Description

2004

The grand Olympic is contrasted to the new building Aquitania in private correspondence by Leonard Peskett, designer of Lusitania and Mauretania in the second half of an article by Mark Chirnside. Adapted from his new book, The Olympic-Class Ships – Olympic Titanic, Britannic, available in our online Museum Shop, at first glance the photographs appear to be Olympic’s public rooms because of the similarity of styles. Among the numerous details that Chirnside chronicles are Peskett’s observations of the new White Star liner that provide significant insight how Cunard incorporated these improvements and continually challenged their competition. Also for the first time, the Commutator has photos of numerous film cels from a two-reel, thirty-minute, silent movie titled “Olympic Close Ups” made for the White Star Line circa 1921 promoting Olympic and the pleasures of ocean travel.

We hope you are as impressed as we were with the stunning images of Britannic by underwater photographer Leigh Bishop, expedition leader Carl Spencer, Antonello Paone, and the divers who risked their lives inside the wreck seeking answers why she sank so quickly. Simon Mills’ perspective on the 2003 expedition shows how far we have come since THS and Jacque Cousteau discovered her in 1976.

Reviewing Harland & Wolff’s past continues as we concentrate on the former slipways where the three Olympic-class liners were built and launched. Although Mike Rudd’s Titanic Heritage Tours are no longer viable, how fortunate we were to have visited the Yard while the opportunity was there.

Another viewpoint, from a previous article, about the timing of lifeboat launchings is presented with a graph for comparison for you to draw your own conclusions.

It is our pleasure to introduce Bertha Mulvihill, a Titanic survivor who was known as an impulsive and adventurous young lady from Ireland who settled in Providence, Rhode Island. It is interesting to note that she was one of several women who were part of Mrs. Emily Goldsmith’s network consisting mostly of widows who had to rebuild their lives after the disaster.

Contents in this Issue

RMS Olympic, Starting a Spectacular Career, Part 2 by Mark Chirnside.

Farewell Harland & Wolff, Part 2 by Karen Kamuda.

Coosan Coleen; Bertha Mulvihill, A Titanic Survivor Story by Tad Fitch.

HMHS Britannic, A Retrospective Look at the 2003 Expedition by Simon Mills.

The Departure Time of Collapsible C, Some Counter-Arguments by David Gleicher.

Sea Poste– Letters to THS: Identfying an antique “Titanic” oil lamp; Why didn’t Olympic come to aid Titanic?; Old newsreel supposedly moving Titanic in harbor has tugboat’s names scratched off. Why?; What are rectangular flat plates between angled braces on Titanic in the “Ghosts of the Abyss” images?; What is the size of Titanic’s rivet heads?; Information on a 1912 Titanic print by Tichnor Brothers.

The cover image is a stunning timed exposure of Britannic‘s propellers by underwater photographer Leigh Bishop. The port propeller was entirely responsible for the loss of life on 21st November 1916, when two of the lifeboats were smashed to pieces by the rotating blades. © Leigh Bishop 2003