The Titanic: A Tale of Three Ships and Three Personalities

The Titanic tragedy of 1912 is a legend that continues to capture the imagination of people even today. The story of this ill-fated passenger liner sinking on April 14th, 1912, has many different angles, each reflecting a different character of humanity. In this article, we explore the personalities of the three ships that were in the vicinity of Titanic during its sinking; the Samson, the Californian, and the RMS Carpathia, and how each of their actions or inactions mirrors some aspect of human nature.

The Samson: Running Away from Trouble

The Samson was the closest ship to the Titanic at the time of the sinking, being only ten miles away. However, instead of coming to the rescue, the Samson crew chose to flee the scene. The reason for their inaction was that they were fishing illegally for seals in territorial waters and feared prosecution if caught. For them, saving their own ends was more important than the lives of the people on the Titanic.

Unfortunately, there are many people in modern-day society who behave like the Samson. They are only concerned with their own welfare and seldom care about others. They are willing to go to great lengths to ensure small gains, even if it means causing great misery to others. They justify their actions, seeing them as necessary for their survival or success, regardless of the consequences for others.

The Californian: Bound by Circumstances

The Californian was about 20 miles away from the Titanic at the time of its sinking, surrounded by thick pack ice. When the crew saw distress flares from the Titanic, they tried signaling that they had stopped for the night due to the ice. Each officer reported the situation to the captain, who kept asking them to signal using Morse lights and wait for an acknowledgement.

Unfortunately, the Californian’s efforts were in vain as the Titanic was sinking, and there was no one to see or acknowledge the signals. The Californian captain decided to go to sleep and wait until the morning to see if anything could be done. As a result, the ship failed to provide any proper rescue efforts, leaving 1523 people dead.

Like the Californian, many of us excuse ourselves, saying that we have honest intentions but are bound by circumstances and cannot help. We believe that we will only dive in when the situation is favorable. What we fail to see is that our best is usually enough, and we can often pull people out of the wreckage if we just try. Captain Lord of the Californian failed to recognize this, costing many lives.

The Carpathia: Jumping into a Problem for Others

The RMS Carpathia was the farthest ship from the Titanic, being about 58 miles away. When Captain Arthur Henry Rostron received the news about the Titanic, he did not hesitate to act. He ordered the ship to full sea speed and arrived on the scene four hours later. Despite the Titanic sinking only two hours earlier, the Carpathia saved 703 passengers and crew.

The Carpathia’s valor and courage saved many lives that day. It is said that the rocket flares shot by the Carpathia helped keep many people alive who refused to give up hope. As a mariner himself, the author of this article knows the value of hope and the power it holds.

This brings us to the final question, can we save the Titanic? When we face a burning issue affecting other people, some run, some hide, and some give excuses. The Samsons and Californians of the world will always be there, putting their own interests above others. Their story ends when they leave this world.

The only people who live on are the Carpathians, like Captain Rostron. They are the ones who jump into a problem for others without hesitation, with an unwavering commitment to their fellow human beings. These are the people who make a lasting difference in the world and inspire others to do the same.

Conclusion

The story of the Titanic is more than just a tragedy; it is a tale of different personalities and human nature. The actions of the Samson, Californian, and Carpathia reflect the different ways people react to a crisis. While some flee or make excuses, there are always those who jump into the problem and make a difference, no matter what the cost.

In the end, the Titanic sank, but its story lives on as a reminder of the kinds of people we can be. Are we Samsons, Californians, or Carpathians? The choice is ours.