On the night of April 14, 1912, on her maiden voyage, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg; it sank less than three hours later, in the wee hours of the 15th of April. 1,517 people perished in the icy North Atlantic waters. Just after 4 a.m., the RMS Carpathia arrived to pick up the 706 survivors from the lifeboats. The White Star Line chartered the cable ship Mackay-Bennett to retrieve the bodies from the sea. Many were interred at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

We honor this tragedy with a collection of images from the Library of Congress.

TITANIC life boats on way to CARPATHIA

TITANIC survivors on way to rescue-ship CARPATHIA

Crowd awaiting survivors from CARPATHIA

Crowd in front of White Star offices

Louis & Lola ?– TITANIC survivors

Capt. Arthur Henry Rostron of the Carpathia who rescued survivors of the Titanic

J.J. Astor funeral

Services at seaman’s institute – TITANIC Tablet unveiled – Bishop Greer speaking

Capt. Rostron & under officers of CARPATHIA

Capt. and crew of MACKAY-BENNETT