Titanic film goes on

ACCOMPANIED by a haunting choral soundtrack, sepia film shows the mighty hull of RMS Titanic gliding past as passengers excitedly wave goodbye to their loved ones. In the opening moments of the 1997 film Titanic, which was re-released in cinemas yesterday (Friday 10 February), the passengers can hardly know what awaits them.

The film dramatises the story of how the ship, which was travelling from Southampton to New York City, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean hours after it slammed into an iceberg on 15 April 1912. More than 1,500 people perished in the icy waters, with only 705 surviving the wreck, because of a tragic shortage of lifeboats.

In director James Cameron’s Oscar-winning film, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jack, an adventurous but penniless young American, and Kate Winslet plays his compatriot Rose, who is searching for an escape from the stuffiness of upper-class life and an engagement to a man who makes her miserable.

When they meet, Rose and Jack’s passionate love affair spans the class divide and anything seems possible. But when Titanic begins to flood, they must fight to survive the shipwreck together.

Titanic has become a cinematic classic and one of the highest-grossing films of all time after it brought in more than $2.19 billion at the box office worldwide. But, while many people may be acquainted with the fictional love story between Jack and Rose, there are some lesser-known details about what happened after the real Titanic sank.

The survivors were rescued by the Carpathia, and when it docked in New York City, The Salvation Army was ready to welcome its passengers. Evangeline Booth, the daughter of the church and charity’s founder William Booth, sent a cable, which was reprinted in the War Cry on 27 April 1912. ‘The scenes witnessed as the sufferers were brought ashore were too terrible to describe,’ she said. ‘Mind cannot imagine nor tongue express the deep pathos of the heart-rending meetings that took place between relatives and friends. Mothers, children, husbands and wives called aloud the names of their loved ones lost, and strong men were overcome by their emotions.

‘We have assisted a considerable number of refugees… Am working day and night for the relief and consolation of all. I have placed the accommodation of our halls and institutions at the disposal of the mayor for this purpose, and am personally superintending the [Salvation] Army relief efforts. I remained at the dock until one o’clock (midnight). We served hot coffee and sandwiches for the workers at the wharf.’

Ever since The Salvation Army began in 1865, it has worked across the globe to respond to emergencies, feed people who are hungry, provide accommodation to those experiencing homelessness and help those who are disadvantaged to escape poverty.

Its motivation to do this comes from the Christian faith of its members. They believe in a compassionate God who calls them to meet needs and support the most vulnerable. He sees innate value and worth in every person he has created and wants them to live life to the full.

So in everything it does, The Salvation Army seeks to show God’s love to all humankind.