..о Титанике, сгинувшем в холодной Атлантике в ночь на 15е апреля 1912 года.
Я много перечитал документов, допросов, файлов и биографий.
Видел 4 фильма. Читал около десятка книг на английском.
И могу считать себя историком по Титанику.
Смотря фильмы, не могут не бросаться в глаза множества ошибок.
Многие из них были озвучены, но одной из главных ошибок я считаю - самоубийство
1 го помошника В. Мэрдока (W. Murdoch).

Приведу два письма. Первое - редкий транскрипт письма самого Мэрдока сестре когда его понизили с главпома до 1-го помошника и 2-е письмо 2 -го пом. капитана Ч. Лайтоллера (C. Lightoller) вдове Мэрдока (письма на английском)

1. S.S.:'Titanic'

At : Southampton.

April 8th 1912.

My Dear Peg,
We had Agnes's letter this morning & I was glad to hear that all was as usual in Dalbeattie & to know that you had arrived safely. What a journey you must have had, you surely would have to take lots of refreshments on the way. The weather is keeping very fine down here but today it is very windy.
I am still Chief Offr [Officer] until sailing day & then it looks as though I will have to step back, [to First Officer] so I am hoping that it will not be for long. The head Marine Supt. [Superintendent] from L'pool [Liverpool] seemed to be very favourably impressed & satisfied that everything went on A.1 [OK] & as much as promised that when Wilde goes I am to go up again.
The holidays are on down here & it takes me all my time to get men to work even at overtime rates but we are nearly ready for the road. I hope that you are having nice weather up north & that you will enjoy your holiday & have a quick journey to L'pool when you start again. It looks as if the strike will soon be over now. It must have caused lots of distress throughout the country.
Aid is on board just now, having a look through; one of the officers is taking her around. Glad to hear that there has been good news from the folks abroad. I think I must owe them all letters just at present.
Give my kind love to Mother, Father & Agnes & receipt some yourself. I will write from Queenstown to let you know how we are getting along, if only a post card. I hope Mother is not feeling her pains, irritation, etc. so much & that the milder weather is having a good effect on her, also that Father, Agnes & yourself are in real good form.
From :
yr. ever affect. brother,
William.

P&s.
Aid has just come into the room & sends fondest love to to all
Love again,
Wm.
---
2. Dear Mrs. Murdoch,

I am writing on behalf of the surviving officers to express our deep sympathy in this, your awful loss. Words cannot convey our feelings, - much less a letter.
I deeply regret that I missed communicating with you by last mail to refute the reports that were spread in the newspapers. I was practically the last man, and certainly the last officer, to see Mr. Murdoch. He was then endeavouring to launch the starboard forward collapsible boat. I had already got mine from off the top of our quarters. You will understand when I say that I was working the the port side of the ship, and Mr. Murdoch was principally engaged on the starboard side of the ship, filling and launching the boats.
Having got my boat down off the top of the house, and there being no time to open it, I left it and ran across to the starboard side, still on top of the quarters. I was then practically looking down on your husband and his men. He was working hard, personally assisting, overhauling the forward boat's fall. At this moment the ship dived, and we were all in the water. Other reports as to the ending are absolutely false. Mr. Murdoch died like a man, doing his duty.
Call on us without hesitation for anything we can do for you.
Yours very sincerely,
(Signed :-)
C.H.Lightoller, 2d Officer;
G. Groves Boxhall, 4th Officer;
H.J. Pitman, 3d Officer;
H.G. Lowe, 5th Officer.


Вспомним эту трагедию. Погибших, героев, спасенных И будем надеяться, что такое более не повторится.
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