats on the Titanic that left many husbands and wives who refused to go alone.








Captain Smith had not given the order yet to put lifeboats into the water. He knew their limited capacity and that no one could survive for more than 10 minutes in the freezing water. He was also anxiously waiting for the news that another ship would be close enough to reach ccthe titanic before it sank.

The Titanic's distress calls were received by several other boats in the area, on which 60 miles away was Carpathia. The Carpathia altered course and increased speed to a maximum of 14 knots, which meant that she would reach the Titanic in 4 hours time. The radio operator of the Titanic urged the Carpathia to hurry About 2.10 Titanic's transmitter power failed which forced Catain Smith to order his men to abandon the ship. at 2.20 the titanic slowly tilted straight on the end with the stern vertically, and with no lights in the cabins and saloons. At the same time the machinery roared down throught the vessel with a groaning rattle that could have been heard for miles. The Titanic tilted up for five minutes then slowly disappeared into the dark ocean.

After the Titanic disappeared, hundreds of people struggles in the icy water crying for help

but could not be answered. At 3.20 the Carpathia arrived, she saved the occupants of the first lifeboat at 4.10 and by 8.30 had rescued the last. Less than 700 of the 3000 people had been saved.