How Did Rats Get on the Titanic?
WouterThe Titanic was built to be a luxury liner, but her maiden voyage was plagued with rats. They were found in a variety of locations on board, including in the ship’s furniture and supplies. They are prolific breeders, able to produce thousands of offspring in a short period of time.
According to accounts, rat infestations were a problem for the ship’s cooks and support staff. Though the majority of these individuals drowned, one man, Paul Mauge, survived the sinking because of his extraordinary wits. In the episode, he details the plight of the cooks and service personnel on the Titanic.
After the ship hit the iceberg, the people on board rushed to the lifeboats. In fact, there were enough lifeboats to accommodate everyone on board. The iceberg pushed the Titanic into the icy water, causing the ship to sink. Fortunately, the iceberg was a small block of ice, and the lifeboats were plentiful.
The movie does not tell the full story of the Titanic’s sinking, but it does depict the events that occurred. While the movie has been a success, it has mistranslated the real story. In the movie, the crew members shouted “room for everyone” – a blatant historical error. However, one member of the crew managed to hold the ship together, and the mouse acted as a lifeboat and sent SOS signals through his moustache.
