Titanic/Tower of Babel Comparison

The Titanic was the largest structure on the ocean. The Tower of Babel was the largest structure on land.

Titanic was built by Joseph Bruce Ismay, and the Tower of Babel was built by King Nimrod.

Titanic was built basically to show that man was greater than the elements (some even thought God couldn't sink her), and the Tower of Babel was man's defiance against God for nations to come together and show themselves basically greater than God (they were going to use the Tower of Babel as a stairway to heaven).

Titanic struck an iceberg made by God and sank, the people building the Tower of Babel was struck by God.

The people on the Titanic were of different tongues, and the Tower of Babel was of the same language until God struck them.

The people on Titanic were separated, and the people building the Tower of Babel were scattered.

Titanic is now at the bottom of the ocean decaying. The Tower of Babel more than likely fell apart after everyone stopped building.

Footage Of All Three Sister Ships

Click Here to see the only footage of the R.M.S. Titanic. As noted in the movie, this is before the forward promenade was enclosed. I you look closely, you may be able to see the Titanic's name.

Click HERE to see footage of the R.M.S. Olympic in her last voyages.

Click HERE to see footage of the Olympic in the 1920s.

Click HERE to see more footage of the Olympic in the 1920s.

Click HERE to see even more footage of the Olympic in the 1920s.

Click HERE to see footage of the Olympic in dock.

Click HERE to see footage of what's left of the R.M.S. Olympic today.

Click HERE to see footage of the H.M.H.S. Britannic.

Click HERE to see footage of the Britannic's wreck.

What would have happened?

Here is what might have happened if the TITANIC had not sunk:

TITANIC
The TITANIC would have gone into military service during WWI and would have either become a troop ship (like the Olympic) or had her fittings taken out and become a hospital ship (like the Britannic). After the war, she would resume as a passenger ship. She would have been scrapped after the Cunard merged with the White Star Line.

Joseph Bruce Ismay
Ismay would have been chairman until he retired at an old age. He died in 1937.

Thomas Andrews
Andrews would have gone on as chief designer for the White Star Line and would have become chairman of the Harland and Wolff ship-yards after his uncle Lord Pierrie died.

Captain Edward John Smith
Smith would have finished his career and retired after the TITANIC's maiden voyage.

1st officer William Murdoch
Murdoch would have soon been Captain of some other ship and had a nice career such as Capt. Smith.

Jack Phillips
Phillips would have gone into service during WWI on one of the Royal Naval Ships as wireless operator. He would have more than likely spent the rest of his days in Ireland.

The White Star Line
White Star would have not lost regular travelers that usually booked passage on the White Star Line ships. They would have probably gone out of business anyway.

Steerage
The Steerage/3rd class would have left the ship in the New World and many would have prospered.

Cunard vs. White Star Line

For years, the Cunard and White Star line have gone head-to-head. The Cunard Line was started by Samuel Cunard and after his first ship, he built more and more putting others out of business. The White Star Line was started by Pinkerton and Trelfall and the company was given to many other business-men including J.P. Morgan. The two companies were trying to make their ships bigger, faster, and more luxurious ships. At one point, Cunard built the Lusitania and Maurentania which became the fastest (setting a record time across the Atlantic Ocean), largest, and most luxurious ships ever. That fame and glory lasted only two years when the White Star Line built three ships far bigger and more luxurious than the Lusitania and Maurentania. The three ship's names were the Olympic, TITANIC, and Gigantic. The Olympic was built and became world-famous. The TITANIC was built but as you know, she sank on her maiden voyage. The White Star Line renamed it's final sister Britannic. The Britannic was being constructed and the paneling was just beginning to be installed when his majesty's royal navy pressed the ship into military service. The Britannic was made a hospital ship. On it's 6th voyage, the Britannic struck a mine and sank. The White Star Line lost it's credibility and soon, the Cunard Line won. The White Star Line became Cunard-White Star Line. The Olympic remained in the fleet and was retired and scrapped. The Cunard-White Star Line went out of business and later, Cunard was bought out by the Carnival Line which currently owns all of the ship companies. There remains today, one White Star Line ship as far as we know.

The 1st class Reading and Writing Room

The Reading and Writing Room was almost removed to make room for more 1st class cabins but it was finally decided to put it in. It had white paneling on the walls and there was beautiful designs on the ceiling. The lighting was good as the sun's rays flooded the room through the bay window on the port side with elegant velvet curtains. It was just behind the lounge on A-Deck and it was used by mostly women. While most men were in the 1st class Smoking Room which was only for men, the women would sit in the Reading and Writing room while reading a book, chatting, or sipping a drink such as hot tea or coffee. Women often wrote telegrams or letters to friends and family to tell them of the voyage.

When the TITANIC sank, the Reading and Writing room was closed. It now remains either unexplored or broken from when the TITANIC broke apart and the deck above collapsed. There is however, a yellow sofa and a pink/red chair from the Reading and Writing room found on the beaches of Newfoundland which indicates that someone must have broken in the room and thrown some of the furniture into the ocean so that they could use them as rafts or floating devices.

It Happened in 1912

In 1912, not only did the TITANIC sink on April 14, but other things happened like this:

1. On November 5, Woodrow Wilson won by a landslide against William Howard Taft in the presidential race.

2. On June 30, Emperor Meiji of Japan died.

3. Beginning on May 5, the Summer Olympics were played in Stockholm, Sweden.

4. On February 14, Arizona was established as the 48th state to join the Union.

5. On January 1, Chinese Republic was established.

6. On April 12, Clara Barton the founder of Red Cross and Civil War Heroine died.

Sherlock Holmes

There is a Sherlock Holmes story called "New Year's Eve off of the Scilly Islands. The plot is where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson try and stop an Arsonist. They track him on a ship called the Gigantic which is the original name of the TITANIC's sister ship renamed the Britannic. They talk about shipwrecks like the TITANIC. The reason for attempts to burn the the Gigantic is because it is carrying a bullion. Another ironic thing is that it happens on the New Year in 1912 and 1913 and the TITANIC sank on April 14, 1912 although Britannic sank in September of 1915. There's no murder, but attempted arson and sulfuric acid.

The Beginning of my Interests

My interests began at Easter when my mother said it was a TITANIC Sunday. Then, I began asking what the TITANIC was and all about it. Soon, I was studying the TITANIC in earnest. I then wrote reports for a book that I was doing on the TITANIC most of which are in this blog. However, some biographies that I wrote have been lost. Then, Mom started giving me books for Christmases and birthdays. Now I have a nice sized library of which I go to when doing a biography or report on a part of the ship. I LOVE getting online and watching the movie "A Night to Remember" or going to my TITANIC Library and reading it. Earlier this year, I begged Mom and Dad and they gave me permission to do the TITANIC GAZETTE. Here, I am able to share with you the lives and not widely known stories about the people and the ship. Someday, I hope to become a TITANIC Expert for someone like TITANIC Inc.

TITANIC Memorials

(These are just a few of the many TITANIC Memorials)



Straus Memorial Statue



William T. Stead Memorial



Captain Smith Memorial Statue



Butt Memorial Bridge Augusta, Georgia



Women's TITANIC Memorial Statue



TITANIC Memorial Lighthouse

In Memory

Today is the 96th anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. TITANIC. It struck an iceberg and sank in freezing waters leaving 705 alive and a little over 1,500 dead of hypothermia. Let us first take a moment of silence in the memory of these brave men, women, and children... Today MIllvian Dean, the last survivor alive, will be at the White Swan Hotel in Scotland where many of the TITANIC's sister ship Olympic's furnishings are. Last year, Millvina Dean fell and broke a bone so she wasn't able to attend last year's memorial however, she was visited by the governor and given a huge boquet of flowers. Today, the International Ice Patrol which warns ships about ice ahead of them are going to throw wreath of flowers on where the TITANIC sank. Also, people flood the graveyards where many bodies found floating were laid to rest. Also, they stop by memorial statues and other things in memory of the TITANIC. The TITANIC was spotted by Fredrick Fleet on April 14, 1912 at 11:30P.M; and slipped beneath the waves on April 15, 1912 at 2:20 A.M. Just remember this is not about a blockbuster film, it's about human lives which no one can replace. Thus it was, Thus it went down, and Thus it will live until the end of time.

Charles Joughin

Charles John Joughin was born on August 3, 1878 in Liverpool, England. He became a very good chef and worked at a restaurant until heading out to sea. He had a wife named Nellie Ripley and three children. His first assignment was the Olympic as chief baker. It was very difficult because you had to prepare 11 course meals for over 2,000 passengers (with the help of 5 other chefs). He was then transferred to the TITANIC (with a 12 pound pay) where he made friends with fellow chef Maynard. On the TITANIC, it was even more difficult because even more people were on board than the Olympic. To make matters worse, he also had to cook for 2nd class passengers too!

On April 14, 1912, it was 11:35 and Joughin had just gotten to sleep when he awoken by a jolt. He was called to the bridge and when he got there, he was explained what happened. Joughin immediately ran off not waiting for orders and aroused the other chefs. Together, they got all the spare bread and each person loaded the boats with four loaves of bread. They kept going back and forth until all the boats had 4 loaves of bread.

Joughin then went down to his cabin and drank two bottles of whiskey. He then went up on deck and started picking up women wherever he saw one and throwing the them into boats. He was placed in charge of a boat but seeing stewards, he got out and said "I'd better not set a bad example for the men". He then went to the promenade deck and threw over around 50 deck chairs and then started going inside and threw lavish seats into the water. His purpose was so that those in the water could use the chairs as rafts. By then, the TITANIC had listed so much, that it would have been impossible to climb steps.

Chief Baker later said this about how he survived: "I got on to the starboard side of the poop; found myself in the water. I do not believe my head went under the water at all. I thought I saw some wreckage. Swam towards it and found collapsible boat ("B") with Lightoller and about twenty-five men on it. There was no room for me. I tried to get on, but was pushed off, but I hung around. I got around to the opposite side and cook Maynard, who recognized me, helped me and held on to me." He stayed in the water for around four hours (the average man survived for minutes) until he was pulled aboard a lifeboat which came to Collapsible B. He was in another shipwreck on the S.S. Oregon which sank in the Boston Harbor. He retired and later died of natural causes on December 9, 1956 at the age of 78.

5th Officer Lowe

Harold Godfrey Lowe was born on November 21, 1882 in Cowny, North Wales, England. His father was a respectable business man and had high hopes for him and his other five brothers and their hoped his two sisters would marry respectable husbands. Instead, Harold went to sea at age 14.

He was cabin boy on a vessel traveling around South Africa and slowly rose in rank. He passed his second mate test in 1906 and first mate test in 1908. Then, in 1911, got his master. He joined the White Star Line in 1911 and was 3rd officer on the Belgic and the Tropic.

He was demoted to 5th officer on the TITANIC. He was asleep when the iceberg struck and when defending himself before the inquiry, he said, "We officers do not have any too much sleep, and therefore when we sleep, we die." He woke up half an hour later. While loading the lifeboats, Mr. Ismay was encouraging others to get into the lifeboats when he got in the way of Lowe and Lowe blessed him out. He took charge of Boat No. 14 when it was being lowered, he fired shots into the air because he saw some men whom looked like they were about to jump. After the great ship went down, Lowe waited until the cries for help died down and then he went towards the people where most of them were dead already.

He picked up 4 survivors and then saw a man on a door that was Japanese. He later said : "A little further on, we saw a floating door that must have been torn loose when the ship went down. Lying upon it, face downward, was a small Japanese. He had lashed himself with a rope to his frail raft, using the broken hinges to make the knots secure. As far as we could see, he was dead. The sea washed over him every time the door bobbed up and down, and he was frozen stiff. He did not answer when he was hailed, and the officer hesitated about trying to save him.
"What's the use?" said Mr Lowe. He's dead, likely, and if he isn't there's others better worth saving than a Jap!"
He had actually turned our boat around; but he changed his mind and went back. The Japanese was hauled on board, and one of the women rubbed his chest, while others chafed his hands and feet. In less time than it takes to tell, he opened his eyes. He spoke to us in his own tongue; then, seeing that we did not understand, he struggled to his feet, stretched his arms above his head, stamped his feet, and in five minutes or so had almost recovered his strength. One of the sailors near to him was so tired that he could hardly pull his oar. The Japanese bustled over, pushed him from his seat, took the oar and worked like a hero until we were finally picked up. I saw Mr Lowe watching him in open-mouthed surprise.
"By Jove!" muttered the officer. "I'm ashamed of what I said about the little blighter. I'd save the likes o' him six times over, if I got the chance." He cried out to the guy but he didn't respond. He hauled him on and after reviving him, the man grabbed an oar and stayed there until they reached the Carpathia. One of the men that he rescued, died of exposure during the boat ride and did not survive the night.

Officer Lowe later married Emily White House and they had two children, Harold and Florence. He served as commander during WW1 and then retired from the sea. He died in 1944.

The Wreck of the Titanic

A Skittish Poem



The Wreck of the Titanic
While on her way to America in April 1912
by William McGonagall, Poet and Tragedian

O beautiful ship Titanic
Of the White Star Line,
Your tragic tale shall be remembered
For a very long time.

Twas in the Month of April,
on the Fourteenth day,
That a disaster happened
Which took more than fifteen hundred lives away.

They were heading t'wards Americ's shore
In the middle of the night,
When the lookout spied an iceberg,
Which gave him quite a fright.

They turned the wheel hard to Port,
And then again to Starboard,
But they hit the iceberg anyway.
The hull was rent like cardboard.

They tried to make the passengers
Get into the lifeboats,
But they said that it was too cold,
To be outside without their coats.

But Mr J Bruce Ismay of the White Star Line,
Persuaded them, because
He got into a lifeboat,
To show how safe it was.

And Mr Guggenheim was there,
With his valet by his side.
They both wore Evening Dress,
For to drown while badly dressed they could not abide.

They tried to make Mrs Strauss,
Get into a lifeboat,
But she wouldn't leave her husband.
They will never be forgot.

Joughin, the Ship's Baker,
Had imbibed the Demon Drink,
He jumped into the water,
He was lucky not to sink.

But they pulled him in a lifeboat,
And he survived the night,
But he signed the Pledge when he got home,
'Cause he got such a fright.

The hero of the hour
Was Second Officer Lightoller
And I think that his example
We should all be sure to follow.

He did his duties bravely,
Though people swore and cursed,
Enforcing the Rule of the Sea,
'Women and Children first'

A wave washed him from off the deck,
Into the icy brine,
But he survived to tell the tale,
And defend the White Star Line.

At last the great Leviathan,
Slipped down below the water.
The Engineers stayed at their posts,
They never once did falter.

And Captain E.J. Smith,
On the bridge until the last,
Might not have hit the iceberg,
If he hadn't gone too fast.

Joseph Bruce Ismay

Joseph Bruce Ismay was born on December 12, 1862 to Thomas Henry and Margret Bruce Ismay. His father was the part owner of Firm of Ismay Imrie which started the White Star Line, Asiatic Steam Navigation Company and other companies. He went to study in Estree School Harrow, France and was an apprentice to a ship building company for 4 years and then took an around the world trip for a year. When he came home, he married Julia Florence in 1888 and two sons and two daughters. They moved to England
in 1891. In 1899, Thomas Ismay died leaving all the companies to Joseph. One day at a dinner party, J Bruce Ismay and a friend Lord Pirrie got an idea to build three huge ships. But when they looked for a shipbuilding yard, they could not find one big enough, so they had to build a shipbuilding yard and named it Harland and Wolff. The work started on the Olympic, then a month later the Titanic, then a year later the Britannic.
J. Bruce Ismay went on the Olympic and made it to New York, then Titanic which was going to reach New York early and surprise everyone, but she struck and Iceberg. As he was sinking, J Bruce Ismay, saw no women or children, so he got into a lifeboat, when he arrived in New York, he became a scapegoat for the public, because he was the owner of the ship. Ismay was able to keep his job until Britannic was built and launched. He was forbidden to speak about the Titanic after he went before an inquiry. He died a broken man in 1937.