Why They Sank "Titanic"

Video Transcript:

Everyone knows the story of the Titanic. How the largest moving object ever fashioned by the hand of man. It an iceberg on its maiden voyage, and sank in the middle of the North Atlantic. 1,500 lives were lost. The tragedy has been well documented in books and on film. No matter how often the story is told, it never fails to capture our imagination. Yet it is a story that has left many questions unanswered. Now, for the first time, we take a fresh look at some of the mysteries surrounding the Titanic and reveal evidence that leads to a compelling and shocking hypothesis that the ship that plummeted two miles to the bottom of the sea was not the Titanic. But its sister ship, the Olympic. Over dinner at Piri's London residence in 1907, Lord Piri and White Starlines Bruce Ismay conceived the idea of building three luxurious superliners, first the Olympic, then the Titanic, and finally the Britannic. That first week in March 1912 was the last time that the Olympic and Titanic were together in Belfast. The twin ships side by side on the River Lagan, and that was when the decision to switch them could have been made. You can't be serious. No one will know we've switched them when they get back to work on Monday morning. We just swapped the names. Everything else is standard White Star issue. I have some boys at the yard who'll do the job for a couple of hundred pounds each. Say nothing. Well, never get away with it. If word of this gets out, it's either that Ismay or we're both good down. White Star line end is yard. It's got to be another way. There isn't. We have no choice. Right. That's it then. There's a wee scound going on here and the buses are in on it. They switched those ships two weeks ago and I know it. Listen to me Paddy, any more talk from you about two ships being swapped over and you'll end up at the bottom of the River Lagan. So remember that when you get back to your wife and your 17 kids, you Irish scum. And I'll be there of course along for the ride. All right then I want to choose my own officers. Yes. Of course EJ. Then you can trust me. Shortly before Titanic sailed, Chief Officer Wilde, who was to lose his life three nights later, wrote a letter to his sister in which he said, I still don't like this ship. Strange thing for a man to say who had just set foot on board the day before. Unless of course he realized he was actually on his old ship Olympic. By the way, when I refer to the Titanic from this time on, I want you to remember that I'm actually talking about the ship that started out its life as the Olympic, but which we believe by this stage had been switched and taken on the identity of the Titanic. The coal strike is important for another, possibly more sinister reason. Most other ships were desperate for coal and passengers and cargo destined for the new world was stuck in Europe. Yet the Leyland Liner Californian, under the command of Captain Stanley Lord, left the port of London on the 5th of April 1912, just five days before Titanic's departure from Southampton, not only fully cold, but apart from her own crew, empty of passengers. With more than enough coal to get her to the United States, she headed off into the middle of the Atlantic at full speed, empty, apart from a cargo of woolen sweaters. Florence Ismay, wife of J. Bruce Ismay, also turned down the opportunity of taking the maiden voyage on the world's most luxurious liner, preferring instead to take their children on a motoring holiday. After first claiming ill health. He ordered the ship turn to port and inexplicably engines full of stern. By reversing the engines, Murdoch was actually increasing the risk of collision, something he must have known. Maybe Murdoch and picked by Captain Smith was deciding to give the iceberg a nudge anyway. Second off as a light holler told the inquiry that before going off duty for the night, he would have been easily able to see an iceberg from a mile and a half, more probably two miles away. He also said that the iceberg would have been just as visible from the bridges from the crow's nest, plenty of time to turn and avoid it then. In an emergency such as this, it was never a good idea to turn your broadside to danger. Even if Titanic had rammed the iceberg head on, it would have stayed afloat. Although up to 250 crewmen would have been killed while they slept in their bunks in the bar, it was 35 minutes before the first distress signal was sent. 35 minutes before the first radio emergency, CQD was sent. 45 minutes before starting the pumps. 45 minutes before starting to prepare the lifeboats. If there's any talk of the ship being swapped in Belfast, or any stories of insurance fraud going on, then there will be 20 years of his majesty's pleasure awaiting you had no job to come out to when it's over. So think on this when you see your wives and sweethearts. Never believe what they've just done. How many? I'm 12,500. The position is simply this prime minister. The white star line is on the verge of bankruptcy. Now, if white star were forced to go into liquidation, the Holland and Kufjardin Belfast would also be placed in a very precarious position, perhaps even forced to close down. Now that means that 20,000 men will be laid off, not to mention the effect on all the subsidiary and dependent industries. Quite frankly, it is a political situation we cannot afford, Prime Minister. Alianate the Irish, and we will most certainly lose seats in Belfast. The Finians, the Republicans will seize the opportunity. With our majority gone, we will undoubtedly lose the next election, Prime Minister. There is the chance of a blundy hair of unprecedented proportions. We are going to have to go along with this Prime Minister. I will not see a stain put upon the British government, not for the white star line, not for Holland and Wolf, not for the Irish, and certainly not for the interests of JP Morgan. I would also remind you, Prime Minister, that as part of the arrangement for an American company to acquire the white star line, JP Morgan agreed that this government could requisition his ships as royal naval reserves should the need arise. I would also remind you, Prime Minister, that the situation in Europe is becoming ever more doubtful. If the white star line were to go into liquidation, the major creditor would be JP Morgan himself. Now, as both owner and banker, he would certainly exercise his rights to seize his assets, and we would lose all those ships, Prime Minister. It is a sad day for England, when the policies of a British government are dictated by greedy and ruthless businessmen. And if it ever became public, doubtless you have someone in mind to run the show. Yes, I thought we could bring mercy out of retirement. He's reliable, he knows how the system works, he's discreet, and he would do what needs to be done. My son is called to the bar, I would be more comfortable if he were there to keep an eye on his. Of course Prime Minister, we'll find employment for him in the Attorney General's office. Are you willing? But neither I nor the administration know anything about it. Prime Minister.