Bon Voyage - Titanic Exposed!

Bon Voyage

After spending the day conducting sea trials, Titanic left Belfast on the evening of April 2, 1912 for the first point of embarkation before her maiden voyage - Southampton, England. She arrived the morning of April 3, at the newly constructed White Star Dock, built specifically to accomodate both Olympic and Titanic. As she approached the docks, she was guided by five tugs as she slowly reached her quay. Titanic would spend about one week in Southampton for preparations and final accommodations. After short stops in Cherbough, France and Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, Titanic would be ready to begin her first crossing of the Atlantic to her final destination - New York.

Southampton was the principal point of embarkation for passengers and crew, and was where she would receive the mof her provisions for her first crossing of the Atlantic. Accommodating over two thousand people for nearly a week was no small task. Food and drink alone for example would include 40 tons of potatoes, over 6,000 pounds of butter and over 2 tons of coffee. In addition, 20,000 bottles of beer and stout and 15,000 bottles of mineral water to help to quench the thirst of Titanic's passengers. She would also be carrying hundreds of sacs of mail. The prefix "R.M.S." meaning "Royal Mail Steamer" indicated that she was legally comissioned by Her Majesty, the Queen of England, as well as the United States, to carry mail. After final preparations, Titanic left her berth in Southampton in the early afternoon of Wednesday, April 10, 1912. Her incredible size displaced so much water that while leaving her dock the unexpected force tore the liner New York from her moorings, drawing her dangerously close to Titanic. Although the collision was narrowly avoided, a near miss began Titanic's legendary voyage.

Later that evening, Titanic arrived at Cherbourg, where she increased her passenger number by about two hundred and fifty. Just after 8.00 p.m., the voyage continued to Queenstown. She arrived there the next morning and picked up more mail and half as many passengers as in Cherboug. On the 11th of April, 1912, Titanic was finally ready to set sail for New York. At about 1:30 p.m., with a total of about two thousand, two hundred passengers and crew, Titanic departed. As she eased out of the habour, the bagpipes of third class passenger Eugene Daly could be heard at the stern offering the somber tune of "Erin's Lament" as the Titanic's Maiden Voyage began.

Mayday!