TITANIC - AN UNSINKABLE LEGEND
TRAVEL DIARY By DAVE ABBOTT
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THE TITANIC in dock at Southampton prior to sailing on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic.
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The Titanic legacy is like a Greek myth wrapped in a Bible story until being finally "immortalized" by Kate and Leo's epic in Hollywood. If you were going to invent a story it would be hard to beat this in fiction. It has all the ingredients of human tragedy including romance, controversy and both the sinking and the rediscovery of the wreck in 1985 by Robert Ballard.
In March 1909, 10,000 workers started work on the mega-ship in Harland & Wolff shipyards Belfast. They toiled for three years to build what came to be regarded as the pinnacle of western civilization. From the start the work was tough, grinding and dirty and continued round-the-clock.
Designed to carry the rich and famous between the Old and New Worlds, the dramatic death of the ship 95 years ago was received with the same worldly incredulity like New York's 9/11.
Now the "Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition" has sailed into the Royal British Columbia Museum for an extended visit (April 14 to October 14). A series of galleries trace the history of the unsinkable ship from its design and construction through to its discovery, recovery and conservation.
The exhibition tells stories of the people aboard when the ship went down and honours the memories of those who lost their lives.
April 10, 1912: The Titanic leaves Southampton at 1:30 PM on her maiden voyage.
Onboard, Berthe Mayne - a 24 year-old Brussels nightclub singer - was excited. She was sailing to New York on the RMS Titanic with a dashing 23 year-old Montreal millionaire. Quigg Baxter loved Berthe madly and planned to marry her. He booked first class passages on the Titanic for Berthe, his mother and his sister.
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NEWS of the sinking of the vessel billed as "unsinkable" was greeted with shock on both continents. The Titanic sank in the Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. A total of 1,523 men, women and children died.
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April 11, 1912: At 1:30 PM, the Titanic raises her anchor leaving Queenstown (now Cobh). With a last goodbye to Ireland, the Belfast-built unsinkable giant, that cost $7.5 million to build ($400 million in today's dollars), nosed into the Atlantic heading for New York.
Four city blocks long and 11 stories high, the Titanic consisted of 2,000 one-inch thick steel plates, held together by more than three million rivets. It was, at the time, the largest moving object built by man.
April 12 and 13, 1912: At sea. First class passengers enjoy culinary tour de force including salmon, filet mignon, lamb, squab, asparagus and pate de foie gras.
The cost of travelling on the Titanic varied according to the class. The lowest fare for third class passage was $36 one way; in second class the starting price was $66 and first class started at $125 but escalated quickly depending on the size and décor of the cabin.
April 14, 1912: Morning. Lifeboat drills were neglected after Church services.
Passengers had many activities to amuse themselves including the use of the ship's swimming pool, gymnasium, squash court, massage parlours, Turkish baths, a fully stocked library and a smoke room.
April 14, 1912: 10:55 PM. Carpathia surrounded by ice warns Titanic of impending danger.
Frederick Fleet sights an iceberg and the First Officer stops the engines. The ship travelling at 26 mph turns left, but the iceberg punctures six watertight compartments that flood.
April 15, 1912: 12:45 AM. Captain Smith evacuates women and children into lifeboats Berthe, Mrs. Baxter and daughter survive. The water temperature was only 28F degrees (-2C). Those in the water would have succumbed to hypothermia.
April 15, 1912: 1:15 AM. Titanic's bow begins sinking, she breaks in two and sinks at 2:20 AM. The Carpathia reached the few survivors. Only 705 were saved. A total of 1,523 men, women and children perished.
Dave Abbott's Travel Diary is heard three times daily on The Unforgettable 600 AM.
"Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition" features 300 artifacts recovered from its undersea resting place from April 14 to October 14 at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. IMAX Titanica is a deep-sea adventure that takes you to the site of the world's most famous shipwreck every day 10 AM to 8 PM. Details at: www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
Victoria has many historic homes restored to their former glory. We stayed in an 1884 Heritage House at Spinnaker's Gastro Brewpub and Guesthouse with stunning views of the inner harbour. Well-known for great food, homemade brews and ambiance, handsome guest houses, provides elegant period accommodations with queen beds, real fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs.
The Gastro-pub provides fresh bread, pastries, mineral water, local cheeses, chocolates and wonderful craft ales.
There is a wide range of specially priced Titanic packages starting at $129 (double occupancy). For details, call toll free: 1-877-838-2739 or log on www.spinnakers.com.
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