Having the Final Word on the Titanic

Recently the National Geographic Explorer and the Oscar winning film maker James Cameron will lead a new two hour special named The Titanic:  The Final Word.  With James Cameron in April in celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking.  The history of Royal Mail Ship Titanic has enthralled the world quite unlike any other shipwreck known to man.  Numerous books, articles and movies have been made detailed the tragedy of the RMS Titanic.  She sank 1,000 miles due east of Boston, Massachusetts, and 375 miles southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland.  Described as the ultimate cold case investigation into the tragedy, Cameron’s National Geographic special will unfold on a sound stage with a 42 foot replica of the ship in the background as Cameron gathers the world’s foremost Titanic experts who will include engineers, naval architects, artists and historians.  As the conceptual special will try to come up with the ultimate explanations of why the unsinkable ship had sank in April 8^th, 1912.  As National Geographic’s spokesperson said, “An investigation of this magnitude has never been attempted ever before.  Some of the revelations may alter the fundamental interpretations of what exactly happened to the Titanic.” 

On April 9^th, National Geographic Channel will air “Save the Titanic” with Dr. Bob Ballard.  Ballard was the man who discovered the Titanic’s final resting place back in 1985.  His travels to Ireland to meet some of the men who helped build the ship and discuss how the ship’s remains are in danger from looters amongst other threats.  “If the Titanic is not protected and there no guard on duty, it will get stripped,” Ballard said in a statement.  “It will get stripped until all the jewels have been taken off the old lady’s body.”  Ballard, an oceanographer and marine biologist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered the Titanic in 1985.  National Geographic magazine will devote a cover story to the Titanic anniversary as well Cameron’s famous film of 1997.  Although Cameron brought back the story of the Titanic by way of the silver screen, in 1950 was the first movie by Roy Baker called, “A Night to Remember.” 

Not only were the elite onboard equally, immigrants who survived the sinking of the ship are now known worldwide for their part in the tragic history Titanic.  Then there were the poor whom where confined to the steerage of the ship, these individuals were only seeking a better life for themselves and their families.  A number of individuals who consider themselves experts on the history of Titanic were less than impressed with the number of errors contained within the film.  Despite James Cameron's dedication to filming the most accurate version of the Titanic accident history possible, the movie never the less contained mistakes.  Some of these mistakes had to be included in the movie to insure the viewer's suspense and enjoyment in the film.  Others however were simply matters that had been overlooked during the making of the movie.

In part, some of the tales regarding Titanic history can be contributed to the tales spun by the 705 survivors.  It has been speculated that more than one of the survivors 'embellished' their personal story. 

Yet a few verified notables that were onboard were:

American millionaire John Jacob Astor IV

Irish businessman Thomas Andrews, who had overseen the ship's construction

American millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim

American owner of the Macy's department store, Isidor Straus, and his wife, Ida.

Canadian railroad president Charles Hays

American cricket player John Borland Thayer

English journalist William Thomas Stead

American military aide Major Archibald Willingham Butt

American writer Jacques Futrelle

Aboard were some of the richest and most influential entrepreneurs of this century.  Not only did the Titanic have some of the most prominent millionaires on board but some of the most poorest emigrants from Europe and the Middle East, desiring a chance for a better economy and social freedom that they could find in America.  She left Southampton, England and stopped at Cherbourg, France, and then made another stop in Queenstown, Ireland and then set off to sea.  There were 2,227 passengers including crew personnel onboard when she set off for New York.  During her maiden and only voyage, the Titanic’s crew was warned several times about icebergs in the area by other ships that had navigated through this region.  Even with the danger of navigating through these large icebergs, the Titanic was traveling at almost top speed of around 20.5 knots.

Owned by the British White Star Line and flew the British flag.  She was under all the rules and regulations of the British government.  She had been designed to carry a total of 42 lifeboats.  The designer of the Titanic had planned 50 lifeboats.  As the Titanic set off from England with a destination of New York, she only had 20 lifeboats, which was four more than was required by the rules and regulations of the British government.

On April 9^th what takes place by way of Cameron’s special shall more than likely be of most interest. 

The coordinates to her remains to be the stern section sits on ocean floor at

41o43'35" North, 49o56'54" West

Boilers at 41o43'32" North, 49o56'49" West

Bow at 41o43'57" North, 49o56'49" West

Reference Pages:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xKDRmhp6lQ

http://www.hf.ro/

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0412/feature5/

http://www.nmni.com/Titanic/getdoc/db465f3c-511b-4403-ba19-e8d8f76fd707/BannerRedirect.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kefVbJt0_s&feature=related

Vintage Broadcast from Southampton, England