While Titanic sank, violinist Wallace Hartley and his fellow musicians continued playing. Their final song was reported to be “Nearer My God To Thee,” performed until they could no longer remain above water. A surviving passenger claimed Hartley’s last words to his bandmates were, “Gentlemen, I bid you farewell.” When Hartley finally went into the water, he reportedly tried used his leather bag as a floatation device and put the violin, a gift from his fiancée Maria Robinson, inside it. The bow was too long to fit inside. Hartley’s body was found 10 days later, along with his water-damaged violin. Robinson requested it back, though the instrument was presumed lost. In 2006, the violin was discovered in Robinson’s attic by an amateur musician. The old instrument still had an engraved plaque on it that read, “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement. From Maria.” After seven years of study, it was verified authentic, and went up for auction in 2013. The violin fetched a whopping $1.7 million, and is considered to be one of the most important artefacts ever recovered from the Titanic.
Wow! Thank you Rebecca