Titanic's Fate Up to Virginia Judge

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Nearly a century after the Titanic struck ice in the North Atlantic, a federal judge in Virginia is poised to preserve the largest collection of artifacts from the opulent oceanliner and protect the ship's resting place.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, a maritime jurist who considers the wreck an "international treasure," is expected to rule within weeks that the salvaged items must remain together and accessible to the public. That would ensure the 5,900 pieces of china, ship fittings and personal belongings won't end up in a collector's hands or in a London auction house, where some Titanic artifacts have landed.

The judgment could also end the legal tussle that began when a team of deep-sea explorers found the world's most famous shipwreck in 1985.

The salvage company, RMS Titanic Inc., wants the court to grant it limited ownership of the artifacts.

At the same time, a cadre of government lawyers is helping Smith shape covenants to strictly monitor future activity at the Titanic wreck 2 1/2 miles beneath the surface of the Atlantic. Amid evidence of the ship's deterioration, experts and government lawyers say the sanctity of the Titanic must be properly protected as a memorial to the 1,522 people who died when it went down.

"For the most part, the value of Titanic is its history — and not from some pile of gold, silver and jewels," said Ole Varmer, an attorney in the international law office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose office has developed guidelines for the Titanic.

Because the Titanic sank in international waters on April 15, 1912, and the ship's owners are long gone, the wreck site and its artifacts have been subject to competing legal claims since an international team led by oceanographer Robert Ballard found it 24 years ago. The courtroom survivor is RMS Titanic Inc., also known as RMST, which gathered the artifacts during six dives. Courts have declared it salvor-in-possession — meaning it has exclusive rights to salvage the Titanic — but have explicitly stated it does not own the 5,900 artifacts or the wreck itself.

RMST is a subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions Inc., an Atlanta company that bills itself as "a major provider of museum-quality touring exhibitions." Its offerings include sports memorabilia, a traveling Star Trek homage and "Bodies," an anatomy exhibit featuring preserved human cadavers.

RMST conducts traveling displays of the Titanic artifacts, which the company says have been viewed by 33 million people worldwide.

Last month, RMST underwent a shakeup of its board and saw its director resign over the company's poor financial performance, according to Premier Exhibitions filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and statements by dissident shareholders. Smith had expressed concerns before the board shakeup about RMST's ability to continue properly managing the collection, considering the company's financial situation.

No one familiar with the case or the artifacts has questioned RMST's handling of them.

RMST is seeking limited ownership of the artifacts as compensation for its salvage efforts. In its court filing for a salvage award, the company put the fair market value of the collection at $110.9 million. The same filing states that RMST's costs associated with the recovery and conservation of the artifacts have exceeded revenues from their display.

If the court agrees to RMST's request, the company could sell the entire collection to a museum with court approval.

Robert W. McFarland, an attorney for RMST, declined to comment before Smith rules.

Smith is drawing upon the State Department and NOAA to help craft the covenants to keep the artifacts preserved, intact as a collection and available to the public, and to guide future salvage operations at the Titanic wreck by RMST. At a hearing in November, the no-nonsense judge made clear the stakes.

"I am concerned that the Titanic is not only a national treasure, but in its own way an international treasure, and it needs protection and it needs to be monitored," the judge told lawyers in the case.

Congress has expressed its interest in preserving the Titanic as a memorial. U.S. lawmakers have not, however, implemented an agreement with the United Kingdom, which has already embraced a ban on unregulated salvage of the wreck.

J. Ashley Roach, a retired State Department lawyer who worked on the Titanic case, said the Titanic is the first major shipwreck in international waters to receive such close scrutiny.

"You have a domestic court and now the branches of government working together to make sure the wreck itself continues to be available in the future for the public good," he said.

International protections have been sought for the Titanic almost since the wreck was discovered. Ballard, who led the team that found the ship, told a congressional hearing in October 1985:

"Titanic is like a great pyramid which has been found and mankind is about to enter it for the first time since it was sealed. Has he come to plunder or appreciate? The people of the world clearly want the latter."

(This article is from Associated Press)

Titanic Barber Shop

The Barber Shop was used not only for cutting hair, but for souvenirs too. There was one for 2nd class(located on E-Deck), and 1st class (located on C-Deck) too. It also served as a sort of lounge for the maids and valets brought by the passengers. The 3rd class passengers had to make due and either have a haircut before, or after the voyage. The Barber Shops for 1st class and 2nd class were small. They had a bench on one side, and chairs on the other. The benches were used for waiting while the chairs were used for cutting hair. The souvenirs were hanging from the ceiling, or on the walls. They sold penknives, banners, dolls, hats, tobacco, ribbons with RMS Titanic embroidered on it, and other things like that. The photograph above is from the Titanic's almost identical sister ship, Olympic. The barbers were Arthur White(formerly the J.P. Morgan's private barber who owned of White Star Line) in 2nd class and Charles Weikman in 1st class. Nothing is known about what happened to either of the Barber Shops during or after the sinking. No one has visited them yet. The Barber Shop in 1st class is accessible, with it being just off the Grand Staircase. The one in 2nd class, was in the stern. As far as I can tell, it might be still standing but it is more than likely inaccessible. There may be a souvenirs that were carried off by the passengers into the lifeboats from the Barber Shop, but I'm not aware of any.

Straus Suite

Click HERE to tour the Rose Suite from Cameron's movie. The Straus Sitting Room and one of the bedrooms looks a lot like the photos above (the photo of the bedroom is an example of what 1st Class cabins looked like on the ship and is not known if this is actually what the Straus Suite bedroom looked like).

Click HERE to see the Strauss Suite (James Cameron used some things from the Straus Suite in Rose's Suite).

The Straus suite was the most opulent suite on the ship. It was one of 4 Parlor Suites which included one bedroom, a sitting room, two wardrobes, one bathroom, and 1 fireplace. The cabins were C-55 and C-57. The sitting room (C-55) was of the Regency Decor, and had the fireplace. The panels were deep and rich in color, with 24 carat gold gilt all around. It was certainly one of the most beautiful rooms on the ship. The bedroom (C-57) was Empire Style. We know that the room survived the sinking intact, but not intact anymore. In 2006, James Cameron went into the Straus suite. He had a hard time getting to it, but he found the dark wood still there along with gilt inlays, the fireplace, and the clock still sitting upright on the mantle. However, the bedrooms have collapsed and there's no getting to them.

Most Expensive Titanic Letter Ever Sold At Auction

NEW YORK, NY, USA -- A letter, dated April 10, 1912, from a first class passenger onboard the Titanic (written by passenger George Graham of Harriston of Canada, a sales manager for the Eaton's department store company, to a business colleague in Berlin, Germany) was sold at auction by Spink Smythe in New York City for $16,100-setting the world record for the Most expensive letter from Titanic.


George Graham wrote: "I am sorry that I neglected to send you a wire on the first of April but I forgot all about it until Tuesday, you see.
I arrived in London Late Sunday and I was very busy all day Monday and I forgot all about it however, I hope that you will accept my good wishes now even if they are a bit late.
I hope to see you next year and that you and your good wife will enjoy good health."

Second page folds closed to form a postal cover with White Star's logo on verso of cover and a 2-1/2 penny stamp on the address leaf. Uneven toning to first page and address page from prior display.
Four plastic tape remnants on verso of first page and five on recto of second page, all at edges and none affecting readability.


Otherwise VG. Mr. Graham joined the Titanic at Southampton with first-class ticket 112053 and was berthed in cabin B-52.

On her maiden voyage the Titanic struck a North Atlantic iceberg and sank within hours early on the morning of April 14, 1912.

The letter in the auction was placed in the mail from Southhampton, England just prior to the ship's departure on April 10 for its never-completed trans-Atlantic crossing to New York City. (enlarge photo)

Graham did not survive the sinking.
"Hours before the ship struck an iceberg, Graham wired his wife back in Canada saying he was well and indicating he would be in New York City on Wednesday.
She received the wire on Tuesday morning, when news of the disaster was on everyone's lips, and mistakenly took it to mean her husband survived," explained Litzenberger.

"Days later she was informed his body had been recovered from the North Atlantic."

Letters written aboard the Titanic are among the most scarce and desirable articles connected with the tragedy.

About Spink
Spink is the world's leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals, banknotes, bonds, share certificates and autographs, with offices in London, Singapore, New York and Dallas.

The Last Survivor

Elizabeth Gladys (Milvina Dean) was born on February 2, 1912 in London, England. Her parents were Bertram Frank Dean and Georgetta Eva Light. She had an older brother, also named Bertram, who was born in 1910. Ms. Dean's parents decided to immigrate to Wichita, Kansas later that same year, so that her father could open a tobacco shop. Her father saved and saved money, until he got his ticket to a new life. Mr. Dean got a ticket on another ship, but were transferred to the Titanic due to a coal strike in 3rd class. The Titanic set sail when she was only 9 weeks old. She and all her family had 3rd class all the way, which was like 2nd class in most ships. The Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Her family was woken up by a steward, told to put their lifejackets on, and go up on deck. The family made it up to the boat deck where Georgette, Bertram Jr., and Millvina were put into the lifeboat while her father was left on the sinking ship. No one knows what happened to Bertram Sr. after that, except that he unfortunately died. Mrs. Dean was holding Millvina, and realized that she didn't have her brother Bertram Jr. They later found him on the rescue ship Carpathia. He had been cared for by another passenger. The passengers took turns holding Millvina, and taking care of her. When the Carpathia docked, the company that owned Titanic called the White Star Line, provided passage back to England for those that wanted to return. The Deans returned to England after learning that their father and husband died, on the Adriatic. Mrs. Dean worked to support her family, and Millvina grew up not knowing about the Titanic or, that she lost her father on it. It was not until she was 8, that she knew about the disaster, when her mother Georgetta planned to remarry. Millvina Dean never married, but worked for the government. She drew maps during WWII, and worked in the purchasing department of the engineering firm. She later became a celebrity when she was in her 70s. She completed her family journey in 1997 on the Queen Elizabeth 2, and was invited to see the Titanic movie by James Cameron in a private viewing with Prince Charles on Whales. She refused, especially after seeing A Night To Remember in the 50s. She didn't like that they supposedly "publicized the deaths of 1,500 people". As of 2007, she was the last living survivor. She had no memory of the disaster however. Recently, she had to sell a suitcase and some clothing that were donated by the people of America, to pay for her keep at a nursing home. Later, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet donated $30,000 (her bill was 3,000 pounds per month). However, she died later that year (of an infection in her lungs caused by pneumonia) on May 31, 2009 at the age of 97 on the 98th anniversary of the Titanic's launching.

Titanic Survivor Accounts

Titanic Survivors: What They Saw

Titanic Survivors: What they Saw 2

(Above is the accounts of Joseph Boxhall, Eva Hart, Ruth Becker, and Edith Haisman)

Ruth Becker account

Marjorie Newell Account

Millvina Dean Story

Survivors on the "A Night To Remember Set"

Above in "A Night To Remember Set", the people seen are Lawrence Beasely, Edith Russell, Edmund Navatril, and Frank Goldsmith. The others, I can't identify.

Survivor's Voices

Edith Russell Account

Survivor Accounts

Charles Lightoller Account

Titanic Documentaries

Deep Inside Titanic 1

Deep Inside Titanic 2

Deep Inside Titanic 3

Deep Inside Titanic 4

Deep Inside Titanic 5


Titanic: The Legend Lives On 1

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 2

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 3

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 4

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 5

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 6

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 7

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 8

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 9

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 10

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 11

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 12

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 13

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 14

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 15

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 16

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 17

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 18

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 19

Titanic: The Legend Lives On 20


Last Mysteries of the Titanic 1

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 2

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 3

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 4

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 5

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 6

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 7

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 8

Last Mysteries of the Titanic 9


Last Secret of the Titanic 1

Last Secrets of the Titanic 2

Last Secrets of the Titanic 3

Last Secrets of the Titanic 4

Last Secrets of the Titanic 5

Last Secrets of the Titanic 6

Titanic Untold Stories 1

Titanic Untold Stories 2

Titanic Untold Stories 3

Titanic Untold Stories 4

Titanic Untold Stories 5

Titanic Untold Stories 6

More Lifeboats?

Many people say that if the Titanic had enough lifeboats to save everyone, no one would have died. That is in fact, not the case. The Titanic sank in nearly 2 1/2 hours, and that isn't enough time to launch all the lifeboats in my opinion. Yes, they could have saved more lives. The evidence I have to support my theory, is that by the time the water reached the boat deck, the last two lifeboats were being taken off of the roof officer's quarters had there been 40 or 50 to sustain all lives, I estimate that only around 22-25 lifeboats would've either been launched or floated off. So, that's only a little difference between the 20 taken off the ship (2 floated off). All that to say, the Titanic sank very quickly once it got just above the boat deck, which was time to launch a few boats but not very many as to the slanting/listing towards the bow.

The A La Carte Restaurant

The A La Carte Restaurant was located between the third and fourth funnel on B-Deck, and was very grand. It had french walnut paneling, with gilt and elegant carvings. It was not owned by the White Star Line, but was a french restaurant. It was used for lunches, dinners, and parties. On April 14, 1912, wealthy Pennsylvanians George and Eleanor Widener hosted a dinner party dedicated to Captain Smith since this was his last voyage. This is the only recollection of the room, before the ship sank. As the Titanic was sinking, a 3rd class girl recalled asking her mother if she could break a window, go through it to see all the 1st class finery inside it. Her mother still believing that the ship was not sinking, told her that she might have to pay for it after wards. The room was in the middle of the place where the ship broke apart, and there is nothing left but some china on the seabed. However, you can see the panels from the Olympic in a small castle dining room in England and on board a cruise ship.

Is the Titanic Disappearing?

Sadly, yes. The Titanic is already collapsing even as we are sitting here, and there's nothing we can do about it. The rust covered hull is slowly being eaten away by bacteria, and it eventually it'll be an orange spot on the bottom. The stern will no doubt, be the first to go. A-Deck where the Cafe Veranda once was has already collapsed, and there is increasing pressure on the superstructure. In the bow, the crow's nest that held Fredrick Fleet high above the decks is now gone, probably fallen into the cargo hold over which it fell with the mast. The mast itself is crumpling, and starting to collapse. The walls that were partially collapsed when discovered, are flat on what's left of the deck and you can see into the Captain's living quarters and the few remains of the chart room. The area around the Grand Staircase is mangled and collapsing because there have been too many submersibles landing on the weakening decks, and the decks all over are starting to collapse because of not only the years of lying on the bottom, but because there have been too many submersibles landing on them. We are speeding up the process of the Titanic's destruction, and there must be less visits to the legendary vessel, in order to slow the process. The sediment is fine, but the actual hull is going to be gone if we don't do something. Once the Titanic gone, it's gone and it won't be coming back ever again.