Special Sub-Topic: Raise the Titanic--The Black Abyss--part 1 Click Here To Play: Raise the Titanic--The Black Abyss--part 1

What is the name of the submersible which starts off this section?

Sappho I. As this section starts off, the Sappho I is cruising under the sea and just above the sea floor. There are six men inside this submersible, which is known as the largest one in the world.

Which of the following men are piloting the submersible?

Al Giordino. As the craft was skimming along the bottom, Giordino was the pilot at the time. He had just turned the electric systems back on and was bored stiff to be looking at practically nothing on the sea floor. Rudy Gun is the commander of the mission; Omar Woodson is the photographer.

They are supposed to be under the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

f. They are actually supposed to be under the Labrador Sea. Admiral Sandecker ordered them off course and had them searching in the area where the Titanic's last known reported position was. They were tracking the Loralei Drift current which goes from the coast of Dakar, Africa and goes north and empties into the Labrador Sea.

Who was the instruments specialist onboard?

Henry Monk. Henry Monk was the instruments specialist onboard the Sappho I. He had just as boring of a job as Giordino, but he took great pride that each piece of the sea floor was never seen yet by man until now. However, he was looking at his equipment at the right time. The magnetometer picked up something metallic. He mistook it for a funnel, like the one you would use in a kitchen.

What did the crew find that was metallic?

cornet. As Henry Monk looked to see what it was, Giordino worked on backing the sub up for a look. It was Murker who made the suggestion to use the manipulator arm to grab the object and see for themselves. When they grabbed it, they saw that it was a cornet. They figured it was probably just thrown overboard by a passing ship. The magnetometer barely picked it up because the cornet was made of brass. The only iron in or on it was the valves and mouthpiece.

Did Pitt agree to the project of raising the ship?

Y. He was a little hesitant at first. He said that it was going to cost a lot of money and then problems could arise about the original owners of the ship and such. Seagram, who had asked Pitt to do the job, had explained that the Titanic was now a derelict because it was lost at sea. It was up to anyone now who came up with the money to go and get it. Pitt also explained that the ship might be too far gone to even be raised, but that he would do his best.

Who restored the horn?

John Vogel. John Vogel was the man in charge of restoring different musical instruments to their originality. He had happened to see this old horn and almost considered it just another piece of work he would let his assistants handle. Admiral Sandecker had called and asked him personally to restore it himself. Vogel spent the better part of the evening and into the early morning restoring it.

The coronet was not a presentation model.

F. Vogel said he could tell that the coronet was a presentation model because of the design and high craftsmanship on the bell of it. This coronet was given in recognition of one's services and was made by the Busey Hawkes Company sometime in 1911.

Who was the coronet given to by his company?

Graham Farley & Farley. Vogel read the inscription on the coronet. "Presented to Graham Farley in recognition of his services with the White Star Line." Farley was a solo coronetist on a ship cald the Oceanic. When the Titanic was getting ready to set sail for New York, the White Star Line picked Farley to be the coronetist to come up with "the finest orchestra on the seas."

What date did Vogel say the coronet got to the sea floor?

April 15, 1912. Vogel stated that he could tell exactly how long the coronet was resting on te sea floor. On the Titanic, all the members of the ship's band played lively music as pasengers were getting into the lifeboats. The music was quick and lively as a way to soothe the frightened people. Farley was still playing the coronet when the ship went under at 2:20 AM on April 15, 1912.

What river were Seagram, Kemper, and Sandecker fishing on?

Rappahannock. Admiral Kemper is the Navy's Cheif of Staff. Seagram and Sandecker decided to take him "fishing" on the Rappahannock as a way to have a discreet meeting with him. They let Kemper know that they were going to raise the Titanic. Kemper thought they were crazy until Seagram told the whole story.

The F4F Fighter jet was rusted through.

F. Sandecker showed Kemper several photographs of bits of debris that may explain why the coronet was in such good condition. He showed pictures of a galley stove and an engine block. But, the picture of the F4F was interesting in itself. The plane is made out of aluminum, and salt water destroys the metal. However, the plane was in near perfect condition. They feel the Titanic will be in just as good a shape once they find it.

Is the vault on the Titanic watertight?

Y. Donner informed Pitt that they felt the vault on the Titanic was probably watertight and therefore the Byzanium should still be good even after being under water for 75 years.

How much money did Donner say Pitt could have, to start the operation?

$750 million. Pitt explained that $250 million would help at least get the project off the ground. Donner said he would arrange for Pitt to receive an extra 5. Pitt mistook Donner to mean $5 million, but Donner announced it was $500 million more he would give Pitt.

Who is the director of the CIA?

Warren Nicholson. The President was meeting with his Kremlin advisor Greg Collins and the Director of the CIA, Warren Nicholson. It was not going to be an easy meeting.