Introduction of the Story
‘ Sinking of the Titanic ‘ is a moving account of the Sinking of Titanic, the grandest luxury liner of its time. The Titanic was a very big ship. Everyone believed it could never be sunk. But on her maiden voyage to America she started sinking in the Atlantic. There were over three thousand people on board, including a crew of nearly 900, and over 100 children. As many as 1500 lives were lost in the shipwreck. The drowning passengers faced death disaster with remarkable courage and fortitude. The whole world received a terrible shock when on the starlit night of 15 April, 1912; the great steel plates of the Titanic were ripped like tinfoil by the fangs of iceberg.
Summer of Sinking of the Titanic
Tragic End of Titanic
The Titanic was a big luxury liner of Britain. It was an object of pride for the whole world. Everyone believed that it could never sink. It was on her maiden (first) voyage to America. But it sank in the Atlantic Ocean only 4 days later.
The Queen of the Seas
The Titanic was the biggest and safest ship ever built. It was called the queen of the seas. In speed, comfort, beauty and equipment, it was a masterpiece. Everything about it was big and fascinating. It had ten decks. It provided all sorts of comforts. It had a Parisian café, a Jacobean dining room seating 500, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a library and a ballroom. The ship had on board about 2200 people. This included nearly 900 crew members and 100 children. Only about 700 could survive the disaster.
Ill Fated Night of the 15th April, 1912
It was bitterly cold on the night of 15 April. The sea was calm. The Titanic ship was sailing smoothly. The crew members were satisfied with her performance. The passengers were in high spirits. The captain and officers knew very well that the Titanic was approaching the region where they could expect icebergs. Format messages had also been received on radio about this. On the bridge of the ship there was the customary vigilance. But there was no indication that there could be dangerous icebergs in the ship’s direct course. Second officer Lightoller had given special warning to the two watchmen about the presence of icebergs. The Titanic sped through the night. It was cold and so the passengers went into their cabins. Only a few remained in the public rooms to play cards, gossip or drink. All seemed to be going well.
Danger Signals
At about eleven forty three strokes were sounded from the crow’s nest. It was a danger signal. The hearts of the watchmen froze as they saw an iceberg right in front of the Titanic. First Officer Murdock had also seen the iceberg. He ordered his men to change the course of the ship. Ice tumbled upon the decks of the Titanic. The iceberg stove in six of the water-tight compartments. It became clear that the ship was going to sink sooner or later.
Struggle to Save the Titanic Ship
Everybody was summoned to the deck. The engineers began blowing the boilers down. In the wireless room, Phillips, the chief wireless operator, sent out S.O.S. message. Rockets were sent up to attract passing ships. They saw ship at some distance and expected quick help. But the ship Calidornian, could not take notice of it and sailed away. For some time many passengers didn’t believe the news of disaster. The water was rising and the Titanic going down.
Rescue Operation and Reaction of the Passengers
Boats were lowered. The law of the sea was enforced – ‘ women and children first ‘. A handful of foreigners hid under a boat but they had to vacate at the point of an empty revolver. One by one the boats were loaded and lowered. Many men accepted their fate calmly. Several women refused to leave their husbands and enter the boat. Mr. and Mrs. Isidore Straus, the millionaire couple, refused to be separated in death. Colonel and Mrs. J.J. Astor were returning from their honeymoon in Egypt. Mrs. Astor was ill and she was put on the boat. Mr. Astor was drowned. But, an A.D.C. to the American President, helped women to safety. W.T. Stead, Editor of the Saturday Review, also met his watery grave.
Play of Hymn Tunes
The band began to play the hymn tunes trying to comfort the passengers. To many it was a clear signal that the end was near. The boys of the band were the real heroes. They were superb in their courage. Death was staring them in the face. Still they went on playing music assure and comfort the passengers. The passengers who were left behind on the deck of the ill fated ship displayed remarkable courage, firmness and fortitude. They joined the chorus in reciting the hymn.
Captain Smith
The soon the music ended. The singing died away. All the boats were gone. With it all hope for survival was gone, too. Many swept into the sea. Captain Smith was thrown violently from the bridge into the sea. He picked up a baby in the water and swam with it to a boat. He handed the baby over to the people in a boat. He was urged to climb into the boat. But he refused saying that he would swim to a piece of wreckage nearby. He was not noticed again. His parting words to those on deck below were “Be British”.
The Wreck and the Doom
In her last minutes, the ship stood almost perpendicular out of the water. All her lights went out. The unsinkable ship was gone. The floating men were calling madly for help. Those in the life-boats did not turn back. The Titanic sank at about 2:10 AM about two and half hours after hitting the iceberg. The rescue ship Carpathian reached there at dawn and saved all the living souls. The scientists are now planning to pull the Titanic ship out of the water
