Monthly Archives: September 2024

Titanic

Titanic News: OceanGate Employees To Testify At Hearing, Cruise Ship Grazes Iceberg

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Moyer, Jameson. “Former Top OceanGate Employees to Speak at Hearing for Imploded Submarine.” News Nation, September 10, 2024. https://www.newsnationnow.com/travel/missing-titanic-tourist-submarine/oceangate-titan-submersible-hearing/.

Coast Guard Standard (not the same as used for law enforcement)
1964.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

With the public hearing on why a submarine out to explore the Titanic wreckage imploded looming, the Coast Guard announced that former employees of the company responsible for creating the vessel will speak in North Charleston. As part of the Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (MBI), public hearings are set to begin Sept. 16 before a panel at the Charleston County Council Chambers. A witness sheet provided by the Coast Guard includes OceanGate Co-Founder Guillermo Sohnlein and high rankers such as the former engineering director, scientific director, and operations director. Two people scheduled to speak, Renata Rojas and Fred Hagen, are listed as OceanGate mission specialists; however, several news outlets, including CNN and The Independent, say both Rojas and Hagen were previous OceanGate dive passengers. Others set for witness testimonies include Coast Guard, NASA, and Boeing officials, among others.

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Photo:Public Domain

McCormack, Caitlin. “Carnival Cruise Grazes Ice in Alaska, Passenger Compares It to Modern ‘Titanic Moment.’” New York Post, September 10, 2024. https://nypost.com/2024/09/09/us-news/carnival-spirit-undamaged-after-grazing-ice-in-alaska/.

A Carnival cruise ship was undamaged after grazing a piece of ice in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord last week — with one passenger dramatically comparing it to a modern “Titanic moment.”The hull of the Carnival Spirit was assessed and no damages were found after the incident on Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line wrote in a statement to The Post.

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Cook, Julie. “The Dark Side of Our Titanic Obsession: From Gruesome Tourism to Treasure Hunting… It’s Time To…” Mail Online, September 6, 2024. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/real-life/article-13821183/The-dark-Titanic-obsession-gruesome-tourism-treasure-hunting-time-let-writes-JULIE-COOK-great-grandfather-died-wreck.html.

I’ve dedicated years of my life to studying the Titanic. Maybe I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit I’ve written two books on her, appeared in documentaries and TV interviews about her – and yet, still, I am glad the ship is falling apart. You see, my great-grandfather died on the ship – his remains are possibly still on board – and I believe it’s time to let her go. Not only that, I also firmly believe the Titanic is cursed – that it not only wrecked so many lives over 100 years ago, but it is still a malign influence today.

Suggested Reading

Behe, George TITANIC: SAFETY, SPEED AND SACRIFICE, Transportation Trails, Polo, IL 1997

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

Lord, Walter, THE NIGHT LIVES ON, Willian Morrow and Company, New York, New York, 1986 (First Edition)

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

History

Remembering 9/11/2001

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The northeast face of Two World Trade Center (south tower) after being struck by plane in the south face.
September 11, 2001
Source: Robert (Flickr(

It was a day that changed America. Planes hijacked by terrorists flew into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center. Another plane would crash into the Pentagon. And a fourth plane that was destined for a target in Washington D.C. crash-landed into a field in Pennsylvania. The extreme heat caused by the fires from the impact of the planes would cause the collapse of the two towers.

Picture of the World Trade Center on 9/11 shortly after the WTC1 had collapsed.
September 11, 2001
Source: Wally Gobetz

Firefighters and police raced to the towers trying to rescue those trapped inside the burning buildings. Stories of their heroism in getting people out are extraordinary examples of courage that are both remarkable and breathtaking. Things were so dire at one point that some jumped out of windows to the shock of people watching. And when the buildings collapsed, many of these brave firefighters and police were killed. As the rubble was cleared later, every body of a fallen firefighter and police officer was removed with great care and respect.

Ground Zero, New York City, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2001)
Source: U.S.Navy
Public Domain

More than 3,000 people were killed (including 400 police and firefighters). Over 10,000 were wounded during the attacks on 9/11. Some suffered long term effects due to smoke inhalation and toxic chemicals that were burning at the time. The attacks of 9/11 was the most devastating foreign attack on American soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

We take time today to remember the fallen of 9/11. They went to work, got on planes, and did countless other things not knowing the evil that was about to take place. Countless lives were changed that day. Families were shattered with the loss of a husband or wife, beloved son or daughter. Friends were never seen again having perished in the towers, the Pentagon, or a passenger on the planes used as weapons.

We cannot forget those who perished on this day. And the heroic sacrifices of first responders- firefighters and police-who tried to save lives cannot be forgotten either.

We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.

(Part of Pope Benedict XVI prayer from his visit to New York Ground Zero in 2008.)

Titanic

Is It Time to Let Go of Titanic?

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RMS Titanic pictured in Queenstown, Ireland 11 April 1912
Source:Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh Ireland/Wikimedia Commons

When Titanic was found in 1985, it ignited a debate that exists to this day: salvage or not to salvage. Robert Ballard argued Titanic should be left in peace and treated as a grave. Others thought otherwise that the ship was not a grave and to try to preserve what was left by bringing up artifacts to be conserved and displayed. When RMS Titanic, Inc went to US federal court after going to the wreck site to claim salvage rights, the anti-salvage camp flew into a rage. Titanic became a divided community of salvagers and anti-salvagers with vicious posts on Usenet (a precursor to Internet chat rooms) and email discussion lists. Instead of reasoned discussion, accusations flew like popcorn in at a ballgame. And some of the anti-salvagers went to war literally going after people personally for their views sometimes creating utter falsehoods that had real world consequences. It forever split the Titanic community and ended a lot of friendships. Apparently, it has reared its head again with the Titan disaster.

Julie Cook grew up on Titanic. Her great-grandfather died on that ship, and she was raised knowing what happened. That led to her interest in all things Titanic. She studied its lore, read the many books, and even wrote some books herself. She like many joined social groups to share her love with the ship, meet other enthusiasts, and other descendants of survivors or families that lost loved ones on that fateful night in 1912. And she found out that there are darker sides to using social media when she got some nasty messages, some of a personal and sexual nature, or other ones accusing her of things she never did. She came across her fair share of “rivet counters” as well. These are people so into the Titanic that goes beyond the normal academic or casual student of history. They know the smallest details about the ship, its people, and a whole lot more than most really care or want to know. And of course, the conspiracy theorists. There are a lot of them.

The Titan tragedy seems to have brought back the salvage vs anti-salvage row. White recounts that in its aftermath “…. Titanic community erupted into a toxicity I’d never seen.”

There were two camps. Those who felt Titanic should now be left alone and that the symbolism of a sub named Titan being wrecked when visiting her was just too disturbing. And, on the other side, that expeditions must continue, to honour those who perished and retrieve artefacts from the wreck before it was too late. Some of these people are inevitably more concerned with the monetary value of what may be recovered, or what they can get from gruesome ‘Titanic tourism’. Arguments and name-calling ensued. I got threats sent to my personal email from strangers who read an article I wrote in this newspaper last June about the Oceangate tragedy.

This sounds all tragically familiar to what took place in the late 1990’s and later when salvage was a hot topic causing exactly the same kind of name-calling, I personally saw take place. This does not surprise me at all, and I bet a few of them are from that time. New recruits to the cause are probably also jumping in as well starting up once again an uncivil discussion and resorting to personal threats and even worse. The toxicity of what she encountered really hit Cook hard it seems from her commentary on Daily Mail. She wonders though that perhaps it is just time to let the ship go.

You may or may not believe in curses, but to me, the wrecking of Titan on an expedition to see Titanic was a sign that said: leave her alone now.

Well, I do not believe in curses and nor do I subscribe to various claims the ship was cursed. The argument about salvage or not has merit and worthy of discussion. What made it go so terribly wrong was the hatred that ultimately was spewed forth by those on both sides. It was not enough to just say a person was wrong, they had to be punished. We see it today when someone does something that another person finds offensive. Instead of just saying “I don’t like that” and going on with their lives, they make it mission to start a campaign to damage them. They gather supporters to write nasty things about the person, to search and find out where they live, and to make dark threats as well. The hatred takes on a life of its own and sometimes ends up achieving a bad result for the person being targeted.  Cook has decided to leave all those groups and all the sniping behind. She has had enough and thinks at this point Titanic should be left alone.

Bathtub in Capt. Smith’s bathroom. Rusticles are observed growing over most of the pipes and fixtures in the room.
June 2004
Lori Johnston, RMS Titanic Expedition 2003, NOAA-OE.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Many no doubt will agree with her (not necessarily about the curse part, but that the wreck should be left in peace). The recent expedition confirmed what we all knew was taking place. As time marches relentlessly on, the deterioration of the ship will continue. Nothing can stop or delay that now. The Titan submersible tragedy, rather than a curse, showed the fragility that exists when diving to depths where the pressure is so great that the tiniest flaw or imperfection will result in a catastrophe. We will have to await the report that will be issued as to what the cause or causes were. If anything, the people at OceanGate fell into the very same trap that Captain Smith and others had about Titanic: complacency. No one thought hitting an iceberg, a rare occurrence, would result in the catastrophe that played out in the end. It did and as a result it showed a whole lot of assumptions and judgments were wrong about the ship. And OceanGate made the same mistake in thinking its submersible was safe and reliable. Neither was cursed but suffered from the same fatal flaw that doomed both.

Suggested Reading

Behe, George TITANIC: SAFETY, SPEED AND SACRIFICE, Transportation Trails, Polo, IL 1997

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

Lord, Walter, THE NIGHT LIVES ON, Willian Morrow and Company, New York, New York, 1986 (First Edition)

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

History

Battle of Lake Erie (10 Sept 1813)

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Battle of Lake Erie by William Henry Powell (1823–1879)
U.S. Senate Art Collection, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

 During the War of 1812, control over Lake Erie and the Northwest were crucial to both the British and the United States. The War of 1812 between the British and the United States resulted from simmering tensions between the two since the end of the American War of Independence. Though long over by this time, tensions existed between the two.  The British had attempted to restrict U.S. trade. During the Napoleonic Wars, the U.S. was neutral, but the British were not happy with American merchant ships supplying the French with supplies. Another issue was the forced impressment of American seamen. To fill out their crews, the British Royal Navy would stop merchant ships and take some of their crews forcing them into Royal Navy service. Additionally, tension over the U.S. desire to expand its territory led to clashes with the British as well.

These and other things led President James Madison to declare war on Great Britain on 18 June 1812. While it passed Congress (barely), it was not popular in New England since they heavily relied on trade. Western and Southern states generally supported the war. However, the realities of war would soon set in. The attempt to take Canada was a failure and resulted in a humiliating defeat on 16 August 1812 with Detroit being surrendered without firing a shot. The American Navy was aided early on with the fact the British were also fighting Napoleon so not all their ships were committed. One notable naval battle was at Lake Michigan in 1813. At stake in this battle was control of Detroit, Lake Erie, and nearby territories the U.S had claims on.

The American naval forces were led by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, who had nine ships. The British had six warships led by Commander Robert Heriot Barclay. Barclay was an experienced naval officer who had served under Nelson at Trafalgar. The British were armed with long gun cannons that gave them a range of about a full mile, while the Americans used carronades that had half the range of the British cannons. This meant that Perry would inflict a lot of damage but at closer range. At first the wind was against Perry in the morning and then shifted giving him an advantage. He would raise a famous navy-blue banner written with the words “DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP” as the slogan to rally his officers.

The ensuing battle would last for hours, and Perry would lose his flagship Lawrence. He transferred his flag over to the Niagara and then sailed straight into the British line firing broadsides that ultimately gave him the win when they surrendered. Perry lost 27 sailors and 96 wounded, while the British lost 40 dead and left with 94 wounded. Perry sent a famous dispatch to U.S. General William Henry Harrison that said, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” The British were forced to abandon Detroit after the Battle of the Thames resulting in American control of the area.

Aftermath

The victory was an important one when many battles had gone against the United States. The Royal Navy was still fighting Napoleon so not of its navy was committed to North America. This would change in April 1814 when Napoleon was defeated. With both ships and troops now freed up, they raided Chesapeake Bay and moved on the capital of Washington D.C. burning it and other government buildings to the ground on 24 August 1814.

On 11 September 1814, the American navy defeated the British fleet at the Battle of Plattsburgh at Lake Champlain, New York. A furious battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore took place on 13 September 1814 and withstood 25 hours of bombardment by the British navy. After the bombardment had ended, the Americans raised a large flag over the fort to show they had survived the bombardment. Seeing the flag being raised inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem that later would be set to music called “Star Spangled Banner.” British forces withdrew and prepared to act against New Orleans. Negotiations for a peace settlement were undertaken not long after in Ghent (modern day Belgium). The resulting Treaty of Ghent would abolish the taking of American sailors from merchant ships for British naval service, solidify the borders of Canada as we know them today, and end British attempts to create an Indian state in the Northwest. The treaty was signed on Christmas Eve, 1814. Formal ratification would be in February 1815.

It was during this time that the famous Battle of New Orleans would occur. On 8 January 1815, British forces (unaware of the peace deal yet due to slow communications of the time) launched a major attack on New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson led the Americans in this famous battle and defeated the British soundly. News of the battle was another boost to American morale and likely convinced the British that they were right to get out of this war as well. For Canadians and Native Americans, it ended their attempt to govern themselves. For Americans, it ushered in a new time of good feelings ending the partisan divisions that had grown since the Revolutionary War. National self-confidence would ensue and a growing spirit of expansionism that would shape the rest of the 19th century. The country resulting from it would be comprised of states and territories that went from New York on the Atlantic Ocean to San Francisco on the Pacific making it one of the largest countries in the world.

Sources

———. “Battle of Lake Erie | Naval Warfare, Perry’s Victory & Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified September 3, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Lake-Erie.

“War of 1812.” History.Com. Last modified April 24, 2023. Accessed September 4, 2024. https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/war-of-1812.

 

 

History

Siege of Leningrad Begins (8 September 1941)

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On 8 Sep 1941, German forces began their siege of Leningrad that would last 872 days making it one of the most grueling sieges in modern warfare. Let’s find out more about it.

The fire of anti-aircraft guns deployed in the neighborhood of St. Isaac’s cathedral during the defense of Leningrad (now called St. Petersburg, its pre-Soviet name) in 1941.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Leningrad (formerly known as St. Petersburg and capital of Russia before the Communist takeover in 1918), was a major industrial center and the Soviet Union’s second largest city. When Germany in June 1941, many of the city’s industrial plants and inhabitants were relocated far to the east to prevent capture. Two million were left behind though to face the rapidly moving German army. Everyone who could lift a shovel (men, women, and children) were conscripted to build anti-tank fortifications around the city’s edge. The railway to Moscow was cut off at the end of July by German forces and they were starting to penetrate the outer fortifications of the city.  On 8 September, German forces began besieging the city but were held back by the fortifications and the tenacity of the defenders, some 200,000 Red Army soldiers. German bombers destroyed a warehouse containing food making life more difficult for the defenders.

Germans next moved to seal off the remaining highways and rail lines south of the city. Finnish forces joined the Germans by coming down the Karelian Isthmus in the north so that by November the entire city was encircled. German bombings intensified with raids several times a day. Most people were reduced to eating one slice of bread per day and starvation was rampant. One of the coldest winters on record would set in as well adding to the misery of the inhabitants. Many continued to work to produce arms to help defeat the Germans despite the lack of food and warmth as well. Just about anything that could be burned for heat was used from books to furniture. Pets (dogs and cats) were eaten along with animals from the city zoo. Wallpaper paste was used for food and leather boiled to make an edible jelly. Plants, grasses and weeds were put to use to produce vitamin supplements. Cannabilizing the dead was a major issue resulting in the Leningrad police department having a special unit to handle it.

Some supplies were able to be brought in over Lake Ladoga, but it was very small and not enough to alleviate the conditions in the city. Some were evacuated-mostly elderly and children-but many were unable to leave and starved and or froze to death. In June 1943 the Soviet Army was able break through the German blockade and establish a better supply line along the shores of Lake Ladoga. The city was kept alive through this and later an oil pipeline and electric cables were connected to the city despite the ongoing siege. When spring came in 1943, land was put to use so that by summer produce could be grown. The siege would end when the Soviet Army forced the German army to retreat in January 1944. The siege ended but the human toll was enormous. Over a million died. Survivors got the Order of Lenin in 1945. The population of Leningrad (now renamed to St. Petersburg) did not regain its former population of three million until the 1960’s.

St. Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad?

St. Petersburg was found in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great and named after the apostle St. Peter. Until 1918, it served as capital of the Russian Empire when it was moved by the Bolsheviks to Moscow. The city was both a cultural center as well as the capital in old Russia. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the city was renamed Petrograd because of the strong anti-German sentiment and the fact its name contained two German words. In 1924 after Lenin’s death, the city was renamed for him, Leningrad. In 1991 a public referendum approved the renaming of the city back to St. Petersburg. The city is a major tourist destination owing to its cultural and historical significance. An old guidebook reminds the city is spread out, so be prepared to spend time going to and from the various historical sites. Summers can be warm and sometimes rainy (bring waterproof jackets and something to wear if it gets chilly as well). Winters are cold, so bring cold gear. Surprisingly St. Petersburg is not as cold as Moscow during the winter.

St. Petersburg, Russia. View from the visitor’s gallery at the Colonnade of the St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
2012
A.Savin via Wikimedia Commons

Sources:

Dean, Mack. “Siege of Leningrad | World War 2 Facts.” World War 2 Facts, October 21, 2020. http://www.worldwar2facts.org/siege-of-leningrad.html.

———. “Siege of Leningrad | Nazi Germany, World War II, Blockade.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified September 1, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Leningrad.

———. “Siege of Leningrad Begins.” HISTORY, September 2, 2020. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/siege-of-leningrad-begins.

 

History

Great Fire of London (2-6 Sept 1666)

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The Great Fire of London in 1666 would decimate London, result in its rebuilding, and changes in how buildings and streets were laid out in the city. 

The Great Fire of London by anonymous 1675
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

In 1666, London was a huge city and the capital of Britain. While many of the important homes and buildings were often made of stone, most homes and buildings were made of oak and often used tar to weatherproof them. Streets were also narrow with buildings close together making it hard for people and carts to move about on narrow streets. Sanitation was also poor since many people tossed their garbage-and chamber pots-into the street. The modern toilet had not been invented so most bodily waste went into these pots. Add to it horse manure on the streets, and most cities like London had some unpleasant odors especially in summertime.

Firefighting was also different back then. It comprised mainly of local bucket brigades and primitive water pumps on trucks. Since fire was considered a serious threat, people were told to be vigilant and make sure their homes were safe. However, as it turns out, people were not always so careful. On the evening of 1 September 1666 Thomas Farrinor, a baker employed by King Charles II on Pudding Lane, went to bed not making sure that the fire is his oven was properly extinguished. Sometime during the night sparks from the dying embers in the oven ignited firewood lying nearby. Not long after the house would soon become engulfed in flames. Farrinor and his family would flee and survive the fire. Sadly, a maid in the home did not survive as she did not want to jump out of the window.

Sparks from the fire would spread across the street to the Star Inn. It ignited the straw in the stables along with other combustibles and soon the inn was ablaze. The fire would spread from there to Thames Street. Warehouses on the riverfront would soon ignite as well. Full of candles, lamp oil, tallow and coal, the fire would grow larger and begin to spread. The local fire brigade was quickly overwhelmed and had to retreat. The primitive water fighting trucks of the time could barely navigate the streets. Panic ensued as people raced to the Thames with everything they owned. Attempts at using firebreaks by tearing down homes and buildings was tried but the fire overwhelmed them. The fire got so bright it could be seen 30 miles away. Finally on 5 September it started dying out and on the next day it was put out. There was one flare up in the Temple district but when a building containing gunpowder blew up with a powerful bang, the last remnants of the fire was over.

Four-fifths of London was destroyed and remarkably only 16 died. But 100,000 were homeless. The fire burned down the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral along with scores of other churches, buildings, and historic landmarks. King Charles II had a massive task to rebuild the city. He commissioned noted architect Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild St. Paul’s which still stands to this day. New homes and buildings had to be built with bricks and stones; wood was not allowed. And walls had to be thicker and buildings not so close together. Also, streets were widened and the old narrow streets and alleys banned. Access to the river was made easier as well by restricting housing that would block access. The homeless were suggested to go to other cities, towns, and villages outside of London to resettle. Economically it would take many years for London to recover. Most businesses had lost their premises and whatever goods were stored. The commercial district lost a lot of its businesses as they relocated elsewhere. London’s access to shipping routes and that it was the capital kept the city from completely losing its place in the world.

One of the more disturbing aftereffects was the strong anti-Catholic and anti-foreign sentiment that emerged. While most reasoned after studying how the fire began it was an accident, there were many who believed Catholics, Dutch, and French were involved. Opponents of pro- Catholic King Charles II made it an issue. That is why in the Monument that was put up in 1670’s had an inscription on it blaming the disaster on the “treachery and malice of the Popish faction.” This was removed in 1830 but at one time practicing Catholicism in England was forbidden and those who refused to recognize the sovereignty of the monarch over the Pope would be executed usually by the horrific method of being hung, drawn, and quartered.

Sadly, the rebuilding scheme did not reshape London as it was originally hoped. They kept pretty much the old layout. Had some of the plans suggested, such as Wren’s, London would have rivaled Paris. Insurance companies were born out of this disaster to help aid those who lost homes or buildings to fire. They began to hire private firemen and to promote safety measures with their clients. This did lead to conflicts with local fire brigades and the private firemen hired by these insurance companies. Ultimately it led a combined fire unit called the London Fire Brigade in 1832, which began the process of permanent fire departments being established to put out fires.

As for the man who started the fire, Thomas Farriner, he would rebuild his shop on Pudding Lane and continue baking until he passed away in 1670. Members of the Worshipful Company of Bakers in 1986 apologized for the fire and put up a plaque on Pudding Lane that one of their own had caused the Great Fire of 1666.

Sources:

———. “Great Fire of London | Great Plague, Charles II, Firefighting.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified August 26, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Fire-of-London.

———. “Great Fire of London Begins.” HISTORY, August 30, 2024. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/great-fire-of-london-begins.

Hradmin. “Thomas Farriner: The Man Who Started Great Fire of London.” The History Reader. Last modified July 21, 2023. https://www.thehistoryreader.com/world-history/thomas-farriner/.

Titanic

Bronze Statue Found in Recent Dive Expedition (3 Sep 2024)

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Diana of Versailles bronze statue. It was on the fireplace mantel in the First Class Lounge. It was last seen in 1986 but subsequent expeditions could not find it until now.
Image: RMS Titanic, Inc ®

In a remarkable find during the recent expedition to Titanic was the discovery of a miniature bronze statue once thought lost since 1986. The statue- Diana of Versailles– was on the fireplace mantel in the First Class lounge on Titanic. After 1986 subsequent expeditions were unable to locate it until 2024. The discovery has brought much excitement and shows that after all the time underwater it is still in relatively good condition. Sadly, however, the iconic bow has suffered. The railing that surrounds the forecastle has collapsed, but otherwise is still intact. While some newspapers are saying that the ship is collapsing, that is not the case. It is slowly decaying as evidenced by photos of the wreck taken over the years.

Source

“Bronze Statue Discovered at Titanic Wreck Site After First Expedition in Many Years.” PBS News. Last modified September 2, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/bronze-statue-discovered-at-titanic-wreck-site-after-first-expedition-in-many-years.

Suggested Reading

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

Rossignol, K. (2012). Titanic 1912: The Original News Reporting of the Sinking of the Titanic. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Wilson, A. (2012). Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived. Simon and Schuster.

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Titanic

Monday Titanic News

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I hope everyone has had a pleasant weekend and, if in the United States, enjoyed Labor Day as well. Here are some news stories you might find of interest.

[The recent expedition brought back more stunning and updated images of Titanic.]

Titanic at the docks of Southampton, 10 April 1912
Unknown Author
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Francis, Rebecca Morelle and Alison. “Titanic: Striking Images Reveal Depths of Ship’s Slow Decay.” Last modified September 1, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkm82enkgko.

It was the image that made the Titanic’s wreck instantly recognisable – the ship’s bow looming out of the darkness of the Atlantic depths. But a new expedition has revealed the effects of slow decay, with a large section of railing now on the sea floor. The loss of the railing – immortalised by Jack and Rose in the famous movie scene – was discovered during a series of dives by underwater robots this summer. The images they captured show how the wreck is changing after more than 100 years beneath the waves.

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Hartland, Nick. “George Bailey – the Monmouthshire Stoker Who Died Aboard the Titanic.” Abergavenny Chronicle, August 30, 2024. https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/george-bailey-the-monmouthshire-stoker-who-died-aboard-the-titanic-716822.

Every community seems to have its own Titanic connection, whether someone on board, a family link or artefact. And Monmouthshire is no different, with Wye Valley fire stoker George Bailey among the approximately 1500 crew members and passengers who tragically perished. According to Encyclopedia Titanica, he was one of nine siblings, born in Newport in 1866 before moving to the Wyeside town as a young child, where he appeared on the 1871 census as living at Clipper Court, St Mary, Monmouth, and on the 1881 census at 2, Red Lion Court, Monmouth.

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The Sad Parting
From Story of the Wreck of the Titanic;Marshall Everett);1912
Artist Unknown
Public Domain

Considine, Pippa. “BBC Orders Stellify Titanic Series.” Televisual. Last modified August 28, 2024. https://www.televisual.com/news/bbc-orders-stellify-titanic-series/.

BBC Factual and BBC Northern Ireland have commissioned a new four-part series from Stellify Media detailing the sinking of the Titanic, with support from Northern Ireland Screen, for BBC Two and iPlayer. Belfast-based Stellify’s Titanic Sinks Tonight (working title) aims to provide a complete picture of the most famous 160 minutes in maritime history, telling the story of the sinking of the Titanic in real time. From the crucial seconds just before the ship hits the iceberg, to the moment the hull sinks beneath the waves, the boxset series pieces together the events, minute by minute, to reveal what happened to the 2240 passengers and crew on 14 and 15 April, 1912.

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Wilson, Natalie. “The Odyssey: Cruise Passengers Spending up to £680,000 on Three-year Trip Stuck in Belfast for Three Months.” The Independent, August 29, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cruise-passengers-belfast-stranded-the-odyssey-ireland-b2603717.html.

Passengers calling a residential cruise ship home have been stranded on the vessel in Northern Ireland for three months after their round-the-world voyage was plagued with delays. Those onboard Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey have spent their summer docked in Belfast after repair work required to the rudders and gearbox prevented the ocean liner from leaving the cruise terminal. The ship was scheduled to depart the Northern Ireland capital for the first leg of the three-and-a-half-year cruise on 30 May. Its inaugural journey was due to visit all seven continents, with stops at more than 425 ports in 147 countries.

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Croatiaweek, and Croatiaweek. “Tribute to the Ship and Croatian Crew That Saved Titanic Survivors | Croatia Week.” Croatia Week. Last modified August 29, 2024. https://www.croatiaweek.com/tribute-to-the-ship-and-croatian-crew-that-saved-titanic-survivors/.

The exhibition “Carpathia – Pride of the City of Rijeka” was staged in the city’s main street Korzo on Tuesday in tribute to the vessel that was engaged in rescuing passengers who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912. The crew of the RMS Carpathia included 84 Croatian seafarers. The exhibition was organised by an association of sea captains of the northern Adriatic region. The Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka has a a life vest used by a Titanic survivor. The item was brought to Rijeka by sailor Josip Car, who was a member of the Carpathia crew.

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Speed, Kellie. “$9.5 Million New Hampshire Estate Built By Titanic Survivor Hits the Market for the First Time In 100 Years.” Real Estate News & Insights | Realtor.Com®. Last modified August 27, 2024. https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/new-hampshire-estate-titanic-survivor-rare/.

A stunning lakefront retreat that was built by a survivor of the ill-fated Titanic was just listed for the “titanic” price of $9.5 million—landing on the market for the first time in 100 years. The rare real estate gem on Squam Lake in Moultonborough, NH, was built in 1899 by Richard Beckwith, 13 years before he and his wife, Sallie, boarded the doomed ocean liner as first-class passengers. Accompanied by Sallie’s daughter from a previous marriage, Helen Newsom, the couple were among the 706 passengers who survived the horrifying sinking of the Titanic—with listing agent Jacalyn Dussault, of Dussault Real Estate, explaining that the family’s experiences on the ship actually helped inspire James Cameron’s iconic movie about the incident.

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Suggested Reading

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American Edition

Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)

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Holidays

Happy Labor Day! (U.S.)

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Labor Day Postage Stamp (1956)
United States Post Office
Public Domain

Labor Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. It became a federal holiday in 1894 to celebrate workers and their achievements. It has also become the unofficial end of summer as schools have reopened and summer vacations have ended. As a federal holiday, all federal offices are closed as are banks and the stock market. All states celebrate it as well so state, county, and city offices are closed as well. Nearly all professional offices are closed and most construction workers have the day off as well. Retail and fast food employees do not get the day off except in areas where due to the holiday they get virtually no business.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Have a nice Labor Day everyone!

Miscellaneous

Welcome to September

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September is illustrated by the harvest. Five figures pick grapes while a man and a woman, apparently pregnant, rest. The bunches are placed in baskets which are then emptied into baskets attached to mules. These baskets are themselves poured into vats loaded into carts pulled by oxen. The second plan is entirely occupied by the Château de Saumur in Anjou, a region already producing wine at the time. The towers are topped with fleur-de-lys weathervanes. On its outskirts, a list is represented with its central bar and its trellis wall. (Wikimedia Commons)
Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry
Folio 9, verso: September
Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry (manuscript illustration)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

September is the ninth month on both the Gregorian and Julian calendars. The name September is derived from Latin word Septem which meant seven. On the old Roman calendar, this would be the seventh month since that calendar began in March. However, in 153 BC the Roman senate adapted a new calendar in which the year started in January and Septem became the ninth month. The Autumnal Equinox takes place between September 22-24 and inaugurating Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. In the southern, the same equinox heralds Spring.

The Eastern Orthodox Church starts its liturgical year in September (they follow the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian). The first full moon of September is often called the Harvest Moon since many farmers begin harvesting crops. The United States celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in September. The Chinese celebrate the Moon Festival (a major holiday second only to Chinese New Year). Lanterns are made, moon cakes eaten, and gifts exchanged.

As the transition to fall begins, fall produce start appearing. For the U.S., generally that will be apples, artichokes, cranberries, edamame, pears, pumpkins and quinces. Pumpkin spiced beverages start appearing, but it seems some retailers jumped the shark early and started serving them in August. Hard to think of autumn in August or early September when the outside temperature might in 90 F (32 C)!