News reports about the cruise ship Costa Concordia are a reminder of one of the great sea disasters, the wreck of the SS Arctic in 1854.The Arctic was a spectacular ship for its day, a large steam-powered liner with paddle wheels on its sides. It made fast Atlantic crossings and was known for its luxurious appointments.
When it suffered a mid-ocean collision with another ship, panic broke out aboard the Arctic. Members of the crew took lifeboats for their own use, hundreds of passengers were left to drown in the icy north Atlantic, and not a single woman or child survived.
Approximately 350 people perished when the Arctic went down. The news of the disaster traveled by telegraph, and the actions of the crew created a major scandal in the press.
The fate of the 80 women and children aboard the Arctic resonated deeply, and led to the tradition of "women and children first" being adopted in other maritime disasters.
Illustration: Lithograph depicting the sinking of SS Arctic/Getty Images
Read the full article: Wreck of the SS Arctic
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