Most of us know the story of the RMS Titanic's on-board orchestra.
Specifically that, once the ship began to sink, the musicians continued to perform in hopes of keeping passengers calm as they were loaded into lifeboats.
These men, the brave Theodore Ronald Brailey, Roger Marie Bricoux, John Frederick Preston Clarke, Wallace Hartley, John Law Hume, Georges Alexandre Krins, Percy Cornelius Taylor, and John Wesley Woodward, played until the end, giving up their own lives to comfort hundreds more.
However, not everyone knows what happened after their tragic death.
These musicians were contracted by Liverpool firm C.W. & F.N. Black, who provided musicians for most British ships. And, for whatever reason, the firm did not have insurance to cover their Titanic performers.
Because of this, after the tragedy, C.W. and F.N. sent the following letter to the father of John Hume:
"We shall be obliged if you will remit us the sum of 5s. 4d., which is owing to us as per enclosed statement.
We shall also be obliged if you will settle the enclosed uniform account."
Hume's father did not settle the bill, instead choosing to reprint the letter in the Amalgamated Musicians Union's monthly newsletter, where it caused quite a stir.
It's incredible how heartless some people can be when money enters the picture.
