National Geographic: Secrets of the Titanic Page #4

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of 1,523 people lost.

In fear and superstition

Many ships avoided these waters for

years afterward.

Brought ashore at Halifax some

victims were claimed and shipped home

For others the maiden voyage of

Titanic ended here in Canada

just a few miles from

the North Atlanic shore.

Today these graves still are tended

at the expense of the

shipping line which took over

from the owners of Titanic.

The disaster is memorialized

like a great battle which

changed the course of history.

But what was the meaning of it all?

It caused only an instant's

hesitation in the march of technology.

But, somehow, Titanic made people

think and they are thinking still.

Every 5 years the valiant dwindling

band of Titanic survivors

is invited to attend a convention

of the Titanic Historical Society.

Thank you very much.

You look pretty good.

Thank you.

There are only about 24 known

survivors alive today.

But the number of people

interested in Titanic is growing

and this fascination reached

a fever pitch when

the wreck of Titanic was found.

July 13th, 1986.

The first attempt

to reach Titanic by submarine is

planned for this morning.

Bob Ballard and 2 companions will

ride to the bottom

in the research submarine, Alvin.

In his enthusiasm Bob Ballard has

perhaps made things seem too easy.

This morning he has

many promises to keep.

The crew compartment of Alvin

is a sealed,

equipment and 3 uncomfortable humans.

Alvin is a tried and trusted design.

It has mapped underwea mountains

located a lost H-bomb,

and now is poised over the most

celebrated shipwreck of modern times.

Once launched Alvin is independent

of its mothership.

The crew can communicate

with the surface,

but in the deep they are

so far from help,

they might as well be on the moon.

To conserve electrical power Alvin

will fall to the ocean bottom

only as fast as gravity allows.

The slow plunge will take 21/2 hours

a time of tedium and growing suspense.

Alvin, this is A-two, over.

Go ahead.

Roger. Ralph

we have the tracking running well

and the bow section should be a

range of about 800 meters,

bearing two three zero degrees, over

Ballard reports that Alvin's

batteries are leaking and

its sonar system has failed.

He must rely on

imprecise directions from above

and he cannot stay down much longer.

Alvin, this is A-two.

According to tracking you just

drove over the forward section.

Suggest you come to course 280

and travel for 200-300 meters, over.

I can't believe they can't see it.

I can't believe they cannot see it.

They can only see 30 or 30 feet.

It's... of water.

Atlantis II, Atlantis II

this is Alvin.

We are at the Titanic, over.

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