Titanic Remembered

As perhaps the first news event to be broadcast worldwide on the very day it occurred, and in light of the enormous loss of life, much was written about and learned from the Titanic’s sinking.

FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS

• “Icebergs sighted.” ~ Californian’s wireless operator
• “Shut up, I’m busy.” ~ Titanic’s operator, 11:00pm
• “Iceberg, right ahead!” ~ Lookout Frederick Fleet
• “Hard a’starboard.” Then came “Hard a’port.” ~1st Officer William Murdoch. This attempted ‘port around’ maneuver made sense nautically, but not with the great ship’s relatively small rudder.
• “The money seemed a mockery. I picked up three oranges instead.” ~ Major Arthur Peuchen, leaving $300,000 in cash, jewelry and securities in his cabin.
• “My father was waving to us and said ‘I’ll see you in New York,’ while also talking to Rev. Carter.” ~ Edith Brown, oldest survivor (1896-1997)
• “The captain and crew of the Carpathia did all that was possible to make us comfortable, and to those that were sick or injured, they gave their most tender care. The icebergs were huge, the weather rough on the voyage to New York.” ~ Titanic survivor

MARITIME LAWS CHANGED

“If a ship is torpedoed, that’s war. If it strikes a rock in a storm, that’s nature. But to die because there weren’t enough lifeboats, that’s ridiculous.” ~ Eva Hart, Titanic Survivor (1905-1996)

Soon, lifeboats required would no longer be based on tonnage of a ship, but passenger & crew capacity.

Less than 20 miles away, The Califorinian’s telegraph operator had turned in for the night, so 29 nations adopted the 1912 Radio Act to prevent any repeat.

Design changes retrofitted on the Titanic sister ship, Olympic, became industry norms: i.e. double hulls, higher watertight bulkheads, and safety drills.

The International Ice Patrol (IIP), an agency of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), was created in 1914. April 15th each year, two commemorative wreaths are dropped from a USCG Hercules C-130, one from the IIP and one from the Titanic Historical Society, at the Titanic’s final resting spot: 41.44 N 50.24 W.

SPIRITUAL LESSONS OFFERED

1. Avoid arrogant boasting. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” ~ Proverbs 16:18
2. Heed reliable warnings. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” ~ Proverbs 14:12
3. Know your capabilities. “For the wages of sin is death.” ~ Romans 6:23a
4. We will all need to be rescued. “We die only once, and then we are judged.” ~ Hebrews 9:27
5. A soul is of greater value than anything. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul.” ~ Matthew 16:26
6. Our heavenly Father has made provision to bring us safely to heaven. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16

The perfect lifeboat is ready for all who repent of sin (trusting my own way) and trust Jesus as my Rescuer.

TITANIC TIMELINE

Keel Laid, Belfast, Ireland	March 31, 1909
Maiden Voyage, Southampton, England	11:45am, April 10, 1912
Iceberg Struck	11:40pm, April 14, 1912
Titanic Sunk	2:20am, April 15, 1912
Carpathia Arrived Lives Lost - 1517, Lives Saved - 705	4:00am, April 15, 1912
Women’s Titanic Memorial dedicated. Unveiled by former First Lady Helen Taft	May 26, 1931 Put in storage (1966) and restored (1971)
R.M.S. Titanic Wreck discovered	Sept. 1, 1985

“The Unsinkable Ship” - sermon title in Belfast on April 21, 1912, as 16 widows sat in the pews. “The other & only truly unsinkable ship was a frail boat on the Sea of Galilee. Take the only true Pilot on board. He will bring the vessel through present storms to the fair harbor of our hopes.”

Compiled by Bernie Beall, April 14, 2008

Titanic@GetEternalAnswers.com

“Women’s Titanic Memorial” in D.C. (Water & P, SW)

Front inscription - “TO THE BRAVE MEN WHO PERISHED IN THE WRECK OF THE TITANIC APRIL 15 1912 THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WOMEN AND CHILDREN MIGHT BE SAVED ERECTED BY THE WOMEN OF AMERICA”

Rear inscription - “TO THE YOUNG AND THE OLD THE RICH AND THE POOR THE IGNORANT AND THE LEARNED ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES NOBLY TO SAVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN”

Very reminiscent of Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends...” ~ John 15:13-14a

“The most beautiful sight I could ever have hoped to see.” ~ Henry Harper after seeing Carpathia approach