The Truth About What Really Happened to the Titanic

Researchers have finally uncovered the facts surrounding the Titanic disaster. At 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic experienced a disastrous event, causing it to sink at 2:20 a.m. three hours later.

By early morning on April 15, the massive vessel, a wonder of its time, had completely disappeared beneath the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 1,500 people lost their lives, representing over two-thirds of the total number on board. Recent scientific inquiries have questioned the conventional belief that the ship's encounter with an iceberg was the main reason behind this devastating incident.

This article aims to unveil the complete truth that has remained concealed for over a century. The Titanic, measuring an impressive 882 feet and 9 inches in length, 92 feet in width, and standing 175 feet tall, boasted a usable volume of 46,328 tons. Passengers could traverse for miles along its extensive corridors and decks. Even the ship's officers required over two weeks to familiarize themselves with the layout of this monumental vessel.

The Titanic featured four enormous smokestacks weighing 60 tons and rising 81.5 feet above the deck. This remarkable height was essential to prevent the accumulation of 100 tons of soot that would be discharged daily, ensuring a cleaner experience for the passengers. The smokestacks were strategically positioned at a 30-degree angle to enhance their impressive and grand appearance.

The financial investment required for the ship's construction was equally remarkable, at 7.5 million dollars. When adjusted for contemporary exchange rates and inflation as of 2016, this figure would equate to approximately 166 million dollars. Interestingly, this cost was lower than that of the iconic film Titanic, which had a production budget of 200 million dollars in 1997.

The Harland and Wolff shipyard employed 3,000 workers for the ship's construction. Despite the extensive workforce laboring six days a week from 6:00 AM, the project took 26 months to reach completion. The work was arduous and dangerous; I envision undertaking tasks at the height of a 20-story building without safety harnesses.

Additionally, these laborers required financial support for their families, earning a weekly wage of 2 pounds, which, while modest, was considered competitive at the time.

Regrettably, eight individuals lost their lives during the construction of the vessel, while 246 others sustained injuries. It is difficult to comprehend how such a complex structure, built with immense labor, resources, and financial investment, could succumb to a single iceberg.

However, recent discoveries suggest that the initial cause of the disaster may not have been ice but fire.

Journalist Sonam Maloney has dedicated over three decades to investigating the Titanic's fate. He identified a significant 30-foot-long black mark on the ship's hull, which he observed in a photograph taken before the Titanic's departure. Maloney acquired an album containing previously unseen images documenting the ship's construction and the preparations for its inaugural and final voyage

It appeared a fire had been raging at an extremely high temperature for three weeks before it was detected.

Experts in metallurgy assert that such conditions could have severely compromised the metal's integrity, diminishing its strength by as much as 75 percent. Consequently, the iceberg easily breached the ship's side, a scenario that would have been improbable had the fire not occurred.

The iceberg striking exactly the area with the weakened metal represents one of the remarkable connections in the series of tragic hypotheticals surrounding the Titanic. The project management was aware of the fire and recognized that the vessel should not have embarked on that ill-fated journey; however, proceeding with the voyage would have resulted in financial ruin for the ship's owners. During that period, miners across the nation were on strike, leading to a shortage of coal necessary to fuel the Titanic.

All the tickets were sold out, and other ships had been canceled, as everyone wanted to be on the largest ship ever built. As a result, the owners of the Titanic bought all the available coal, making it impossible for other ships to cancel. To conceal the truth, the ship was placed so that the signs of the fire were hidden from the view of the docks, facing towards the open sea instead, ensuring that the passengers remained unaware. Thus, the journey commenced.

The interior of the Titanic resembled that of the Ritz Hotel. The magnificent staircase extended down seven of the ship's ten decks, adorned with artwork, bronze cherubs, and oak paneling.

First-class passengers enjoyed various amenities, including a heated swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a gymnasium, a squash court, and a beauty salon. Additionally, ladies could request a stylist to assist them in preparing for dinner. An onboard publication, the Atlantic Daily Bulletin, was also available for their reading pleasure.

A designated area was established for the dogs of first-class passengers. These animals were served meals, taken on walks, and offered training opportunities throughout the journey. The first-class dining experience featured a lavish 13-course meal, each course accompanied by a distinct wine selection, with the entire dining event lasting approximately five hours. The provisions included 1,500 bottles of wine, 20,000 bottles of beer, and 8,000 cigars; however, binoculars were notably absent. This detail is significant as the presence of binoculars might have altered the fate of the Titanic. This represents yet another tragic coincidence in a series of unfortunate events. During that era, sonar systems were nonexistent, and vigilant individuals relied on binoculars to spot potential dangers in the ship's path. Unfortunately, the binoculars intended for the Titanic were secured in a locked compartment.

The sole individual possessing the key to the locker was the second officer, David Blair, who was unexpectedly replaced at the last moment. In his haste to depart from the vessel, he neglected to transfer the key to his successor. This critical oversight came to light only three days after the ship was at sea. Had the crew accessed the binoculars, they might have detected the iceberg sooner, allowing them sufficient time to avert the collision.

Furthermore, the collision could have been prevented had the ship adhered to the established speed limit. The crew was falling behind schedule, deemed unacceptable as it threatened the Titanic's esteemed reputation. Consequently, the vessel operated at a velocity significantly exceeding its design specifications. Another instance of gross negligence pertained to the lifeboats.

Approximately sixty lifeboats were necessary to accommodate all individuals aboard the Titanic. The chief designer, Alexander Carlyle, initially intended to equip the ship with 48 lifeboats; however, this number was ultimately reduced to just 20. This reduction was motivated solely by aesthetic considerations, as the deck appeared overly cluttered with 48 boats.

The 20 lifeboats available could only accommodate one-third of the ship's passengers. Remarkably, this drastically inadequate provision of lifeboats was technically permissible under the regulations of the time, which dictated that the number of lifeboats was based on the ship's cargo rather than its passenger capacity.

At the time of the Titanic's construction, it was customary for ocean liners to conduct lifeboat drills. These drills were intended to prepare the crew and passengers for potential emergencies; however, the Titanic did not participate in such a drill. Captain Edward John Smith decided to cancel the scheduled drill on the morning of the disaster. The rationale behind this choice remains to be determined, mainly as other vessels had issued warnings regarding ice in the area. This may explain why the crew took over thirty minutes to deploy the lifeboats, rather than the usual ten minutes.

Additionally, some critics hold Captain Smith accountable for permitting the initial lifeboats to depart with insufficient passengers. For instance, the first lifeboat, which had a capacity of 65, carried only 27 individuals. The question arises: why were the lifeboats not filled?

Many passengers hesitated to abandon the ship initially, failing to comprehend the severity of the situation. In 2012, researchers discovered that Captain Smith had not passed his initial navigation examination. Although he eventually succeeded, this raises the question of whether this factor contributed to the tragedy.

As the Titanic was sinking, the crew sent several distress signals.

However, a ship sailing nearby in California ignored the emergency flare shot in the sky. The captain of the Californian later lost his job after this fact came out, but modern researchers have proved his innocence. Well, better late than never.

Nobody noticed the signals from the Titanic because of the phenomenon of light refraction. When layers of cold air are positioned below layers of warmer air, it causes thermal inversion, leading to light refracting abnormally. In short, all this creates mirages, and several other ships sailing in that area had recorded such mirages.

The crew of the sinking Titanic sent out multiple distress signals, but a nearby ship in California ignored the emergency flare in the sky. Subsequently, the captain of the Californian lost his job once this information surfaced. However, modern researchers have since proven his innocence, albeit belatedly.

The signals from the Titanic went unnoticed due to light refraction, a phenomenon caused by thermal inversion wherein layers of cold air are situated beneath layers of warmer air, leading to abnormal light refraction and the creation of mirages. Several other ships in the area had also documented such mirages.

Historian Tim Moulton also believes that night's light refraction might be why the lookouts completely missed the iceberg.

Whether it was criminal negligence, an unfortunate chain of coincidences, fire, or ice, the tragic event claimed the lives of hundreds and continues to captivate the minds of scientists to this day.

What is your theory on this catastrophe? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Please consider leaving a tip if this has shed new light on any mysteries you've been pondering.