THE LAUNCH OF THE HULL
Even without engines and fittings the Titanic was still the biggest, heaviest thing man had ever moved through water. Shipyard workers downed tools to watch the event. Lord Pirrie commanded that anyone watching the launch would forfeit their pay.
Twenty tons (19 tonnes) of tallow, soft soap and oil was applied to give a one inch (3cm) thick coating over the length of the slipway to help her into the water. Just after midday a red flag was raised to warn other river traffic to stay clear. Workers knocked the blocks holding her in place out of the way and jumped clear as she slid down the tallow-coated slipways into the deep Belfast Lough.
As she entered the water she was travelling at 12 knots. One hundred and sixty tons (145 tonnes) of chains held her in check. In just over one minute the Titanic was afloat. The huge anchor chains holding her in place were released and a flotilla of five tugs towed her to the fitting out bay.
But amidst all the celebrations one worker had been killed. James Dobbin had been knocking out the blocks beneath the huge hull. When the Titanic had started to move he had failed to jump clear in time. Although his colleagues pulled him out he later died in hospital from his injuries. Sixteen other men died during the building of the Titanic and Olympic and 450 were injured.