‘A real story of people’s suffering’: Maritimers mark 113th anniversary of Titanic sinking

Over a century after it sank in the Atlantic, people near and far – remain fascinated with the Titanic.

It has been more than a century, but fascination around the Titanic and its sinking remains.

Maritime historian Blair Beed says the number 13 is significant when reflecting on the 113th anniversary of the tragedy.

“If you think of the fact that it was approved for passenger service and 13 days later it was at the bottom of the ocean,” he said.

For Beed, it’s the personal and human element of the tragedy that keeps him continually engaged.

“My grandfather was an undertaker’s assistant for the Titanic dead,” he said.

“I had been in the cemeteries and saw the names, and I was curious … who are these people and why are they here? Just like a lot other people. And then I have had the privilege of going places to find out more.”

The need to know the stories of the more than 1,500 people who died is also what drives people to explore the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean.

There have been several missions to the wreck, and even the possibility of Titanic II.

“It’s an odd thing to think of doing. There was an Australian guy who had a breakfast in Halifax to announce he was doing it, and then he disappeared,” Beed explained.

“And, in China, they were building one. And then it sort of stalled. But the exhibits are what people really want to see. They don’t necessarily want to spend hours in a cabin. They really want glimpses of what life was like.”

Beed says the best way to see what life was like is through artifacts and the sharing of history.

“There’s some really good exhibits around the world. And, of course, Halifax has the largest collection of wooden objects from the Titanic in the world,” said Beed.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax says it has learned more about some of those objects in recent years, including a panel from the ship.

“Just because it went out on loan. And during that process we were able to take a lot closer look at the panel,” said museum curator Amber Laurie.

“There’s a crack that goes right down the center of it. And that is actually a crack that was built in because -- and it’s kind of really genius -- because when a ship is pitching or it’s moving or it’s expanding and contracting, so they built into that so that it wouldn’t just completely crack and fall off the wall while they’re on their voyage.”

There is also a jagged edge to the panel, which provided even more insight to the sinking.

“It’s suspected that this is one of the places where the ship split apart, and this information is newer to us,” explained Laurie. “And we only came to know about some of these things because of that loan and knowledge-sharing and being able to examine it really up close.”

The museum has also learned more about the intricacies of the ship’s woodwork.

“We learned a little bit more about the carpenters, (they) were the ones that were making this lounge panel fragment. It has a musical and flora motif to it. And so they may have been told that that’s what they wanted the panel to look like, but they wouldn’t have been given a set design,” Laurie explained.

“It was kind of up to them to decide what it looked like. And I think that’s kind of one of those stories that kind of brings you closer to the person who actually made this.”

Connecting to the people involved with the Titanic isn’t always top of mind when thinking of the ship, which is why both Beed and the museum continue to search for and tell the human side of the story.

“It’s a real story of people’s suffering. You know, we can go down to the (Halifax) waterfront and find all kinds of funny little Titanic type of souvenirs, and we can see these exhibits. But when people go into that graveyard, and or any of the three graveyards, they all of a sudden realize it’s a human tragedy and that touches people,” said Beed.

It is also why the Titanic Society of Atlantic Canada continues to honor those who lost their lives on April 15, 1912, at a vigil every year.

The vigil is held at the at the Titanic Burial Site in Halifax’s Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

“I think it’s helpful for anyone learning history when you can actually see the results, the same goes through same, things that I think about when having graveyards like that, it’s right in your backyard that you can visit. It makes it bring the tragedy more alive,” said Laurie.

Even though the ship sank off the coast of Newfoundland, Halifax has a deep connection to the historic event for the aid it provided in the aftermath.

“This cable ship that went out to recover the victims and some of their descendants still remain in the area today. So, you know, the story is still alive for them, and that’s really important,” said Laurie.

“You have that kind of personal connection locally, but you also have the broader, global tragedy that this was.”

“We have a number of buildings with the Titanic connection, from a church where people on board the Titanic from Halifax went to church, to the funeral home, to the business office of the millionaire who was lost, the cemeteries and the museum,” added Beed.

“You can actually make time and have a really broad interest and find it set aside in Halifax’s buildings.”

Beed says it’s the human interest stories that people are always fascinated with, which drives the importance to remember the lives lost and protect future lives.

“History is something you can learn lessons from. And somebody did say, ‘We don’t need all those lifeboats.’ Somebody said, ‘You know, we don’t really need a drill of how to load them,’” he said.

“If we remember people who try to cut corners, then maybe we don’t cut corners. If it’s simply for the safety factor, it’s a big deal.”

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