2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the largest shipwreck in history, killing more than 1,500 people. The famous "Titanic" was gigantic in size - 882 feet.
At that time, it was the largest passenger ship in the world. The creators of the ship called it unsinkable. The vessel could carry on board about 3477 people, including crew members.
Fatal journey
1912-10-04 from the port city of Southampton, the legendary ship set off on its first and only voyage to the shores of the United States. The final destination was New York.
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The vessel was equipped with 16 lifeboats, which in case of a disaster could only accommodate a third of the passengers. This carelessness played a cruel joke.
On April 14, 1912, at about midnight, the ship hit a huge iceberg and began to plunge into the cold waters of the Atlantic.
According to various sources, from 1496 to 1513 people died. Among them, one of the richest people of the time - John Jacob Astor VI.
The captain of the ship - Edward John Smith, did not leave the ship and went under water with the Titanic. His last words: "From now on, every man for himself."
The ship sank at 02:20 on 15 April. The steamer "Karpatia", which arrived at the scene of the tragedy in 1.5 hours, lifted 712 people on board.
After the sinking of the Titanic, only 306 bodies out of one and a half thousand were found.
The news of the shipwreck reached the public the same day. Crowds of people gathered at the dock to meet the rescued passengers. On April 18, representatives of the press interviewed the victims and photographed those who were lucky enough to survive.
Photos of more than a century ago have survived to this day. On them you can see how magnificent the promising Titanic was. But alas, his journey became fatal for many destinies.
Lukina Larisa
