Introduction

To start off some basic information, the Titanic’s construction started at the end of March 1909 – 31st to be exact. Despite what people think, the Titanic didn’t leave directly from Southampton (England) to New York in the USA – the Land of the free. This is how the Journey actually went like:

The Titanic actually Left It’s port in Belfast (2nd April 1912) to go to Southampton(10th April 1912); after it went to Cherbourg, France, and finally Queenstown – now known as Cobh – in Ireland. From Queenstown it then crossed the Atlantic. The way back was scheduled to be slightly different. On her return it would dock in Plymouth (England) then to Cherbourg and then back to Southampton where it was to stay until her succeeding voyage.

Sadly neither the return Journey nor any succeeding Voyage would happen as in the early hours on the 15th of April 1912 the ship would at the bottom of the sea taking 1,503 – 1,517 lives with it. This left approximately 700 people of 2,200 passengers and crew.

The Demographics and an Extraordinary Story

The Titanic had a wide range of Passengers from a wide range of countries. According to Icyousee.org people from Uruguay, Mexico and China were on the ship. 

An episode from History Hour Podcast is based on one of the 6 Chinese survivors from the Titanic. His name was Fang Lang. He was from Hong Kong and he was born on the 21st of June in 1894. This meant he was going on to 18. He boarded at Southampton and escaped on Lifeboard number 14. Including him there were 8 other Chinese passengers. Fang was pulled up from the Freezing Waters by 5th Officer Lowe. The story is gone through in great detail in the Documentary ‘The Six’. In this Documentary Fang Lang’s son –  Tom Fong met with 5th Officer Lowe’s relative – He would be dead very soon – and they shared some heart-warming stories. Fang would later die on the 21st of January 1986 at the old age of 91, he never spoke of the incident to his Family. A character who was supposed to be Fang Lang in the 1997 smash-hit movie ‘Titanic’ was Van Ling.

This Picture Below is Fang Lang – it was taken after the Sinking of the Titanic. He doesn’t look any older than 35

In the Picture Below you can see Van Ling – Possibly Fang Lang – with glasses and long hair in Braids. This hairstyle was very popular in Asia, Korea especially

An Icyousee report states that passengers from other countries would usually be in third Class. For example 113 Irishmen and Women were in third class compared to 7 in 1st and 2nd class combined. Some of the most countries the immigrants came from was Sweden (113), Finland (59), Russia (27), Ireland (120 in total – as we discussed) plus 8 Chinese. The six chinese men that did survive were not allowed in the USA because they were laws specifically against Chinese people to enter the land of the free

The thoughts of Passengers and Written accounts

Fortunately, we have a letter from a second class passenger. It was written by Esther Hart a Second Class, she was mother to Eva Hard (She went on to write ‘Shadow of the Titanic: A Survivor’s Story’)  and a husband to Benjamin. The family were traveling to Canada to start a new life. On the Evening of the devastation, Eva was told by her father to ‘Hold Mommy’s hand and be a good little girl’. Once the Titanic sank Benjamin’s body was never found, and a letter was found on the coat that he had given Esther.

The letter goes:

My Dear ones all, 

As you see it is Sunday afternoon and we are resting in the library after luncheon. I was very bad all day yesterday could not eat or drink and sick all the while, but today I have got over it. This morning Eva and I went to church and she was so pleased they sang “Oh God our help in ages past” that is her Hymn she sang so nicely. So she sang out loudly she is very bonny. She has had a nice ball and a box of toffee and a photo of this ship bought her today. Everybody takes notice of her through the Teddy Bear. There is to be a concert on board tomorrow night in aid of the Sailors’ Home and she is going to sing so am I.                                                                                                                                                                    Well, the sailors say we have had a wonderful passage up to now. There has been no tempest, but God knows what it must be when there is one. This mighty expanse of water, no land in sight and the ship rolling from side to side is being wonderful. Tho they say this Ship does not roll on account of its size. Any how it rolls enough for me, I shall never forget it. It is very nice weather but awfully windy and cold. They say we may get into New York Tuesday night but we are really due early Wednesday morning, shall write as soon as we get there. This letter won’t leave the ship but will remain and come back to England where she is due again on the 26th.                                                                                                                         Where you see the letter all of a screw is where she rolls and shakes my arm. I am sending you on a menu to show you how we live. I shall be looking forward to a line from somebody to cheer me up a bit. I am always shutting my eyes and I see everything as I left it. I hope you are all quite well. Let this be an all round letter as I can’t write properly to all ’till I can set my foot on shore again. We have met some nice people on board, Lucy, and so it has been nice so far. But oh the long, long days and nights. It’s the longest break I have ever spent in my life. I must close now with all our fondest love to all of you.

From your loving Ess.

Heaps of love and kisses to all from Eva

Despite not having any hard evidence it was reported that some passengers had bad feelings towards the trip in the morning and had a premonition something bad was going to happen. It was also reported that some parts of the ship actually felt the collision and others didn’t.

The letter that I have just showed is the only one we have written on the day of the crash. Despite this, there are many other letters from Important People like Macy’s Owner (Isidor Straus) before getting on the ship. We also have a letter from survivor Nellie Walcroft and  letter of Gratitude to the crew of the S.S Carpathia by the Unsinkable Molly Brown along with the Band Leader of the Titanic Wallace Hartley.