Here is a collection of info I found on the web about the RMS
Titanic (presented in my own way.) Thanks to all the other sites
for the information and some ideas.
In 1907, J.
B. Ismay, president of White Star Lines, and Lord Pirrie,
chairman of Harland & Wolff shipbuilders, discussed
to plan three ocean liners, the Titanic, the
Olympic and the Gigantic (later renamed the Britannic).
The Titanic would become the biggest ship of her day. In
1908 the construction of the Olympic and Titanic began in
Belfast, Ireland. On May 31, 1911 the hull of the Titanic
was successfully launched and on March 31, 1912 the
outfitting of the Titanic was completed. Two main
factors, her Double hull and her 16 so called
"watertight compartments" deemed her
unsinkable. An attitude was in minds of all the people on
board the ship:"This ship
will never sink!"
On Wednsday April 10, 1912, the Titanic, commanded by Captain Edward J. Smith, set sail.
April 10: Wednesday Sailing
day:
9:30 to 11:30 am: passangers
arrive in Southampton and board ship.
Noon: The Titanic casts off
and begins her maiden voyage. She has a near miss with
the steamer New York caused by the suction of the
Titanic's enourmous displacement
6:30 pm: The Titanic rides
at anchor in Cherbourg, France.
8:10pm: The Titanic leaves
for Queenstown, Ireland.
April 11:Thursday:1:30pm: The Titanic leaves Queenstown for New York.
April 12 and 13: Friday and Saturday: The Titanic sails through calm, clear weather.
April 14:Sunday: Seven
ice warnings are received during the day.
11:40pm: The lookouts see an
iceberg dead ahead. The Titanic collides with the iceberg
on the starboard side of her bow. Hull plates are buckled
and pierced over a 300 foot long area.
11:50pm: Water has poured in
and risen 14 feet in the front part of the ship.
April 15:Monday: 12:00am: The captain is told that
the ship is sinking and cannot last long. He gives the
order for a radio distress signal to be sent out.
12:05am: Orders are given to
uncover the lifeboats and to get the passengers and crew
ready on deck.
12:25am: The order is given
to start loading the lifeboats with women and children
first. The Carpathia, southeast of the Titanic by about
58 miles, picks up a distress call and immeadiately
heads, full speed to the rescue.
12:45am: The first of the
lifeboats is safely lowered away. It can carry 65 people
but pulls away from the Titanic carrying only 28. The
first of eight distress rockets is fired.
1:15am: The tilt of the deck
grows increasingly steeper. Lifeboats now begin to leave
more fully loaded.
1:40am: Most of the forward
lifeboats have been lowered. Passengers now move towards
the stern of the ship.
2:05am: The last lifeboat
leaves. There are now over 1,500 people left on board the
sinking ship. The tilt on the Titanic's decks grows
steeper and steeper.
2:17am: The last radio call
for help is sent out. Captain Smith tells his crew
"It's every man for himself!" The Titanic's bow
plunges under. Many passengers jump over board. The
forward funnel collapses, crushing a number of people.
2:18am: The ship's lights
blink once and then go out. Several survivors see the
ship break in two. The bow section sinks.
2:20am: The Titanic's stern
section settles back into the water, becoming level for a
few moments. Slowly it fills with water and again it
tilts its end high into the air, before sinking into the
sea. Those struggling in the icy water slowly freeze to
death.
3:30am: The rescue ship,
Carpathia's rockets are sighted by the survivors
lifeboats.
4:10am: The first lifeboat
is picked up by Carpathia.
8:50am: The Carpathia leaves
the area bound for New York, carrying 705 survivors.
April 18: 9:00pm: The Carpathia reaches New York.