London: A rare and historical document related to the Titanic tragedy has created history at auction. This letter, written a few days before the sinking of the ship, has been auctioned for Rs 3.4 crore (399,000 dollars). This letter was written by Titanic’s famous first class passenger and survivor Colonel Archibald Gracie. Henry Aldridge & Son, an auction house based in Wiltshire, England, termed this letter as “museum grade” and emphasized its historical and emotional importance. A private collector from America bought this amazing document by bidding. The auction house confirmed its sale on Saturday.This letter was written on April 10, 1912, when the Titanic started its first and last journey from Southampton, England. At that time the ship was heading towards Queenstown (now Cork) in Ireland. This was the last major stop for the Titanic before it hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, killing nearly 1,500 people.
“This is a splendid ship, but I will make a final decision on it at the end of the voyage,” Colonel Gracie wrote in the letter. Little did he know at the time that his words would become the final warning before one of the worst maritime disasters in history.
Survived, but not for long
Colonel Gracie, who was 54 at the time, jumped into the sea during the accident and swam to a capsized lifeboat. From there he was transferred to another lifeboat and rescued. But the time spent in the cold water took a toll on his health. He became the first adult survivor of the ship and died a few months later, in December 1912. The cause of his death was attributed to complications from diabetes, but the effects of hypothermia worsened his condition.
A historical legacy
Gracy belonged to a distinguished family. His father was a Confederate officer during the American Civil War and his great-grandfather built New York’s famous Gracie Mansion, which is still the official residence of the mayor of New York City. After his death, his book ‘The Truth About the Titanic’ was published in 1913, in which he wrote the entire story of the accident and the escape.
Pain hidden in the last words
It is said that Colonel Gracie’s last words were, “We must take them to the boats. We must take them all to the boats.” These words still reflect the pain of that tragedy and his remorse. The enormous value and historical significance of this letter shows that the story of the Titanic still deeply affects people today, and its remaining scars still shake humanity.
