In a couple of weeks I will be heading down to the Indiana State Museum to experience the Titanic artifact exhibit. This is a traveling exhibit that features hundreds of artifacts pulled from the wreckage of what possibly will forever be the most famous shipwreck. Below you will find a detailed timeline of the ship from the sea trials the crew were forced to go through to the moment the ship sank in the middle of the ocean that cold morning. The more I read about this ship, the more excited I get about seeing this exhibit. I can’t wait to put myself in the shoes of those passengers and experience all of these artifacts.
April 2nd, 1912, 8:00 PM
The crew of Titanic participates in sea trials before leaving Belfast, where the ship was built, for Southampton.
April 10th, 1912, 6:00 AM
Just after sunrise the first members of the crew began to board Titanic. All of the officers except Captain Smith had already spent the night on board. Captain Smith arrived later that morning around 7:30.
April 10th, 1912, 12:00 PM
Titanic starts maiden voyage, leaving Southampton and ventures to Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, Ireland (this is the official sailing date for the ship).
April 11th, 1912, 1:30 PM
Titanic raises anchor for the last time and leaves Queenstown.
April 14th, 1912, Morning
Lifeboat drills were neglected after church services, although the crew has to complete the procedure.
April 14th, 1912, 10:55 PM
Californian, completely surrounded by ice, stops for the evening and warns the Titanic of the impending danger.
April 14th, 1912, 11:40 PM
Frederick Fleet sights an iceberg.
- First Officer Murdoch gives the “hard a-starboard” order while having the engines stopped and reversed; activates lever that closes watertight doors.
- The ship, traveling at approximately 20 knots (roughly 26 miles per hour), turned slightly to the left, avoiding a head-on collision. Below the water the iceberg punctures the hull.
- Five, possibly six of the Titanic’s watertight compartments flood.
- Captain Smith assesses the damage and orders his telegraph operators to send the distress signal, “CDQ,” after estimating the ship will remain afloat for two hours.
April 15th, 1912, 12:15 AM
Captain Smith assesses the damage.
- He orders his telegraph operators to send the distress signal, “CDQ,” after estimating the ship will remain afloat for two hours.
- He gives the order to uncover the lifeboats and evacuate the women and children.
April 15th, 1912, 12:45 AM
First lifeboat leaves the ship with only 19 aboard, although it could carry 65.
April 15th, 1912, 2:05 AM
Titanic’s bow begins sinking as the last of the lifeboats are lowered into the water. An estimated 1,500 people were left stranded on the sinking boat.
April 15th, 1912, 2:20 AM
Titanic sinks.
Anyone that has seen the hit movie Titanic will be somewhat familiar with this timeline. Based on interviews with the actors and the producers of that incredible film, the storyline stays pretty true to what happened that night. It gives me an almost eerie feeling thinking about those people on that boat. What would you do? I mean, you are sitting in the middle of the ocean and a cruise ship is sinking. Unreal; I can’t imagine being in a situation like this. Please allow a moment of peace for the people who lost their lives that freezing cold morning.
