The document summarizes the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic in three paragraphs. It provides background on the construction and features of the Titanic, noting it carried around 2,221 passengers and crew on its maiden voyage. On the night of April 14, 1912 an iceberg was spotted too late and the Titanic attempted to turn away but struck the berg, piercing five of its compartments. By 2:20 AM the ship had sunk beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, resulting in around 1,500 deaths as lifeboats struggled to rescue all passengers. The disaster prompted new safety regulations for ships regarding lifeboats and radios.

1. What really happened that fateful night? What was going through the passengers minds as the iceberg
struck the ship? How was the captain going to save 2200 people on board a ship that had lifeboats for
less than half. These are all questions that come to mind when the luxury liner simply known as Titanic is
thought of.
Titanic was built by Harland and Wolf in 1909 and was finished by 1911. The total cost to construct this
massive liner was about 7.5 million dollars or about 50 million nowadays. The ship was given the
nickname “unsinkable” since most of the crew and passengers deemed it as such. The ship had many
luxurious features that were not seen very often in those days. For example, the steerage or third class
portion of the ship had electricity and running water. A rare luxury on third class staterooms at that
time. In addition, the promenade decks were built for a private deck for those with a little more money
to spare. These however were featured in first class only.
The ship, on its maiden voyage, was carrying about 2221 individuals on board. Some of the most famous
on board happened to be The “unsinkable molly brown” who helped load passengers on lifeboats at the
time of the collision and helped keep women and children calm during the disaster. The Countess of
france and John Jacob Aster, who was the richest person on board happened to also be traveling. They
had yet to know the disaster that awaited them though.
The night of April 14th 1912 is one that will live forever in the souls of every passenger aboard. At about
11:40 the crows nest spotted something far ahead in front of the ship but since they had lost the
binoculars somewhere between Southampton and the coast of Ireland they couldn’t determine what it
was until it got closer. As they spotted the berg, they rang the bell and the watertight doors were shut
and they soon turned the engines to try and corner the berg instead of hitting it head on. It has been
proven scientically through a study by the discovery channel that if the ship had indeed struck the berg
head on. The damage wouldn’t have been as severe. Since only four compartments were allowed to be
flooded so the ship could stay afloat. However when they struck the iceberg from cornering the berg, it
struck the side of the ship piercing through 5 compartments. This is what ultimately lead to the ship
sinking so rapidly in a short about of time. By 2:20Am the ship had gone under and the passengers were
now fighting the bitter cold of the North Atlantic in the middle of the night.
As news reached New York and the world. A press conference was called to dispute the facts and
reports of how this disaster could of happened, and if it could have been prevented. Afterwards several
rules and regulations were changed to obligate that ships carry the full amount of lifeboats for every
single man, woman and child aboard. Radios were required to be on 24/7 for safety issues and
ultimately the coast guard was formed from the disaster. The death toll was about 1500 people who
went into the sea. With all the lifeboats floating nearby, only one went back to collect any survivors
remaining that cold piercing night. The disaster will never be forgotten nor the crews and passengers
that died that night. Thank You.