But this huge ship is different from the mythical Titan. What it sank to the bottom of the sea was only iron plates, rivets and human bodies, and its soul was not conquered. In other words, the Titanic and 1500 lives sank, but the invincible human civilization, the human spirit, still exists and will never sink.
Eight musicians have been playing music calmly at the last moment, and the flying notes reflect the dignity and nobility of human beings who will not bow to the fierceness of nature until their death. As Hemingway wrote in The Old Man and the Sea, "People are not born to be defeated. You can defeat his body, but not his soul. Those who chase sharks can chew the big fish dragged by the old fisherman's boat to the bone, but they can't chew away the sailor's invincible spirit. This is the flame of human soul and will, and the whole sea can't put it out. "
Today, more than 90 years later, people are still amazed at how the musicians and crew of Titanic can have such great courage and stick to their duties in the face of the imminent extinction and sudden death of seawater. How can you have such a noble humanitarian sentiment, giving the lifeboat to children and women and keeping the last moment for yourself? According to statistics afterwards, 76% of the crew members were killed, which exceeded the proportion of all passengers in the first class, second class and third class on board. The crew on the ship are more qualified to escape than the passengers, but they give the opportunity to others and keep the hopelessness for themselves. Moreover, not one crew member or two sailors did this, but more than 900 crew members, waiters, firefighters and even chefs chose this way; Such a large group can do this. Today, it seems that, just like the mysterious sinking of that huge ship, the human spirit has surfaced forever, which is simply a miracle!
According to the later investigation, only the crew of lifeboats 6 and 2 jumped in, but they were immediately found by the responsible officials there and told them to come out. Without saying anything, they obeyed orders and returned to the deck.
Danny, the author of "Never Sink"? Allen Butler lamented: "This is because they are born with the ideal that responsibility is more important than other considerations. Responsibility and discipline are synonymous. In the hours before the sinking of the Titanic, this ideal of responsibility and discipline proved to be the most powerful temperament and could not be eroded. " It was this sense of responsibility that made the fireman farman Cavell go back to Boiler Room 4 when he thought he might have left a little early to see if any other boiler workers were trapped there. It is this sense of responsibility that makes the signalman Ron keep firing flares and shaking Morse signal lights on the deck, no matter how hopeless it seems. It is this sense of responsibility that makes Hemming, the boiler worker assigned to the lifeboat as a rower, give this opportunity to others, stay on the deck and unload the canvas boat at the last minute; It is this sense of responsibility that made the operators Phillips and Brad stick to the last moment in the telegraph room. Captain Smith told them they could abandon the ship, but they still didn't go. They continue to knock on the keyboard, knock on the end of life, send telegrams, and have the last hope. It is this sense of responsibility that makes Chief Engineer Jambers and all the engineers work hard in the engine room, even though they know that there is no time to board the deck and lose any chance of escape. It is this sense of responsibility that makes band conductor Henry? Hartley and other musicians played brisk jazz and solemn religious hymn "God is with us" until the sea brought their lives and songs to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean …
All this can't be fully explained by just saying "brave". There is a saying in the western proverb: "Even a hero will become a coward in despair." But Titanic turned countless ordinary people into heroes! The sense of responsibility enhances people's value, dignity and beauty.
When the survivors of the Titanic returned to new york, everyone was talking about who survived and who died. As there are far more women and children surviving than men, people think that this is the victory of the myth that "women and children are the first". However, the White Star Shipping Company, which belongs to Titanic, told the media that there is no so-called "maritime rule" that requires men to make such a big sacrifice. What they do can only be said that the strong care for the weak, whether on land or at sea. This is their personal choice, which cannot be achieved by any rules and regulations or navigation rules. They adhere to the ancient but forever young human values.
John Jacob, the billionaire at that time? Asd asked the lifeboat officer if he could accompany his pregnant wife Madeleine on board. After the sailor said "women and children go first", he returned to the deck like a real gentleman and sat there quietly until the ship sank and the fallen chimney smashed him into the Atlantic Ocean. At that time, Asd had assets of over $87 million, which, together with his invention patents, was worth more than 1 100 million. He is the only billionaire on the Titanic and one of the richest people in the world. His assets can build 1 1 Titanic.
According to historians, when the Titanic was about to sink, Astor helped Madeleine to the side of lifeboat No.4 and explained to the crew that his wife was very weak. Can she take care of her on board? The crew replied, "No, sir, men are not allowed on board unless all the ladies get on board first." Astor said nothing, took off his gloves and threw them to his wife. Then he retreated to the deck and watched his young wife who was pregnant for five months get on board. He stood on the deck and lit a cigar when the boat drifted away. August, the barber on the surviving ship? Wakeman later recalled that he and Mr. Asd stayed on the deck for a while, and they talked about some small things that would only be discussed in a barber chair. When leaving, Vakerman asked Asd, "Do you mind if I shake your hand?" Asd said, "I am very happy." This is the last sentence that passengers heard from billionaires. Smith, the captain of Titanic, has a good personal relationship with almost all the rich people on board, many of whom are his good friends, including Asd. But Asd didn't go to Captain Smith to bend the rules through the back door and let him get on board. If he goes to the captain, there is another good reason. His wife is pregnant for five months. But Asd didn't do it, or didn't think it should be done at all. It was an era without the concept of "back door", an era of being a gentleman and a real man.
A few days later, John was found where the Atlantic Titanic sank? Jacob. Asd's body, covered with soot, has been broken. It is speculated that he may have been hit by a fallen chimney on the ship. In his coat pocket, he cashed a check for 2500 dollars. This $2,500 is astronomical for the crew, and the monthly salary of a sailor on board is less than $20. But Asd didn't use the money to bribe any crew to escape from the ship. Even if he did, probably no sailor would accept it.
Another wealth on the Titanic, second only to Astor, is Strauss, the founder of Macy's Department Store in the United States. He and his wife are also on board. Today, 94 years after the shipwreck, "Macy's Department Store" is still the largest department store in the world, located on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, new york.