The Titanic carried four funnels, with the fourth funnel serving as a minor ventilation system. It is believed that all four funnels collapsed at some time during the sinking. Likely crushing and killing passengers when they collapsed, some believe the richest passenger on the ship, John Jacob Astor IV may have been killed by a funnel collapse, because of the condition his body was in, including soot on his body. This is frequently disputed, as different reports also claim his body to have been in immaculate condition.
Funnel #1[]
The first funnel collapses in Titanic (1997)
The Titanic reached a trim of 9-13 degrees when the first funnel fell. when the water on the boat deck surrounded the funnels base. The water pressure most definitely caused the base of the funnel to become weakened, causing the funnel to buckle and topple to the starboard side which then left behind a suction that sucked people close enough to the base of the funnel. Collapsible B and Collapsible A were nearby the funnel when it fell, causing these two life boats to be washed away from the ship.[1] [2][3][4]
Funnel #2[]
The second funnel collapses to the port side, from a deleted scene ofRaise the Titanic
The Titanic reached a trim of 13-19 degrees when the second funnel fell. The second funnel either fell seconds after the first one buckled collapsed or fell nearly at the same time. The water pressure has the same affect on the second funnel like the first buckled the base of the funnel causing it to buckle collapse to the starboard side in a shower of sparks[5][6]. However, it’s likely that the funnel's uptake itself became compressed to produce sparks to burst out of the funnel's base. Jack Thayer and Walter Hurst were almost hit by this funnel right before Collapsible B washed towards them.[7][8]
Funnel #3[]
The third funnel collapses after the ship breaks in half.
At 2:17 AM Titanic was at a trim/angle of 18-30 degrees. The third funnel was either clear out of the water or possibly almost half covered in water. Its possible that when sea water surrounded the base or the third funnel causing the funnel to buckle and collapse. Once the funnel fell, it toppled to starboard and splashed and floated above the ocean forming a pattern similar to Roberta Watt's sketch \/\. It also experienced a spark ignition due to the cables whipping and lashing at the top. The third funnel rose out of the water when titanic broke but eventually sank and got stuck in its uptake/casing and then popped off during the sterns decent to the Ocean Floor. Only one or three survivors (Percy Keen, possibly Harry Oliver and Robertha Watt) seemed to see the funnel collapsing or already collapsed with other references of the third Funnel disappearing [9].
Funnel #4[]
Titanic's fourth funnel remained standing after breaking in half.
The fourth funnel bent aft during her final plunge.
The fourth funnel was a minor ventilation system for the ship's lower decks, also called a dummy funnel. At 2:17 AM Titanic is rising to a trim/angle of 23-30 degrees. The fourth funnel was out of the water when titanic broke in half. The damage extended from the forward of the third funnel to the aft of the grand staircase. This means that the fourth funnel didn't suffer with damage. The funnel instead fell when Titanic's stern suddenly started to drop like a rock. The propellers rose higher and higher then at 2:18 AM. Water surrounded the base of the fourth funnel. Due to that, the water pressure crushed the funnel's base causing it to buckle and collapse. However, the funnel did not fall forward. Rather it bent aft. The fourth funnel then sank and got stuck in its uptake/casing and eventually popped off during the stern's decent to the ocean floor. Only one survivor, Thomas Dillon, saw the fourth funnel bend aft while other survivors like didn't see the funnel collapsing/bending aft.
Trivia[]
- In Titanic VR, the forward mast falls above the water just after the first funnel collapses, rather than when the bow is to the seabed. The aft mast is also shown to collapse after the stern falls back. The third funnel is also shown to collapse in the manner that the fourth funnel likely did in real life.
- Multiple survivors who saw the ship break between the aft funnels stated that the whole forward part had disappeared prior to the Titanic breaking and the after-part righting itself, meaning that water got over the base of the third funnel before then. Samuel Rule and Edward Buley even stated that water got as far aft as the fourth funnel before the breakup occurred.
Gallery[]
- ↑ https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq01Lightoller08.php
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic/lifeboats/lifeboat-b/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/harold-sydney-bride.html
- ↑ https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq01Lightoller08.php
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/community/threads/coal-and-sparks-during-break-up.35893/page-2
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/community/threads/second-funnel.17700/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/john-borland-thayer-jr.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/InH2VHiQ2NE?si=r1a4fI2LGvrpCbop
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/the-titanic-break-up.html