Did the captain of the Titanic go down with the ship when it sank?
Famous as the greatest disaster in transatlantic shipping history, circumstances made the loss of life in the sinking of the Titanic exceptionally high. Although Capt. E. J. Smith was warned of icebergs in shipping lanes, he maintained his speed of 22 knots, and did not post additional lookouts. Later inquiries revealed that the liner Californian was only 20 miles (32 kilometers) away and could have helped, had its radio operator been on duty. The Titanic had an insufficient number of lifeboats, and those available for use were badly managed, with some leaving the boat only half full. The only ship responding to distress signals was the ancient Carpathia, which saved 705 people.
