Word: ballards
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...passengers on board, had signaled the end of the Edwardian era in all its cocky opulence. Last week's unexpected reappearance of the great ship was a welcome touch of vintage nostalgia, like the sight of a top hat or a long white glove. For his part, Ballard was willing to share with the world only a portion of his great discovery. Fearing an onslaught of treasure-seeking vandals, he refused to divulge the exact position of the Titanic. "If I give you the depths," he said good-humoredly, "a good oceanographer will know...
...Ballard's obsession with the lost ship had begun decades ago, as a kind of intellectual hobby. "If something's been written about the Titanic, he's read it," says fellow Marine Scientist William Marquet. "He knows her, inside and out." That curiosity received a boost three years ago when the Navy decided to finance the development of a sophisticated submersible photographic vessel, christened Argo (see box). It was Ballard who suggested that the Argo's maiden task be to seek the Titanic. Knorr set sail three months ago, the compact submersible on board; after performing routine explorations...
...probably associated with the Titanic. Armed with that information, Knorr scientists decided to deploy Argo at that spot. In less than a week, the researchers received the first dim video images of the Titanic that they had been praying for. "We went smack-dab over a gorgeous boiler," crowed Ballard to the Canadian television network CTV. "It was just bang, there we were...
Elation soon gave way to a more somber spirit. Realizing that they were looking at the scene of one of history's great tragedies, Ballard organized an impromptu memorial service for the dead. Said he: "To finally put those souls to rest was a very nice feeling...
Since the first sighting, Ballard has insisted repeatedly that the Titanic should be left undisturbed. "The ship is in beautiful condition where it is," he says. "I am opposed to the desecration of this memorial to 1,500 souls." The issue will not die so easily. Already, speculation is mounting over who owns the ship and about the quantity of treasure, including diamonds and other jewels, that may be on board. Commercial Union, a British insurance company descended from the original underwriters of the ship, may have some legal right to the booty, assuming that it can document having paid...