The famous James Cameron movie, Titanic, is quite compelling. However, it does not come close to the lesser-known and disturbing facts about the Titanic shipwreck incident. Let’s unfold the untold truths!

Just 20 minutes before the clock struck midnight on April 14, 1912, the most disastrous shipwreck tragedy occurred. Revisiting the harrowing incident makes us grow cold even now. At 11:40 p.m., Titanic, the largest, most luxurious, and ironically, the unsinkable, hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. It took the lives of 1,500+ people. 

Even after more than a century, the horrific tragedy continues to captivate people’s minds. While the events of the infamous disaster are well-documented, there are still many little-known details that will send chills down your spine. 

This blog post has ten incredibly unsettling facts about the Titanic and that fateful night that took lives, love, and hope. Let’s unravel the mystery with the most disturbing facts about the Titanic.

The Mystery of Unsinkable: 10 Disturbing Facts About the Titanic

Titanic Premonition: Book Foreshadows Disaster

In 1898, author Morgan Robertson wrote a book titled “The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility”. It shockingly foreshadowed the Titanic disaster. The book recounts the tale of a mighty ship called Titanic colliding with an iceberg in the North Atlantic. It also mentioned the loss of lives due to the lack of lifeboats, which is what happened in the icy waters. It is chilling how accurate and prophetic Robertson’s portrayal came out to be!

Unheard SOS: SS Californian’s Failure

The nearby SS Californian could have averted the tragedy of the Titanic if it had acted on the distress signals. Just 20 miles away when disaster struck, the Californian witnessed the Titanic’s SOS. Nevertheless, its captain believed they were merely company flares. This is a stark reminder of what can happen when information isn’t correctly received and interpreted.

Fatal Delay: 30 Seconds that Changed Everything

Officer William Murdoch’s decision is believed to be the cause of the massacre during the disaster. Murdoch is believed to have hesitated to evaluate the matter when he was informed about the iceberg spotted by the lookouts. Instead of making a life-saving decision immediately, he ordered the ship to turn left, which it did sharply. While he realized his mistake, he was 30 seconds too late — his wheel had triggered the sinking of the Titanic.

The delay and hesitation that followed the sighting of the iceberg on that fateful night proved to be fatal. It highlights the importance of quick and decisive action in times of crisis. The mighty ship went down with more than 1500 lives that distressing day.

Freezing Fate: The Cause of Most Deaths

One would assume that the sinking of the Titanic must have led people to drown and die. However, another disturbing fact about the Titanic is that most people were victims of the cold North Atlantic waters than those who were lost to the deep ocean. The ocean water was freezing, causing people a cold shock within minutes. It sapped their strength, and all that was left was the haunting echoes of the cry for help!

Music in Chaos: The Band’s Last Performance

The ill-fated ship had a band of eight musicians on board led by Mr. Wallace Hartley. As the Atlantic waters filled up the ship, the band chose to comfort people with their melancholy symphonies rather than saving their own lives. 

They played for a good two hours until the ship sank and sank to the icy depths of the ocean. However, the sound of their instruments hauntingly reminded the beauty and terror of that night. Their act of entertaining and calming people as water overcame them is nothing short of heroic and selfless.

Must Read: 19 Amazing Life Lessons from Alibaba’s Founder Jack Ma

Lifeboat Training: The Cancelled Drill

It was noted that the ship crew was ill-trained to handle the lifeboats when the mighty Titanic hit the iceberg. The ship’s blasé attitude towards safety is to be blamed here.

Captain Edward J Smith decided to cancel the necessary lifeboat training drill before Titanic’s maiden voyage, and it cost hundreds of lives. The lack of proper training for the crew meant they could not handle the lifeboats when the ship hit the iceberg and sank. No wonder this is one of the most disturbing facts about the Titanic.

Grim Aftermath: Searching for Lost Souls

The sinking of the Titanic claimed the lives of 1503 people. Only a fraction of the survivors were left to retell the horrors of that catastrophic night. A rescue team set sail from Nova Scotia in search of the people who drowned or were lost at sea. While they thought they were equipped with embalming supplies and coffins, the scene at the site of the maritime tragedy was grim. 

The dead bodies were too severely damaged that the team had to decide against returning them to their respective families. 119 corpses were given a burial at sea.

Drunken Baker: Whiskey Saves a Life

A man called Charles Loughin, who was the Titanic’s baker, survived the drowning and freezing by holding on to an overturned lifeboat while he was drinking whiskey. His high alcohol tolerance and the warmth resulting from the whiskey helped him survive the freezing waters until he was rescued. His story is legendary among some of the survivors.

Third-Class Tragedy: Trapped Below Deck

The third-class passengers who boarded the RMS Titanic tragically lost their lives due to locked gates that sub-divided the various levels and cabins of the ship. This population was majorly consisted of immigrants who were seeking a fresh new start in America. However, the American dream cost them their lives as they were prevented from going out and reaching safety before the ocean liner went underwater and drowned.

Titanic Wreckage Was Found 73 Years Later

Here is one of the most disturbing facts about the Titanic – The sinking of the Titanic was nothing less than a tragic yet cultural milestone. From directors to scientists to the general public, the disastrous event had attention hooked. However, it was not until seven decades later that the ruins and remains of the Titanic were found. 

In 1985, when the ship’s wreckage was found around 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. People were allowed to witness the preserved artifacts under the sea via deep-sea diving.

Titanic’s Legacy: Changes in Maritime Safety

The legacy of the Titanic is an important one. Its sinking resulted in significant changes in maritime safety regulations, including the requirement for sufficient lifeboats to accommodate all passengers and crew. The tragedy has served as a reminder to prioritize safety and preparedness in all endeavors, particularly those involving human life.

As we move forward, let us never forget and always keep in mind the lessons that we learned from this and strive for a better well-prepared future. This shows why we should not take things lightly and follow the rules and regulations set aside for it is for our benefit.

Keep checking the Glam Lives for more trending news and stories.

Featured Image by Wikimedia Commons