On 10 April 1912, an amazing, imposing new ocean liner steamed out of Southampton Harbour. 1 She was the largest ship in the world at that time, and the most luxurious. Her passengers included some of the wealthiest people in the world. Everyone agreed this beautiful new ship was the best liner in existence – in fact, she was said to be unsinkable.
The ship’s crew had absolute confidence in her. When, four days later, Captain Edward Smith gave his radio-men the order to transmit the international distress signal, SOS, they thought he was joking. He wasn’t. At 2.20 a.m. on 15 April 1912, the Titanic sank beneath the freezing waters of the Atlantic. 2 It is still one of the biggest peacetime maritime tragedies in history.
On 14 April 2012, a passenger ship stopped in the North Atlantic. 3 It was cold and dark. 1,300 passengers stood on deck as a memorial service was held for the people who died there. After hymns and prayers, two wreaths of flowers were thrown into the freezing water.
The story of the Titanic has touched and fascinated people for over a century. Mistakes were made that added up to disaster. 4 There are records of generosity and courage that saved lives when so many others were lost. Millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim was offered one of the few places in a lifeboat, but said it should be given to a woman or a child, and chose instead to dress for dinner. Someone overheard him say ‘We’ve dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen!’ 5The pure drama of the scene means that the legend of the Titanic will never be forgotten.

A Survivors recalled that the lights stayed on and the orchestra was playing until the moment the huge ship sank into the black water.
B They arrived two hours later, but only 53 people were rescued from the water.
C It was her first voyage and her destination was New York City – across the Atlantic Ocean.
D It was twenty to midnight, the exact time that the Titanic hit the iceberg 100 years before.
E For example, the Titanic’s radio room received no fewer than seven ice warnings on the night of the tragedy.
F On that night, over 1,500 people lost their lives.

ElenaAristova1501    3   27.04.2020 20:41    10