A Ship of Immense Proportions
When it was launched in 1912, the RMS Titanic was the largest passenger ship in the world. Measuring 882 feet in length, 175 feet in height, and weighing approximately 46,328 tons, it was an engineering marvel of its time.
A Tragedy of Great Scale
The sinking of the Titanic remains one of the most well-known maritime disasters in history. Out of the 2,224 passengers and crew on board, only 710 survived. However, the situation could have been even more devastating, as the ship was well below its full capacity of 3,327 passengers.
The Impact on Third-Class Passengers
Many passengers traveling in third class were families seeking a new beginning in America. Their accommodations were located on the lower decks, which were among the first areas to flood. In the chaos, locked gates separating third class from the upper decks made escape more difficult, leading to a high number of casualties.
An Eerie Prediction
In 1898, fourteen years before Titanic’s maiden voyage, author Morgan Robertson published a novel titled The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility. The fictional story described a massive ship called Titan that struck an iceberg in April and sank with limited lifeboats onboard. The similarities between the novel and the real-life disaster led many to view it as a remarkable coincidence.
The Meaning Behind ‘RMS’
The Titanic, like many British vessels at the time, carried the prefix RMS, which stood for Royal Mail Ship. Since 1840, only the most reliable ships were selected by the British government to transport mail, and the RMS designation became a mark of prestige.
A Crew Devoted to Duty
Titanic had a crew of 908 members, many of whom remained at their posts as the ship went down. The engine room workers and firemen continued their efforts to keep power running as long as possible. All five postal workers aboard lost their lives while attempting to save the mail entrusted to them.
Acts of Courage
John Jacob Astor IV, one of the wealthiest passengers aboard, was among those who did not survive. With an estimated net worth of $85 million (approximately $2 billion today), he ensured his pregnant wife secured a place on a lifeboat. His final words to her expressed reassurance before he remained behind and perished when the ship sank.
Notable Passengers Who Didn’t Board
Several prominent figures had tickets for Titanic but ultimately did not sail. Among them were Milton S. Hershey, the founder of Hershey’s Chocolate; inventor Guglielmo Marconi; financier J.P. Morgan; and businessman Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt.
A Ship Fueled by Coal
Titanic relied on over 600 tons of coal daily to power its engines. The ship left Southampton with more than 6,000 tons of coal onboard, which firemen shoveled into massive boilers under intense heat. Many of these crew members were among the first casualties as the boiler rooms quickly flooded, and automatic watertight doors sealed off sections of the ship.
Four Distinct Funnels
Titanic was designed with four large funnels, or stacks. Three were functional, expelling smoke from the engines, while the fourth served as an air vent. As water began to flood the boiler rooms, there was concern that the sudden temperature shift between the seawater and the steam inside the stacks could cause explosions. To reduce this risk, engineers worked quickly to release as much steam as possible.
