The Titanic's aftermath and legacy.

Today marks the end of my "expedition" to Titanic. It has been thrilling for me to blog about such a fascinating subject. I hope my writings will be informational both now and in the future to anyone who wishes to read my posts. I just have a few last words on the subject....

After the Titanic sunk, thorough investigations began on both sides of the "pond". The tragedy affected America and several countries in the Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. It was a dreadful loss for the entire world.

One of my favorite direct quotes from the interrogative proceedings of the court sessions, is the following:

Senator Smith: "Did you leave the ship?"

Second Officer Lightoller: "No, sir."

Senator Smith: "Did it leave you?"

Second Officer Lightoller: "Yes, sir."

Lightoller never did leave the Titanic, yet he survived. He was one of the men who stayed on through the entire sinking, until he was finally swept overboard as the ship sank beneath the waves. One of the lifeboats picked him up and he was able to live through that frigid night on April 14, 1912.

Both the King of England & the President of the United States made efforts towards the tragedy. President Taft made a heartfelt exertion by sending out a fast scout cruiser to meet the Carpathia, when the survivors were still on their way to New York.
King George V was reigning in England at the time. He sent the following message to the White Star Line:

"The Queen and I are horrified at the appalling disaster which has happened to the Titanic, and at the terrible loss of life. We deeply sympathise with the bereaved relations, and feel for them in their great sorrow with all our hearts."

The Titanic stands as one of the largest maritime disasters. For 1,517 people it was a voyage to eternity. For the 705 who survived, it was the most horrific experience of the century, which will follow after them and their families forever.

To quote from one of the newspapers in 1912:

It is a question of navigation, and, unfortunately, navigation must to some extent be a question of luck. It is the worst possible luck that the Titanic should have made her debut during a month in which ice dangers have been far in excess, so far as the Atlantic is concerned, of the Aprils of some former years. It is worse still that this magnificent ship should have been the first to come to grief this ice season.

Finally, to conclude my thoughts on such a huge subject, I found some parting words written by historian, Stephen Hines:

"...some mysteries concerning the events of that 'night to remember' will always remain mysteries, not because the real truth can't be told, but because the real truth can't be known."

('Titanic: One Newspaper, Seven Days, and the Truth That Shocked the World')