On the night of April 14, 1912, the so-called "unsinkable" luxury liner Titanic struck an iceberg on its fifth day of its maiden voyage and ultimately sank, taking approximately 1,517 lives, including many wealthy individuals.
However, among this tragedy, eight wealthy people chose not to board the ship, and some even purchased cheaper tickets.
This raises the question: is there a hidden conspiracy behind this?
The movie "Titanic," released in 1997, captivated global audiences with its shocking plot, and the brief romance between Jack and Rose became a classic.
However, behind this touching story lies a real disaster.
Tracing back to 1899, after the death of British shipping magnate J. Bruce Ismay, his son inherited the family business and became the head of the family.
Due to inheriting wealth too easily, this "second-generation rich" faced skepticism from outsiders, and he was extremely arrogant, often seeking to showcase himself in front of others.
Upon learning that his rival, the Cunard Line, was building two of the fastest superliners in the world at that time, young Ismay decided to build a larger, faster, and more luxurious ship to avoid falling behind.
Although coming from a wealthy background, constructing such a giant vessel was no easy feat.
By coincidence, John Morgan, the founder of J.P. Morgan, supported young Ismay’s plans, leading to a merger of the two companies, paving the way for the construction of the new liner.
Ultimately, the Titanic became the top liner of its time with its massive tonnage and luxurious facilities, featuring opulent interiors and equipped with various high-end amenities such as fine dining rooms, a swimming pool, and private suites.
The first-class section of the Titanic was considered the most luxurious, with a single berth priced at 30 pounds, while private spaces could cost as much as 870 pounds, attracting numerous wealthy individuals and celebrities.
This ship was not only a comfortable option for transatlantic travel but also a symbol of social status.
Some of the wealthy individuals did not purchase their tickets but received them as gifts, while others made last-minute decisions to forgo boarding for various reasons.
Among the fortunate ones was old John Morgan, who canceled his maiden voyage due to a trip in France;
Businessman Alfred canceled his trip due to work commitments;
Steel magnate Frick stayed behind to care for his wife who had twisted her ankle;
The founders of Hershey’s Chocolate missed their flight due to carelessness;
Nobel Peace Prize winner John Mott and Nobel Physics Prize winner Guillermo Marconi also did not board for various reasons.
The choices of these wealthy individuals to not board the ship seem mysterious and incredible, while the truth behind the sinking of the Titanic is still being explored today.
On June 18, 2023, the submersible Titan went missing while surveying the Titanic wreck, and it was eventually confirmed that five passengers, including a father and son, lost their lives.
The survivors of the Titanic and those who missed boarding were all "fortunate."
Had it not been for a series of unexpected events, they could have enjoyed their later years in peace.
As people say, there is no "if" in this world; neither accidents nor tomorrow's arrival can be predicted, making it especially important to cherish the present.
Comments