by Daniel Bowden
Artifacts
Titanic
beachbites
On April 15, 1912, Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the frigid North Atlantic Ocean, and
sank, claiming the lives of more than 1,500 of its 2,228 passengers. Dubbed “The Unsinkable Ship,” Titanic was
a marvel of modern engineering and the largest ship in the world in its time. So confident that the ship was
unsinkable, it was outfitted with only 20 lifeboats, just enough for 52 percent of its passengers.
One hundred years later, people are still drawn to the story of Titanic, a story of a time when the world’s confidence
in modern technology was humbled by the forces of nature.
Now until April 29, visitors to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences can learn more about life aboard the
infamous ship during Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Artifacts recovered from eight expeditions, two-and-a-half miles
below the ocean’s surface, will be on display among the breathtaking reconstructions of the ship’s first- and third-class
cabins, boiler room and captain’s bridge.
Upon entry, visitors will receive a replica of a boarding pass from an actual
passenger aboard Titanic. From there, they will be led from the ship’s construction,
through the day-to-day activities of passengers, to the ship’s final
moments where they will learn the fate of their passenger.
Tickets to the exhibit are $14 for adults; $11 for seniors, students and military;
and $9 for children ages 3-12. Additional discounts are available for registered
groups with more than 10 people. To reserve in advance, visit http://naturalsciences.org/exhibits/special-exhibits
by Kelly Corbett
12
WBM january 2013
Walter and John Russ built and
began operating the Elwell Ferry
in 1905. During tobacco selling
season many farmers crossed the
river to sell their “Golden Weed.” When the new bridge
over the Cape Fear near Acme was completed much
of the pressure was removed from the faithful old craft,
pictured.
More than a century later, a new two-car ferry still
crosses the 150 yards of Cape Fear River. Along with
Parker’s Ferry and the Sans Souci Ferry, the Elwell Ferry
is one of three remaining cable ferries operating
in North Carolina.
The ferry travels the short distance across the river
from Kelly to Carvers Creek, shaving 15 miles off of the
route, which can be traveled by highway on NC 53 and
NC 11.
The name Elwell comes from a pioneer family that
settled in Bladen County several hundred years ago.
The original wooden ferry was 33
feet long and 12 feet wide. It was operated manually
with paddles until 1931 when the State of North Carolina
began running the ferry by cable.
Adventures
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF the kelly museum
©Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Going my way?
The Elwell Ferry