Tag Archives: Harold Lowe

Titanic

Friday Titanic News

Photograph of iceberg taken by chief steward of Prinz Adalbert on morning of 15 April 1912 near where Titanic sank. At the time he had not learned of the Titanic disaster. Smears of red paint along the base caught his attention. The photo and accompanying statement were sent to Titanic’s lawyers, which hung in their boardroom until the firm dissolved in 2002. Public Domain

Photograph of The Iceberg That ‘Most Likely’ Sunk Titanic Surfaces 108 Years After Disaster (TimesNowNews.com, 15 June 2020)

The image of the iceberg was taken by the captain of another ship just two days before it struck the Titanic. Captain W. Wood, who served on board the SS Etonian, captured the huge iceberg on his camera. He got the photo developed when he reached New York and sent the print to his great-grandfather. Along with the photo, Wood also sent a letter that stated that this was the iceberg that sank the Titanic. “I am sending you a sea picture, the Etonian running before a gale and the iceberg that sank the Titanic. We crossed the ice tracks 40hrs before her and in daylight so saw the ice easily and I got a picture,” Wood wrote in the letter.

Photo: Public Domain (Library and Archives Canada / PA-122236)

Op-Ed: Recovering Titanic’s Radio Would Create a Dangerous Precedent (Maritime Executive, 14 June 20)

From an archaeological perspective, recovering the radio will involve further damage to the memorial site for very limited gain with regard to scientific and cultural knowledge. We already know the make, model and history of this radio. So motivation for the salvage appears to lie in the radio’s economic potential as a tourist attraction and through a possible future sale. As archaeologists we understand there are times when intrusive and destructive interventions are required. But such acts need to be carefully considered in light of their impact on our shared global heritage. Once such actions take place they cannot be undone. A court ruling for such a culturally significant site that goes against advice from NOAA and counter to the principles of UNESCO, risks suggesting that the principles of shared heritage and selective intervention can be easily negated through simplistic arguments of degradation and profit.

Titanic Hero’s Whistle, Other Artifacts, Up For Auction (Fox News, 11 June 2020)

A whistle that belonged to a hero of the Titanic disaster is up for auction in the U.K., along with a host of other artifacts. The whistle is among a trove of items that belonged to Harold Lowe, a fifth officer on the Titanic. “Harold Lowe was without doubt one of the heroes of the Titanic disaster,” explained auctioneer Andrew Aldridge of U.K. auction house Henry Aldridge & Son in a statement emailed to Fox News. The archive has been in the possession of Lowe’s direct descendants.

Judge Gavel
George Hodan
publicdomainpictures.net

Feds Oppose Summer 2020 Salvage Mission at Titanic Wreck Site (Courthouse News Service, 9 June 2020)

In a memo supporting the motion to intervene meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kent Porter points to an international agreement with the United Kingdom that the United States signed into law two years ago, saying it “precludes penetrating the wreck for salvage purposes, or if any activity would physically disturb the hull, artifacts or human remains.” Porter says any salvage activities are subject to federal regulation “RMST did not and has not sought an authorization from the secretary of commerce for this or any of the other activity set forth in its Research Design,” the 22-page memo states.

Titanic, Titanic II, Titanic Miscellaneous

Sunday Titanic Newswrap

1. Titanic II Update: Clive Palmer says he is considering a Tasmanian company, Liferaft Systems Australia, to construct Titanic II’s lifeboats. Clive Palmer said “The exciting thing about his liferaft system is you don’t sell any in Australia, which means it must be good if people overseas are buying it Australians never buy things that are good they only buy things that are bad.”
Source: Tasmania Considered For Titanic II Liferafts(30 Aug 2013,ABC-Australia)

2. Mystery Of Edith Russell’s Musical Pig Solved-After asking the public to identify the unknown tune, it has finally been identified as “La Sorella” by Charles Borel-Clerk and Louis Gallini. However there was some confusion over a South American dance song called “Maxixe,” which some thought was the tune. The song La Sorella is also known as La Matchiche which is pronounced the same as Maxixe.
Source: Titanic Mystery Solved: Song Toy Played As Ship Sank Is Identified(29 Aug 2013,Newsmax)

RNLI Tribute, Punch Cartoon(1892)
Wikipedia

3. Captain John Lowe, grandson of Titanic third officer Harold Lowe, recently attended a special dedication service for the Barmouth Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Lowe brought his grandfather’s photograph album containing pictures from the 1914 Barmouth Regatta.
Source: Grandson Of Titanic Survivor Attends Service(29 Aug 2013,Cambrian News)$

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Titanic, Titanic Exhibitions

Titanic News For 14 Nov 2011

1. Inside The Titanic Brings New Insight To Old Story (11 Nov 2011, National Post)
Curiosity: Inside the Titanic doesn’t provide unexpected or undiscovered research, but it does tell the story of the ship in a different way: by recreating the events of April 15, 1912, using first-hand stories of the survivors. The two-hour film, a drama-umentary of sorts, includes a fair bit of explanatory work, as befits a show that’s on the Discovery channel, showing how a handful of decisions in the moments after the Titanic sideswiped an iceberg pushed the great ship’s situation from grave to doomed. But the Canadian-British co-production adds some edge to the anodyne technical stuff by showing how real-life folk dealt with a situation that went from curious to disastrous in a hurry.

2. 92-Year-Old Titanic Buff Visits Gould School (10 Nov 2011, Patch.com)
When fourth-grade Gould School reading teacher Susan Kappock had students complete an assignment on the search for the Titanic, she noticed one child gave very detailed answers. After inquiring about student Sajid Quraeshi’s interest, Kappock learned his 92-year-old great uncle, Jack Mafcola, has had a lifelong fascination with the ocean and has become an unofficial expert on the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago. Mafcola, along with his wife Emily, visited Gould School Tuesday to share with fourth graders the lessons learned from one of history’s greatest peacetime maritime disasters.

Harold Lowe

3. Plaque For Titanic Officer Will Be At Harbour After All(10 Nov 2011, Cambrian News)Barmouth councillors have made a U-turn on the location for a commemorative plaque for Titanic hero Harold Lowe – after complaints from campaigners. A town council sub-committee decided on Tuesday that the plaque to honour Titanic’s Fifth Officer Harold Lowe would be placed on a wall outside the harbourmaster’s office and a unveiling ceremony would be held on 15 April 2012 – exactly 100 years after the disaster.

4. Record Attendance at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at ArtScience Museum (10 Nov 2011, eTravelBlackboard – Asia Edition)
Over 18,500 visitors have experienced the RMS Titanic in the first 10 days of opening Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is fast proving to be a hit among visitors of the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands with over 18,500 visitors in its first 10 days of opening. The use of authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations combined with the compelling stories of the passengers and crew has captured the imagination of visitors both local and overseas alike.

5. Titanic Exhibit At Natural Science Center Extended (9 Nov 2011, WFMY News 2)
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition has been extended at the Natural Science Center in Greensboro. Center officials said due to popular demand the exhibit which was supposed to wrap up this month will be extended until January 8.

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Titanic, Titanic Exhibitions

Titanic News For 24 Oct 2011

1. Unique Titanic Memorabilia To Go Under The Auctioneers Hammer  (24 Oct 2011, Art Daily)
Henry Aldridge and Son are holding their latest auction of Titanic and White Star Line memorabilia on October 29th at their Devizes auction rooms. After the success of the auctioneers last auction in May with the 32ft enquiry plan selling for a world record £220000. It is no surprise that another unique selection of memorabilia will be offered for auction in Devizes.  The sale has a number of star lots but two of the most visually impressive are the sister plan to the 32ft enquiry profile offered in May and an extremely rare plan of First Class Accommodation for the Titanic that was used onboard by a Titanic survivor.

2.Minnesotan’s Titanic Letter Among Auction Items (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 23 Oct 2011)
One year before the centennial of the Titanic’s sinking, a letter written by a prominent Minneapolis businessman on Titanic stationery the day it sailed is one of more than 100 items of the doomed ship’s memorabilia sold Friday night in New York for $100,570. The collection, which had been expected to sell for $50,000 to $75,000, was one of seven lots of Titanic material sold by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. It was purchased by a private collector who asked not to be identified.

3. Titanic Exhibit Comes To The Shore Mall In EHT (Press of Atlantic City, 22 Oct 2011)
Shore Mall visitors looking for a break from shopping this fall can take a trip back in a time and check out a Titanic exhibit, starting today inside Silver Moon Antiques.The highlight of the 24-item exhibit is a 25-foot-long, 7-foot wide Titanic-era original Harland and Wolff Lifeboat, circa 1909. It may actually be one of the Titanic lifeboats, but it was definitely featured in several movies, including Alfred Hitchcock’s “Lifeboat” in 1944, the 1953 movie “Titanic,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and the 1964 film “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” with Debbie Reynolds. Part of the reason why the Titanic lifeboat is on display is to let the public help in deciding whether the lifeboat is an authentic Titanic lifeboat or not.

4. Titanic Artifacts On Display At Marine Museum (YNN , 21 Oct 2011
An Oswego museum is currently featuring Titanic artifacts and memorabilia, including items from the personal collection of an Oswego man who works with the Titanic Historical Society. George DeMass serves as the historical society’s chaplain and also collects Titanic artifacts. He has loaned the H. Lee White Marine Museum parts of his collection, including paintings, newspaper clips and items from the boat.

5. Titanic Memorial Restoration Work Begins In Godalming (BBC News, 20 Oct 2011)
Restoration of a memorial to the chief wireless operator on the Titanic has started. The Philips Memorial Cloister, in Godalming, is to be restored during a five-year programme. The work is being carried out to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in 2012. It is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund with a £335,000 grant through its Parks for People programme.

6.Unseen Photos From Titanic Rescue On The Auction Block (Today’s THV, 20 Oct 2011)
Their photos of the rescue and their writings of how it all happened are now headed to the auction block. One of john’s letters describing the ship fade into history says, “When we had moved some distance away from the Titanic we realized by looking at the bow seeing the different rows of port holes getting less and less…that the finest boat in the world was doomed…” Phil Weiss runs the New York auction house that’s now selling the memorabilia. He says, “You don’t see these kinds of things come to the market anymore most of this material has been located, found, and accounted for.”

7. Titanic Hero Harold Lowe’s Plaque Is Funded By Council (20 October 2011,BBC News)
A campaign to erect a memorial was started by 17-year-old Maddie Matthews, of Dyffryn Ardudwy, who learned about Harold Lowe when watching the Hollywood movie.”I’ve seen the design and its brilliant. I’m hoping it will a fitting tribute and family members and the people of Barmouth will turn out to see it unveiled,” she said. It has been agreed that a plaque will be unveiled in April 2012 to mark the centenary of the disaster. The slate memorial, which is being made locally, will include an engraving of Harold Lowe and the Titanic and a citation describing his bravery.

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Titanic, Titanic Miscellaneous

Titanic Musings;The Great Expedition, Motley Fool Does Titanic, and a Memorial for Harold Lowe

*The Great Expedition to Titanic had to depart early due to a hurricane but got some real neat photos of the wreck. And it showed the wreck still is quite visible demonstrating the decay rate is slower than some speculated.

*Over in Belfast a developer in the Titanic Quarter went after a man who put down money for an apartment but could not complete the deal due to being unemployed. Three years ago Neil Rowe put down money for a £265,000 apartment. Alas the poor economy cost him a job and he cannot get a mortgage. The developer though wanted him to pay the balance and took him to court arguing although broke he still owed the money. In simple terms, they wanted to the court to recognize he owed the debt but the judge turned them down. They can still seek damages if they choose.

*Motley Fool did an analysis of Premiere Exhibitions (the owner of RMS Titanic, Inc.) in light of the recent salvage award. They write: “In sum, we’re not sure exactly what PRXI is worth at the moment, although we think its pretty safe to say its worth a lot more than its current price (paraphrasing Buffett, you don’t need a scale to tell a man’s fat!). Seems like an easy lay-up that will likely generate an outsized return over the next six months with very little risk (and better yet regardless of what the general market does as a whole). That said, its possible an investment today may require some patience but given Sellers commitment to monetizing his stake in the near-term, the significant and undisputed embedded value in the titanic assets and the progress to-date regarding the company’s turnaround efforts, our guess is that good things will happen sooner rather than later.”

*Fifth Officer Harold Lowe of Titanic does not get a lot of notice and Maddie Mathews, a Harold Lowe16 year-old schoolgirl, thought that was wrong after seeing Cameron’s Titanic. So she launched a campaign to get Lowe, who also hailed from Wales, to be properly commemorated. She wrote letters to local councils and historical associations asking for their assistance. The town of Barmouth, where Lowe spent much of his youth, is setting up a committee and invited Maddie to sit on it. The purpose of the committee will be to erect a memorial in time for the 2012 centenary. Descendants of Lowe have been contacted and delighted by the news. Good work Maddie!

*If you saw Cameron’s Titanic, then you saw William Murdoch depicted as a coward. This bothered many Titanic enthusiasts and historians saying it was inaccurate. Scott Murdoch, a nephew of William Murdoch, demanded an apology for how the movie depicted his uncle. He got one from Scott Neeson, vice president of 20th Century Fox, who said it (the movie) never intended to show William Murdoch as a coward and any implication was inadvertent. Scott Murdoch passed away in August and was in his 90’s. RIP

On Non-Titanic:

*Top Chef Boring continues on to Singapore. They had to make meals in the final challenge that could be freeze dried and eaten by astronauts. The highlight was Buzz Aldrin, a man who has walked on the moon. Anthony Bourdain was there and actually criticized Ripert’s (who he calls Ripper) criticism of Ed’s dish as too complicated. There are critics of Ripert who say he is too bland or too exacting in his standards. He is much better than that walking cliché Toby Young. Young must have had flash cards to memorize dozens of totally useless cliches to throw out during his tenure on Top Chef. Michelle Bernstein put him in his place and his totally weird comment about wine and hairy armpits (which caused Tom C. to put his head down on the table in disbelief) probably was the nail in the coffin. Ripert at least is constructive in his criticisms. Bourdain would make a great judge (and has done well as a guest judge in the past) but he is too busy to be there full time.

*Top Chef Masters? Former cheftestants are back! Yes we will bring back some of the favorites of past seasons who flamed out at the end or near the end. Oh please tell me this is just some sick publicity joke. We do not need a season of former cheftestants battling out to see who amongst them is SECOND TOP CHEF (which is what they are since they were beaten). Perhaps for fun they ought to allow failed cheftestants from Chopped or Next Food Network Star to compete as well. Hey maybe that bankrupt gal from that New Jersey show could toss a table over as well. 😉