Is This Titanic Story True?

[erpowers]

I assume just about everybody at DU has heard some version of the story about how someone either said, or wrote, on the Titanic, that "Not even God can sink this ship." Recently, I have been wondering if this story is true. I did some research, but could not find anything that I felt was definitive. On one website, I found an article that stated the Titanic was never considered unsinkable. On another website, I found a statement that claimed the unsinkable ship idea was a misquoting of what was actually said about the Titanic. The website said it was once stated that when all the doors were closed and locked the ship was practically unsinkable.

So, does anyone know if there is any proof as to whether or not it was stated, or written that "Not even God could sink this ship."? I figure some of you will say I already have my answer because if the ship was never considered unsinkable comments about it being unsinkable would not be made. However, I was looking for something more definitive. Does anyone have any concrete information about the issue?

[Agschmid]

1. National archives...

https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/titanic.html

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. "But this ship can't sink"

"She's made of iron, sir. I assure you she can, and she will. It is a mathematical certainty."

Yes, yes, I know it's a movie. But that scene was attended by more than one survivor, and the conversation is, I understand, fairly accurate.

[rsdsharp]

6. Who knew Theoden, King of Rohan

was captain of the Titanic?

[JHB]

8. Puts a whole 'nother spin on "Dark have been my dreams of late." nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. You guys are weird.

[Volaris]

11. I always liked the idea that Lt. OBrien was the only one who knew what the hell he was talking about

[jberryhill]

3. You have to think about the kind of person that would say such a thing

Anything which is not inherently less dense than water will sink.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sinking-the-unsinkable/

[SCantiGOP]

4. As I recall reading

The ship was designed so that you could drill a hole several feet in diameter at any point and it would not sink, due to the watertight compartments in the ship. What was not considered was what happened: a slash that cut through several of the compartments, causing the ship to get off center and let the water spill over the top of the watertight compartments.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. One article I read years ago suggested that if they had just rammed the berg head on....

They would have been fine.

Bend the bow up a tad, but she would have made it to port no worries.

[Agschmid]

13. Most likely correct, however there was still the possibility of overfill.

[edbermac]

7. I believe a 1911 magazine called Shipbuilder call it 'practically unsinkable.'

But the owners of White Star made no such claim. I've read about 6 or 7 books about it.

I think The Night Lives On by Walter Lord or Titanic: End of a Dream by Wyn Craig Wade made a case that a ship called Great Eastern built 50 years before referred to in a link from post #3 came as close as can be to being an unsinkable ship.

[Tipperary]

9. I have heard that people thought it was unsinkable, but never have heard of that quote.

Fascinating story that will never grow old however; I find everything about the Titanic to be fascinating.

[Fla_Democrat]

12. No, it's not true...

There was plenty of room for Jack on that door.

Oh, your question... I have no idea. Good question, though.

[Liberal In Texas]

14. It's one of the myths that cropped up with all of the "instant disaster" books and

pamphlets right after the sinking. The closest I've been able to read about it over the years was that there was a sentence in a technical trade publication that the design made the ship "practically unsinkable."