Uncovering the truth: Titanic captain’s last moments
A new book exploring the death of Edward John Smith, captain of the Titanic, is challenging the belief held by many that his death was self-inflicted.
Author Dan E Parkes has made a few claims about the official cause of death of Captain Edward John Smith in his new book, 'Titanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy'.
Parkes has smashed claims that Smith took his own life, stating that these rumours had unjustly smeared his name.
According to Parkes, Smith did not shoot himself on the bridge, as reported by several newspapers and eyewitnesses at the time. Instead, Parkes believes the captain drowned or froze to death in the North Atlantic.
The rumours of Smith's suicide stemmed from eyewitness accounts that claimed to have heard gunshots, which were assumed to be the captain's self-inflicted wound.
However, Parkes argues that these accounts are unreliable, as many of the witnesses were on lifeboats that departed long before the Titanic's final descent.
Parkes points to other eyewitness accounts that support a more heroic version of Smith's final moments. According to the NY Post, Robert Williams Daniel, a 27-year-old banker, claimed to have seen Smith on the bridge as the ship sank, saying he "died a hero".
Isaac Maynard, a cook, testified that he saw Smith on the bridge and later swimming in the water, fully dressed with his captain's hat. Maynard stated that Smith refused help from another man clinging to a raft, saying, "Look after yourselves, boys."
Other survivors' accounts describe Smith's alleged heroic actions, including rescuing a baby and handing it off to a lifeboat before refusing to board himself.
The author has argued that these accounts are consistent with Smith's reputation as a brave and selfless captain, nicknamed the "Millionaire's Captain" due to his popularity with upper-class passengers.
While Smith's body was never recovered, Parkes' book offers a compelling alternative to the long-held claims of the captain's end.
By examining eyewitness accounts and historical context, Parkes presents a different understanding of Smith's final moments, one that is consistent with his reputation as a heroic figure.
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