Many of the men were aware that they would not survive
The wealthiest passenger on board was John Jacob Astor IV. He was projected to be worth $85 million. (That equates to about $2 billion now.) He was on his way with his pregnant wife, whom he assisted in loading onto a lifeboat through a side window. “The sea is calm,” he told her. You’re going to be fine. You’re in capable hands. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.” That was his final words to her. When the ship sank, he drowned.
Many of the men were aware that they would not survive
Many More Almost Went Down
Many celebrities purchased tickets for the trip but did not sail. Milton S. Hershey, the originator of Hershey’s Chocolate, Guglielmo Marconi, the pioneering inventor, and J.P. Morgan, the American banking and steel mogul, were among them. It’s safe to argue that had these men not boarded, the twentieth century may have turned out quite differently.
Many More Almost Went Down