Disaster!

On Sunday Peter and I had no family visiting and I had no blog post topic so we went to see the Titanic.

Both of us have been intrigued by this terrible disaster since 1985 when the wreck was discovered off the coast of Newfoundland. Then the bolckbuster movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet was released in 1997. And more recently, in June 2023, Ocean Gate’s TItan submersible imploded on the way to the site, killing all 5 persons aboard. Lives upon lives have been lost due to this “unsinkable ship.”

The current exhibition in Toronto walks visitors through Titanic’s history. First we are introduced to Thomas Andrews, the designer of the ship. Workers are captured in photos at their desks working with graph paper and compasses. Pictures of the shipyards of Harland and Wolff in Belfast show the hull actually talking shape The official launch date, May 31, 1911, is followed by the ship’s maiden voyage on April 10, 1012. There are black and white photos documenting the events.

The Titanic in all its glory is recreated in parts: luxurious hallways, a first class cabin, and a replica of the grand staircase where visitors can have their pictures taken. There are many artifacts from the wreckage. We see ropes, an anchor, lights, a toilet, parts of the hull, and other pieces of hardware. Astonishingly, even dishes and some pieces of silver have survived over 100 years underwater.

A toilet and other bathroom fixtures

Then the exhibit moves on to show us a glimpse of that fateful night, April 14, 1912. Icebergs had not been forecast in the area. But soon one appeared out of the darkness, ahead of the ship. A video re-enactment shows how the helmsman turned the wheel sharply to the left but he could not avoid the iceberg entirely. It sliced along the right side of the ship, breaking into 6 watertight compartments. The Titanic was doomed.

Over 1500 people died that night. Many failed to heed the warning bell and refused to climb into the lifeboats because they too believed the ship was unsinkable. Others travelling in steerage down below could not get to the lifeboats because of the crowds blocking the halls. Some managed to jump into the Atlantic, only to die of hypothermia.

Personal stories line the walls of the exhibit. Famous business men like John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim travelling in first class, along with immigrants from as far away as Lebanon, could not escape their fate. Captain Edward Smith, a veteran sea captain who was about to retire, was convinced by his employers at the White Star Line, to take one last voyage as captain of this luxury cruiser. It was supposed to be the honour of his life. Instead it became the coffin of his death.

Peter and I walked out of the exhibit and back into daylight, relieved that we had not been about that doomed ship. But now we had to make our way home. It was a hot day and we had travelled to Downsview Park by GO train, and then taken an Uber to the exhibition site. Going home was a different story. We decided to take the bus instead. After walking about a kilometer to the bus stop, we rode the bus to the subway. There was track work happening on our route so we had to transfer to a shuttle bus, then another subway, and finally a GO train. It took us almost 2 hours to get home.

Now, after studying the Titanic story, I am not saying that our trip was a disaster. But I will suggest that, if you want to see this incredible exhibit, you should drive.

Sue