Titanic - Birth Of A Legend - Chapter 8

Belfast, June 1911. The slipways were empty for the first time in over two years. Titanic was in the water. But she was incomplete, still an empty shell waiting for carpenters, engineers and painters to transform her into a liner. Kane and John Bigalow had left just just hours after the launching, having been picked up by a tug boat to take them back to shore. Meanwhile, the Olympic was on her maiden voyage and Thomas Andrews was anxious to get any news of how she was coping prior to her arrival in New York. As Titanic was getting prepared to be towed to the fitting-out berth, Andrews was at the launch site, admiring her unfinished appearance.

"The people in New York are gonna be at a lost for words when they see what White Star Line has created... newspapers will made and the whole world will be talking about it," Andrews said to himself. "With Olympic leading the way to fame, Titanic will do the same but will make an even greater impression."

After a few minutes, he left to return to the design offices where Roderick Chisholm was waiting, holding a telegram message.

"We have a wired message from Olympic." he said.

"Let me see." Andrews.

As he looked at the telegram, it read:


To Harland & Wolff

We have almost reached New York.
I have to raise some concerns about the ship. The springs on the mattresses are too soft and there are a lack cigarette holders in the W.G.s.
Also we are short of a potato peeler

Bruce Ismay


"Well done, Tommy, well done." said Roderick as the two men shook hands.

"There's also been news on Kane himself," added Roderick. "Earlier I caught him at the shipyard still gazing in wonder at the Titanic. It seems that he has become attracted to her and developed a big interest."

"I see." replied Andrews.


On June 21st 1911, Olympic made a successful arrival into New York. As the largest ship in the world, and the first in a new class of superliners, her maiden voyage attracted considerable worldwide attention from the press and the public.

Back in Belfast, Roderick Chisholm was holding another telegram message in his hands.

"We've got another wired message from Olympic." he said to Thomas Andrews.

"What does it say?" asked Andrews.

"It's from Mr. Ismay," said Roderick. "Olympic is a marvel and has given unbounded satisfaction."

"That's great news!" Andrews said, smiling. "Our rival, Cunard will have no chance in getting back at us now."

Following her arrival in New York, Olympic was opened up to the public and received over eight thousand visitors. More than ten thousand spectators would watch her depart from New York harbour, for her first return trip. It was a fantastic and impressive start to the new liner. Olympic's arrival was one to be remembered forever.

Back in Belfast on the other side of the Atlantic, Titanic had already been towed to the fitting-out berth but it would be almost another year before she was ready to set sail. Over the course of 1911, her boilers, engines, funnels, decking, lighting, furnishings, fittings, paintings and superstructure were installed and her interior was fitted out. They all had to be put into place to live up to the dream of the world's greatest ocean liner. It was if Titanic was like a fully grown teenager being put into a splendid dress to show off her beauty and attraction to the public that were fully awaiting her service debut. During that year, the "Guarantee Group" would be chosen too. The eight workers who had earned themselves a trip on Titanic's maiden voyage. Many of them had left Belfast... America was beyond imagining.

Thomas Millar and Liam Flaherty were among the workers fitting out the ship and were having a good time.

"Hey Liam," Millar said. "Shall I tell you something?"

"What's that?" Liam asked.

"I think you're on your way to being a half decent shiply." said Millar.

"Might as well tell my dad that." Liam replied, sarcastically.

"Yeah, well Alfie Cunningham might be going," Millar said. "He's been asked by Mr. Andrews to recommended a shiply, an apprentice to go on Titanic's maiden voyage."

"What Millar?!" Liam said, feeling shocked. "You don't mean... he's gonna recommend you and me as well?"

"I think this is as far as it goes for the moment, Liam." said Millar.

Everyday counted to complete Titanic and Lord Pirrie could not afford any distractions but there was no escaping the bittiness in the yard. Ireland was heading for political crisis. There were spray paint on creates and walk way railings saying 'No Surrender!' and 'Ulster Will Fight.'

"Home Rule simply means granting Ireland a measure of independence," Pirrie said, not looking pleased. "It doesn't mean casting ourselves adrift in the Atlantic."

"With respect," Andrews replied. "There isn't many of the men in the yard to see it."

"And their blind!" Pirrie said. "Get this right, Tommy. The future of Ireland will be assured for a hundred years or more! Now please have this sprayed paint removed will you."

Most of Pirrie's workers were against Home Rule. Unionists were determined to resist irish independence by force if need be. The talk was was treachery and for Pirrie's workers there was one man they could not forgive... and that was Pirrie himself. There was poison in the air. In the yard, Kane and John Bigalow had over heard the talk from the workers and thought it was complete rubbish. They had nothing to do with political ambitions and never had an interest in it although they both wished that Ireland and Britain would just put their troubled relationship behind and move on and show the pride they both had their countries. Alfie Cunningham, Thomas Millar, Michael Flaherty and Liam Flaherty had also overheard the talking and they too would not impressed. Liam tried to change the subject.

"I think I might be going to New York." he said to Alfie.

"You're going to New York?" Alfie replied, almost at a lost for words.

"What are you talking about?" Michael asked.

"It's not quite sure yet, but Mr Millar thinks we'll have a real good chance to being asked." Liam said.

"You're not serious, are you Liam?" Alfie replied.

"Aye," added Michael. "You won't be going, the company hasn't even told us."

"I always thought Olympic was your favourite ship." Alfie said.

"Yep, well Titanic's my ship now," Liam said. "And if we're all picked, we'll be going to America together."

At that moment, Kane walked by with Bigalow behind him. His facial reaction was not good. He had been overheard by Pirrie's workers, saying that they had been brainwashed by their own words of hatred and what they said about treachery and being against Home Rule and said many other Irishmen shared Pirrie's vision of his political ambitions despite that he was born british and raised on british soil. In retaliation, Pirrie's workers said that Kane was seen as a deadly dose of poison and that he should be removed from irish soil and go back to Britain. Kane made his last response, saying that if they didn't like what was happening in Ireland then they should go and live elsewhere before storming off. Alfie Cunningham, Thomas Millar, Michael Flaherty and Liam Flaherty could see he was angry.

"Hey, Mr," Alfie called out. "What's wrong? You seem like you've had an argument or something."

Kane stopped and slowly turned to face the four men. Bigalow eyed him closely, wondering what was going though his mind.

"And who might you?" he asked. "You with the other irish guys who took the piss on me?"

"No, No, No," Alfie said. "We're not like them at all. I'm Alfie and this Thomas Millar and Michael and Liam Flaherty. Who are you?"

"Call me, Kane, and this my friend, John Bigalow," Kane replied. "I'm new to the White Star Line and being trained under Captain Smith. I've only been with the company for over two years and still learning. I take it you've heard what's going on with those group of guys... all this garbage talk about treachery... who the hell do they think they are?"

"Aye, there's a lot of that going around a lot these days," Millar said. "There's talk about getting riffles too."

"It's madness I tell ya," added Liam. "That's what it is."

"Why?"  asked Alfie. "Some of us want this kingdom to stay united. There's a lot of irishmen who don't want Home Rule."

"So you're gonna fight too and start a civil war?" Liam said.

"No, I haven't said that. I just want us to stay loyal to our country." Alfie replied.

"He's right," Bigalow said. "Being loyal to our countries is the best thing. If people want to make their own decisions then so be it. But not by doing it in force or violence."

"Violence solves nothing but only adds fuel to it." Kane said.

"What would you say?" Michael Flaherty asked. "Do you believe the same as we do?"

"Yes, I do have something to say and I can tell you this, Mr," Kane said, his tone now sounding a little cold. "Every country such as Britain and Ireland was created by people from all kinds of life from all over the world. They weren't built on religion supremacy or racism, they were built on tolerance not hatred. Each country is based on freedom and justice for everyone. That's why people, like those over there, will never prevail. I've never had any interest in religion and I don't believe people who are christians or catholics, even thought I'm a christian myself. I know you guys are catholics but as far as I'm concerned, we're all humans and bleed the same blood and breath the same air. This world is facing dark times... but that won't last forever."

"Now that's the pride of a man, I hear," Bigalow said to his friend. "If William Pirrie heard that he'd prize you."

"Likewise." said Liam.

"Same here." added Thomas.

"However with all this garbage going on, Ireland's future is bleak and lost in darkness," Kane said as he turned to walk away. "If some of those damned irishmen could open up their bloody eyes see what's really going on then they'd know."

Alfie Cunningham, Thomas Millar, Michael Flaherty and Liam Flaherty watched as the two men walked off to return to work. Somehow something was not right in the cities of Ireland and in the shipyard where Titanic and Olympic had been built. Something was really bad in the air and it seemed to not be the place for anyone to be.