Titanic: The Official Story April 14-15, 1912

ISBN 10: 0375501150 ISBN 13: 9780375501159

Publisher: Random House, Inc., 1997

Synopsis

Ever since the "unsinkable" Titanic went to its grave over eighty years ago, hundreds of books, movies, and even a Broadway musical have tried to re-create the tragic night, sometimes with little regard for the historical record.

Now, with the publication of Titanic: The Official Story, the voice of history at last speak to us from across the decades.  This unusual box contains reproductions  of eighteen documents that look and feel remarkably like the originals in London's famed Public Records Office.  It includes a copy of the original deck plans from the archives of the shipbuilders Harland and Wolff; the Titanic's final, desperate telegrams; an eyewitness account by one of the survivors; certificates issued by the Board of Trade prior to the ship's maiden voyage; findings of the Parliament and Senate investigations; and thirteen other remarkable records that will make history unfold in your hands.

About this title

Review

The Titanic, that enormous luxury ship that sank on her maiden voyage in April 1912, has for many decades fascinated people all over the world. Now, as movies and musicals are telling new stories about the vessel, curiosity about the Titanic is piquing again. This unusual collection of documents is not a "book" in the classic sense, but a set of facsimiles of papers related to the disaster that have been lovingly reproduced from the archives of the public record office in London. You will find the deck plans to the ship, a passenger's account of his escape, a certificate written a month before the disaster stating that there were only enough lifeboats to save a third of the passengers, the Titanic's final telegram, and commentary and editorials written shortly after the ship's sinking. All are made to look as much like the originals as possible. Titanic: The Official Story provides a unique view into an important event of the 20th century; as you thumb through the papers in this box, you'll feel a chapter of history coming to life in your hands.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The first telegram, 11:45 P.M., April 14, 1912:

Cgd - Sos. From M. G. Y.

We have struck iceberg sinking fast come to our assistance.
Position Lat. 41.46 n. Lon. 50.14. w.
The final telegram, 1:40 A.M., April 15, 1912:

SOS SOS CQD - MGY

We are sinking fast passengers being put into boats
Alfred Fernand Omont, a first class passenger, offered this statement to the British Commission of Enquiry:

"While I was still on the boat deck, a [life] boat was let down. The 1st officer saw me and asked me if I wanted to get in. Some of the passengers shouted to me not to get in as they had such confidence in the ship. I saw that the sea was very calm, and on calm reason I thought it better to jump into the boat and see what would happen. I jumped two or three yards, and landed in the boat anyhow. We were twenty nine in the boat. The boat could not have held more than thirty in any case. I personally consider and state that the idea of putting sixty people in a boat or on a raft is ridiculous. I have a photograph in my possession which shows how ridiculous it is to attempt to put 50 or sixty persons in one of these boats or rafts. I consider it a monstrosity to state that one could put 60 persons in a boat, in safety. . . .
        
"When we were in the water we started to row away from the ship. I was rowing. We had 22 women on board. . . . We rowed up to about 150 yards from the ship. We saw the ship sink gradually--she sank to starboard".

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House, Inc.
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0375501150
• ISBN 13: 9780375501159
• Binding: Misc. Supplies
• Number of pages: 18
• Illustrator: Leonard De Selva/Corbis