Although the Titanic is gone, her memory is very much alive. From April 15, 1912, when the unsinkable sank, many books have been written, movies produced, and theories advanced as to what might have happened to avert the Titanic Tragedy. The statement is often made, “If only.” If only additional precautions had been taken. If only other materials had been used. If only more time had been available. If only rescue ships had come more quickly. Many are the never-to-be-answered questions.
It was seventy-four years after the Titanic had taken her fatal plunge that Dr. Robert Ballard and his scientific expedition found the Titanic’s grave. Under his expert leadership, with the aid of a mini-submarine named Alvin, the use of extremely bright lights and super-sensitive cameras, he learned some answers that had been hidden for decades. Within his tiny submarine, he and his two fellow crew members methodically crisscrossed the wreckage and photographed it from every conceivable angle. His photographs have greatly contributed to our knowledge of the Titanic’s descent and demise.
On the memorable night of April 14, 1912, when Mr. Andrews, the ship’s designer, reported its damage, Captain Smith was informed that a lengthy gash along the starboard side had opened the first six of the ship’s fifteen watertight compartments to the sea. However, Ballard’s observations noted it appeared the collision had caused many of the rivets holding the thick hull plates together to pop, thus letting the ocean water do its deadly work.
When boarding the luxurious liner in Southampton, most felt she was perfectly safe. None dared think that the much-acclaimed one-inch-thick double hull would ever be pierced or broken by an iceberg. Journeying through life, many trust the salvation of their eternal soul to the unsafe philosophies and practices of men. The Bible, God’s infallible Word, states in 1 Timothy 2:55For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5), “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus alone can save, keep and assure poor self-confessed sinners of an eternal home in heaven. If men and their philosophies could design effective plans of salvation, why was it necessary for the God of the universe to give His only Son to die on a cross outside Jerusalem? The answer is simple. There was no other way. To trust in any other person or plan conceived by men, is like trusting in that which is destined to sink eternally. God’s plan of salvation is not only for time, but also for eternity, and is found, among other places, in Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31), “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Many of those who dared to look at the Titanic as she slid beneath the surface of the sea stated she had gone to the bottom in one piece, but 17-year-old Jack Thayer insisted she broke in two. The bow section was the first to be claimed by the sea and then just before the stern section disappeared, she assumed an upright position for approximately a minute, before beginning her plunge to join the bow, and to settle more than 1,200 feet from it.
When Ballard and his colleagues examined the site, debris from both sections littered the ocean floor. Since 1912 when the unsinkable succumbed to 39,000 tons of sea water which invaded her massive hull, not a bone of 1,500 people who went down with the Titanic has been found. The one-inch thick steel hull is gradually disappearing as iron-eating microbes have consumed 20% of it. But some things remain, including a full set of dinnerware used in the first-class dining room. In addition, a jar of olives, a steward’s jacket, stock certificates, and love letters have been found. These, along with 300 other items, were recovered from the opulent liner between 1987 and 1994 and now form a part of a traveling exhibit.
IF ONLY
Since 1912 the question has been asked— “What would have happened if only there had been more lifeboats and if there had been an adequate number of lifeboat drills?” Interestingly, the number of lifeboats exceeded the number required by Marine Law. However, after the disaster, the law was rewritten to make it compulsory that every ship carry lifeboats which would have sufficient accommodation for all on board. If only it had been the case for the Titanic.
If only there had been a slight ripple on the water rather than a glassy sea on April 14. When watching for icebergs, a slight ripple would have provided an easy-to-see ribbon of white at the base of the icy giant. Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee would have more readily detected the iceberg, but danger was not evident until too late. If only the danger had been detectable. The danger of rejecting Christ as Savior is clearly stated to souls traveling to eternity. In Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18) the Bible states, “Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.” Sadly, God’s eternal wrath awaits any who fail to heed the Bible’s warning.
If only binoculars had been provided Fleet and Lee as they kept their cold vigil in the crow’s nest, but there were none. It has been suggested that the huge black ice form would have been more readily recognizable and an earlier warning might have been sounded, saving many lives. It may have been different for lookout Reginald Lee when he climbed down from his perch from his ill-fated watch to be assigned to help fill lifeboats.
If only the distress calls had been heard and heeded by the operator aboard the nearby Californian, but just forty minutes before the impact he had been rebuffed by Phillips, the wireless operator on duty on the Titanic, and turning off his set had gone to his cabin. Being within ten miles of the Titanic, the Californian could have been at the scene much earlier than the Carpathia and a greater number of lives would no doubt have been saved. At 2:37 a.m., only 3 minutes before the Titanic took its plunge, Bride and Phillips removed their earphones, and with water entering the cabin went on deck. All lifeboats had left, so they swam in the icy waters to an overturned lifeboat and clung to it for safety. Of the two devoted men, Bride lived, but Phillips died.
If only the Californian had heard and responded to the call for help. Through more than 19 centuries, millions have called in their distress of sin to the Savior who saves. In Romans 10 and verse 13, the Apostle Paul says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” His “wireless set” is never turned off. His ear is always open to the cry of a repentant sinner. Send your call to Him today.
If only the six warnings of ice in the area which the Titanic had received had been heeded and the Captain had ordered the ship to reduce speed, as the Californian had done. Hopefully, the collision would not have been so severe. But that order was never given.
If only Captain Smith had given greater direction during the final two hours and forty minutes of the ship’s life. It has been suggested that he could have given greater leadership, as the ship’s master, during its final 160 minutes of life as the “unsinkable ship.”
If only some of the lifeboats had returned for some of the hundreds who had fallen into the frigid water from the ever-slanting decks, then a greater number would have been rescued. There were frantic screams from those in the freezing darkness, but none of the boats returned, fearing they would be swamped by a large number attempting to climb into them. That is certainly not the case with the Lord Jesus Christ. He clearly states in Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
If only the stricken ship had begun its turn to port earlier than the 37 seconds which followed the warning from the crow’s-nest.
If only the 101-ton rudder that stood six stories high had more quickly directed the Titanic clear of the unyielding iceberg. For the 2,200 aboard, the warnings had been received, but carelessly ignored. Now the super-ship, in these final moments, was unable to avoid a deadly collision. God in heaven has a warning for all who refuse His warning note. In Proverbs 1:24, 2624Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (Proverbs 1:24)
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:26), He said, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded ... I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.”
If only this vessel of greatness had struck the iceberg head on, it is possible less damage would have resulted. The bow would, no doubt, have been seriously damaged and several hundred would have died, but it is felt fewer watertight compartments would have been opened to the sea and fewer aboard would have died. The unsinkable ship may not have sunk.
If only the steel used in the massive hull had been of higher quality. Tests conducted by retired metallurgy professor, Phil Leighly, of the University of Missouri at Rolla, have proven the steel used was brittle and almost certainly permitted the ship to snap in two and to sink earlier than it would have had superior steel been used. The fracture inflicted in the portion of the ship is now 45 feet below the ocean floor. William Garzke, a naval architect who investigates ship accidents, feels the Titanic did not suffer a 300-foot gash, but that “the brittle steel may have had some role to play in the punctures that let the sea water in to flood the Titanic.” He feels popped rivets that allowed the steel hull plates to open and buckle were more likely the culprits.
If only these and other events had not happened, the Titanic may not have become the legend it has and 1,500 lives may not have been claimed by the North Atlantic.
It is so unfortunate to look back and say, “If only.” I sincerely pray that no reader of the “Titanic Tragedy” will ever look back over time from eternity and say, “If only” I had accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior in life when He said to me from John 3 and verse 16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Before you close this book, believe that when the Lord Jesus Christ died for sinners, He died for you. You will then know for certain the truth of the Gospel according to John chapter three and verses seventeen and eighteen. There we read: “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”