One hundred years ago today, at noon on April 10, 1912 the new White Star Line ship Titanic sailed out of Southampton bound for Cherbourg, Queenstown and New York. On board the largest ship in the world were hundreds of passengers from all walks of life, from the poor Irish worker looking for a new life in America to the richest of the rich just returning home. The voyage started out with a near collision when the powerful screws of the Titanic caused the mooring lines of the Inman liner New York to part. New York was pulled toward Titanic and came within a few feet of colliding with the new ship. Fortunately, so it was thought at the time, the collision was obverted and Titanic proceeded without the delay that may have saved her from the real disaster that would come. But on this April day there were cheers and tears as the great ship pulled away from the dock, inside her hull were the hopes and dreams of all those onboard, nobody could have known she would never return...or could they.

Since late February five steamers had disappeared in the North Atlantic without a trace, Augsburg, Erna, Mountoswald, Belle Ile and Koombana. It is thought that storms took these ships, but could it have been ice? We will never know for sure as there were no survivors from any of the ships.

The same day another four funnel liner, the French Line ship France, was on her speed trials. The trials were successful and the ship reached a top speed of 25 knots. Her maiden voyage was overshadowed by the Titanic disaster.