The Unsinkable Ship

The creators of the RMS Titanic praised it as an unsinkable ship but were quickly proven wrong after the unfortunate events that occurred on that cold April night in 1912. While everyone is familiar with the infamous sinking, here are 20 surprising facts you may not know.

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1. In Mere Minutes

Some may think the actual sinking took hours upon hours, but in reality, the largest sections of the boat, which were the stern and bow, reached the sea floor within five to ten minutes. That meant many passengers had little time to make their escape.

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2. Unbelievably Cold

Those who survived described hitting the water as an extremely painful and horrific experience. It was four degrees below freezing on that April evening, and for many, the temperatures alone made the events devastating.

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3. Under an Hour

For those that did make it to the water, finding a boat or salvage was essential. Those who were unable to escape the icy cold typically only had 15 to 45 minutes before their bodies succumbed.

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4. Survivor's Guilt

Many of the wealthiest patrons had interesting stories to tell about their time if they survived. One such survivor was Ismay. While he helped numerous women and children board rescue boats before stepping onto one himself, he was guilted for surviving when few other men did.

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5. In Love’s Embrace

Another sad survivor story revolves around Isidor Straus, who refused his seat on a rescue boat as he did not want special treatment. Realizing his time was up, he retreated to his cabin, where his wife Ida followed him, as she could never leave her husband's side.

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6. Best Dressed

Benjamin Guggenheim is another memorable character. When the sinking began, he first went to change into his finest evening wear. He later returned to the deck of the ship and explained, “We are dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.”

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7. Conspiracies

While most attribute the Titanic’s fall to the iceberg, there were numerous conspiracy theories swirling around at the time. Many believed the ship’s plates were made of weak steel that was unable to bear the freezing Atlantic waters.

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8. Hubris

For many, the ship sinking was a sign of celestial intervention. They believed they had angered God by claiming to have created a ship even He could not sink. Due to this, the Titanic event took on mythological and religious meaning.

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9. Unbelievable

As reports of the sinking traveled the world, many dismissed it as an outright lie. For numerous people, the idea of such a powerful and capable ship sinking was unthinkable. They held to their beliefs and thought it all made up until proof was undeniable.

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10. Misinformation

Even newspapers had a hard time believing the sinking. This is why numerous outlets reported that while the ship had crashed into an iceberg, it had remained afloat and safely made its way to a port where everyone was rushed to safety. Obviously, this was untrue.

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11. Lost to Sea

Immediately after the sinking, attempts were made to find the boat’s remains. But in 1912, the technology to achieve such a feat was out of reach. This is why no one would find the wreck until 1985.

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12. Overconfidence

With over a thousand lives lost, many wonder what caused the delays. Was it simply too many people or was the sinking happening too fast? In reality, there were only twenty lifeboats available, which meant over half the attendees had to make peace with themselves.

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13. Insult to Injury

What makes matters worse is that the first few rescue boats that were launched only housed half their capacity. In their selfishness and panic, some people abandoned the opportunity to save others.

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14. A Little Too Late

The captain was quick to act the moment impact occurred. He sent out distress signals immediately, and while the RMS Carpathia quickly responded, it still took an hour for it to arrive. Carpathia arrived at the wreckage at 3:30 a.m.

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15. 2009

It may surprise you to hear that one of the survivors of the Titanic incident lived until 2009. Millvina Dean made it to 97 years old, as she was only an infant when her brother and mother boarded one of the few available lifeboats.

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16. Immediate Action

Those who survived the sinking were those who acted fast. The captain was very quick to issue warnings, instructing everyone to make their way to lifeboats. Unfortunately, some lingered and wasted precious time. Those who made it out were the ones who heeded orders.

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17. Women and Children

The priority given to women and children aboard the Titanic is infamous, and men had to give up their own lives to prioritize the other gender. However, most of these women were of first class, as those on lower levels had little time to reach the decks.

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18. Risking the Odds

It may surprise you that many people were hesitant to get on the lifeboats. They had faith in the Titanic, and when faced with the icy Atlantic, they preferred their chances on a bigger boat.

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19. Clinging for Dear Life

For those who fell into the waters, there was hope if they could find a piece of wreckage to cling to. Although they still had to brave the cold temperatures and keep themselves afloat, those who were able to hold on had a higher chance of rescue.

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20. Family First

For many, boarding a rescue boat without their loved ones was an impossible feat. Many stayed behind or refused to push forward until they could find their family members or friends. Whether it’s courageous or naïve, like all those on board the Titanic, they’ll be remembered.

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