On April 14, 1912 around 11:40 pm the ship RMS Titanic, a member of the White Star Line was struck by a massive iceberg, only to sink two hours and forty minutes later. Due to the level of destruction left by the unsuspecting, underwater portion of the iceberg, the Titanic was not able to prevent an imminent disaster. Although the ship turned slightly, in hopes of avoiding a worse impact, the damage was too great for the ship to sustain.
Upon hearing the distress call of the Titanic, an hour after the collision with the iceberg, Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, Captain of the Carpathia, along with his crew, prepared to come to the aid of the surviving passengers. Far from the Titanic, making its trek in the opposite direction, the Carpathia turned around going full steam ahead and attempted to reach the Titanic to rescue those survivors, only to reach her after it was too late. The Carpathia was 65 nautical miles away when they heard the distress call from the Titanic. Traveling through iceberg infested waters, at an incredibly dangerous speed; the Carpathia was determined to come to the rescue of the quickly sinking Titanic. Captain Rostron and his crew were able to save people from the water and also bring the people that were in life boats into safety on his ship. Because of the courage of Captain Rostron and his crew, we are able to say there were many more survivors than there might have been had the Carpathia not arrived when it did.
Among the surviving passengers was a woman by the name of Margaret “Molly” Tobin Brown. Margaret Brown was a very sophisticated woman, speaking five different languages and well known already for her charity work and free spiritedness; she became infamously known as the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. Margaret was traveling with her daughter Helen, at the time when Margaret received word that her grandson was ill. This prompted Margaret to buy tickets to take the Titanic back to New York. Margaret was eternally grateful for her own rescue, as well as the rescue of the other seven hundred and ten passengers.
The brave efforts of Captain Rostron and his crew in the early hours of April 15, 1912 is what prompted the survivors of the Titanic to award the Captain of the Carpathia with a silver cup now known as the Loving Cup. Among many other awards the captain received for his bravery were: The Congressional Gold Medal, The American Cross of Honor and a Gold Medal from the Shipwreck Society of New York.
For the first time in history three descendants of the Titanic disaster will be in one place to talk about the stories they grew up hearing from relatives of the tragically historic event. The great granddaughter of Margaret “Molly” Tobin Brown and two of Sir Arthur Henry Rostron’s great granddaughters will be together to share their relative’s experiences. They are bringing along with them, the Loving Cup award to put on display as well. The Loving Cup was awarded to Captain Rostron a hundred years ago by Margaret Brown on behalf of the Titanic survivors. Come to Pigeon Forge Valentine’s Day weekend and witness this historic once in a lifetime event.
Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15th. Doors open at 9 am – Titanic the museum attraction. Pigeon Forge, TN. For more information visit the Titanic website here: www.titanicpigeonforge.com