The "Lucky" Cancellations

• Several wealthy and famous individuals canceled their trip on Titanic at the last minute, likely saving their lives. Some notable people include:
  • J.P. Morgan, the American financier who owned the White Star Line.
  • Milton Hershey, the chocolate magnate, who had tickets but stayed back in America.
  • Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, a millionaire who canceled his trip to attend to business.

The Titanic Carried a Luxury Car

• A brand-new 1912 Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville was on board. It belonged to first-class passenger William Carter and was kept in the cargo hold. Unfortunately, it sank along with the ship and has become the stuff of legends—possibly one of the most valuable "lost cars" in history.

The Missing Lifejackets

• The ship had over 3,500 lifejackets, enough for every passenger and crew member. However, after the collision, some third-class passengers had trouble accessing the boat deck where lifejackets were stored, leading to unnecessary fatalities.

Planned Lifeboat Drills Were Canceled

• A lifeboat drill was scheduled for the morning of April 14th, the very day the ship hit the iceberg. Captain Smith canceled the drill for reasons unknown. If the drill had taken place, the crew and passengers might have been better prepared for the evacuation.

The Titanic Had a Secret Bar

• Despite the ship's elegance, Prohibition was a growing sentiment in many parts of the world. The ship had a "secret bar" known as the Verandah Cafe. It was a spot where passengers could quietly enjoy an alcoholic drink away from prying eyes.

The Iceberg Came from Greenland

• The iceberg that sank Titanic is believed to have originated from Greenland around 1,000 years ago. By the time it collided with Titanic, it was over 100 feet tall and had melted significantly. Approximately 90% of the iceberg was submerged, making it difficult for the lookouts to spot it in the dark.

Titanic Was Carrying Over 6,000 Tons of Coal

• The ship was fueled by 6,000 tons of coal, burned daily by a team of over 170 coal workers, known as "stokers." These workers kept the boilers running around the clock. After the iceberg collision, they remained at their posts, working tirelessly to keep the ship's lights on until it sank.

The Mysterious "Titanic Time Capsule" Theory

• Due to certain areas of the wreck being well-sealed, some researchers believe the Titanic holds "time capsules" within its compartments. These sealed-off areas may contain perfectly preserved artifacts from the day of the sinking, but exploration is limited by the wreck's fragility.

The Captain Had a Brand New Set of Keys

• Captain Smith was given a new set of keys before the voyage. These keys were intended for the lifeboat storage compartments and other critical areas. However, a key meant for the binoculars locker was mistakenly taken by a reassigned officer, which left the lookouts without binoculars during the voyage.

The Forgotten Fifth Officer