R.M.S. TITANIC - History
The signals were received by at least five ships in the area including the Frankfurt, the Olympic and the Carpathia. However, it was rival company's Cunard liner Carpathia which was the only one closest enough to be of any help.
Upon receiving the distress call from the Titanic, the Carpathia immediately made a u-turn and headed at full speed towards the reported position. Meanwhile, the Titanic had began sending up distress rockets and readying the lifeboat stations for evacuation. The Titanic was kitted out with 16 lifeboats and 4 emergency rafts, capable of carrying 1200 people, however, only 700 managed to board the lifeboats and many of them were the ship's crew. It is thought that many of the 'unsinkable' Titanic's passengers were reluctant to board the lifeboats in the expectance that rescue ships were imminent in arrival. By 2.20am, all of the 16 lifeboats were in the water and the Titanic was sinking fast. The radio operators continued to send distress messages and the ship's orchestra continued to play on until the dreadful end. Following an immense explosion from the boilers and engines within, the Titanic reared stern up and slid into the cold Atlantic sea. A great number of people, manly men, whom were left on the stern, were suddenly thown into the icy water as the ship disappeared. It was about an hour and a half later at 4am on Monday 15th April 1912 when the Carpathia finally arrived on the scene, to discover the terrible tragedy that had befell the Titanic and collect the remaining 706 survivors.
In all, about 1500 people had lost their lives during those last few hours.
Reporting the tragedy, the London Daily Mail wrote the following;
''The Titanic like some monstrous syren, had by her beauty and ease, by her splendour and confidence, lured down to the sea men and women to whom life itself seemed subservient and obediant''
