autoevolution
 

The Only Photo of the Iceberg That Sunk the Titanic Emerges After 108 Years

It “only” took 108 years, but we finally get a good look at the iceberg that sunk the Titanic on April 12, 1912, claiming the lives of over 1,500 passengers and crew.
Purported only photograph of the iceberg that sunk the Titanic in 1912 1 photo
Photo: BNPS / independent.ie
A photo of the supposed iceberg has emerged. It is believed to be the only actual image of it and was taken some 40 hours before the Titanic hit it, The Independent reports. It was taken by W Wood, who was serving as captain of the SS Etonian on April 12 of that same year.

A hobbyist photographer, he took a photo of the iceberg and carefully jotted down the coordinates for its location. When he docked in New York, he learned of what had happened to the Titanic, developed the photo and, after comparing coordinates, declared it was the same iceberg. Consequently, he sent the photo to his grandfather, along with a letter in which he explains his conclusion.

“I am sending you a sea picture, the Etonian running before a gale and the iceberg that sank the Titanic. We crossed the ice tracks 40hrs before her and in daylight so saw the ice easily and I got a picture,” Wood’s letter reads, according to the same media outlet.

Both photo and letter are now for sale with auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wilts, and the photo alone is estimated to fetch £12,000 (approximately $15,100 at today’s exchange rate). Aldridge says that this is perhaps the only pre-collision photograph of the iceberg, since other available photos are from the area, after the tragedy.

Obviously, there is no way to confirm that it’s actually it, but eyewitness accounts and one sketch done by the lookout who first spotted it show a similar irregular shape. So, it could be it. Or just a very old photo of an iceberg, being sold for a lot of money.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories