As the Titanic left her Southampton dock, everything seemed to be going well. But then something unexpected happened. As the Titanic passed two other vessels moored side by side at their pier, the suction from the Titanic pulled one of the vessels loose. The New York pulled away from the Oceanic and narrowly missed crashing into the side of the departing Titanic by just a few feet.

This catastrophe was avoided because of the quick thinking of Captain E.J. Smith, who quickly ordered a round turn and stopped the Titanic's engines. As her propellers stopped, so did the suction. This got the Titanic out of the other ship's path, and the new liner was on her way.

To many on board, this was a very ominous beginning.