DEVIZES, England, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- One of the ill-fated Titanic's few remaining life jackets and dozens of letters sent by people aboard were auctioned in Devizes, England.
The life jacket, one of only six or seven in existence, was sold to a private collector for just over $80,000, the BBC said Sunday.
The Titanic sank in 1912 in the Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. The White Star Line luxury liner was on its maiden voyage.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said most items fetched a higher price than expected from collectors worldwide, the BBC said.
Edward Colley's letter telling of an earlier near-miss with another liner, made almost $34,000, the BBC said.
Also auctioned was a telegram from White Line to a U.S. senator, whose daughter and son-in-law were aboard, relaying that the ship was being towed to safety, the BBC said. As the sinking's enormity became public, Aldridge said, "everyone from the White Star Line denied sending this telegram."
Aldridge said the ship's owner didn't want to attract souvenirs seekers, so it burned many items, the BBC said.
