2006-09-06 02:15:26 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I don't think he is expected to go down with the ship. I think it is more he is supposed to be the last one to get off if there is trouble.
2006-09-06 02:21:08 · answer #1 · answered by Chris B 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It originated after the Titanic sunk and the captain jumped out into a dinghy and rowed away before the ship went down. After this they made it illegal.
2006-09-06 02:32:54 · answer #2 · answered by Annmaree 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He does not need to go down with the ship. He is just expected to leave it until last as he is responsible for all and everything on it.
2006-09-06 06:37:06 · answer #3 · answered by CKone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK first off this, by HONOR, dates back to at least like the Revolutary War and proably before that even. It was about honor. The captain would be the last to leave the ship. With that he was fighting to the last minute. Actually the famous saying with the War of 1812 and Perry when he left for the U.S. Brig Niagra he told them "Don't give up the ship." He had to get to the Niagra to fight but didn't want his ship given up. As bad of shape as it was in he didn't want the ship given up. Remember also in those days the Flag, the National Colors, were kept with the Captain. They hung just over where the capt. was. Look at an old tall ship. The Brig Niagra is an example as it is still a sailing ship. I don't think they had to back then BUT they did it as part of a code of honor.
2006-09-06 03:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
During WWII, some ship captains, on both sides, willingly went down with their ships because they had access to top secret information which they did not want to risk revealing under torture.
I do not know where this tradition originated...sorry.
2006-09-06 02:22:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Old sailors saying. Not in the modern navy but many will out of respect to tradition and personal pride. It is an embarrassment to lose a ship. Personally, I will jump ship because you can always get another!
2006-09-06 02:21:37 · answer #6 · answered by Michael S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When a ship sinks, the captain faces humiliation, lawsuits, and possibly prison(if it can be shown he was negligent). In this case, it is better to die an honourable death by sea..............
2006-09-06 02:25:29 · answer #7 · answered by abc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋