Remembering the Night unsinkable Titanic sank

When Titanic was launched in the presence of 100,000 onlookers, nobody could imagine how this ship of wonder would give the world scar of 1,514 deaths. The last word in comfort and luxury, Titanic carried 2,223 people, wealthiest and those who were seeking a new life in America. It’s been 100 years since RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on her way to New York City, but her memory kept alive in countless books, songs, films and memorials. James Cameron's Titanic (1997), portraying the sinking of ship gave new dimension to works of art. 

Titanic was born with manufacturer White Star Line‘s vague vision of commissioning a new class of luxury. Titanic was built 269 meter long with breadth of 28.19 meter and height of 32 meter. Adding 900 to crew, ship could accommodate 3,339 people, 739 passengers in First-Class, 674 in Second Classes and 1,026 in Third Class. With an onboard gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, squash court, Turkish bath and high-class restaurants, first-class passengers were to enjoy a floating hotel rather than a ship. 

On 10 April 1912, with 885 crew members and the most senior of the White Star Line's captains, the Titanic's maiden voyage began from Southampton, UK. The weather was windy, when Titanic weighed anchor for the last time. The first three days of the voyage passed without incident, yet Titanic received a series of warnings from other ships about drifting ice in the Grand Banks of Newfoundland area. Nonetheless, the ship continued to steam at full speed. 

On April 14th, at 11:40 pm, she spotted an iceberg. First Officer ordered the ship to be steered around, but the starboard side of Titanic struck the iceberg, creating a series of holes below the waterline. It soon became clear that the ship was doomed with its watertight compartments getting breached. Earlier regarded unsinkable, Titanic began sinking bow-first, with water spilling from compartment to compartment. Titanic was ill-prepared for such disaster. Due to outdated maritime safety regulations, she carried lifeboats for 1,178 people – one-third of total capacity. Inadequately trained crew and officers launched many lifeboats barely half-full.

Third-class passengers were largely left to fend for themselves in the ship filled with water. Over 90% men in Second Class were stayed aboard due to a women and children first protocol. Just before 2:20 am ship broke up and sank with over a thousand people still on board, breaking loose from the bow section. The remaining passengers and crew were plunged into lethally cold water with a temperature of only −2 °C. Many of those died within minutes from hypothermia, caused by Freezing Ocean.

Distress signals were sent by wireless, rockets and lamp, but none of the ships responded until Carpathia arrived on the scene at 4 am. Only 710 people survived the disaster while 1,514 people lost their lives. Carpathia on 18 April arrived at New York, greeted by 40,000 people waiting in heavy rain. Crowds gathered outside newspaper offices to see the latest reports on casualties, which took four next days to be compiled and released. For anybody, who heard about it, pain was irritable. Thomas Hardy's poem The Convergence of the Twain (1912) emerged from the disaster. Saved from the Titanic was released only 29 days after the ship sank, having actual survivor –Dorothy Gibson, the silent film actress. 

The largest ship at a time, as long as four city blocks, was believed to be too strong to sink. The unsinkable ship stayed beneath the Atlantic Ocean for 71 years till National Geographic helped an explorer go look for her in 1985. Many sad reminders of Titanic's passengers were found with suitcases, cups, and countless shoes. Over years, Titanic has been symbolizing the sad glory, perhaps we can collect piece of it from 12,415 feet sea depth, but reviving the smiling faces of people who drowned with Titanic is surely not achievable.