MANILA, Philippines - The Titanic’s sinking was the greatest civilian disaster ever, claiming the lives of two-thirds of those on board, and for the families of its victims the impact of the catastrophe resonated down the generations. Titanic: The Aftermath follows the descendants of three people involved in the sinking as they each explore the fate of their forbears and what happened next. Jock Hume died playing the violin he loved. His grandson, Christopher Ward, travels to Scotland and to Nova Scotia to find out more. John Jacob Astor was the richest man on the ship. His young wife Madeleine survived and their granddaughter, Jackie Astor Drexel, follows their story.
In 1912, John Barnstead was Halifax’s registrar for deaths. Now, his descendant, also named John Barnstead, finds out how John Barnstead Senior created a model for future disasters involving mass loss of life. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage, Titanic: The Aftermath premieres on April 15 at 9 p.m. on Discovery Channel with encores on April 16, midnight, 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and April 21, 11 a.m.