The ill-fated ship of dreams was the wonder of her age, the ultimate in sea-going luxury. Keith Hamilton looks back at the White Star liner, Titanic

Even the people of Southampton, who were used to seeing ships of every shape and size arrive and depart every day from the docks, were out in force for the maiden sailing of Titanic.

It was midday, Wednesday, April 10, 1912 and the port was thronged with people as the nation rejoiced proud of this "floating city of treasured glories, riches and luxury.''

The liner had slipped alongside her berth, which only 12 hours before saw the sailing of her sister ship, Olympic, to prepare for the maiden crossing to New York a week earlier.

Owners, White Star Line were so inundated with applications for passes to look over the vessel from the public that it was impossible to throw the ship open to visitors.

However a reporter from a newspaper of the time, the Hampshire Independent was allowed on board.

"The new liner, it may be mentioned, will accommodate in all about 3,500 passengers and crew,'' said the newspaper story.

"To make a complete tour of Titanic would involve a day's work, but perhaps the thing that strikes one most in the course of a flying inspection are suite rooms, of which there is an usually large number, decorated in different styles and periods.

"On promenade deck there is also increased accommodation and on the same deck a Caf Parisien has been arranged in connection with the restaurant, which is an entirely new feature on board ship.

"The first class restaurant is an immense room decorated in a style peculiarly English, it is painted a soft, rich white, which, with the coved and richly moulded ceilings and the spacious character of the apartment, would satisfy the most aesthetic critic. The furniture is of oak, designed to harmonise with the surroundings.

"Handsome bronze ceiling lights and wall brackets, magnificent tapestry, capacious chesterfields and dark, richly coloured carpet emphasise the delicacy and refinement of the panelling.

"The reading and writing room, with pure white walls and elegant furniture is essentially a ladies' room. A great bow window at one side of the room gives a view past the deck over the vast expanses of the sea.''

Southampton docks was suffering the effects of a coal strike and the sailing might have been postponed had not Titanic been able to take advantage of an offer of fuel from two other liners in port, Oceanic and New York.

An archive account of the hours leading up to sailing time is heavy with irony reading it with hindsight.

"The air was busy with chatter, with 'goodbye for the present' and good wishes.

"We lived that morning in an atmosphere of pride. All those happy-faced Southampton women were proud that their men had entered into service on what was believed to be the greatest vessel built by man.

"We cheered to the last; there was not an unhappy women in all Southampton.

"Rumours and legends and tales of her glories and luxuries and powers were bandied about in every street in Southampton.''

Another report written at the time paints a vivid picture as Titanic gathered herself and eased away from her berth.

"As she began to move in her immensity cheers rolled out across the waters in a great chorus of pride and triumph.

"The band was playing a merry tune on deck, and passengers, leaning over the rails, waved farewell greetings to their friends and gave answering cheers.

"On her way out of Southampton Titanic had a triumphant progress, towering tremendously above all the craft, which seemed so dwarf-like as the shadow of her great hull passed across them on the glittering waters.''

Tragedy nearly struck Titanic even before she left Southampton docks just minutes after her departure.

As the ship's huge bulk moved from her berth the mooring ropes of the nearby, New York were snapped by the force of suction and the two vessels came towards each other on collision course.

Titanic stopped just in time and tugs came to the aid of New York which was pushed back to her berth.

Just a little later another ship, Teutonic, also pulled at her ropes and went over several degrees as Titanic passed by heading for the Solent.

An edition of Lloyds Weekly News, at the time, took up the story of the departure: "The setting out upon this maiden voyage seemed to mark a new era in the history of ships and the seas.

"There were men and women at Southampton whose hearts were uplifted by a sense of gladness and pride. For they knew, as experts and as lovers of ships, the power, the splendour and the majesty of Titanic.

'For never was there such a fine ship as this,' said one of her officers.

'The heaviest sea can never wash aboard. We may laugh at dirty weather.'

"Everything in her construction was upon a tremendous scale. The strength of the shell was like that of a castle with massive walls of steel.

"A double bottom, riveted by hydraulic power, seemed to ensure absolute safety, the sea would be cheated of any further sacrifice.

"Within the great vessel was a tremendous power of activity, so that her vast weight might be driven forward at the speed of a railway train, through the most tumultuous seas.

"She carried 29 huge boilers, with 159 furnaces, placed in watertight compartments.

"So in power, almost terrifying to the imagination, Titanic was incomparable.''

- Originally published April 2002.