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Titanic News for Labor Day (7 September 2026)

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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.

In Titanic News

Personal belongings of Irish Titanic victim Mary Mangan are now featured at Titanic Belfast as part of a complimentary temporary pop-up exhibition dedicated to her and the Addergoole Fourteen. The display showcases a rare gold pocket watch with its case, both bearing the Co. Mayo woman’s initials, along with a yellow metal linked chain featuring a 9-carat gold clasp and a framed, glazed hand-colored portrait photograph of the third-class passenger.

Do Bang, Aina. “Irish Titanic Victim’s ‘Rare’ Possessions Now on Display at Titanic Belfast.” Irish Star. Last modified September 6, 2026. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.irishstar.com/news/ireland-news/irish-titanic-victims-rare-possessions-37625181.

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Colorised photo of Ned Parfett, best known as the “Titanic paperboy”, holding a large newspaper about the sinking, standing outside the White Star Line offices at Oceanic House on Cockspur Street near Trafalgar Square in London SW1, April 16, 1912.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

But who was this boy, stood outside the White Star Line’s offices on Cockspur Street, just off Trafalgar Square in London, the following day, holding a placard reading “Titanic Disaster, Great Loss of Life”? For most of the 20th century, he was simply known as “the newsboy.” In fact, his name was Edward John Parfett – known to his friend as Ned. And unfortunately, this would not be the only time in his life that he was associated with tragedy. It took researchers and Parfett’s own descendants, including his great-nephew Dominic Walsh, to finally identify Ned in the late Nineties; a soldier who’d been mentioned in dispatches and decorated for bravery, and who died in a war only a few years after the Titanic sank. Oceanic House, where the picture was taken, is now home to a Tex-Mex restaurant. And the photographer? We still have no idea who they were.

May, Tom. “The Most Famous Face of the Titanic Disaster Belongs to a Newsboy Nobody Thought to Name &Ndash; Taken by a Photographer….” Digital Camera World. Last modified September 5, 2026. https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/photojournalism/the-most-famous-face-of-the-titanic-disaster-belongs-to-a-newsboy-nobody-thought-to-name-taken-by-a-photographer-nobody-credited-either.

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

Finding the long-lost ship wasn’t a simple task. For one, sonar scanning didn’t work, so Michel and Ballard decided instead to look for the debris that had spilled out of the Titanic, guessing (correctly) that this would cover a much wider area than the actual wreck. After a week of seeing nothing, the Titanic’s boiler was spotted on September 1st, and the researchers followed the debris trail back to the ship.

Nield, David. “40 Years Ago, Oceanographers Found the Wreckage of the RMS Titanic.” Nautilus. Last modified September 3, 2026. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://nautil.us/40-years-ago-oceanographers-found-the-wreckage-of-the-rms-titanic-1284740.

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This exhibition marks the permanent return of Titanic’s legacy to Liverpool and restores Liverpool’s status, alongside Belfast, as the city with the strongest connection to the vessel. The project involves collaboration with organisations and specialists including White Star Memories Ltd, The British Titanic Society, the Titanic Boat Train Heritage Trust, and deep-sea explorer Dik Barton. Barton, who served for nine years as Director of Operations for RMS Titanic, has completed 22 dives to the wreck and coordinated the recovery of more than 6,500 artefacts, including the famous ‘Big Piece’.

“Titanic’s Legacy Returns to Liverpool With New Permanent Exhibition.” The Guide Liverpool. Last modified September 2, 2026. Accessed September 7, 2026. https://theguideliverpool.com/titanics-legacy-returns-to-liverpool-with-new-permanent-exhibition/.

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The old White Star Line ticket office now holds Titanic Experience Cobh, focused on the passengers who boarded here. Go early if the ship’s story is your reason for coming. The town’s compact size makes the history feel close, not museum-bound. But Cobh is not frozen in 1912. Cruise ships still berth in town, mainly in summer, so a busy pier can interrupt the mood. The trade-off is useful: this is Ireland’s only dedicated cruise terminal, which explains why the harbor still feels like a working arrival point. You’ll also find the Cobh Heritage Centre in the former railway station. Its Queenstown Story follows emigration, the Great Famine, deportations, Titanic, and Lusitania. More than 2.5 million Irish people left from this port between the mid-19th century and 1950.

John. “Locals Remember This Irish Harbor Town as Titanic’s Last Stop for 123 Passengers.” World Day. Last modified August 29, 2026. https://www.journee-mondiale.com/en/locals-remember-this-irish-harbor-town-as-titanics-last-stop-for-123-passengers/.

Suggested Titanic Reading
[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., and Rick Archbold. The Discovery of the Titanic. New York, N.Y.?: Warner Books, 1987.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Titanic

Friday Titanic news (21 Aug 2026)

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HMS Tiger 1900
Circa 1900-1908
Image used in postcard by Pictorial Post Card Co.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Divers recently uncovered the remains of a Royal Navy warship off the Isle of Wight — 118 years after it went down. The ship, HMS Tiger, sank in 1908 after colliding with another Royal Navy warship, the 10,000-ton HMS Berwick, news agency SWNS reported. More than half of HMS Tiger’s 57 crew members were killed in the sinking. The wreck remained undiscovered until Aug. 10, when the ProjectXplore dive group announced its discovery. Images show divers exploring the twisted and rusting remains of HMS Tiger on the seabed over a century after it sank. A wreath was also laid on the wreck in memory of those who died.

Fox News. “118-year-old Mystery Solved After Divers Locate Lost Warship Below the Waves.” New York Post, August 21, 2026. https://nypost.com/2026/08/21/science/118-year-old-mystery-cracked-as-divers-discover-lost-warship-beneath-the-waves/.

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Titanic Slide Considered Tacky
Image: Daily Mail

The Titanic ride at Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, sees the replica ship lift at one end to slide customers downwards, resembling the sinking of the ocean liner. Manager Will Campbell-Gray said: “We’re keeping the memory of Titanic alive and we’re not making fun of the dead at all.” He added the ride was renamed The Big Tipper last year after complaints were made online, but the original name was restored after his wife received threats demanding it was changed back.

Fullbrook, Danny. “Hitchin Fruit Farm Defends Titanic-themed Ride After Backlash.” Last modified August 20, 2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqe37zrw2xo.

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

Combining historical accuracy, guided storytelling, and room-scale VR technology, this 35-minute experience goes far beyond movie screens and museum glass—placing you directly inside the story of the RMS Titanic.

Ramanand, Liz. “Dive 12,000 Feet Underwater and Step Inside History: NYC’s New Titanic VR Experience Is Open.” Secret NYC. Last modified August 19, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://secretnyc.co/titanic-echoes-from-the-past-vr-tickets-nyc/.

For tickets, hours of operation, and other information, click here.

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MV Wilhelm Gustloff, Danzig, 1939
Source: German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons

The deadliest maritime disaster of all time wasn’t the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 or the Lusitania in 1915. That unfortunate distinction belongs to a more recent, but far less famous, catastrophe: the torpedoing of the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945. While no one will ever know the exact death toll, historians estimate that as many as 9,000 men, women and children died aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, compared with about 1,500 aboard the Titanic and 1,200 aboard the Lusitania.

Daugherty, Greg. “What Was the Deadliest Maritime Disaster in History? | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified August 19, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/wilhelm-gustloff-ship-disaster.

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Photo of the SS Andrea Doria half submerged after colliding with the Swedish ship Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in July 1956.
Photo: Harry A. Trask (1928–2002) Winner of Pulitzer Prize in 1957
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

The sinking of the Titanic has entered folklore to such an extent that practically every other maritime disaster is measured against it. Equally, the dreadful loss of life on that bleak April night in 1912 – and the sequence of unfortunate events that precipitated it – was so awful that, on the face of it, nothing could ever really bear legitimate comparison. And yet, today marks the 70th anniversary of what has been referred to as “the Titanic of the 1950s” – a description that is far from inaccurate. True, the events of July 26 1956 did not come at a cost of 1,496 people. Nor have they been the subject of a major Hollywood movie. But in other ways – a luxury liner heading for New York; a sudden but avoidable collision; damage that, from the first moment, could only have one result; a manic race to save those in peril; a wreck site in the North Atlantic – there were significant similarities.

Leadbeater, Chris. “The Tragic Sinking of the ‘Titanic of the 1950s’  the Wrecking of Italian Liner SS Andrea Doria, 70 Years Ago on Sunday, Bore Eerie Similarities to the Most Infamous Maritime Disaster Ever.” The Telegraph. Last modified July 26, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ss-andrea-doria-sinking-tragedy/.

Suggested Titanic Reading
[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., and Rick Archbold. The Discovery of the Titanic. New York, N.Y.?: Warner Books, 1987.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Titanic

Monday Titanic News: RMS Titanic Inc Wants to Sell Titanic Artifacts

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Rare Cherub statue makes its Las Vegas debut at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition inside Luxor Hotel and Casino (PRNewsFoto/Premier Exhibitions, Inc.)

…. the Atlanta-based R.M.S. Titanic Inc. — made plans to auction off 100 of the 5,500 artifacts it has collected. It went to court on Thursday to defend the proposed sale. In U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va., the company argued before Judge Rebecca Beach Smith that she has no jurisdiction over the 100 disputed artifacts because they were recovered in 1987 and were awarded to the company by a French court.

Davis, Marc. “Salvage Company Hoping to Sell Titanic Artifacts Challenges Court’s Role.” New York Times, August 13, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/arts/design/salvage-company-hoping-to-sell-titanic-artifacts-challenges-courts-role.html.

Sometimes forgotten is the fact that the expedition in 1985 was a joint operation between Woods Hole Oceanographic and IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer). As such, a small number of these were handled by a French maritime court. The argument RMS Titanic Inc is making is that those specific artifacts are thus under the control of a French court thus not covered by the U.S. court salvage award. The US and other parties disagree. Whatever the judge’s decision, it will likely be appealed. Presumably whatever judgment was made in that French court was submitted.

The company is claiming that they are in dire financial straits and need of cash infusion. And the financials do bear this out. The judge is wondering why with some wealthy backers how that can be. Wealthy backers are one thing but making a profit is another and they are not doing that now. It is quite possible, should the judge decide against the company, that they go into bankruptcy. That moves it out of one federal court into another to handle creditor claims and what to do with the assets (in this case the artifacts). The court ruled a year?s ago that it could be only sold as a collection making it nearly too expensive for most publicly funded institutions to purchase on their own leaving only the high wealth in Dubai and associated states along with China as potential buyer. Perhaps that chap in Australia who keeps saying Titanic II is coming might be interested.

In other news

Titanic Slide Considered Tacky
Image: Daily Mail

Despite having been an attraction at the park for multiple years, this summer a number of parents became enraged at the theming of the slides, branding it ‘disrespectful’. Furious parents compared the Titanic theming to having a ‘Twin Towers ride’, despite the tragedy taking place more than 110 years ago. Initially wishing to calm the critics, farm manager Will offered to change the name of the popular ride. However, he was then encouraged by other guests to hold firm and chose not to change it at the behest of a small handful of people. He pointed out that there are no living survivors of the tragedy and very few children of survivors and referred to the Titanic immersive exhibition, which opened in London last year.

Lawrence, Tom. “Manager Behind Titanic-themed Ride at Family Farm Defies Criticism From ‘wokes’ Who Branded It ‘disrespectful.’” Mail Online, August 17, 2026. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16057701/Outrage-disrespectful-Titanic-themed-ride.html.

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A display honoring the life of Oscar Scott Woody opened Thursday at “Titanic: The Exhibition.” Woody, a Person County native, was one of five postal clerks aboard the ship. They were transporting 7 million pieces of mail from Europe to the U.S.  “They perished because they had a duty to preserve the mail,” said Carrie Currie, the executive director of the Person County Museum of History. “They were trying so desperately to get the mail up to the upper deck so it could be loaded onto lifeboats.” The Person County Museum of History temporarily donated several pieces to the exhibit, including Woody’s orders to travel on the Titanic as well as replicas of items he had with him when his body was found.

Salsameda, Chloe. “N.C. postal worker killed on Titanic honored at exhibit.” Spectrum News 1, August 14, 2026. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/08/14/postal-worker-titanic-exhibit.’

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Joseph Laroche (seated right), with his family; wife, Juliette (centre), elder daughter, Simonne (left) and younger daughter, Louise (centre, seated).1911
Source:Wikipedia

Laroche ultimately decided to return to his native Haiti with his family. His connection to the country was especially significant: his uncle was Cincinnatus Leconte, who served as president of Haiti, according to Kellie Carter Jackson, a Knafel Assistant Professor of the Humanities in the Department of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. Laroche and his wife were expecting their third child, making the prospect of secure employment especially important. According to Jackson, his uncle had promised to secure him a position as “a mathematician and pay him 200 a month, which was more than a modest salary at the time” once he returned home to Haiti, Jackson noted.

Dawson, Shannon. “Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche: The Story of the Only Black Passenger Aboard the Titanic.” NewsOne. Last modified August 11, 2026. Accessed August 17, 2026. https://newsone.com/6868898/joseph-philippe-lemercier-laroche-black-passenger-titanic/.

Suggested Titanic Reading
[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., and Rick Archbold. The Discovery of the Titanic. New York, N.Y.?: Warner Books, 1987.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Titanic

Wednesday Titanic News

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Enormous gantry cranes in the yards of Harland & Wolff, Belfast 2018.
Image Credit: August Schwerdfeger via Wikimedia Commons

For the first time in more than 20 years, the two yel­low gantry cranes are being pressed back into regular service as Harland & Wolff – the historic firm that built the ill-fated Titanic – gets back into the warship business. “We haven’t used Goliath for years,” says Peter Rusk, programme manager, as he explains how the yard is being modernised, from dry dock repairs to massive pieces of new equipment. “It needs this investment, needs this overhaul,” Rusk adds. “And Samson and Goliath, they’re iconic for Belfast.”

“The Titanic’s Shipyard to Once More Build Warships.” Press Reader (From UK Sunday Telegaph). Last modified August 9, 2026. Accessed August 11, 2026. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-sunday-telegraph/20260809/282149298129707.

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Image Credit: Henry Aldridge Auctioneers

A letter written by a second-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic just days before the ship sank has sold for a record £60,000 ($81,000) at a UK auction. The handwritten letter was written by Henry Price Hodges on April 10, 1912, the day the Titanic left Southampton on its maiden voyage. It was sold on Sunday by auction house Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, well above its estimated price of up to £35,000 ($47,000).

Marine Insight. “Titanic Passenger’s Letter Sells for Record £60,000 After Revealing Life on Board Before Disaster.” Marine Insight. Last modified July 29, 2026. Accessed August 11, 2026. https://www.marineinsight.com/titanic-passengers-letter-sells-for-record-60000-after-revealing-life-on-board-before-disaster/.

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In 2025, UCL’s Professor Jeom-Kee Paik led a supercomputer-based finite element/CFD reconstruction of Titanic’s sinking, commissioned for the BBC/National Geographic film Titanic: The Digital Resurrection. Using blueprints, wreck evidence, and 1912 inquiry testimony, the team modelled the collision, flooding, and hull-girder failure that split the ship apart at ~158 minutes, still afloat. A counterfactual test found Titanic likely would have survived a bow-first head-on hit, matching Edward Wilding’s testimony. Since parameters were tuned to the known timeline, results are a plausible scenario, not proof.

Paik, Jeom-Kee, Hyeong Jin Kim, and Brian Thomas. “The Digital Reconstruction and Resurrection of RMS Titanic.” Encyclopedia Titanica. Last modified December 31, 2025. Accessed August 11, 2026. https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/digital-reconstruction-resurrection-rms-titanics-sinking.html. This is a summation of a study submitted to the Taylor & Francis Group in late 2025. The authors Paik & Kim are with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK. Brian Thomas is with Thomas Naval Architecture, New York, NY, USA. The full article can be read online at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17445302.2025.2603417#abstract.

Video

UCL Mechanical Engineering. “The Digital Reconstruction and Resurrection of the RMS Titanic Sinking.” Video. YouTube, January 12, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkv2z6swbRo.

Suggested Titanic Reading
[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., and Rick Archbold. The Discovery of the Titanic. New York, N.Y.?: Warner Books, 1987.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Titanic

Monday Titanic News

Titanic Lunch Menu 14 April 1912
Photo: AP

More than a century after the RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, one of the most fascinating glimpses into life aboard the world’s most famous ocean liner comes not from its grand staircase or luxurious cabins, but from its surviving menus. Original menu cards preserved by passengers and crew, along with records maintained by maritime historians and museums, reveal that meals aboard Titanic ranged from lavish multi-course banquets in first class to hearty, nourishing dishes in third class.

ETimes.In. “What Did Titanic Passengers Eat?a Look at the Ship’s Famous Menus.” The Times of India, August 6, 2026. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/what-did-titanic-passengers-eat-inside-the-ships-famous-menus/photostory/132819367.cms.

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

And now you can immerse yourself in the disaster in a whole new way: “Titanic: The Immersive Voyage” opened in Old Town Scottsdale last month. It features full-scale reproductions of parts of the ship, plus 3D views and a virtual reality tour of the wreck site more than two miles under the ocean. So what is it that still captivates us about the Titanic? ASU film professor Kevin Sandler has some ideas. He co-edited a book about it back in 1999 called “Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster.” And he came into our studios recently to talk to me more about it.

Gilger, Lauren. “As Scottsdale Gets a New Titanic Exhibit, This ASU Professor Explains Why We’ll Never Let Go.” KJZZ, August 4, 2026. https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-08-04/as-scottsdale-gets-a-new-titanic-exhibit-this-asu-professor-explains-why-well-never-let-go.

For tickets, dates and time of operation, click here.

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An Antiques Roadshow guest has admitted they have no plans on selling an extraordinary piece of history. During a previous episode of the BBC programme that first aired in 2022, Antiques Roadshow expert Hilary Kay met a guest who was the daughter of someone who worked on the Titanic. Remarking on the “extraordinary” document, Hilary said: “It’s an extraordinary momento and anything related to Titanic has this extraordinary affect on people. It is an extraordinary moment to behold something which is so linked into an extraordinary moment in history.” She revealed that the item could have been worth £10,000, but the guests, Sidney’s children, weren’t willing to sell it, and wanted to donate it to the museum. They said: “It’s very nice but it’s not going out the family, it’s going to a museum.”

Amin, Meghna, and Helen Kelly. “Antiques Roadshow Guest Rejects Selling Titanic Survivor’s ‘extraordinary’ Letter.” Express.Co.Uk, August 2, 2026. https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2235138/antiques-roadshow-guest-titanic-letter.

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MS Hans Hedtoft
Circa 1959
Unknown author.
Wikimedia Commons advises this image is subject to copyright.

Greenland had its own version of the Titanic. It was not as large a ship, but the disaster, to the people of Greenland and Denmark, was as important as that of the Titanic. The Hans Hedtoft was built in the Frederikshavn shipyard for the Royal Greenland Trade Department and launched on Aug. 13, 1958. Named for a former prime minister of Denmark, the ship was small but sturdy with a double steel bottom. Its bow and stern were extra strengthened. It was diesel-powered, had seven watertight compartments, and was supposed to be able to stay afloat even if one was filled with water. The vessel carried up-to-date instruments, including radio-equipped life rafts. Her 58-year-old captain, P. L. Rasmussen, said, “This ship means a revolution in Arctic navigation.”

Harper, Kenn. “Greenland’s Titanic: The Loss of the Hans Hedtoft.” Nunatsiaq News. Last modified August 1, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026. https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/greenlands-titanic-the-loss-of-the-hans-hedtoft/.

Suggested Titanic Reading
[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., and Rick Archbold. The Discovery of the Titanic. New York, N.Y.?: Warner Books, 1987.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Titanic

Remembering The Sultana Tragedy (27 April 1865)

On 27 April 1865 the steamboat Sultana, carrying recently released Union prisoners of war, exploded on the Mississippi River, killing 1,450 to 1,900 people. This disaster remains the deadliest maritime loss in U.S. history.

Sultana 26 April 1865 at Helena, Arkansas and obviously overcrowded. So many crowded on the port side to be in the photograph that it caused issues for the ship.
Original source: United States Library of Congress
Public Domain
Photo: Public Domain (U.S. Library of Congress, digital id#cph.3a48909)

The Sultana was built as a side-wheel steamboat in Cincinnati in 1863. The 260-foot-long wood steamboat transported passengers and freight between St. Louis and New Orleans on the Mississippi River. She was powered by four fire-tube boilers which could generate twice the amount of steam as conventional boilers. The one major drawback is that each boiler required water levels to be always maintained. Since it used river water, this had to be carefully monitored as sediment would block flues. And if the water level got too low hot spots would develop and an explosion would occur. With steamboats of this period using light weight wood that was covered with oil-based paint, fires were a major concern.

J. Cass Mason was the Sultana’s captain and was part owner. He was an experienced captain but had gotten into trouble trying to ship contraband. The Sultana departed St. Louis on 13 April 1865 for New Orleans. When he arrived at Cairo, Illinois on 15 April, he learned the shocking news of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Grabbing a stack of newspapers, he immediately departed south as many places had no telegraph and would not learn the news of this event. Arriving in Vicksburg, he was approached by Captain Reuben Hatch, the chief quartermaster. He had a problem. The recently released Union Army prisoners of war needed to get home. And the government was willing to pay $2.75 for each enlisted man and $8.00 for each officer. Hatch knew that Mason needed the money and offered a 1,0000 Army soldiers. To secure this “guarantee” though, Hatch would get a kickback. Mason agreed and the Sultana continued its journey to New Orleans. Sultana departed New Orleans on 21 April 1865 with approximately 70 passengers, some livestock, and a crew of 85. On the way to Vicksburg, one of the boilers leaked and the steamboat limped into Vicksburg to pick up the Union prisoners heading home.

The boiler needed immediate repair but that would take several days. Mason was concerned that this delay would cost him money and other steamboats would take the released Union prisoners. The mechanic was ordered to make temporary repairs which only took a day hoping to make the full repair when he arrived back in St. Louis. Meanwhile the Sultanabegan taken on the prisoners. The ship had an official capacity of 376 people but would take on 1,950 of the prisoners along with 22 guards and 70 passengers. Every available space was used, and the overflow was so severe that at some places there was noticeable creaking and sagging requiring wooden beams for support. As Sultana departed on 24 April, it was carrying 2,127 people. Making matters worse, a massive Spring flood had occurred making it difficult traveling upriver. When she arrived in Helena, Arkansas on 26 April, a photo was taken showing how overcrowded the vessel was. Arriving at Memphis that night, she unloaded 200 men and sugar before departing around midnight to pick up coal upriver. Around 1 am, the ship continued its journey.

At 2:00 am on 27 April 1865 when Sultana was about seven miles north of Memphis, a massive explosion occurred with one boiler and then the three others exploded. The effect was catastrophic with it tearing through the crowded decks killing many and destroying the pilothouse. The ship was a burning hulk without anyone to steer it. The smokestacks collapsed causing further damage and death. Many became trapped inside as the forward part of the upper deck collapsed onto the middle deck. The twin openings of the main stairway survived allowing many to run down them. However, broken wood on the ship caught fire with the now exposed furnace boxes turning the ship into a raging inferno. Many jumped into the water, some in whole groups. Many were still recovering from their imprisonment and lacked the strength to survive. Whole groups of men clung together in desperation and perished together. Some grabbed ahold of debris to stay afloat.

The steamer Bostona was already heading downriver and came upon the scene at 2:30 am. She rescued scores of survivors in the water. Meanwhile many who had survived were being carried downriver by the current towards Memphis. There were cries of help heard and this caused the docked ships, several steamers and naval ships, to come to their aid. The water was icy cold from the spring runoff and many perished from hypothermia or drowned. A few survivors were even found on trees near the swollen riverbanks. Bodies of victims would be found downriver for months. Nearly all the Sultana’s officers perished including Captain James Cass Mason.

The news was greeted with shock when it was reported. Then it disappeared from the news. The assassination of President Lincoln and hunting down the assassin and those who aided him filled the news. It was not forgotten by the survivors nor by the people of Memphis, who went out of their way to assist those who had survived the disaster. The official investigation concluded that improper water levels along with overcrowding and being top heavy all contributed to the disaster. Another investigation in 2015 suggests that the quality of the metal in the boilers, the use of river water often filled with sediment, and the design of the boilers all contributed to the explosion. Some have speculated that sabotage was involved and while intriguing, no proof has been found to substantiate it. The PBS show History Detectives (2 July 2014) debunks those claims and focuses on the overcrowding and corruption as the major issues.

Despite the catastrophe, no one was held accountable. The military commission that investigated the tragedy determined the boiler explosion was the cause and discounted entirely the fact the ship was overloaded. J. J. Witzig, the supervising inspector of steamboats, found that the patch used for the emergency repair was too thin for the pressure of the return trip. There were other inquiries that pointed fingers at various officers that resulted in the overcrowding of the Sultana. Ultimately a court martial was ordered and both Captain Hatch and Captain Frederic Speed, who had overseen the troops being sent to the ship, were ordered to appear.  Hatch, who had allegations of corruption in the past and had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, never appeared. Speed was found guilty of all charges and to be dismissed from the service. This was overturned by the Army Judge Advocate General who determined Speed was not responsible for the actual loading, but Captain George Augustus Williams was.

It was Williams inaccurate numbers to Speed that caused problems with the exact numbers aboard Sultana. Williams was not prosecuted by the Army. Hatch, on the other hand, was relieved of his duties as chief quartermaster on 3 June 1865. Sometime later he was aboard the steamer Atlanticcarrying $14,490 in government money. A thief broke into the safe stealing the money but was captured before docking in St. Louis. However, there was $8,500 missing from the government money that Hatch claimed was in the safe. He was found in violation of government regulations in transporting the money and held liable for its loss.

In the wake of the disaster, safety laws for steamships were changed. The boilers responsible for the explosion were banned. The Act of 1871 established and revised the older Steamboat Act by creating a Steamboat Inspection Service giving it power to regulate all commercial steam-powered vessels, implement measures to protect passengers and crews, requiring licensing of ship masters and chief mates (and the authority to revoke them), and issue nautical rules for steamboat operations. This would shift to the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (BMIN) in 1936 which was part of the Commerce Department. It would shift to the Coast Guard starting in World War II and has stayed there ever since.

The remains of the Sultana were found 1982 but not in the Mississippi River but under a soybean field on the Arkansas side of the river. The Mississippi River has changed course over the years and so now the remains are on dry land and 2 miles east of where it was in 1865. Various memorials exist to the victims. The Sultana Disaster Museum has opened in Marion, Arkansas. The disaster remains as one of the worst maritime disasters in the United States and yet few know of it.

Sources

Blakemore, Erin. “Why Nobody Remembers America’s Worst Maritime Disaster | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified May 27, 2025. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/why-nobody-remembers-americas-worst-maritime-disaster.

Rust, Randal. “Sultana Disaster of 1865 | Tennessee Encyclopedia.” Tennessee Encyclopedia. Last modified March 1, 2018. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/sultana-disaster-of-1865/.

Eschner, Kat. “This Civil War Boat Explosion Killed More People Than the Titanic.” Smithsonian. Last modified April 27, 2017. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/civil-war-boat-explosion-killed-more-people-titanic-180963008/.

Voulgaris, Barbara. “Sultana Fire – a Maritime Disaster That Helped Shape the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Mission.” U.S. Coast Guard. Last modified April 25, 2025. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/4166478/sultana-fire-a-maritime-disaster-that-helped-shape-the-coast-guards-marine-safe/.

“STORIES | Sultana Museum.” Sultana Museum. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.sultanadisastermuseum.com/stories-from-the-sultana.

“Sultana: Titanic of the Mississippi.” Last modified April 27, 2001. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.unexplainedcases.com/2009/10/sultana-titanic-of-mississippi.html.

“The Sultana Disaster.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed April 27, 2026. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/sultana-disaster.

Videos

Fascinating Horror, “The Sinking of the Sultana | a Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror,” Video, YouTube, November 16, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Q-7YKw_RY.

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered, “The Sultana Explosion, a Maritime Disaster,” Video, YouTube, March 23, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DLKI4VltuE.

 

 

Titanic

Titanic Chronology:Olympic Departure Delayed Over Lifeboats (24 April 1912)

[This has been rewritten from 2025 with updated sources, grammar and spelling corrections.]

RMS Olympic Arrives In New York on Maiden Voyage, 21 June 1911
Source: U.S. Library of Commerce/Wikimedia Commons
Public Domain

The revelation that there were not enough lifeboats on Titanic led to an immediate change for the ocean liners. Up until the disaster, the general response was that putting more lifeboats aboard ships was impractical as it took away deck space. Almost immediately after Titanic sank they found room for them and proudly told passengers they could now travel in peace knowing of this.

RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister ship, was scheduled to depart from Southampton on April 24, 1912. They had added 40 collapsible lifeboats they had gotten from troopships to have enough lifeboats for all passengers. However, some crew aboard Olympic were not convinced they were seaworthy. They requested they be replaced by wooden lifeboats, but this was denied. White Star said they were deemed seaworthy by a Board of Trade inspector. 284 firemen went on strike protesting the collapsible lifeboats as unsafe causing departure to be delayed. White Star hired non-union strikers to replace them.

New lifeboats being loaded on RMS Olympic, Titanic’s sister-ship
Circa 22 April 1912-25 April 1912
Author Unknown
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

On the following day, representatives of the strikers witnessed a test of four collapsible boats; one was found unseaworthy. The representatives said they would recommend the strikers return to work. However, a separate complaint was lodged about the non-union workers; White Star refused to fire them. 54 crew members left the ship in protest resulting in the ship’s departure being canceled. They would be all charged and convicted of mutiny, but no penalty was awarded due to the circumstances. White Star would hire them all back due to the support they had received from the public. The departure was rescheduled and Olympic would sail for New York on May 15, 1912.

Sources

“Encylopedia Titanica.” https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/.

“RMS Olympic | Atlantic Liners.” https://atlanticliners.com/white_star_home/olympic_home/.

Edwards, John. “The Olympic Mutiny – Ocean Liners Magazine.” Ocean Liners Magazine. Last modified May 3, 2020. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://oceanlinersmagazine.com/2020/05/03/olympic-mutiny-2/.

Documentaries & Videos

Oceanliner Designs, “What Happened to RMS Olympic After WW1?,” Video, YouTube, June 19, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKi3hkqGP8s.

Nautical Study. “The Story of RMS Olympic: Titanic’s Forgotten Twin.” Video. YouTube, April 8, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHcp1tYfeO0

Suggested Reading

[Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.]

Archbold, Rick, and Dana McCauley. Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes From the Great Liner. Hachette Books, 1997.

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.

Behe, George. Voices From the Carpathia: Rescuing RMS Titanic, 2015.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

Behe, George. Fate Deals a Hand: The Slippery Fortunes of Titanic’s Professional Gamblers. History Press, 2023.

Ballard, Robert D. Exploring the Titanic. Reprint. Madison Press Books, 2014.

Ballard, Robert D., Lost Liners: From the Titanic to the Andrea Doria the Ocean Floor Reveals Its Greatest Lost Ships(Hyperion, 1998).

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

 

Titanic

Titanic Chronology-U.S. Senate Hearing into Titanic Sinking Begins (20 April 1912)

[This has been rewritten from 2025 and includes more source citations.]

News of the Titanic sinking and the large number that died shocked people all over the world. There were demands on both sides of the Atlantic for an investigation as to how this tragedy had occurred. Cartoonists depicted the number of dead to the lifeboats available with a large question mark as to why lifeboats for all were not there. Scathing commentary too that Ismay had survived while so many died were made as well. U.S. Senator William Alden Smith from Michigan was appalled by the tragedy and called, along with others, for a Senate inquiry into what happened. The formal proposal was made on April 17, 1912.The British were outraged believing they had sole jurisdiction since the ship was a British flagged steamer. Smith and others countered that since the ship was owned by an American corporation, that the U.S. had also the right to hold an inquiry. Attempts to stop it went right to the top where President Taft was asked to oppose it. He declined since his friend and military aide, Archibald Butt, died in the sinking.

Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan
Unknown date (between 1905 and 1945)
Public Domain

Smith, a lifelong Republican, was more progressive than some of his party and wanted to determine if White Star had liability for what happened. He and Senator Francis Newlands along with others quickly traveled by train to New York to be there when Carpathia docked on 18 April. They boarded the ship after it was docked and had subpoenas handed out to Ismay, all the surviving Titanic officers, and Captain Rostron. Other parties-crew, survivors, and Captain Stanley Lord and crew of Californian-would be asked to testify as well. The hearings would begin at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York and later be moved to Washington D.C. at the Russell Senate Office Building. The hearings, with many recesses in-between, would run for 18 days till May 25, 1912.

The subcommittee doing the inquiry was composed of seven senators (three Republicans and three Democrats) with Smith as chair. While members could ask questions of witnesses, Smith reserved the right to question the chief witnesses. This led to some friction as some members thought he was trying to seize the limelight resulting in some members not showing up for scheduled hearings. The British press and government harshly condemned the inquiry and Smith personally. Smith was portrayed poorly as an out-of-control ego centered senator wanting to use the tragedy to gain prominence. The inquiry was condemned for having no jurisdiction in the press and by the government. President Taft was not immune either from criticism for allowing this to happen. The row carried out in front page headlines daily and the British government made very clear it was against the inquiry.

Sketch of J. Bruce Ismay giving testimony before U.S. Senate Titanic inquiry.
Public Domain (via Wikipedia)

The inquiry heard testimony from the Titanic surviving officers, crew, and survivors in particular Charles Lightoller, Frederick Fleet, Harold Bride, and First-Class passenger Archibald Gracie. Captain Arthur Rostron of Carpathia, Captain Stanley Lord of California, and Captain Herbert Haddock of RMS Olympic testified. The inquiry heard expert testimony about the Marconi radio telegraph, icebergs and about the news coverage. Of particular interest was how the messages got so mixed up as to render confusing reports of the situation. Phillip Franklin, the vice-president of International Mercantile Marine, testified as well. Smith also visited the RMS Olympic when it was in port in New York on May 25, 1912 to inspect the ship and interview some of the crew.

The official report was delivered to the United States Senate on May 28, 1912. The report, nineteen pages long and with 44 exhibits, summarized over 1,145 pages of testimony and sworn affidavits. Its findings and recommendations, echoed by the British Inquiry that would come later, would make changes to safety practices on ships at sea. The key findings are:

  • The ship was unprepared for the emergency due, that no general alarm was given, there was no orderly routine for the evacuations nor an organized system of safety.
  • There was no testing of the safety and life-saving equipment.
  • Captain Edward Smith showed indifference to the danger and contributed to the tragedy.
  • The lack of lifeboats aboard was due to British Board of Trade lax regulation on lifeboats needed. The report also criticized the speed of the sea trials as hasty.
  • The SS Californian was nearer to Titanic than what its captain claimed it was and requested the British government act against him.
  • That the presence of White Star Line president, J. Bruce Ismay, may have contributed to Captain Smith’s decision to increase speed.
  • Third-Class passengers, while not prevented from getting to the lifeboats, did not realize until far too late that Titanic was sinking.

The report criticized the seafaring practices that had led to complacency and how each component-from the builders, owners and crew–all contributed to its demise.There was no finding of negligence by the subcommittee and while the actions that led up to the disaster were a problem, the disaster itself was considered an “act of God.”

Smith had hoped to prove negligence as that would have helped those who lost relatives and cargo get damages. However, due to laws limiting liability unless you could prove negligence, most would never get much compensation from White Star. They did settle legal claims brought against them, but the amount paid was far less than it could have been. Those who were employed by outside vendors, such as Wallace Hartley and his band, had no legal recourse against White Star. The firm that employed them tried to bill their relatives for the lost items (lyre lapel insignia or White Star logo) required to be worn. One of them sent the bill to the Amalgamated Musicians’ Union which reprinted it in the monthly newsletter. The controversy it generated showed how much had changed. Musicians were paid modest fees for their services and the fact that their employer demanded payment for lost pins or buttons that were lost when they died at sea was considered outrageous. There is no record that the company was paid nor that they sought legal action to collect.

Captain Smith, while found complacent and failed to have proper drills for the crew to handle the lifeboats, was not found negligent. Ismay was still a villain for surviving in the press, but Captain Stanley Lord of Californian faced severe criticism for the indifference he and his crew showed to the rockets that were seen. He would never shake it, and the British Inquiry also harshly judged him as well. He would be fired by the Leyland Line in August 1912 but found employment with the Nitrate Producers Steamship Co. where he stayed until 1927.

Sources
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Books

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.

Behe, George. The Triumvirate: Captain Edward J. Smith, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews and the Sinking of Titanic.History Press, 2024.

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

Cameron, Stephen. Titanic: Belfast’s Own. Colourpoint, 2011.

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

Fitch, Tad, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt. On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic. Reprint. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

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)

Lynch, Don & Marshall Ken, TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, Madison Press Books, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1992

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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

Wade, Wyn Craig. The Titanic, End of a Dream, 1979.

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

Government Reports

Titanic Disaster Report of Committee on Commerce United States Senate. United States Senate, March 28, 1912. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/titanic.htm.

“TIP | U.S. Senate Inquiry.” https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AMInq01.php.

The Titanic Reports: The Official Conclusions of the 1912 Inquiries Into the Titanic Disaster. Red and Black Publishers, 2008.

Internet Articles

Andrews, Stefan. “Families of Titanic’s Musicians Were Billed the Cost of Uniforms After the Ship’s Sinking.” Thevintagenews. Last modified June 21, 2017.

Internet (General)

“The Titanic: Sinking & Facts | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified March 26, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/titanic.

“Encylopedia Titanica.” https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/.

Documentary & Videos

Oceanliner Designs. “The First Titanic Inquiry Was a Confused Mess.” Video. YouTube, August 18, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJL4G4RKvXo.

Titanic

Titanic Chronology: Carpathia Arrives in New York (18 April 1912)

Titanic survivors aboard Carpathia.
U.S. Library of Congress, digital id: cph 3b04287
Public Domain

Since the sinking, the Carpathia has maintained a radio silence refusing to acknowledge except the most required about its upcoming arrival in New York. Names of those who were rescued were transmitted via the RMS Olympic to Cape Race and onto New York where the White Star Line made the names known to the public. Many had gathered outside their offices in New York City to learn the fate of those aboard Titanic. Messages from survivors were transmitted from Carpathia to their relatives.

Boats of news reporters went out to meet Carpathia as it entered. Using megaphones, they yelled to people on deck hoping to get something. One reporter did manage to get aboard and get some interviews before tossing a cigar box filled with his notes that was lined with champagne corks to his editor waiting in a tugboat. It would swiftly be taken to the New York Herald and published. A large crowd, estimated at around 10,000 to see Carpathia come down the battery and about 1,000 where the ship was to dock. J.P. Morgan along with families of the famous people aboard such as the Astor, Thayer, and Widener families were there. Many had been on the special train that was mistakenly sent to Halifax believing Titanic was headed there to dock.

Bain News Service, Publisher. Crowd awaiting survivors from CARPATHIA. , 1912. [April date created or published later by Bain] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014690330/.
Public Domain

It was raining that evening as Carpathia made its way to its dock but stopped first at the White Star Line dock to drop off the Titanic lifeboats. These lifeboats, except for the flotsam and jetsam on the ocean, were all that was left of the once great ship RMS Titanic. This delayed Carpathia’s arrival as it had been scheduled to arrive at 8:30 pm and was not until after 9 pm at Pier 54 it finally docked with the gangway coming down at 9:25 pm. News reports indicate some were crying in the crowd. The crowd had been silent up to its arrival, but now that had changed. A detachment of doctors, nurses, nuns, and priests went aboard. Three women, not wanting to wait for the gangway to come down, used the ship ladders to get down. The Salvation Army also was there to help as well.

Most came off Carpathia wearing a hodgepodge of clothes they were able to get aboard ship. Men standing in the crowd took off their hats as a show of respect. Those who had relatives were greeted by them. Those who had no one were assisted by a variety of groups: Women’s Relief Committee, Travelers Aid Society of New York, the Council of Jewish Women and many more. Transportation to shelters was provided for. Those with relatives in New York left soon afterwards while those who were elsewhere in the US had to make travel arrangements. The Pennsylvania Railroad provided a special free train to take survivors to Philadelphia. Surviving Titanic crew members were taken to the Red Star Line steamer SS Lapland to be housed temporarily.

Among the people that boarded Carpathia that night were two U.S. Senators: William Alden Smith and Francis G. Newlands. They had subpoenas served on J. Bruce Ismay, the surviving Titanic officers and crew, and Captain Rostron. A formal inquiry was about to take place in the United States, and they were not going to wait for an official British inquiry down the road. Smith argued that since White Star Line was ultimately owned by an American company–International Mercantile Marine–the United States had every right to conduct an inquiry of its own. This would cause considerable anger in Britain over it and unfavorable depictions of Smith in its press. However, both  inquiries would explore exactly how this tragedy occurred and how something so simple, having lifeboats for all, was not required by the British Board of Trade.

Sources

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

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

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

Internet

“The Titanic: Sinking & Facts | HISTORY.” HISTORY. Last modified March 26, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/titanic.

“Encylopedia Titanica.” https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/.

“RMS Titanic – the Radio Officers Association.” https://radioofficers.com/archives/rms-titanic/.

“Titanic Facts • 1,000+ Fascinating Facts and Figures,” Titanic Facts, last modified October 7, 2023, https://titanicfacts.net/.

Documentary & Videos

Titanic. DVD. A+E Networks, Greystone Communications, 1994. Also known as Titanic: Death of a Dream and Titanic: The Complete Story

Oceanliner Designs, “What Happened to Titanic’s Survivors After the Sinking?,” Video, YouTube, April 21, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkDv7XKxQGA.