A hero’s pocket watch went to auction. On Saturday, it sold for nearly $2 million.

In 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg. It broke in half and sank. About 1,500 people died. But a nearby ship’s captain rescued 700 passengers. Three survivors gave him a gold pocket watch in thanks. 

Arthur Rostron captained the RMS Carpathia. It was sailing from New York to the Mediterranean Sea. Then a radio operator heard a distress call from Titanic. He woke Captain Rostron. The captain turned the boat around. Carpathia took off at full steam toward Titanic. The trip was dangerous. The crew sailed through more icebergs to reach it. 

Captain Rostron was a Christian. People reported that after giving his orders, he stepped aside to pray. 

By the time Carpathia arrived, Titanic had sunk. But the crew found 20 lifeboats. Crew members rescued more than 700 passengers. Carpathia took them back to New York.

People called Captain Rostron and his crew heroes. President William Howard Taft awarded Captain Rostron the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Later, King George V knighted him.

Three women who survived the sinking gave him the watch. Their husbands went down with the ship. 

Madeleine Astor presented the watch to Captain Rostron. (That was at her mansion in New York. Her husband was John Jacob Astor. He was the first multi-millionaire in the United States.)

An engraving on the watch tells the story. It says three survivors gave the watch with “heartfelt gratitude and appreciation.” It lists Mrs. John B. Thayer and Mrs. George D. Widener alongside Mrs. Astor’s married name.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge says, “Without Mr. Rostron, those 700 people wouldn’t have made it.”

The $2 million sale sets a record. It’s the largest amount paid for memorabilia from the ship.

People are still fascinated with the story of Titanic, says Mr. Aldridge.

“Every man, woman, and child had a story to tell,” Mr. Aldridge says. “And those stories are told over a century later through the memorabilia.” 

Learn more about the famous ship in Your Ticket to Titanic.

By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. — 1 John 3:16