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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wallace Hartley: Titanic bandmaster letter at auction | Wallace Hartley: Titanic bandmaster letter at auction |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A letter written by the bandmaster of the Titanic who played as the doomed ship sank is to be sold at auction. | A letter written by the bandmaster of the Titanic who played as the doomed ship sank is to be sold at auction. |
| Wallace Hartley, 33, from Colne in Lancashire, is famous for playing on with his band as the ship sank in an effort to keep the passengers calm. | Wallace Hartley, 33, from Colne in Lancashire, is famous for playing on with his band as the ship sank in an effort to keep the passengers calm. |
| A letter he wrote to his parents on the day the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton will go under the hammer on 20 April. | A letter he wrote to his parents on the day the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton will go under the hammer on 20 April. |
| Experts estimate the letter will fetch between £50,000 and £60,000. | Experts estimate the letter will fetch between £50,000 and £60,000. |
| The letter, to be auctioned at Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, is written on White Star Line headed paper, the on-board Titanic stationery. | The letter, to be auctioned at Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, is written on White Star Line headed paper, the on-board Titanic stationery. |
| It reads: "Just a line to say we have got away all right. It's been a bit of a rush but I am just getting a little settled. | It reads: "Just a line to say we have got away all right. It's been a bit of a rush but I am just getting a little settled. |
| "This is a fine ship & there ought to be plenty of money on her. | "This is a fine ship & there ought to be plenty of money on her. |
| "I've missed coming home very much & it would have been nice to have seen you all if only for an hour or two, but I couldn't manage it. | "I've missed coming home very much & it would have been nice to have seen you all if only for an hour or two, but I couldn't manage it. |
| "We have a fine band & the boys seem very nice. | "We have a fine band & the boys seem very nice. |
| "I have had to buy some linen & I sent my washing home today by post. | "I have had to buy some linen & I sent my washing home today by post. |
| "I shall probably arrive home on the Sunday morning. We are due here on the Saturday. I'm glad mother's foot is better. | "I shall probably arrive home on the Sunday morning. We are due here on the Saturday. I'm glad mother's foot is better. |
| "With love to all, Wallace." | "With love to all, Wallace." |
| Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "We are unaware of any other surviving letter written by Hartley on board the ship. | Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "We are unaware of any other surviving letter written by Hartley on board the ship. |
| "This letter which mentions the band and alludes to the wealth on-board the ship - implying that some of it would make its way to the band in the form of gratuities." | "This letter which mentions the band and alludes to the wealth on-board the ship - implying that some of it would make its way to the band in the form of gratuities." |
| The Titanic luxury passenger liner left Southampton on 10 April 1912 on the start of a journey that ended in tragedy in the cold North Atlantic on the 14 -15 April, later with the loss of more than 1,500 lives. |