![]() ![]() While some historians have debated him having truly said the infamous words, there are multiple accounts of the captain having released his crew with varying versions of, "It's every man for himself. While he worked to organize the evacuation and prioritize women and children, the limited number of lifeboats and the lack of a clear evacuation plan resulted in a significant loss of life. The tragedy captured the world’s imagination and made the Titanic an enduring legend. ![]() Four days later the luxury liner struck an iceberg, and early the next day it sank, killing some 1,500 people. Smith's leadership and response during the evacuation have been a subject of debate. The Incredible Story of the Iceberg That Sank the Titanic The three-year-old chunk of ice had just weeks to live when it hit the cruise ship Daniel Stone AugThe Titanic sank. On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage, sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City. ![]() Some argue that he did not take sufficient precautions despite receiving iceberg warnings. However, his decision-making during the Titanic's fateful voyage has drawn criticism. Smith was highly regarded for his extensive experience at sea and his reputation as a skilled captain. As the highest-ranking officer on board, he was ultimately responsible for the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew. ("Where you go, I go," she reportedly said.) There was also Benjamin Guggenheim who, dressed in white tie and tails and helping passengers board lifeboats, was heard to say, “we’ve dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.” And 17-year-old Jack Thayer, heir to a Pennsylvania railroad fortune, miraculously survived after plunging into the icy waters and clinging to an upturned lifeboat.Captain Edward Smith, the captain of the RMS Titanic, left behind a complex legacy following the tragic sinking of the ship. Other prominent passengers on board included Macy’s department store co-owner Isidor Straus and his wife, Ida, who deboarded a lifeboat to face her fate with her husband. One of the world's wealthiest men at the time, the first-class passenger, known for building New York's Astoria Hotel (later known as the Waldorf-Astoria), Hotel St. “We are safer here than in that little boat,” John Jacob Astor IV reportedly told his 18-year-old pregnant wife after Titanic struck the iceberg. Astor, the richest passenger, was worth when he died in the sinking: $87,000,000 ($2.21 billion today) WATCH: Full episodes of History's Greatest Mysteries online now.įinancier John Jacob Astor. It was a deadly decision: Unable to avoid collision, the doomed ship, upon impact with the iceberg, was punctured, causing it to flood and sink off the coast of Newfoundland in less than three hours, taking along with it some 1,500 lives.Ī look at the sinking in terms of numbers, below, helps provide perspective into the tragedy. Despite receiving several iceberg warnings on April 14, the Titanic’s captain, Edward Smith, continued to sail full-steam ahead. What would happen next has been the source of inspiration for books, poems, songs, TV shows and films, including one blockbuster Oscar-winning movie. The much-heralded ocean liner, on its glamorous five-day maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City, headed out across the Atlantic on April 10, 1912, counting among its passengers the wealthy and prominent as well as poor immigrants making their way to America. It took just two hours and 40 minutes for the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic to sink. ![]()
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