The Titanic would sail in just 8 days. But before any of this could happen the ship (being all fitted out) had to pass her sea trials (something of a "test drive"). The Olympic, the Titanic's sister ship had aleardy sailed at this time. Though it did not sink on it's maiden voyage, it did collide with another ship (the hms Hawke) which tore a 40 foot gash in the hull of the Olympic. before it could sink they managed to pach it up and the Olympic limped back to shore. Could this have been a sign that these new ships were maybe not so safe?
The Titanic's sea trials were very short and took less than a day. By the evening of April 2 the Titanic was headed for Southhampton where the deadly voyage would begin.
April 10,1912
The Southhampton port bustled with many people waiting to board the Titanic. Everyone (even those who were not going to board) was excited for the very first journey (maiden voyage) of this magnificent ship of dreams. Many famous people were to board the Titanic ... either to be a survivor of one of the greatest sea disasters, or to be lost forever.
Before any of these passengers would board the great ship, Thomas Andrews, the ship's head designer and nephew of the owner of Harland and Wolff, would board. He being the designer saw many flaws in the ship but in the end was proud of his very own ship of dreams.
Before passengers even boarded the Titanic you could see the different treatment between classes. The Titanic's First Class passengers were greated by stewards in the reception room. After that they were escorted to their rooms. The men even got a flower for their buttonhole. By contrast, the Third Class passengers were greated my a medical officer who wanted to make sure they didn't carry desease.
As the Titanic was slowly pulled out of Southhampton's harbour, she passed a moored ship (the New York). The Titanics passing caused this ship to break it's mooring ropes and drift towards titanic. Quickly the Titanic went full astern and the burst of water from the Titanic's propeller pushed the New York away. The ships had only been 4 feet apart. Could this have been another sign?
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