The tragedy of the Titanic will live in infamy. Who could have predicted such devastation? Sadly, since the 1911-1912 winter had been so mild, icebergs drifted from Greenland at an alarming rate. On top of that, their radio temporarily broke the day before they hit the iceberg. Thus, radio operators had a backlog of outgoing messages, and they didn’t have time to listen to a nearby ship’s ice warning that night. Not to mention the ship only had 20, instead of the full 64, lifeboats. There are endless what-ifs, but hindsight is 20/20. Now, it’s time to look at the rare photos from the Titanic and what came afterwards.
Near Dock
Here, we have a photo of what everyone referred to as the “unsinkable ship” sitting at the dock close to Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was shortly before the ship would embark on its journey. The photo is dated sometime in April 1912.
Near Dock
Calm Before The Journey
Again, in April 1912, we have a photo of the Titanic very soon before the trip was to begin. You can see all the lifeboats sitting in their davits. Of course, no one knew how valuable those 20 lifeboats would be in a short time.
Calm Before The Journey
Days Before
This chilling photo was taken on April 4, 1912. Here, you can see the icy waters. This is where the ship would sink in the awful disaster only a few days later.
Days Before
Trials
So, the ship started its sea trials in Belfast. This photo is of the trials in Northern Ireland on April 2, 1912, which was very soon before it left for its voyage. Everything seemed to be in order for a successful trip.
Trials
First Class
Before the ship took off, this photograph was taken of the first-class reading and writing room. Those privileged members of the Titanic got to enjoy such luxury.
First Class
Preparing For Take Off
Once the Titanic was ready to take off, crowds lined up at the docks to see the great ship off. This was taken in Southampton, England on April 10 of 1912.
Preparing For Take Off
Lounge
Again, first class enjoyed a very lavish lifestyle on the ship. This is the lounge for those passengers, as seen just before the Titanic left for the journey.
Lounge
Sitting At The Dock
Again, here’s a view of the ship in Southampton sitting at the dock. This picture was taken on April 10, 1912. This passenger liner was unlike anything people had ever seen.
Sitting At The Dock
Leaving For The Voyage
Another photo from April 10, 1912, this is when the Titanic left the Southampton port in England for its trip across the sea. People had no idea that when they said goodbye to the ship and their loved ones, this would be their final goodbye for some.
Leaving For The Voyage
Passengers Taking A Walk
Sometime between April 10th to 14th in 1912, this photo was taken. Just before the ship went down, we see the passengers casually strolling on the deck past the lifeboats.
Passengers Taking A Walk
Three Days Before
This photo was taken either on April 10th or April 11th, 1912. A young child plays on the saloon deck playground just three days before the ship sunk.
Three Days Before
Cafe
Here is Café Parisien, part of the first-class restaurant on the ship. We see the cafe just before the ship took off.
Cafe
Final Photo
In this photo, we see Captain Edward J. Smith on the right and Purser Hugh Walter McElroy on the left standing on the Titanic’s deck as it traveled from Southampton, England to Queenstown, Ireland. Thus, it was only a day into the trip and three days before the ship would sink. Tragically, both Captain Smith and McElroy perished in the sinking. However, the photographer, Rev. F.M. Browne got off the ship in Queenstown. It was one of the last photos of the Captain.
Final Photo
Dining Room
Here was the Titanic’s main dining room just before the ship left for its journey.
Dining Room
The Iceberg
A steward of a passing ship took this picture of the iceberg that is suspected to be the one that sunk the Titanic. This photo was taken on April 15, 1912, which was the morning after the Titanic sunk. Apparently, this ship hadn’t heard about the sinking yet, but this steward did notice red paint smear across the iceberg’s base. Clearly, that was an indication that the Titanic had struck the iceberg within the past few hours.
The Iceberg
Another Glimpse
Here again, we see a shot of an iceberg. Many believe this to be of the iceberg that sunk the ship. It’s floating in the North Atlantic close to the site where the Titanic went down.
Another Glimpse
In Route To Safety
These two lifeboats carried many Titanic survivors off to safety on April 15, 1912.
In Route To Safety
Recovered Lifeboat
This lifeboat is believed to have come from the ship. It was hoisted and drained of all excess water. Remember, at the time, lifeboats weren’t intended to keep a whole ship population afloat or get them to shore. Instead, they were thought to serve the purpose of ferrying survivors from one sinking ship to the rescue ship.
Recovered Lifeboat
Survivors
A boat full of Titanic survivors makes its way to safety after the ‘unsinkable’ ship went down on April 15, 1912.
Survivors
The Final Lifeboat
Here’s the final lifeboat making its way through the ocean waters after the Titanic sinking.
The Final Lifeboat
Boat Full Of Passengers
A lifeboat from the Titanic makes its way to the Carpathia on April 15, 1912. Luckily, the Cunard liner RMS Carpathia was able to rescue about 705 survivors from the Titanic.
Boat Full Of Passengers
Recovering
Aboard the Titanic, survivors sit on the Carpathia’s deck, wrapped up in clothes in blankets the passengers on the Carpathia provided. This was just after their rescue on April 15, 1912.
Recovering
Orphans
Michel, left, was just four years old and his brother Edmond Navratil, on the right, was only two years old. These French boys were called the “Titanic orphans.” Tragically, their father passed away on the ship, but the brothers made it to New York without parents. Actually, they stayed in New York for a month until their mother in France, who hadn’t boarded the Titanic, saw them in a newspaper photograph. So, she came to claim the boys. However, this picture was taken before anyone identified them.
Orphans
After Rescue
Titanic survivors sit on the Carpathia shortly after they were rescued, sometime between April 15-18.
After Rescue
News Story
Obviously, news that the Titanic sunk spread like wildfire. A young boy is selling Evening News copies that tell the story of the Titanic going down just outside the office of the White Star Line, the company responsible for launching the ship. This photo was taken in London only a day after the Titanic sunk on April 16, 1912.
News Story
Getting Updates
In New York between April 15 and 18, crowds wait by the White Star Line office to get all the latest updates on the Titanic disaster.
Getting Updates
Waiting For Survivors
Again, news of the ship was huge all over the world. Here, a crowd in New York gathered to wait for the survivors on April 18, 1912.
Waiting For Survivors
Reaching New York
The Carpathia, which was the ship that made the rescue, is pictured here with the Titanic lifeboats hanging from its side. On April 18, 1912, this photo was taken as the ship reached the New York pier.
Reaching New York
Brothers Arrive
The French Navratil brothers are pictured here at a port, presumably in New York, on a rescue ship on April 18. Michel Navratil, the older boy, has a toy ship very similar to the Titanic.
Brothers Arrive
Awaiting Survivors
This crowd waits for the Titanic survivors in Southampton, England during April 1912.
Awaiting Survivors