Титанік

           ThefactthattheMarconimessageshaveceasedmeansnothing;itmaybeduetoatmosphericconditionsorthecomingupoftheships,orsomethingofthatsort.

           “Wearenotworriedoverthepossiblelossoftheship,asshewillnotgodown,butwearesorryfortheinconveniencecausedtothetravellingpublic.WeareabsolutelycertainthattheTitanicisabletowithstandanydamage.Shemaybedownbythehead,butwouldfloatindefinitelyinthatcondition.”

           Stillthatsameword,“unsinkable,”whichhadnowindeedforthefirsttimebecomeatrueone:foritisonlywhensheliesatthebottomoftheseathatanyshipcanbecalledunsinkable.OnTuesdaymorningwhenthedreadfulnewswasfirstcertainlyknown,thoseproudwordshadtobetakenback.AgainMr.Franklinhadtofacethereporters,andthistimehecouldonlysay:

           “Imusttakeuponmyselfthewholeblameforthatstatement.Imadeit,andIbelieveditwhenImadeit.TheaccidenttotheOlympic,whenshecollidedwiththecruiserHawke,convincedmethattheseships,theOlympicandTitanic,werebuiltlikebattleships,abletoresistalmostanykindofaccident,particularlyacollision.Imadethestatementingoodfaith,anduponmemustresttheresponsibilityforerror,sincethefacthasprovedthatitwasnotacorrectdescriptionoftheunfortunateTitanic.