### Gold Watch from Titanic Rescue Auctioned for Nearly $2 Million

A gold pocket watch, once a token of gratitude from Titanic survivors to Captain Arthur Rostron of the R.M.S. Carpathia, fetched an impressive $1.97 million at a recent auction. This staggering price sets a new record for Titanic memorabilia.

Originally purchased for merely $20 or $30 back in 1912, the Tiffany pocket watch was anticipated to sell for around $10,000 at an auction today, according to Andrew Aldridge, managing director of the British auction house Henry Aldridge & Son. However, the watch’s distinctive historical significance propelled its value to astonishing heights.

The inscription on the watch reads, "Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic. April 15th, 1912. Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor and Mrs. George D. Widener." This heartfelt dedication commemorates the heroic actions of Captain Rostron and his crew.

On that fateful night in April 1912, the Carpathia was journeying from New York to the Mediterranean when a distress call from the Titanic came through just after midnight: "Come at once. We have struck a berg." The Titanic was 58 miles away, a distance that would take the Carpathia four hours to cover.

Captain Rostron immediately sprang into action, ensuring his ship reached the Titanic as swiftly as possible. The crew was awakened and coal was shoveled into the furnaces to maximize speed. Preparations for lifeboats, blankets, first aid, and provisions were made, enabling the Carpathia to eventually rescue 700 survivors from the icy waters. The enduring legacy of Rostron's bravery and quick thinking is encapsulated in this historic timepiece.