Final Jeopardy: The Titanic (1-7-14)

The Final Jeopardy question (1/7/2014), in the category “The Titanic” was:

A member of Parliament said “Those who have been saved have been saved through one man”, this Italian.

New champ Mary Manhardt won $14,401 in yesterday’s game. Today she is up against these two players: Andrew Nelson, from New Bedford, MA; and Carolyn Gawlik, from Dearborn, MI.

Andrew found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Alma Mater” under the $1,000 clue. He was in the lead with $3,000, $1,400 more than Carolyn in second place. He bet $1,400 and said “Harrison”. Alex didn’t have to ask him to be more specific because that was WRONG (but not an altogether bad guess since the Harrisons had ties to Ohio).

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he was later Dean. show

WHO IS WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT?

Mary finished in the lead with $5,600. Carolyn was second with $3,800 and Andrew was last with $3,200.

Carolyn found the first Daily Double in “Play That Fiddle” under the $1,600 clue. She was in second place with $9,400, $3,800 less than Mary’s lead. She bet $3,000 and had no idea so she was WRONG.

This 19th century Genoese virtuoso may have had Marfan syndrome, accounting for his elongated fingers. show

WHO IS NICCOLO PAGANINI?

Andrew found the last Daily Double in “Breakaway Nations” under the $800 clue. In second place with $9,200, he had $4,000 less than Mary’s lead. He bet $4,000 and he was RIGHT.

With Argentina’s help, this country broke away from Brazil in 1825. show

WHAT IS URUGUAY?

Mary finished in the lead with $12,800. Andrew was next with $12,400 and Carolyn was in third place with $6,400.

NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS GUGLIELMO MARCONI?

Herbert Samuels, the UK’s Postmaster General at the time of the Titanic disaster is the person who made the statement in the clue. The Titanic was a royal mail ship, with ‘wireless equipment and two operators supplied by the Marconi company, which proved important in getting word to nearby vessels – and beyond – that the ship was sinking. The Post Office was a pioneer of telegraphic technology and had become interested in Marconi’s experimentation at a key point in the development of wireless telegraphy, so it could be argued that thanks to the Post Office many of the Titanic’s passengers were saved.” (Postal Heritage: Marconi and the Post Office)

Carolyn thought it was Galileo even though she couldn’t get the e and o down. She bet nothing so it didn’t cost her a penny, and she remained at $6,400.

Andrew also thought it was Galileo. He only lost $400 and finished with $12,000.

Mary thought it was Fermi (presumably Enrico, a preteen at the time). She lost $12,400 and finished third with $400.

That makes Andrew Nelson the new champ. As for the FJ, we thought it was pretty easy to figure out if you didn’t know. Guess not.