15 April 2012

100 Years On

Today is the Centenary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  While this story is widely known, the consequences of it are not.  International Maritime Distress regulations were rewritten to adopt standard emergency radio frequencies, and mandate minimum numbers of lifeboats and lifejackets to be carried on all vessels.  Many of these continue today.
My family has a direct link to this tragedy - my Great Grandmother has a steerage class ticket, a few years before my grandfather was born.  But upon arriving at the dock, had some sort of panic attack at going onboard something the size of Titanic and refused to board.  Lucky she did or I wouldn't be here!  Family lore suggests that tucked away in an attic somewhere is her used ticket - that would fetch a pretty penny if it could be found, but its likely it was destroyed in a number of family houses destroyed in the Blitz of WW2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic

5 comments:

  1. Talk about dodging a bullet!

    Or should I say an ice burg,
    Brian

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  2. I would be looking for that ticket...I can't imagine what that would be worth

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  3. Yea, I can imagine that ticket being worth a few armies at least! Heheh, maybe a hobby store!

    My wife and I are going to the touring exhibit in the fall, I just told her I am buying tickets for it as it starts between our wedding annv and her birthday, she is a Titantic nut and tease her, we are going to see the movie on Monday or Tuesday...I already told her the movie is the same, the ship sinks and Decraprio dies...best part also....him drowning that is. hehehhehe

    As for your GM not getting on there was some interesting stuff as two major money people had tickets and decided not to go at the last minute, one of them was Hersey (as in the candy) from what I recall. Forgot the other rich person that failed to go but lived....your GM was very lucky....sometimes fate works in weird ways...

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  4. wow that was interesting man? guess she felt very , very lucky when she knew the tragedy :)

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  5. You should try and find that ticket!

    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/15/ticket-to-titanic-maiden-voyage-sold-at-us-auction/

    Brian

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