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The History - Embarkation
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 After
spending the day conducting sea trials, the Titanic left
Belfast on the evening of April 2, 1912 for the first point of embarkation
before her maiden voyage - Southampton, England. She arrived
the morning of April 3, at the newly constructed White Star Dock,
built specifically to accommodate both the Olympic and Titanic.
As she approached the docks, she was guided by five tugs as she slowly
reached her quay. The Titanic would spend about one
week in Southampton for preparations and final accommodations.
After short stops in Cherbourg, France and Queenstown (now Cobh),
Ireland, The Titanic was ready to begin her first crossing
of the Atlantic to her final destination -- New York.
Although coal was scarce in Southampton because of a six-week nationwide
coal miners’ strike, White Star was determined to have the Titanic
sail on schedule, at noon on Wednesday, April 10. To fuel her for
the voyage, White Star filled her bunkers with 4,427 tons of coal
scavenged from six other ships whose crossings had been canceled because
of the strike. Some officers, crew members and passengers were also
transferred from those liners to the brand new ship Titanic.
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 Southampton
was the principal of the three points of embarkation for passengers
and crew, and was where she would receive the majority of her provisions
for her first crossing of the Atlantic. Accommodating over
two thousand people for nearly a week was no small task. Food
and drink alone would include 40 tons of potatoes, over 6,000 pounds
of butter and over two tons of coffee. In addition, 20,000 bottles
of beer and stout and 15,000 bottles of mineral water would help to
quench the thirst of the Titanic's passengers. She
would also be carrying hundreds of sacks of mail. The prefix
"R.M.S." meaning "Royal Mail Steamer" indicated
that she was legally commissioned by the British Monarchy, as well
the United States, to carry mail. |
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