April 12, 1912 — The Titanic sinks after hitting iceberg
More than 1,500 went to their deaths in the icy North Atlantic when the “unsinkable” Titanic ocean liner sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York.
The ship’s builders had said the Titanic was ultra-safe and had provided lifeboats for only half the 2,000-plus passengers and crew on board.
Details were sketchy for that first report of the disaster but the next day’s World said the ship’s orchestra was playing “Neared My God to Thee” as the liner sank. A survivor said the orchestra began playing a steady round of lively airs as soon as its members could be assembled.
“When I got there (on deck), I found an indescribable scene. A number of men passengers had tried to seize one of the boats and there was brisk revolver fire and many men fell under it,” she said. Prompt action of the ship’s officers restored order.
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The survivor told about many touching scenes as the lifeboats were launched, including one involving John Jacob Astor. “I saw Mr. Astor hand his young wife into a boat tenderly and ask an officer if he might go also. When permission was refused, he stepped back and coolly took out his cigarette case.
“ ‘Good bye, dear,’ he called as he lit a cigarette and leaned over the rail. I’ll see you later’ ”.
The remains of the Titanic were found in 1985 by Dr. Robert Ballard, an oceanographer and marine biologist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Debris from the ship was strewn over a half-mile across the sea floor. The bow and the stern were found nearly 2,000 feet apart.