On April 10th 1912, the Titanic, the largest, most luxurious liner in the world, left Southampton on her first voyage across the Atlantic:
On board there were 1,306 passengers and 899 officers and
crew. Six days later, the Titanic, described as "unsinkable", was at the
bottom of the ocean and only 700 survivors
reached New York on board the Carpathia.
What exactly happened? Read the chronology of events and the survivors' own
accounts which are taken from The Times of April 20th, 1912.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
April 10th. 1912. The Titanic
Southampton. Captain Smith
to take the northern route - the shorter, summer route. He
to win the "
Blue Ribbon for the fastest
crossing.
April l2th. A French liner
a message to the Titanic to warn them that there
dangerous icebergs ahead.
Sunday, April l4th. The Titanic
three more messages about a dangerous "field of ice"
Sunday evening. An American boat, the Californian,
a final
warning to Captain Smith. The Californian
all her
engines and floated near the icebergs. The Titanic
at full speed
towards the ice.
11.40 Sunday evening. One member of the crew
an enormous iceberg ahead, but the Titanic
in time. The collision
a
hole 100 meters
wide in the side of the ship.
Midnight. Captain Smith
women and children into the
lifeboats. There
only 16 boats, enough for 1178 people.
1 a.m. Monday, April l5th. All the lifeboats had left the Titanic.
Most of the men and crew were
still on board the ship
2.00 a.m. The lights went out and the Titanic
to
sink.
2.22 a.m. The Titanic
.
Monday morning. One ship, the Carpathia,
in time to
pick up those in the lifeboats. In New York no one
worried about the news of the collision. The morning newspapers read :”All saved from the Titanic”.
Tuesday, April l6th. The Carpathia
New York with all the survivors- only 700 people. The world
shocked by the news. The Times said "We now know the Titanic was completely alone in her agony." 1,503 people died - 823 passengers and 680 members of the crew.