The Sinking of the Titanic: The Narration of Winifred Vera - Research Paper Example

The Sinking of the Titanic: The Narration of Winifred Vera The sinking of the titanic is a tragedy that I shall forever live to remember. I vividly remember the events that unfolded in the North Atlantic Ocean waters, starting from the night of 14 April to the next day, when Titanic was no more and sorrow hovered over the ruthless titanic waters. Witnessing the event was like a nightmare for even no one was sure of making it. We had been sure of the voyage because we heard that it was well built to rock the ocean waters. I was eight years when along with my sister and mother boarded the Titanic, as second class passengers. Although the sea was calm, I had experience sea sickness for a significant part of the journey. We were in bed sleeping since 9pm and could not feel the Titanic collide with the iceberg. We only realized that the something was wrong when other passengers knocked the cabin door, informing us about the accident. My sister did not imagine the ship was badly damaged and was not in hurry to dress. It was then that the steward came clear that the ship was sinking and we needed to hurry by putting on the lifebelts. We quickly moved to the A-Deck. I was crying hysterically and remember one man try to cool me down. It was argued to be the largest passenger ship that had integrated state-of-the-art technology. The titanic struck an iceberg at around 11: 40 on the night of April, 1912. It was a Sunday. It took about 2 hrs and 43 minutes to sink, and this was about 02:20 in the night. There were many people on board as were headed from Southampton to New York. I heard that we were well over 2224 people that were on board when the tragedy befell and as many as 1, 500 lost their lives (Hoffman and Grimm, 24). I had that there had been several warnings that had been sent to ship on course of the 14 April. However, the ship had been moving at relatively high speed when the iceberg was sighted. It was unable to make a quick turn, and ended up buckling her starboard on the right. This created an opening to five compartments that would take it to a point of no return. The ship had only been designed such that it would float even when four compartments were water-flooded. The crew realized that the ship would soon sink. It was then that they used radios, as well as rocket flares, to ask for help. At the same time, the passengers started to launch lifeboats. Even disadvantaging was the fact that the ship only carried few life boats, yet most of the boats that were launched left before they were filled because the evacuation process was never carried out effectively. Furthermore, some of us were hesitant into getting into the lifeboats because they feared that the Titanic would never sink. When the ship was eventually swallowed in waters, there were as many as a thousand passengers that were still aboard. There were those who attempted to jump into the waters and swim and wait to be rescued. However, these did not stay alive for long as they succumbed to cold temperatures. RMS Carpathia, which was dispatched for the rescue mission, arrived at the hour and a half later. All the lifeboat survivors had been rescued by around 9: 00 Monday Morning. At around 02: 15, the angle of tilt was increasing rapidly as the un-flooded parts of the waters caved in. As the ship sank, those on board were swept into the sea. Even those who attempted launching the last boats did not succeed. After the sinking of the titanic, many passengers were exposed to die of the cold sea conditions. Some of those who attempted to swim were injured by the debris of the ship. Even so, some used the debris as a way of keeping themselves afloat. Those on the lifeboats were not spared from the fear, agony and despair that rocked the waters. People in the waters were screaming, crying and yelling. Only a few people in the waters survived. Charles Lightoller, on one of the survivors on the lifeboats, could hear people ask for assistance. He tried to assist but realized that many would cling to the boat and even endanger his life. He paddled away. He was relieved that he could not hear any of those in the waters rebuke him. One man had said it “Al right boys. I wish you good luck” (Barczewski 55). I was lucky that I was put on lifeboat 11 with my sister while my mother was denied the chance to accompany us because the chance was only for children. Initially, my mother was hesitant that we had to be together, but released me to the lifeboat of over 50 people. I continued to cry, even on lifeboats. My shoe had fallen off and I sat on frozen waters. I fell asleep a few minutes later, only to be woken up by cheers of people as RMS Carpathia arrived. I was wrapped in a sack and pulled to the Carpathia. I remember how people continued to weep. I also remember how some bodies were buried at the sea. Even before we arrived at New York, my father had heard the new about the Titanic tragedy but informed that his family was safe. Dad waited to receive us at the port on 18 and we all left for Detroit by the New York Express. Work Cited Grimm, Jack and Hoffman, William. Beyond Reach: Searching For Titanic. New York: Beaufort Books, 1982. Print. Gracie, Archibald. The Truth concerning the Titanic. New York: Kennerley, 1913. Print. Barczewski, Stephanie. A Night Remembered about the Titanic. London: Continum International Publishing Group, 2006. Print. Read More