91. ICEBERG CLOSE UP
A series of investigations by different governments and attorneys took place after the Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank at the North Atlantic. Many stories have been told about the ill-fated ship and were passed on to generations, even decades after it sank. But nobody really paid as much attention to the iceberg that became the center of blame for so many untimely deaths.
A photo was taken by SS Prinz Adalbert, chief steward of the German ocean liner, of an iceberg in North Atlantic showing streaks of red paint that suggest a very recent collision. The photo was taken on April 15, as Adalbert was sailing through the path and was not yet aware of Titanic’s sinking.
92. THE GRAND STAIRCASE AFTER THE ACCIDENT
The grand staircase at the first-class section of the RMS Titanic was among the prominent features of the giant ship. It was built purely from wood over a period of three years by Belfast’s Harland & Wolf. The masterfully crafted staircase depicted the glamor that was associated with White Star Line’s most luxurious seacraft and became a historical icon when it was immortalized in James Cameron’s Titanic movie.
After the tragedy, almost none of the grand staircase remained, wiping away traces of all investments and hard work poured into its construction. Cameron said that its replica in the movie broke off and floated, which could have been the same fate as the real staircase.
93. TITANIC’S BOILER
RMS Titanic’s six boiler rooms housed 25 double-ended boilers measuring 20 feet long, 15 feet 9 inches in diameter and 4 single-ended boilers measuring 11 feet 9 inches long and the same diameter. This sums up to 29 scotch-type boilers in all, with 3 furnaces on both ends, designed to deliver 46,000 horsepower through its multiple engines. It was not disclosed if White Star owners secured a business loan to finance its construction cost of $7.5 million (1912).
Words went around that a boiler room caught fire about ten days before the ship sank, and compromised the ship’s structural integrity, making it easily punctured when it collided with an iceberg.
94. STERN OF THE SHIP
When the ship’s wreck was discovered, its stern and bow were far apart, confirming the theory being disputed by scientists, that the ship’s hull was split into two parts prior to its sinking. Ballard’s expedition in 1985 discovered the remaining parts of Titanic’s stern and put it on record that is a subject of discussion even in today’s online classes.
How a ship believed to be unsinkable and powerful could be torn in two was a mystery to scientists, until further exploration revealed certain substandard components that weakened the supposedly majestic vessel. Some people think that Belfast contractors scrimped on several parts to cushion its high cost of construction.
95. CAPTAIN SMITH’S BATHROOM
As commander of the British luxury passenger line, Captain Smith enjoyed first-class accommodation, including luxuries provided for prime passengers. Though no photos of the captain’s quarters ever came out, it was told that Smith had three rooms and a sitting room with a table and comfortable chairs, where Smith could hold small meetings with one or two of his crew.
The captain’s quarter was believed to be pleasant and cozy, with relaxing walls and flooring. He was also provided with wardrobes and a private bathroom. The bathtub from his bathroom was found among the ship’s wreck, still intact and undamaged.
96. THE “GREAT GANTRY” AT THE SHIPYARD
With its gigantic size, existing slipways could not accommodate the construction of RMS Titanic. So, White Star Line’s exclusive shipbuilders, Edward James Harland and Gustav Wilhelm Wolff of the Harland & Wolff shipyard of Belfast, Ireland had to put in some investment money to build a sophisticated shipyard known as the Arrol Gantry or Great Gantry.
The Gantry was 6,000 tons heavy and measured 840 feet long, 270 feet wide and 228 feet high. It had three rows of eleven towers, four electric lifts, and a central revolving crane. The slipway was used until the 1960s during which time, it was demolished.
97. AN ANCHOR
The RMS Titanic had three anchors weighing approximately 10 pounds. A total of 603 meters of the chain was ordered by Titanic’s owners from Hingley’s Anchor Works. The steel was heated extremely until it turned hot enough to mold into an anchor.
It was reported that a wagon drawn by 20 Shire horses served as a moving company and pulled the heavy anchors commissioned for the giant ship from Netherton, where it was made, to Dudley Railway Station, in preparation for its travel to Belfast. When the ship’s wreckage was discovered many years later, one of the anchors was found inside its compartment.
98. WHO WAS THE REAL JACK DAWSON?
The fictional romance between Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater became a worldwide sensation and touched the hearts of moviegoers globally. The actors who played their characters, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, were critically acclaimed and reached the peak of fame for their performance in the record-breaking film. Canadian filmmaker James Cameron, who directed the film Titanic did right to leverage his investments on people’s penchant for a forbidden love.
People were curious to know if such a love affair actually took place in real life. Based on earlier interviews made by Italian reporters, it was believed that the love story was inspired by the affection held by Italian stonemason named Emilio Portaluppi for Madeleine Astor.
99. WHO WAS THE REAL ROSE?
So, who was Madeleine Talmage Astor? The woman believed to be the inspiration for Rose’s character was an American socialite who became the second wife to wealthy businessman John Jacob Astor IV. It has never been confirmed if Madeleine and Emilio had an affair, or if they ever saw each other after the tragedy.
Through the help of a lawyer, Madeleine inherited her husband’s trust fund amounting to $5 million, as well as his properties on Fifth Avenue and at the Newport, after the mogul died. Her inheritance came with a condition that she will not remarry. So, when she fell in love with William K. Dick some years later, Madeleine relinquished her claim to her husband’s fortune and married Dick.
100. JOHN JACOB ASTOR IV
If Emilio Portaluppi was the real-life “Jack” and Madeleine Astor was behind the character of “Rose”, then actor Billy Zane’s role as the self-centered millionaire Caledon Hockley must have been in reference to Madeleine’s husband, John Jacob Astor IV, who was one of the richest people on earth during the early 1900s. He was reportedly the wealthiest man to die in the tragic incident.
The married couple joined Titanic’s maiden voyage due to the wish of then-pregnant Madeleine to give birth in the US. Upon his death, Astor left his wife a sizeable fortune that made bankruptcy an impossibility for Madeleine.