A remarkable letter written by Colonel Archibald Gracie, a passenger aboard the RMS Titanic, has been auctioned off for a staggering £300,000 ($400,000) in Wiltshire, UK. The handwritten note, dated 10 April 1912—just five days prior to the tragic sinking—was acquired by an anonymous bidder at Henry Aldridge and Son auction house, achieving a price five times higher than anticipated.
In the letter, Col Gracie expressed sentiments that have been deemed "prophetic," stating that he would "await my journey's end" before making any judgments about the “fine ship.” This correspondence was penned while he was on board the Titanic, which embarked from Southampton, England, carrying over 2,200 passengers and crew on its ill-fated voyage to New York City. Tragically, the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, leading to the deaths of more than 1,500 individuals.
Gracie wrote the letter from his first-class cabin (C51) and it was mailed when the Titanic docked at Queenstown, Ireland, on 11 April 1912, later postmarked in London on 12 April. Auctioneers noted that this letter has fetched the highest price ever recorded for any written correspondence from the Titanic.
Col Gracie is known for his detailed account of the disaster, which he recounted in his book, The Truth About The Titanic. He survived the sinking by finding refuge on an overturned lifeboat amidst the frigid waters. However, he reported that most men who managed to reach the lifeboat ultimately succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia. Despite surviving the tragic event, Col Gracie's health suffered greatly due to hypothermia and injuries sustained, leading to his coma and eventual death shortly after in December 1912.
