April 15



This photograph was taken in April of 1912, the photograph itself was one of numerous copies printed in early May of the same year.  I’m a lucky individual to have such a nice copy of it.  It shows wear, but it is over 100 years old.

The Titanic disaster was perhaps the most infamous marintime disaster in human history.  The Unsinkable ship strikes an Iceberg off Newfoundland and sinks, killing over a thousand people.

A lot of people have speculated over the years, about whether or not this really was an accident.  From sub-quality rivets, to a plot by J. P. Morgan.  The second, being the most interesting.  Morgan owned white star line, and the Titanic.  When the Titanic’s sister ship struck another vessel in September 1912, the company lost a lot of money.  Repairs, lost tickets on the liner, and the Titanic’s sail date was moved up to April costing them further tickets.  Not to mention the fact that Morgan’s investments in Nikola Tesla’s electricity were being ignored in favor for the cash of a rival.  Morgan was due to sail on the ship to New York, along with that rival, and another rival.  He cancelled his passage, took out a massive insurance policy on the ship, and it sank.  The captain had been ordered to ignore iceberg warnings and go full steam by orders of Jay Bruce Ismay...who worked for Morgan. He headed the building project as well.  Ismay lived, and was blamed.  Some people blamed John Smith, the captain, but he sacrificed his life to save passengers.  Perhaps the sinking of the ship wasn’t due to any one person.  It no doubt shocked the entire world.

I guess speculation never got anyone far.  But it was no doubt interesting, it all is.  Ismay lived on in New York, appearing in the guest list of Gastby’s summer party in Fitzgerald’s famous Novel, partying with Roebuck, and all the other wealthy folk in West Egg.  People have long since forgotten about these men, who only exist in articles and fiction.  Soon they’ll forget about the ship as well.

People are too forgetful.

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