Titanic disaster Essay Example

the world. However, the terrifying event that was about to unfold surpassed even my wildest nightmares. As I ascended the staircase and stepped onto the Titanic, a chaotic scene unfolded. People were frantically pushing and shoving, desperate to reach the main deck to bid farewell to those unfortunate souls who would be left behind.

Instead of joining the crowded passengers, I opted to explore the first-class living quarters on board the Titanic. Since my employer could only afford a third-class ticket, I had to be cautious about the clear distinctions between classes. The 1st class suites were comprised of several rooms adorned with lavish windows that allowed an abundance of light to illuminate the carpets. The designs on the carpets were so intricate that they left me feeling perplexed.

As I walked towards the grand staircase, I was amazed by the chandelier above me. Its sparkling jewels reflected light throughout the room. Continuing my ascent, I noticed that the staircase was as elegant as the noblewomen who were about to climb it. When I reached the top, I had a view of the dining rooms for the 1st class passengers. The waiters and crewmembers were already setting up tables in the magnificent hall, which was spacious enough to fit a circus.

The dinner tables had exceptionally extravagant arrangements, from stunning flower displays to dazzling crystal ware, for the upcoming meal. As the boat started its journey, passengers gradually re-entered the vessel, and I had to leave 1st class. In contrast, the 3rd class cabins were less grand and glamorous than those of the wealthier class. Each cabin had two bunk beds that were old, just like the beds

and the ship on its maiden voyage.

A solitary light suspended in the middle gently swung with the serene motions of the ocean, emanating a soft luminescence. The floor was made up of immaculate, shimmering wood panels. As an increasing number of passengers headed down to their rooms, the corridors started resembling busy London streets. Chatter filled the environment as everyone expressed their thrill about embarking on this grand ship's maiden voyage. Thoughts about exhilarating experiences that lay ahead on this memorable cruise journey dominated my mind.

I briefly considered whether a magnificent and untouched structure like the Titanic could possibly submerge into the abyss of the expansive sea. This contemplation was interrupted by an encounter with a man who appeared to be my potential roommate. The gentleman indifferently moved past me, strongly signaling his disinterest in engaging any further with me. Regardless of his dismissive demeanor, I presented myself and he curtly responded with his name - John Locke – which insinuated that he wasn't keen on continuing our dialogue. Grasping this clear hint, I chose to climb up to the deck to appreciate the breathtaking splendor of the ocean.

Even though the lower decks of the ship were crowded with many people, a considerable number of first and third class passengers still populated the top deck. The size and grandeur of this vessel left numerous passengers in awe, akin to children stepping into a sweet shop for the first time. A few were captivated by the surrounding turquoise waters that encapsulated us completely. As I navigated towards the rear end of the ship in hopes of catching sight of any vestiges from our departure point,

I noticed the massive propellers stirring up water to facilitate our journey across the sea.

The peaceful view I had was like the soothing music played by the ship's band in the dining hall. Due to the warm summer day, the temperature was unusually high for someone from the island nation. The supposed sweltering heat tempted me to jump into the inviting sea for a refreshing experience. Little did I know that later on during the trip, I would be forced to jump into the sea for my survival instead of relaxation. The following days were relatively uneventful, unless you belonged to the first class.

On the top deck, I spent most of my time reading or catching up on my writing for the newspaper. The lukewarm weather gradually became bitter and chilly, but this did not affect the exuberant spirits of the other passengers. They were thoroughly enjoying every minute of this miraculous journey. It was April 15th, and like the days before, everyone carried on with their regular activities. As always, the people who shared my cabin were already gone when I woke up. I still didn't have a chance to chat with John, so our relationship remained strained.

Today, I settled comfortably in my seat on the top deck to finish reading my novel when a bunch of noisy children began messing around nearby. Rather than endure their noise, I opted to retreat into the peacefulness of my cabin and continue with my book there. By 6:00pm, even though I glanced at the clock, I didn't feel hungry so instead, decided to take a nap calmed by the rhythm of the sea waves. Suddenly, an

unexpected loud bang and jerk abruptly woke me from sleep. It was then that I realized it was already 11:40pm.

Noticing an abrupt tranquility in the hallway made me realize that several others were also detecting the vibration. The air was dense with expectancy as we collectively held our breaths, preparing for whatever may transpire next. Ultimately, when nothing occurred, everyone went back to their duties. Unlike them though, I had just been awakened from my sleep by this peculiar tremble. Still drowsy, I gradually moved towards the top deck. As I approached the ship's front portion, it became evident that we were steadily distancing ourselves from a huge and daunting iceberg.

The reason for the shock, I understood then, was due to this incident. At that moment though, I wasn't anxious as I knew of a specific system housed within the Titanic. This design suggested that the vessel could remain buoyant provided only 4 watertight compartments in its hull were filled with water. Once my anxiety had slightly subsided, some young lads began booting around chunks of ice that had sheared off from the iceberg. They frolicked as if they were in their own backyards, quickly launching into a makeshift game of football. Their joviality was soon to be replaced by terror and dread as they found themselves fighting for survival.

Having seen the iceberg that would eventually lead to numerous fatalities, I chose to go back to my room and continue the serene dream from which I was awakened. However, I noticed some first-class passengers being instructed to put on their life jackets. This made me doubt if this impressive ship would really submerge into the

sea. Despite the directions given by crew members, it appeared that only a few passengers took heed and continued radiating joy, seemingly oblivious of the circumstances.

With a looming sense of potential peril, I chose to retreat to my cabin and secure my life jacket instead of lingering on the upper deck. My aim was to immediately proceed back upstairs and assess the circumstances. It required ten minutes for me to get back to my quarters, with the clock striking 12:00am upon arrival while other passengers continued their slumber. As I quickly traversed back towards the open space above, I crossed paths with others who had been roused by stewards and provided identical directions as mine.

In compliance with the crew's instructions, passengers started donning their life jackets. As I reached the top deck of the ship, I was hit by the icy cold of the night. Regrettably, beneath my life jacket, I only had on my robe and pajamas which did little to shield me from the bone-penetrating cold. A directive from a senior crew member echoed sharply in the freezing air - "Lower the life boats!" The clock struck 12:10am and an indelible and transformative night for me was just commencing.

Suddenly, it hit me with a shock that the ship I had enthusiastically boarded just days ago was now at risk of descending into the ocean's depths. The previous joy and fulfillment experienced during my voyage were quickly being overtaken by fear and worry. I found myself unsure about the number of lifeboats available on the ship as I didn't recall seeing a lot. Without wasting any time, I rushed up to the closest sailor,

promptly seeking information regarding both the number and capacity of lifeboats on deck.

The brash revelation that there were merely 16 lifeboats, each with a space for 65 persons, was truly startling. An unfathomable terror seized me, exceeding the deepest fears I had envisioned in my most horrifying nightmares. Nevertheless, prior to this, I had pondered what steps I could possibly take if such a situation occurred during my lifetime. Observing numerous passengers moving towards the upper deck, some dressed in nightwear and others donning refined dinner jackets; it became clear to me that not everyone here might reach their intended destination.

Gradually, an increasing number of first-class passengers gathered on the deck, many dissatisfied with exposure to the cold night air. However, I couldn't identify any individuals from third or second class. As I looked up at the four massive funnels above me, I realized that tonight there was no moonlight to grace us, leaving only the light from the ship as our source of illumination. When they commenced lowering the initial lifeboat onto the ground level, only a small group of people started moving towards it with intentions of boarding.

The fact that I had penned articles about the British aristocracy in the past and was well-aware of their obstinate and overly self-assured demeanor, left me unsurprised by their reluctance to board a less grand boat unless it was absolutely crucial. What they didn't comprehend was that boarding these boats could be a matter of life and death for them. At that instant, only two of the sixteen lifeboats were in the water, each shockingly carrying around fifteen people, far from their capacity. Unexpectedly, another jarring

shudder ran through the ship as it lurched again.

Concerned about hitting another iceberg, myself and other passengers on board started to worry. With limited understanding of the ship's engineering, I failed to realize that the sudden movement was caused by one of the watertight compartments overflowing. As a result of the collision and the jolt from inside the ship, more and more third-class passengers gathered on the top deck. Not wanting to be stranded on this liner in case it sank, I tried to transfer to the next boat.

Thus, it was clear that others too had experienced the abrupt shock and understood the possible threat they were potentially confronting. The sheer dread I felt when my efforts to reach the boat turned out unsuccessful, initiating a wave of panic. Simultaneously, there was a robust American man who shared similar thoughts but displayed common American conduct by forcefully shoving me away. This led me to trip and fall, with my head accidentally hitting a cold and harsh handrail. As a result, I blacked out on what eventually became the most memorable and distressing night of my life.

Fighting the drowsiness, I wrestle with the obstacle that hinders me from being yanked back into the stark truth of my predicament. Gradually opening my eyes, I begin to take note of my environment; my sight is fuzzy and hearing indistinct. The only indisputable fact I have is that I remain aboard the Titanic. However, as I attempt to rise and communicate with other passengers, it dawns on me that I had been knocked out for a longer duration than originally anticipated. Hastening towards the ship's border, I notice a

minor slant downwards towards its front end.

Unexpectedly, I saw the tail of the ship rise out of the water as I glanced over the barriers. In contrast, only five lifeboats remained at the prow and it seemed like there was no decrease in people on board. Rather than recreating my previous frantic efforts to get onto a boat within this mayhem, I steadied myself with several calming breaths. My final decision was to examine other parts of the vessel for different boarding opportunities.

As I passed by the orchestra, a charming tune grabbed my attention. Normally, I would have stopped to relish such an outstanding ensemble; but that night, both the music and my article were far from my mind. A wave of anticipation and hope rose in me for the first time that evening as I started to run. It was 1:30 a.m., two hours post the ship's collision with the iceberg. The fact that the ship hadn't sunk yet provided some relief despite rising anxiety with every passing moment making situations progressively critical for those on board.

I reached the other side of the ship after rounding its stern. To my surprise, there were only a few individuals on this part of the deck. If the lifeboat nearby wasn't being prepared for descent, I would have felt obligated to inform others. Instead, I hurried towards the lifeboats and requested permission to board as only women and children were being allowed. However, due to being out of breath and not having conversed with anyone for a while, the crewmember initially struggled to comprehend my words.

"Can I board the boat?" I asked anxiously. The response I received

filled me with immense happiness, so I hurriedly climbed into the boat. Some of the women on board gave me disgusted looks, as I later discovered that they had left their husbands and partners behind on the ship. As the officers lowered the boat into the freezing, dark water, I could feel the accusing glares from others on my face, and I felt ashamed for my actions.

The lifeboat was launched from the grand ship I had been relishing just seconds ago, turning the ensuing moments into a haze. Regardless of the circumstances, our boat's officer ordered each one of us to seize an oar and paddle away from the Titanic. Hesitant, I complied with his instructions hoping to evade any criticism from fellow women passengers. Clutching onto the paddle, my hands were numbed by the icy night breeze as we collectively rowed.

Engrossed in the constant rhythm of rowing, I ignored the unpleasant sensation from the wooden oar. Rather, I paused to marvel at the majestic sight of Titanic before it sank. The light glowing from within testified to its enduring spirit until its last moment. Suddenly, panic-filled cries from inside the ship caught my attention. A child's desperate call for their mother rang out into the night and elsewhere a mother yearned for her lost child. By now, the ship was clearly angled above water.