I’ve been in the middle of the ocean on a big ship. It is really something I’ll tell you. To look out and see the expanse. Water in every direction. I imagine that is what the people who stood on the deck of the Titanic saw. The water line of the horizon.
I think about that ship sometimes. I’m not alone. Many people have taken an interest in the Titanic, it seems.
A terrible disaster ensued for the people who last boarded that ship. But here is the thing. It wasn’t the worst ship disaster in history. Not even close.
Here are some of the details of that voyage for those who don’t know these facts by heart. I sure don’t.
RMS Titanic (1912)
Date: April 15, 1912
Location: North Atlantic Ocean
Casualties: Over 1,500
British passenger liner. Over 70% of the passengers and crew died, primarily due to a lack of lifeboats.
But what about this?
The MV Wilhelm Gustloff that sank on January 30, 1945 in the Baltic Sea?
It was nearly six times worse. About 9,400 people died that day.
The Wilhelm Gustloff was a German military transport ship during World War II. They were sailing along when they were torpedoed by a Soviet submarine. But it wasn’t just military people. You see, they were evacuating German civilians from East Prussia. Men, women, and children. It remains the deadliest maritime disaster in history.
Then there was the SS Sultana, which fell to its demise on April 27, 1865. It sank in the Mississippi River, USA.
Again. Worse than the Titanic. Around 2,200 people died in that catastrophe.
No torpedoes. No icebergs. The SS Sultana, which was a steamboat, exploded due to a boiler failure. Boom. Most of the victims were Union soldiers returning home from the Civil War. Isn’t that a kick? You survive the Civil War, you are on your way home, and this.
I can keep going on and on about ship disasters.
The Dona Paz went down not so long ago, on December 20, 1987, in the Philippine Sea. About 4,375 people died on that day. The Dona Paz was a Philippine ferry that collided with an oil tanker. And when it did, it caused a massive fire. It is considered the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster. Most of the passengers were unable to escape the fire due to overcrowding and inadequate lifeboats.
The HMS Hood (1941)
Date: May 24, 1941
Location: North Atlantic Ocean
Casualties: 1,415
The Laconia (1942)
Date: September 12, 1942
Location: South Atlantic Ocean
Casualties: 1,500+
The Bismarck (1941)
Date: May 27, 1941
Location: North Atlantic Ocean
Casualties: 2,300
And more.
I wonder, after all of this, why the Titanic is regarded so often and so much.
I mean, there were so many other disasters at sea that lost more lives.
The romance of it, somehow?
No matter. All these tragedies are not just numbers to be had.
They were lives. People. With family and friends. Loved ones. And they were swept away. Just like that.
In the face of tragedy, it’s easy to feel consumed by sorrow. But, they say the true strength lies in how we respond.
Making the most out of a tragedy doesn’t mean diminishing the pain or rushing to move past it.
What I wonder about is finding meaning in the hardship. In the unthinkable.
I suppose there are lessons to be had there. Somehow.
Maybe it’s about growing through adversity. And then, using that growth to help others?
Maybe that tragedy, in its harshest form, can become something of a crucible, in that there might be a situation of severe trial or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new.
Maybe these experiences us become more compassionate, resilient versions of ourselves.
I know people who have done this. I’ve seen their work in the world. And for them, I am grateful.
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“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” — Ronald Reagan
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“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” — Maya Angelou
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“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” — Jennifer Dukes Lee
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“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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That sinking feeling
