Titanic 96th Anniversary

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:36 pm

The 96th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is on Monday, April 14. There's so much online about Titanic since I googled it a few years ago.

There are a bunch of Titanic short videos on You Tube. Just type in Titanic in the search. There's even one with bunnies playing the parts. (Maybe it's something kids would like.) You can hear Celine Dion's entire Titanic song, simulations of the sinking, a simulation of it sailing ...

Forum friend, Susan, and I were joking about someone making a Lizzie Borden pop-up book. I found a Titanic pop-up book on one of the sites. I hope it isn't too sad for kids. "Now, wave to Daddy for the last time." And you work the tab in back of the page for making the child's hand go back and forth ... I've been in Lizzieland too long ...

On the Titanic Historical Society's site, they say that the plaque they placed at the wreck site is GONE. It looks like somebody took it. There are others there, but not theirs. That is a super website. The organization was founded by Ed Karmuda in 1963 - the first devoted to Titanic. With your membership, you receive a gorgeous, glossy (collectible) magazine, "The Commutator". The museum, which is in Springfield, Massachusetts (about right in the middle of Massachusetts) is technically in "Indian Orchard". It's in the back of Henry's Jewelry Store. It was so cool to walk in and see Ed Karmuda sitting behind a counter repairing a watch, while his sister, Karen, was behind the counter at the museum. She was fascinating to talk to. Anyway, I would highly recommend subscribing and visiting the museum and their website (which does include a 'museum store'). I am in no way connected to the THS, tho I was a member years ago for several years.

Then there is the Titanic Ship (calling itself the world's largest museum) in Branson, MO. It's a permanent structure, built on the water. It's two stories high, contains something like 400 pieces from the wreck, and sounds wonderful! Like when the Titanic exhibits toured the country, you get a pass with a Titanic passenger's name on it to board. Apparently it's pretty much a self-guided tour. I was surprised at the prices: Just ten bucks for children, and less than $20 for an adult. It might be best to buy your tickets online to make sure you get yours for the date and time you want. Ed Karmuda, of the THS above, is involved in this museum. Like Michael Martins or Stef Koorey on Lizzie, he is always being tapped on the shoulder for his expertise when someone is working on a Titanic project.
The website for the Branson museum is interesting.

Keep an eye out for documentaries on tv. There's sure to be some goodies on over the next few days. CQD. No, I'll sign off with the "new" code: SOS. SOS. I may never get to use it again. Who said that line and in what movie?

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:11 pm

Ed, along with Charles Haas, John P Eaton, Joe Carvahlo, and Robert Gibbons founded THS in 1963. Since that time, Ed Kamuda is the only one left of the originals. Gibbons is associated with Branson somewhat, Haas and Eaton (both new recipients of the presitigious Silver Riband Award) have published many books on Titanic, have worked closely with the artifact recovery team, and are currently on our board of Trustees for Titanic International Society. Messrs. Haas and Eaton split from THS in 1988, and they along with 5 others of us founded Titanic International in 1989. This was partly because of personal issues, and primarily because we wanted to include all ocean liners, and had the opportunity to assist with the salvage of artifacts, which THS did not support. For the record, Dr. Ballard DID support artifact recovery at the beginning but changed course midstream when the Navy would not pay for him to return to salvage.
Ed Kamuda married, and his wife Karen pretty much runs the operation now, with many of their best archival items in Branson. There are some items in Ed's jewelry store in Indian Orchard, Mass. near Springfield which may be seen. There are , at my last count 13 Titanic societies in the world. Some may be visited at this link http://www.titanicinternationalsociety.org/links.html
I could not find a Fall River link to Titanic, although numerous links exist to Massachusetts. There was a Lusitania survivor from Fall River named Higganbottham however.
Harold Bride, I believe wanted to send the SOS- although it was not the first time that call was sent. CQD was the old signal for Come Quick Distress- and just about every Titanic movie I have seen uses this line. I think David McCallum in A Night to Remember says it best. Harold Bride survived the sinking although his feet were severly frostbitten. The other Marconi wireless operator did not- Jack Phillips. His name is on a memorial to wireless men at the battery in Manhattan.

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:30 pm

Shelley-

I just bought a book called, "A Treasury Of Titanic Tales" by Webb Garrison. It contains short stories of events that happened on the Titanic. Have you ever heard of this book? Is it factual? I hate getting engrossed in a book only to discover later that it was all hog wash. I thought you might have some knowledge of it that you could share with us.

-1bigsteve (o:

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:19 pm

I will have to ask about that one Steve! Yes, many of them are dreadful. I can recommend Judy Geller's Women and Children First if you like Titanic people stories. I have written up a few of my survivor interviews and bios on Encyclopedia Titanic, which is the premiere forum and site of ALL Titanic sites where I roost when I am not here!

and my Titanic site at www.revdma2.com TIS' quarterly VOYAGE features a new survivor story in every issue. We are very lucky to have two of the world's authorities on passengers, Mike Findlay and Bob Bracken as trustees and authors for the journal. Dover press has also put out a paperback edition of several survivors accounts including teacher Lawrence Beesley and Col. Gracie's intriguing account. Gracie died before his was published the year following the disaster. Imagine surviving Titanic only to die a year later! Currently I am investigating the case of a survivor from third class from Sweden who, I believe was murdered in Bridgeport. Death by drowning in Bearsdley Park Reservoir! Ironic! Yes, so many great stories- so little TIME to research them all! You may be interested in Massachusetts survivor Lillian Asplund who died 2 years ago in Tewksbury Mass. Her mementoes are being auctioned today http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770
I went to visit her, but she never told me about these items she kept in a shoebox. I never spoke of the ship to her as it upset her. She was the last with any memories of the ship. One survivor remains- Milvina Dean in england who was an infant on the ship.
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:45 am

Shelley-

Go to the "Links" thread and click the link I left about the Titanic's rivets. New information came out today in the New York Times about the rivets used in the Titanic. Evidently there was a bigger problem that we thought with the riveting of the ship.

-1bigsteve (o:

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:27 am

Oh yes, that rivet news has actually been around for awhile in the techie circles. Some of our TIS people were on FOX today discussing another theory that the fire in one of the coal bunkers was responsible for the ship traveling so fast. I spent today's anniversary at a funeral for an old friend who was a Lusitania survivor who lived in Wallingford, Ct. She was nearly 96.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:54 pm

Titanic ticket sells for $65,000.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080419/ap_ ... ic_auction

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:02 pm

Some years ago an exact replica of the Titanic was going to be built, full size exactly like the original, except for modern navigation equipment, radios and larger rudder. Some rock star bought the first ticket to sail on that ship. Does anyone know what happened with those plans to build that duplicate? It was written up in Popular Mechanics magazine.

-1bigsteve (o:

Bobbypoz · Post by **Bobbypoz** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:33 pm

Here's a link to the article.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technol ... 89211.html

This one is a jumbled up follow-up to the original

http://www.put.com/gigantic/

a message board:

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/di ... .html?1135

Hope this helps!

~B

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:18 am

Very interesting subject. Thanks Bobby!

-1bigsteve (o: