Eight telegrams sent by Bruce Ismay after the sinking of Titanic have been put up for sale. Ismay was the managing director of Titanic's owner, the White Star Line shipping company. His first message was sent eleven hours after the tragedy at 1:00pm on 15 April 1912, the others followed until April 18th.
Declared the "Coward of Titanic" for deserting the ship while women and children were aboard, admitted at a later enquiry that he looked away at the moment of Titanic's sinking - opiates were adminstered to Ismay to help him cope with the shock.
Once rescued by Carpathia, Ismay retired to the doctor's cabin where he remained until the ship's arrival in New York. He resigned his position as head of the White Star Line and lived as a recluse until his death in Ireland in 1937, aged 75.
The auction of his telegrams and the responses from the New York office will be auctioned as part of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, they are reported to be in mint condition.
The auction will take place on December 13th in New York.
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