RMS Titanic Sinking: Interesting Facts to Know
When it comes to the RMS Titanic Sinking, there are a variety of interesting facts that are worth knowing. Of course, perhaps the most fundamental (but also grimmest) fact surrounding the RMS Titanic sinking is the number of survivors and the number of those who perished. 711 people were rescued from the RMS Titanic sinking. On the other hand, over 1,500 perished in the Titanic disaster.
In considering the RMS Titanic sinking many people wonder why there simply were not enough lifeboats available. The fact is that the Titanic actually was in compliance with what British regulations required at the time. The problem was that these regulations were sorely out of date. For example, the regulations simply did not contemplate a craft as large as the Titanic. Indeed, the Titanic was four times larger that the largest ship contemplated by the regulations.
On the horizon was a lifeboat for all policy that was to take effect in the not too distant future following the launch date of the Titanic. The White Star Line was planning ahead for that day when more lifeboats were going to be required on ships. Thus, they actually constructed spaces for the additional lifeboats but did not put them in place.
Experts have said that the reluctance of companies like the White Star Line to be more proactive in regard to lifeboat placement was not unlike the reluctance of the automobile industry to install seat belts in cars. Both the shipping and the auto industries inherently believed that installing these safety devices might be seen as an admission that these types of transport simply were unsafe.
When one considers some of the other facts associated with the RMS Titanic sinking, it is interesting to note that the most expensive suite on the ship was priced at $4,500 for the passage from England to the United States. Of course, by today's standards this may not seem like a great deal of money for a suite on a luxury liner at all. However, one needs to keep in mind that it was possible to purchase a house of a reasonable size for $1,000 at this point in history.
The cheapest first class tickets on the Titanic were priced at $125. A person could book third class passage on the Titanic for $36.25.
When it comes to the matter of the RMS Titanic sinking, one of the most commonly asked questions is did the liner's crew have knowledge of the icebergs in the area. The sad answer is the crew did know. In fact, the crew was advised the first time of problematic icebergs as early as 17 hours before the wreck. The crew received multiple warnings throughout the day from different ships that had passed through the area where the Titanic ultimately sank.
