Sinking of the titanic
Sinking of the titanicThe sinking of the Titanic
There have been many maritime disasters. The number of people affected by the disasters usually is the significance. The most significant disasters usually stay in peoples' minds forever, even though they were not directly involved. The Titanic was a luxury liner, considered to be an unsinkable ship. Yet on April 14, 1912 the ship sank, killing 1,500 people. The sinking of the Titanic continues to amaze people, because of the many unexpected deaths, the many attempts to recover the wreckage, and the many artifacts that were found.
There were many people who died when the ship sank. The death toll was high, the 1,500 people who died when the ship sank, probably died from
hypothermia, because the water temperature was so low (Maddocks 131). There
were many important people who died in this horrible tragedy. A U.S. millionaire John Jacob Astor died trying to save his wife and children, a week later his body was found horribly mangled ("Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 712). Other important people who died on the ship such as Thomas Andrews who died, and he was the builder of the ship, and John George Phillips who died while trying to send morse code and no one responded ( Maddocks 126-127). Among the other people who died was the captain Edward J. Smith who went down with the rest of his crew ("Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 702). Most of the people sacrificed their own lives to save their families.
The Americans and the French spent many hours looking for the wreckage of the Titanic. The French and the Americans joined forces to find the wreckage, and during this period the French revealed their new sonar equipment that enabled them to survey a half-mile strip of land each time it passed by. On June 28, 1985 the Americans revealed a ship with one of the worlds strongest sonar detectors to search for the Titanic (" Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 706,704). The new ship the Americans had, had cameras and manuverable arms (" A Long Last Look At The Titanic" 705). On the first run of the American sonar ship "J.J" they spotted one of the giant boilers of the Titanic, so the Americans added die-cast metal arms to pick up the boiler ("Mute Testimony Of The wreckage" 707). On the second attempt the sonar was able to detect a large black mass in the distance, the large black mass turned out to be the hull section of the Titanic ("Return To The Titanic"56"). All together the U.S and the French spent thirtythree hours exploring the hull of the Titanic ("A Long Last Look At The Titanic" 702). On the third attempt
a man boarded the U.S. sonar ship to get a better view of the area ("Return To The Titanic" 58). The man aboared the ship discovered the main reason the Titanic sunk,it was a 300 foot gash on the side of the ship. The man also spotted on the other side of the ship, that the side had been dented inwards which may have been another reason for its sinking. ("A Long Last Look At The Titanic" 703). Although searchers found the Titanic, it was not recovered due to the recognition to the many people who died there.
There were many artifacts that were found while looking for the wreckage. The artifacts that were found while looking for the wreckage proved to be important in later discoveries. The U.S. search team located pieces of the hull section and a metal platter ("Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 715). The U.S team also found a fragile cup placed perfectly on a piece of the hull section, along with an electric space heater ("A long Last Look At The Titanic" 703). Some artifacts were still attached to the ship, such as a twisted piece of railing and what seemed to be a foghorn ("Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 716). The U.S team also found the motor control deck and a crane used for lifting luggage or heavy items ("Return To The Titanic" 60). While the U.S search vehicle was passing over the #1 smoke stack, it found the grand staircase ("Return To The Titanic" 60). The U.S team also found the Titanic's huge anchor, that at one time weighed eighteen tons ("A Long Last Look At The Titanic" 698). While searching the area of the wreckage the U.S team found many bottles of wine that have not been broken, some of which were still drinkable. The U.S team also found a chamber pot and parts of the ships generator("Mute Testimony Of The Wreckage" 711,715). While searching the area, the U.S team stumbled upon one of the Titanic's massive steam boilers ("A Long Last Look At The Titanic" 703). The artifacts that were found resemble many things still used today.
The sinking of the Titanic still amazes people today. When the people boarded one of the largest luxury liners, people came from all over the world just to see it. Then four days later the ship that was supposed to be unsinkable, sank causing people to think that anything was possible. Some people want to raise the wreckage, but others want to leave it as a memorial to the many people who died there, and out of respect for their families. Still today, people continue to explore and read about the sinking of the Titanic.