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The Daring Olympic Attempt to Reach the Titanic

Jim Cox

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Published in Racing Through The Night: Olympic S Attempt To Reach Titanic

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On the tragic night of April 14-15, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives. Among the ships that responded to the distress call was the RMS Olympic, Titanic's sister ship.

Racing Through The Night: Olympic's Attempt to Reach Titanic

by Wade Sisson

4.8 out of 5

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Built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the RMS Olympic was the largest and most luxurious ship afloat at the time. She was 882 feet long and 107 feet wide, and could carry over 2,400 passengers and crew.

When the news of the Titanic's sinking reached the Olympic, the ship was on her way to New York from Southampton, England. Captain Edward Smith, the Olympic's commander, immediately ordered his ship to turn around and head for the disaster site.

The Olympic steamed at full speed for over 1,000 miles, arriving at the scene of the sinking on the morning of April 16. The ship found the area littered with debris, including lifeboats, life jackets, and personal belongings.

The Olympic crew began searching for survivors, but they quickly realized that the task was futile. The water was freezing cold, and most of the survivors had already died from hypothermia or drowning.

Despite the grim reality, the Olympic crew continued to search for any sign of life. They eventually found four survivors: Charles Joughin, a baker; Violet Jessop, a stewardess; William Ernest Carter, a steward; and Arthur John Priest, a fireman.

The Olympic took the survivors aboard and headed back to New York, where they were met by a massive crowd of mourners and reporters. The ship's arrival marked the end of the Titanic disaster, but it also served as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of those who had responded to the tragedy.

Obstacles Faced by the Olympic

The Olympic's attempt to reach the Titanic was not without its challenges. The ship faced several obstacles, including:

Distance: The Titanic sank over 1,000 miles from the Olympic's current position. The ship had to steam at full speed for over 24 hours to reach the disaster site.
Weather: The weather conditions were atrocious, with high winds and heavy seas. The Olympic's crew had to battle through these conditions to reach the survivors.
Darkness: The Titanic sank at night, and the Olympic arrived at the scene in the early hours of the morning. The darkness made it difficult to search for survivors.
Cold: The water temperature was freezing cold, and most of the survivors had already died from hypothermia or drowning by the time the Olympic arrived.

The Legacy of the Olympic's Attempt

The Olympic's attempt to reach the Titanic was a daring and ultimately unsuccessful mission. However, the ship's crew displayed great courage and determination in the face of adversity.

The Olympic's attempt also served as a reminder of the importance of maritime safety. In the wake of the Titanic disaster, new regulations were put in place to improve the safety of ships at sea.

The Olympic continued to sail for many years after the Titanic disaster. She was eventually retired from service in 1935 and scrapped in 1937.

The RMS Olympic's attempt to reach the Titanic is a story of bravery, tragedy, and resilience. The ship's crew faced incredible challenges, but they never gave up hope of finding survivors.

The Olympic's attempt may have been unsuccessful, but it serves as a reminder of the importance of maritime safety and the courage of those who respond to disasters.

Racing Through The Night: Olympic's Attempt to Reach Titanic

by Wade Sisson

4.8 out of 5