Posted by Bob Read on September 19, 1998 at 15:04:58 in pm3-2-126.apci.net:
I am posting this here and now because of board problems the last few days which prevented me from following up on your post "Last Word" regarding the pillars from the boat deck down to A deck.
I see what you are referring to in the photo on p. 65
of "Last Days of the Titanic" regarding the dark area of the crane which terminates on a light area before reaching the dark ladder. I believe there is another logical explanation other than a white pillar which is obscured. The light (although overcast) was coming from the port beam. You can tell this from the shadows near the woman's shoes.
My opinion is that this is just light reflecting off that edge of the ladder, not a white post. If the post were the same diameter as the others (and why wouldn't it be?) I believe it would be easily seen at this angle.
With regard to the p. 73 photo, your contention that the evidence is "irrefutable" is not entirely correct because I can indeed provide at least a plausible refutation. The guiding principle I use is that nearer, better photos are used to interpret farther, poorer photos.
That would make the p.65 photo primary in this case.
If you examine the position of the object you identify as the white pillar on p. 73, it is exactly where the ladder appears on p. 65. Since two things can't occupy the same space at the same time, we must be looking at the ladder no matter what the p. 73 photo might suggest.
In the p. 73 photo the Titanic is in bright sunlight. The photographic processes and materials of the day could cause distortion. If you look at the vertical
parts of the railings, they appear "fuzzy and wider than what we know was their actual width. The strong sunlight reflecting off these surfaces caused a "haze" around the edges. I believe that the reason that the ladder appears to be a white pillar is that the two legs of the ladder are reflecting sunlight and appear "white" and are close together so that the photographic
"haze" around each overlaps to present the appearance of a single vertical object. If you dont think that sunlight can reflect that strongly off a dark surface,
just ask the members of this board whether the rounded rail around the poop deck under the vessel and port names is painted a light color or not. Most of them will tell you that it is not painted but is rather "hull black" and reflecting light strongly. How can something black appear to be white? Answer: Strong sunlight reflection.
With that case presented, I am not saying that there is no room for argument. What I am saying is that words and phrases like "irrefutable" and "case closed" can have the tendency to stifle debate. Debate on this board already occurs among a very small group. I would like all of us to foster a climate where this forum will not be intimidating to those who are honestly trying to hone their skills of observation and interpretation. I have been as guilty (if not more so)
as anyone of engaging in overly strong debate. I am mellowing to the point where I believe that we should encourage those who debate here to adopt terms of debate such as "in my opinion", or "my observation is",
or "my interpretation is", to allow enough room for cordial debate. I would hope that debate would be lively and passionate. But, when we exhaust the available facts and there is still a difference of opinion, hopefully we can leave the matters where they are until more information might forthcoming.
Bruce, this message was not meant as a flame or a personal attack. I have been thinking about some of these things for some time and I just used your post as a launching pad for a generic discussion.
Regards,
Bob Read