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CNN Live Today

A Look at Ashley Smith's Past; Anthrax Scare at Pentagon

Aired March 15, 2005 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A suicide bomber kills a child and wounds four others in Baghdad. That man detonated a car bomb in a bustling area of northern Baghdad. A police officer is among the injured.
Two Pentagon mail facilities remain closed after sensors detected anthrax on Monday. Two pieces of mail at the building tested positive for the potentially deadly bacteria. All mail coming into the Pentagon is X-rayed and irradiated to kill bacteria like anthrax. The 300 workers tested for exposure show no initial signs of infection.

A news conference scheduled at the top of the hour on a developing story out of New York. Federal authorities have charged 18 people with weapons trafficking in an alleged plot to smuggle Russian military weapons into the U.S. Those arms included grenade launchers and shoulder-fired missiles. Details will be released at the upcoming news conference.

Going back to our story of the Atlanta shooting suspect. Before Ashley Smith was able to call police, she spent seven dangerous hours with Brian Nichols, cooking him breakfast and talking about her past. Now, this is a life that has not been without its own share of tragedy. With more on Ashley Smith and her life, here's CNN's Tony Harris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ashley Smith came face-to-face with an accused killer.

ASHLEY SMITH, FORMER HOSTAGE: And then he took his hat off, and he said, now do you know who I am? And I said, yeah, I know who you are. Please don't hurt me. Just please don't hurt me. I have a 5- year-old little girl. Please don't hurt me.

HARRIS: The man on the run had run into a woman toughened by adversity. She told Brian Nichols some of her own story when she thought she was bargaining for her life.

SMITH: My husband died four years ago, and I told him that if he hurt me, my little girl wouldn't have a mommy or a daddy. And she was expecting to see me the next morning. And if he didn't let me go, she would be really upset.

HARRIS: Life had always been a challenge for Ashley. Her grandparents raised her after her father had run off when she was a baby. SMITH'S GRANDMOTHER: There was just so much going on there in the house. And I pretty much thought, poor Ashley. And then I thought, well, she'll be able to take care of herself. And she has a level head.

HARRIS: Her grandfather had been headmaster at Augusta Christian School. That's where she went. She was on the drill team and played sports and developed an independent spirit.

But life after high school was no easier. Ashley was convicted for shoplifting. Then she got married early, had a baby with her husband, Mack Smith, after dropping out of college. Four years ago, at this apartment complex in a case that remains unsolved, Mack Smith was part of a brawl. He was stabbed. Ashley, who was across the parking lot, tried to get him to a hospital, but he died in her arms.

LARRY CROFT, STEPFATHER OF ASHLEY SMITH: I still have the pickup truck that they were in. He fell back and into her arms in the back of that truck. And he died right there in her arms, right there in her arms, and I got on the scene about -- oh, gosh, they hadn't even taken him away yet. And she was just -- she was just -- of course. I mean, it was just -- it was horrible.

HARRIS: Larry Croft, who had been her stepfather, says that Ashley was depressed after her husband's violent death.

CROFT: Well, she worked for me on and off for several years. And, yes, she was always -- you know, she could do anything, a brilliant child. And she would do things like bookkeeping, answering the phone, helping me with my closing sales calls, things like that.

HARRIS: After working for Croft, Ashley decided to make a new start in suburban Atlanta, but had trouble holding a job. Her daughter stayed back in Augusta, and Ashley saw her once a week.

SMITH'S GRANDFATHER: Papa and mama, believe me, I'm going to do something that's going to make you proud of me.

HARRIS: Ashley had just moved into the Bridgewater apartment complex and took a break to go out and buy cigarettes when Brian Nichols showed up. She talked him out of violence, even followed him, so he could get rid of his stolen truck.

SMITH: So we went back to my house. And we got in the house, and he was hungry.

So I cooked him breakfast. He was overwhelmed with, Wow! He said, Real butter, pancakes?

HARRIS: Whether it was that touch of humanity that did it, Brian Nichols let Ashley Smith go.

SMITH: But I left my house at 9:30.

And I got in the car, and I immediately called 911 and told them that he was there. And she asked me where I was. I said, I'm on my way to see my daughter.

I felt glad to just really be on my way to see my daughter.

HARRIS: Ashley's grandfather, indeed, all of her relatives, say they thought she was capable of doing something amazing, that her life and faith had made her ready. And that's what they say this young woman did this past Saturday.

Tony Harris, CNN, Augusta, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: An incredible story indeed. Much more on Ashley Smith and on Brian Nichols straight ahead.

Right now I want to get to a story that's developing out of the Pentagon, where two mail facilities there -- there are sensors that have detected anthrax. With more on that, let's bring in our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

A number of developments unfolding this morning. Two additional postal facilities have been shut down in what officials say is an abundance of caution over this potential anthrax scare. Of course, it is not proven yet that anthrax is involved. But earlier this morning officials of the District of Columbia, the local government here in Washington, held a press conference in which they talked about why they are shutting down a postal facility this morning in downtown D.C. because of concern that mail might have passed through there that might have been -- come to the Pentagon and triggered in anthrax sensor. Let's just listen for a moment to one of the District of Columbia officials had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. GREGG PANE, DIR., D.C. DEPT. OF HEALTH: The level of concern now is just that we're trying to find out more about this situation. We don't know the extent of where this anthrax may have come from. But the extent the District could have been involved, we think this is the proper first steps. I just think it's a prudent course of action. I don't think there's cause for alarm or panic or undue worry, but we are following the test results and we're in close contact with people at the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services and the CDC, who are all involved in managing this response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So as they await the results of these anthrax tests over the next 24 to 48 hours, a federal mail handling facility in downtown Washington shut down as a precaution. Employees there offered three days of antibiotics as a precautionary measure. Also this morning the post office here inside the Pentagon is now shut down. The sign on the door says closed due to emergency until further notice.

All of this emerging last night when a remote handling facility you see here next to the Pentagon had an anthrax sensor tripped off. They had -- this was on Thursday. They had a positive reading. They came back yesterday. They did more work. They got a negative reading. Now they've sent it all off for a third round of tests to try and find out if this is a false positive or possibly really a problem. An additional set of buildings here in northern Virginia that also handles mail for the Pentagon has been shut down because a sensor was triggered there.

Officials are emphasizing, Daryn, at this time, all of this is a precautionary measure. They don't have the final test results back yet. They're really not sure what they're dealing with. They do not believe at this point there is a threat to public health.

Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Barbara Starr from the Pentagon. Thank you for that. Well, we've had some pretty amazing stuff come through here, CNN's Global Headquarters. Today, the Titanic -- well, pieces of the Titanic. They've brought it up from the bottom of the ocean. It's going to a place where you're going to be able to see it first. We're going to show it you straight ahead. Right now, it's a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and take a look at other stories making news coast to coast.

A youngster in Seattle, Washington, proving a penny saved can provide something priceless -- hope. He was so moved by the tsunami disaster he donated his $40 worth of pennies that he saved over his young life, and then he started seeking others' help. He's now raised more than $6,100.

To Chicago now, two people were rushed to the hospital after a brawl erupted during a high school basketball state tournament game. One of the injured is a police sergeant who responded to the melee at the United Center. No word on what triggered the fight or how many people were involved.

A judge in California rules that same-sex marriages should be allowed in the nation's most populous state. That ruling says banning such unions amounts to discrimination. Both supporters and opponents predict a heated court battle before California would join Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage.

Bill Clinton says he is glad to be home. He's looking forward to getting back to work in about a month or so. The former president left a New York hospital yesterday afternoon. Surgeons, you might know, removed scar tissue and fluid from Clinton's left lung. It was a follow-up procedure to the quadruple heart-bypass he had back in September.

Well, not everyone is invited in, but last night a few music groups got their key to one prestigious club. No back-stabbers here.

Still to come, a look at the newcomers in the rock and Roll 'N' Roll Hall of Fame.

Plus, my next guest saw the ship face-to-face. Up next, you are going to see in person pieces of the Titanic.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The film was one of the biggest moneymakers of all time, about one of the biggest tragedies of our time as well. You know the story -- an impressive and expensive ship on its majestic maiden voyage rams into an iceberg and sinks to the ocean floor. It is the story of the Titanic, where thousands of lives were lost and untold artifacts are still uncovered.

Recently, though, many of the items untouched for almost a hundred years were recovered from the ocean. They're now on display. Mark Lach is a Titanic recovery diver, joins me with some of the rare finds.

I feel like I am getting close to history right here.

MARK LACH, TITANIC RECOVERY DIVER: Well, Daryn, it is history after all. These are pieces of the Titanic, and in some case, pieces of people's lives that were aboard the ship.

KAGAN: Show us what you brought.

LACH: Well, this first item is, as most of your viewers will recognize binoculars, belonging most likely to a Titanic passenger. The story of the binoculars of course the Titanic binoculars that were supposed to be in the crow's nest to look for icebergs had been misplaced, and were not there when Frederick Fleet looked out into the darkness.

KAGAN: Tell me about this perfume, these perfume vials.

LACH: Well, these are pretty special. Very tiny as you can see.

KAGAN: Yes. Looks like the little sample you would get in the department store.

LACH: Well, they were samples. Exactly right. And I will never forget when this leather satchel came up into the lab, and we recovered these perfume vials, unrolled this leather satchel, 65 of these little vials were visible, but the fragrances started to fill the lab. It was one of those emotions that we were not ready for. It was a very special, a very emotional time.

KAGAN: A trip back in time. Tell me what the dollar bill (INAUDIBLE).

LACH: Well, it's incredible to me how well that paper survives. And as you can see, this is a $5 bill, and it is still very legible from the bank of St. Louis, actually, back in 1912. The Federal Reserve was just starting to print money. Individual banks could print their own money. And the reason paper survives so well if it's inside leather, a leather wallet, a leather purse, it turns out that if money is inside a leather wallet or purse, it turns out that the chemicals used to tan leather repel the microorganisms that otherwise would eat not only away at paper, but eat at textiles, clothing. So whenever we recover leather, a very well special moment, personal belongings, what's inside, and very well preserved.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the recovery, because this stuff doesn't come up by itself, and it certainly doesn't come up looking like this. How difficult to go all the way down to the ocean floor.

LACH: Well, of course it's a two hour 15 minute journey, two- and-a-half miles down to the ocean floor. And for me, a very special emotional, exciting moment as you take this journey down and the lights come up on the Titanic. You climb inside the...

KAGAN: What are we looking at here?

LACH: Well, that's me, climbing inside one of the Mirs, one of the few submersibles that can go two-and-a-half miles deep to the ocean floor. And I'll never forget that morning. It was a very sunny morning. When you're dropped into the ocean, the porthole in front of you -- of course, you see the bright blue ocean in front of you. But as you take the dive, within 15 minutes the bright blue fades to black. And for the next two hours, you're in the dark, going down to see the Titanic.

KAGAN: Kind of creepy.

LACH: Some of the stuff you brought here, some too big.

KAGAN: Some too big. One in particular that we brought to Las Vegas, where we open our exhibit next week, one of our exhibitions. That was my first view of the Titanic, by the way.

KAGAN: People will see this in Vegas?

LACH: Absolutely. This was the day that we installed it. It will be put together in a very theatrical setting. But as you can see, the rivets, the overlapping steel plates, the portholes. This is a 15-ton section of the Titanic. We know what part of the ship it came from. If you walk behind it, you are in cabins C-79, or C-81, not occupied at the time of sailing. But an amazing moment when we brought it to the surface, did the conservation work. In fact, it hasn't been seen for a very long time. It's able to be show again, and we'll show it in Vegas when we open this a week from Saturday.

KAGAN: Let me play devil's advocate for a minute. Is this a good idea? This is a tragedy, a terrible thing happened. Should it not be left down at the bottom of the ocean to rest for eternity. Why do you get to bring it up? And why is it a good idea to do that?

LACH: Well, I think that's a fair question to ask, and a personal decision. For me, it's an easy one, because I've seen so many years now as we recovered these objects, take them through proper conservation, display them in a way that I think brings dignity and honor to this story, and when you see people walk in, especially young people, who have their reference to this piece of history from Hollywood, but they come in contact with the real pieces, real objects from the Titanic, it's a very moving, very emotional experience, and can only be done in a way when you put objects like this on exhibition. For me, it's an easy answer.

KAGAN: Quickly, where do people see it?

LACH: Well, we open -- like we said -- in Vegas, a week from Friday, at the Tropicana Hotel, and we're also in Baltimore and Columbus, Ohio, open, all three exhibits, through the summer.

KAGAN: All right. Thanks for giving us a quick peek. Mark Loch, and pieces of the Titanic.

Another classic to tell us about before we take a break. From performing onstage to some very hallowed halls, U2 has been inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. The band received the honor in the ceremony in New York on Monday. Other inductees include The Pretenders, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge and Buddy Guy. We're going to have a lot more ahead. We're back with your story. Titanic floats away, but I'm back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired March 15, 2005 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A suicide bomber kills a child and wounds four others in Baghdad. That man detonated a car bomb in a bustling area of northern Baghdad. A police officer is among the injured.
Two Pentagon mail facilities remain closed after sensors detected anthrax on Monday. Two pieces of mail at the building tested positive for the potentially deadly bacteria. All mail coming into the Pentagon is X-rayed and irradiated to kill bacteria like anthrax. The 300 workers tested for exposure show no initial signs of infection.

A news conference scheduled at the top of the hour on a developing story out of New York. Federal authorities have charged 18 people with weapons trafficking in an alleged plot to smuggle Russian military weapons into the U.S. Those arms included grenade launchers and shoulder-fired missiles. Details will be released at the upcoming news conference.

Going back to our story of the Atlanta shooting suspect. Before Ashley Smith was able to call police, she spent seven dangerous hours with Brian Nichols, cooking him breakfast and talking about her past. Now, this is a life that has not been without its own share of tragedy. With more on Ashley Smith and her life, here's CNN's Tony Harris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ashley Smith came face-to-face with an accused killer.

ASHLEY SMITH, FORMER HOSTAGE: And then he took his hat off, and he said, now do you know who I am? And I said, yeah, I know who you are. Please don't hurt me. Just please don't hurt me. I have a 5- year-old little girl. Please don't hurt me.

HARRIS: The man on the run had run into a woman toughened by adversity. She told Brian Nichols some of her own story when she thought she was bargaining for her life.

SMITH: My husband died four years ago, and I told him that if he hurt me, my little girl wouldn't have a mommy or a daddy. And she was expecting to see me the next morning. And if he didn't let me go, she would be really upset.

HARRIS: Life had always been a challenge for Ashley. Her grandparents raised her after her father had run off when she was a baby. SMITH'S GRANDMOTHER: There was just so much going on there in the house. And I pretty much thought, poor Ashley. And then I thought, well, she'll be able to take care of herself. And she has a level head.

HARRIS: Her grandfather had been headmaster at Augusta Christian School. That's where she went. She was on the drill team and played sports and developed an independent spirit.

But life after high school was no easier. Ashley was convicted for shoplifting. Then she got married early, had a baby with her husband, Mack Smith, after dropping out of college. Four years ago, at this apartment complex in a case that remains unsolved, Mack Smith was part of a brawl. He was stabbed. Ashley, who was across the parking lot, tried to get him to a hospital, but he died in her arms.

LARRY CROFT, STEPFATHER OF ASHLEY SMITH: I still have the pickup truck that they were in. He fell back and into her arms in the back of that truck. And he died right there in her arms, right there in her arms, and I got on the scene about -- oh, gosh, they hadn't even taken him away yet. And she was just -- she was just -- of course. I mean, it was just -- it was horrible.

HARRIS: Larry Croft, who had been her stepfather, says that Ashley was depressed after her husband's violent death.

CROFT: Well, she worked for me on and off for several years. And, yes, she was always -- you know, she could do anything, a brilliant child. And she would do things like bookkeeping, answering the phone, helping me with my closing sales calls, things like that.

HARRIS: After working for Croft, Ashley decided to make a new start in suburban Atlanta, but had trouble holding a job. Her daughter stayed back in Augusta, and Ashley saw her once a week.

SMITH'S GRANDFATHER: Papa and mama, believe me, I'm going to do something that's going to make you proud of me.

HARRIS: Ashley had just moved into the Bridgewater apartment complex and took a break to go out and buy cigarettes when Brian Nichols showed up. She talked him out of violence, even followed him, so he could get rid of his stolen truck.

SMITH: So we went back to my house. And we got in the house, and he was hungry.

So I cooked him breakfast. He was overwhelmed with, Wow! He said, Real butter, pancakes?

HARRIS: Whether it was that touch of humanity that did it, Brian Nichols let Ashley Smith go.

SMITH: But I left my house at 9:30.

And I got in the car, and I immediately called 911 and told them that he was there. And she asked me where I was. I said, I'm on my way to see my daughter.

I felt glad to just really be on my way to see my daughter.

HARRIS: Ashley's grandfather, indeed, all of her relatives, say they thought she was capable of doing something amazing, that her life and faith had made her ready. And that's what they say this young woman did this past Saturday.

Tony Harris, CNN, Augusta, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: An incredible story indeed. Much more on Ashley Smith and on Brian Nichols straight ahead.

Right now I want to get to a story that's developing out of the Pentagon, where two mail facilities there -- there are sensors that have detected anthrax. With more on that, let's bring in our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

A number of developments unfolding this morning. Two additional postal facilities have been shut down in what officials say is an abundance of caution over this potential anthrax scare. Of course, it is not proven yet that anthrax is involved. But earlier this morning officials of the District of Columbia, the local government here in Washington, held a press conference in which they talked about why they are shutting down a postal facility this morning in downtown D.C. because of concern that mail might have passed through there that might have been -- come to the Pentagon and triggered in anthrax sensor. Let's just listen for a moment to one of the District of Columbia officials had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. GREGG PANE, DIR., D.C. DEPT. OF HEALTH: The level of concern now is just that we're trying to find out more about this situation. We don't know the extent of where this anthrax may have come from. But the extent the District could have been involved, we think this is the proper first steps. I just think it's a prudent course of action. I don't think there's cause for alarm or panic or undue worry, but we are following the test results and we're in close contact with people at the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services and the CDC, who are all involved in managing this response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: So as they await the results of these anthrax tests over the next 24 to 48 hours, a federal mail handling facility in downtown Washington shut down as a precaution. Employees there offered three days of antibiotics as a precautionary measure. Also this morning the post office here inside the Pentagon is now shut down. The sign on the door says closed due to emergency until further notice.

All of this emerging last night when a remote handling facility you see here next to the Pentagon had an anthrax sensor tripped off. They had -- this was on Thursday. They had a positive reading. They came back yesterday. They did more work. They got a negative reading. Now they've sent it all off for a third round of tests to try and find out if this is a false positive or possibly really a problem. An additional set of buildings here in northern Virginia that also handles mail for the Pentagon has been shut down because a sensor was triggered there.

Officials are emphasizing, Daryn, at this time, all of this is a precautionary measure. They don't have the final test results back yet. They're really not sure what they're dealing with. They do not believe at this point there is a threat to public health.

Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Barbara Starr from the Pentagon. Thank you for that. Well, we've had some pretty amazing stuff come through here, CNN's Global Headquarters. Today, the Titanic -- well, pieces of the Titanic. They've brought it up from the bottom of the ocean. It's going to a place where you're going to be able to see it first. We're going to show it you straight ahead. Right now, it's a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and take a look at other stories making news coast to coast.

A youngster in Seattle, Washington, proving a penny saved can provide something priceless -- hope. He was so moved by the tsunami disaster he donated his $40 worth of pennies that he saved over his young life, and then he started seeking others' help. He's now raised more than $6,100.

To Chicago now, two people were rushed to the hospital after a brawl erupted during a high school basketball state tournament game. One of the injured is a police sergeant who responded to the melee at the United Center. No word on what triggered the fight or how many people were involved.

A judge in California rules that same-sex marriages should be allowed in the nation's most populous state. That ruling says banning such unions amounts to discrimination. Both supporters and opponents predict a heated court battle before California would join Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriage.

Bill Clinton says he is glad to be home. He's looking forward to getting back to work in about a month or so. The former president left a New York hospital yesterday afternoon. Surgeons, you might know, removed scar tissue and fluid from Clinton's left lung. It was a follow-up procedure to the quadruple heart-bypass he had back in September.

Well, not everyone is invited in, but last night a few music groups got their key to one prestigious club. No back-stabbers here.

Still to come, a look at the newcomers in the rock and Roll 'N' Roll Hall of Fame.

Plus, my next guest saw the ship face-to-face. Up next, you are going to see in person pieces of the Titanic.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The film was one of the biggest moneymakers of all time, about one of the biggest tragedies of our time as well. You know the story -- an impressive and expensive ship on its majestic maiden voyage rams into an iceberg and sinks to the ocean floor. It is the story of the Titanic, where thousands of lives were lost and untold artifacts are still uncovered.

Recently, though, many of the items untouched for almost a hundred years were recovered from the ocean. They're now on display. Mark Lach is a Titanic recovery diver, joins me with some of the rare finds.

I feel like I am getting close to history right here.

MARK LACH, TITANIC RECOVERY DIVER: Well, Daryn, it is history after all. These are pieces of the Titanic, and in some case, pieces of people's lives that were aboard the ship.

KAGAN: Show us what you brought.

LACH: Well, this first item is, as most of your viewers will recognize binoculars, belonging most likely to a Titanic passenger. The story of the binoculars of course the Titanic binoculars that were supposed to be in the crow's nest to look for icebergs had been misplaced, and were not there when Frederick Fleet looked out into the darkness.

KAGAN: Tell me about this perfume, these perfume vials.

LACH: Well, these are pretty special. Very tiny as you can see.

KAGAN: Yes. Looks like the little sample you would get in the department store.

LACH: Well, they were samples. Exactly right. And I will never forget when this leather satchel came up into the lab, and we recovered these perfume vials, unrolled this leather satchel, 65 of these little vials were visible, but the fragrances started to fill the lab. It was one of those emotions that we were not ready for. It was a very special, a very emotional time.

KAGAN: A trip back in time. Tell me what the dollar bill (INAUDIBLE).

LACH: Well, it's incredible to me how well that paper survives. And as you can see, this is a $5 bill, and it is still very legible from the bank of St. Louis, actually, back in 1912. The Federal Reserve was just starting to print money. Individual banks could print their own money. And the reason paper survives so well if it's inside leather, a leather wallet, a leather purse, it turns out that if money is inside a leather wallet or purse, it turns out that the chemicals used to tan leather repel the microorganisms that otherwise would eat not only away at paper, but eat at textiles, clothing. So whenever we recover leather, a very well special moment, personal belongings, what's inside, and very well preserved.

KAGAN: Let's talk about the recovery, because this stuff doesn't come up by itself, and it certainly doesn't come up looking like this. How difficult to go all the way down to the ocean floor.

LACH: Well, of course it's a two hour 15 minute journey, two- and-a-half miles down to the ocean floor. And for me, a very special emotional, exciting moment as you take this journey down and the lights come up on the Titanic. You climb inside the...

KAGAN: What are we looking at here?

LACH: Well, that's me, climbing inside one of the Mirs, one of the few submersibles that can go two-and-a-half miles deep to the ocean floor. And I'll never forget that morning. It was a very sunny morning. When you're dropped into the ocean, the porthole in front of you -- of course, you see the bright blue ocean in front of you. But as you take the dive, within 15 minutes the bright blue fades to black. And for the next two hours, you're in the dark, going down to see the Titanic.

KAGAN: Kind of creepy.

LACH: Some of the stuff you brought here, some too big.

KAGAN: Some too big. One in particular that we brought to Las Vegas, where we open our exhibit next week, one of our exhibitions. That was my first view of the Titanic, by the way.

KAGAN: People will see this in Vegas?

LACH: Absolutely. This was the day that we installed it. It will be put together in a very theatrical setting. But as you can see, the rivets, the overlapping steel plates, the portholes. This is a 15-ton section of the Titanic. We know what part of the ship it came from. If you walk behind it, you are in cabins C-79, or C-81, not occupied at the time of sailing. But an amazing moment when we brought it to the surface, did the conservation work. In fact, it hasn't been seen for a very long time. It's able to be show again, and we'll show it in Vegas when we open this a week from Saturday.

KAGAN: Let me play devil's advocate for a minute. Is this a good idea? This is a tragedy, a terrible thing happened. Should it not be left down at the bottom of the ocean to rest for eternity. Why do you get to bring it up? And why is it a good idea to do that?

LACH: Well, I think that's a fair question to ask, and a personal decision. For me, it's an easy one, because I've seen so many years now as we recovered these objects, take them through proper conservation, display them in a way that I think brings dignity and honor to this story, and when you see people walk in, especially young people, who have their reference to this piece of history from Hollywood, but they come in contact with the real pieces, real objects from the Titanic, it's a very moving, very emotional experience, and can only be done in a way when you put objects like this on exhibition. For me, it's an easy answer.

KAGAN: Quickly, where do people see it?

LACH: Well, we open -- like we said -- in Vegas, a week from Friday, at the Tropicana Hotel, and we're also in Baltimore and Columbus, Ohio, open, all three exhibits, through the summer.

KAGAN: All right. Thanks for giving us a quick peek. Mark Loch, and pieces of the Titanic.

Another classic to tell us about before we take a break. From performing onstage to some very hallowed halls, U2 has been inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. The band received the honor in the ceremony in New York on Monday. Other inductees include The Pretenders, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge and Buddy Guy. We're going to have a lot more ahead. We're back with your story. Titanic floats away, but I'm back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com