Voices from the Carpathia Read online

  For my wife Pat

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Although the majority of the material in this book has been culled from the author’s own files, a considerable number of people and institutions generously provided me with the texts of additional documents that I might otherwise never have seen.

  First and foremost, I would like to thank Ed and Karen Kamuda and the Titanic Historical Society and Titanic Museum for granting me permission to reproduce a number of rare documents that were published in back issues of the society’s journal, the Commutator. As always, Don Lynch came through for me by sharing a number of rare documents from his personal collection. Kalman Tanito generously translated several rare accounts that were originally published in Hungary. Craig Sopin kindly provided me with the texts of several rare documents from his personal collection, and Randy Bryan Bigham unhesitatingly shared transcriptions of a number of documents that he uncovered during his own research. Malcolm Cheape was incredibly kind in providing me with the texts of hundreds of documents from the family archive of Joseph Bruce Ismay, and Jim Harper went above and beyond the call of duty in transcribing the texts of numerous original documents from the Frank Blackmarr scrapbooks.

  Other individuals were equally kind in making the texts of unique documents available to me, and, so as not to show apparent favouritism to one person at the expense of another, I’m forced to list these people in alphabetical order: Virginia Birt Baker, Richard M. Barbour, David Billnitzer, Patrick Bogue of Onslows, the family of Roger Bricoux, Muffet Brown, Shelley Dziedzic, Gordon Gardiner, Kristen Iversen, John Lamoreau, Anita Leslie, Olivier Mendez, Beverly Anne Mitchell, Charles and Lee Ann Otter, Tony Probst, Steve Rigby, Helen Ryder, Steve Santini, Eric Sauder, Les St Clair, Richard Stead, Craig Stringer, Geoffrey Ward, Gladys Weaver, Joan Webb, Ed Weichsler, Mrs Lawrence Grant White, Geoff Whitfield and Bill Wormstedt.

  A number of institutions and archives were equally generous in sharing the texts of documents from their collections: the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library, Library of Congress, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Blunt White Library, British Titanic Society, Fishburn Archives at Park University, Marconi Company Limited, National Archives, National Maritime Museum, Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Naval Historical Center, Royal Mail Streamline, Smithsonian Archives of American Art, Society of Professional Journalists, Straus Historical Society and the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

  To all of these individuals and institutions I offer my sincere thanks.

  CONTENTS

  Title

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Introduction

  1 Carpathia Passenger and Crew Letters

  2 Carpathia Passenger and Crew Interviews

  3 Documents from Other Vessels

  By the Same Author

  Copyright

  INTRODUCTION

  When the White Star liner Titanic began sending out distress calls after striking an iceberg in April 1912, one of the first vessels to reply to those distress calls was the Cunard liner Carpathia. As it turned out, Carpathia was the only vessel that reached the scene of the disaster in time to save the lives of any of Titanic’s passengers and crewmen, and after she arrived in New York, newspaper reporters crowded the Cunard pier and vied with each other to obtain detailed first-hand interviews with the survivors of the disaster. In their zeal to interview Titanic survivors, though, the reporters often brushed right past other people who could have provided their own eyewitness accounts of the Titanic rescue – Carpathia’s own passengers.

  Although there were occasional exceptions to the rule, the Carpathia’s passengers and crewmen were usually left to their own devices as to how and when they discussed their own participation in the aftermath of the world’s greatest maritime disaster. A few Carpathia passengers wrote letters to relatives describing the things they had witnessed during the Titanic rescue, and a few others wrote accounts that were specifically intended for publication. Although the number of such first-hand accounts that have come to light since 1912 has been relatively small, one advantage of this fact is that the present author has been able to collect the texts of most of these documents and reproduce them in a single volume – the volume you are holding in your hands. For the most part, these first-hand accounts have never been utilised in telling the story of the Titanic, and they are being offered here as a new source of information for future historians of the disaster.

  In a similar vein, the number of Carpathia passengers who were interviewed by newspaper reporters in 1912 was so small that the present author has been able to gather together the vast majority of these interviews and present them here for the reader’s perusal. Even though these newspaper interviews are second-hand accounts whose reliability cannot be regarded with the same level of confidence as first-hand letters and memoirs, the interviews nevertheless assume importance as being the only surviving record of the experiences of many of those people on the Carpathia who witnessed the rescue of the Titanic’s passengers.

  In reading this collection of letters and interviews, historians will soon discover that not every word of these accounts can be accepted as gospel, since some of the documents contain information that was undoubtedly obtained second-hand on board the Carpathia. Even so, the documents contain enough solid facts to make them a valuable supplement to the existing body of evidence surrounding the Titanic disaster, and experienced researchers will easily recognise many Titanic passengers who remain unnamed in the documents themselves but whose described experiences in the disaster are well known.

  While searching for accounts written by and about Carpathia passengers, the present author also ran across the texts of a number of interesting letters and accounts that were written by people on board other vessels that had a more distant connection with the Titanic disaster. It is hoped that these accounts will shed additional light on the tragic way the lives of many ‘peripheral’ people were impacted by the loss of the largest passenger liner in the world.

  The author hopes that the present volume will serve as a useful sourcebook of brand new information about the Titanic disaster.

  George Behe

  Mount Clemens, Michigan

  1

  CARPATHIA PASSENGER AND

  CREW LETTERS

  JOHN BADENOCH

  On 18 April, while the Carpathia was approaching New York, Mr Badenoch sent the following Marconigram to Percy Straus, the son of victims Mr and Mrs Isidor Straus:

  Every boat watched. Father and mother not on the Carpathia.

  Badenoch1

  After interviewing multiple Titanic survivors regarding the fate of Mr and Mr Isidor Straus, Mr Badenoch dictated the following account to a reporter after arriving in New York:

  Mr. and Mrs. Straus, when the crash came, immediately appeared in the companionway and inquired about the danger. They were reassured by one of the officers as well as by several of the other passengers that there was practically no danger and were advised to go back to their stateroom at that time and took the precaution of putting on extra clothing.

  Mr. Straus insisted on their maid dressing to the fullest extent, wearing the heaviest clothing that she had. They again went on deck and were again reassured by an officer that there was no danger, but that they were going to take the precaution of lowering the boats for the women and children should something unforeseen happen.

  They chatted on deck for some time after that discussing the possibility of the outcome resulting seriously. At this time several of the passengers impressed upon Mr. Straus the necessity of putting on life belts.

  Mrs. Straus again looked after the safety of her maid by insisting that she take her place among the women that were being placed on t
he nearest lifeboat. The maid seemed rather reluctant, but Mrs. Straus was insistent. After the maid had embarked, Mr. and Mrs. Straus began to realize that there was a necessity for them taking to the boats.

  Mr. Straus, now convinced that this was the case, urged Mrs. Straus to get into a boat. She refused. Then he commanded her to do so, at which time several of the passengers as well as the officer of the boat then going out, which was the last to leave the doomed ship, tried to force her into the boat by main strength. She strongly resisted and absolutely refused to go. Saying to her husband:

  ‘No, dear. I will not leave you. When you go I go, but never until then.’

  By this time all of the other women near them had been removed to the other boats, and another attempt was made to persuade Mrs. Straus to go.

  Finally, when Mr. Straus led his wife by the arm to the last boat, someone gave an order:

  ‘Back, men, back’. Mr. Straus was pushed back against the walls of the cabin. Mrs. Straus left the gangway and came to him. She threw one arm around him and with the other caressed him, murmuring as she did so: ‘Dear, we will stay here together.’

  And so they went to their death.2

  ❖ ❖ ❖

  On 24 April Mr Badenoch wrote the following detailed letter to Percy Straus:

  Dear Mr. Percy,

  As per your request, I submit herewith the facts as desired. About 1:30 on the morning of April 15th I was awakened by the unusual sounds of activity on the deck over head. Just then the fog-horn blew and I got up and looked out of the port hole. It was a perfectly clear star light night and the sea was without a ripple. Of course I immediately realized that either we or some other vessel was in trouble. I then went into the companion-way and saw a steward who informed me that it was the Titanic that was in trouble. He said they had been in communication with her since twelve o’clock and at that time, which was about 1:45, had just received her last message in which it was said she was sinking. The discipline about the Carpathia was perfect and she was using every ounce of steam to hurry her to the scene of the accident.

  At about 3:15 we sighted the first life boat and it was alongside at 3:45, just as day was breaking. This first boat was about three quarters filled with people about one quarter of whom were women. None of those rescued in the first life boat knew whether or not your Father and Mother were on the Titanic. The second boat which came alongside about fifteen minutes later was fairly well filled, and almost exclusively with men. There were not more than four or five women in that boat. From one of the passengers on this second boat, I received the information that Mr. & Mrs. Straus were aboard the Titanic. It was not until the third boat arrived that I was able to get a Titanic passenger list and verify the statement that your Father and Mother were booked as passengers. I watched every boat load with intense interest and while it was almost impossible to distinguish the faces of the first arrivals, it was quite day light by the time the fourth or fifth boat arrived. After that they unloaded four boats at one time, two on the port side and two on the starboard side. As I could not watch all these boats unloading, I described your parents to a fellow passenger, so that they would not be brought aboard unobserved by me. After that, however, the boats came in singly. About from the sixth to the ninth boat, two of them came in with not over twelve people in her and the other not having more than twenty people.

  At 7:30 we had taken in all the boats in sight. We then steamed at slow speed into the wreckage and again lay to, expecting to find more boats. It was then about 8:30 o’clock and the Captain of the Carpathia seemed to think that he had taken aboard all who were in the boats. I then spoke to an officer who appeared to be one of the White Star men, (he was the third officer) and asked him to tell me whether or not all of the Titanic’s boats had been accounted for. He refused at first but when I stated my reason for knowing and insisted on an answer, he told me that all the boats had been accounted for and that in his judgment there was almost no hope for those who were not already rescued. Thinking possibly that your father and mother had been taken aboard and I had missed them, I covered the entire ship from bow to stern, and searched the saloon, second and steerage. Also looked in every stateroom, irrespective of its occupants so that I could satisfy myself beyond a doubt whether or not they were aboard. By this time it was almost ten o’clock. I then wrote the message which you received Thursday morning, handed it to the Purser and explained to him the absolute necessity of getting it off at once. He replied very courteously that he would do the best he could but that the muster was just being made and that it must take precedence over private messages. This I accepted as being reasonable. The muster was not completed until noon time when they assured everyone that the names had been sent to the offices of the line in New York. I fully expected that such being the case, all the names of the survivors would be published in the New York papers by three o’clock that afternoon. Later in the afternoon, I asked the officer if any of the private messages had been sent and he replied that he did not think any of them had been sent, but that they would surely be sent that night.

  At this point Mr Badenoch wrote a rather lengthy description about the difficulty he experienced in getting a message sent. He believed his message was not sent until late Wednesday:

  Realizing how anxious you would be to get the most accurate information about the last that was seen of your Father and Mother, I circulated among the survivors and although many claimed to have some knowledge of their actions, those whom you have personally interviewed are the ones I finally decided could give the most authentic account. From what I heard on board and that which I have learned since, I think that the statement given to you by Mr. Woolner is the most accurate. All the survivors agree on one fact and this is if the proper discipline had obtained, there is not the least doubt but that your Father and Mother would have been saved.

  Taking the statements of eight or ten of the survivors and comparing them, I believe that the following can be considered the most accurate.

  Mr. & Mrs. Straus were in bed at the time of the accident. Immediately after the boat struck they were seen in the companion-way, in bath robes. At this time an officer, as well as several of the passengers assured them that there was no trouble and the best they could do would be to return to their rooms. The maid’s story after this is that your Mother seemed to realize the danger and prepared to dress, requesting your Father to do likewise. To hurry matters, she sent the maid for his valet to assist him in dressing. Shortly thereafter they both appeared on deck, fully clothed, mingled with the other passengers and discussed the danger in a perfectly calm and collected manner. They evidently did not believe that there was any great danger of the ship sinking. On the advice of the Captain, they put on life preservers over their fur coats, and assisted other passengers in doing the same. By that time the boats were being filled with women and children and your Mother was asked by an officer in charge and urged by your Father to get into one of the life boats. She refused to do so and insisted that the maid take her place in boat No. 8. They stood by while other boats were being filled, all the while your Father continuously urging your Mother to enter one of them. Finally when it became apparent that there was no hope of the Titanic staying afloat, your Father insisted that your Mother enter the second from the last boat that was being launched from the side they were on. She still refused, saying she would not go without him, and when the officer in charge again urged her to enter, and, in fact, attempted force, aided by the urging of your Father, she placed her foot in the boat, thinking at the time that your Father would accompany her. Just then, some demonstration seems to have been made by the men standing around and the officer in charge ordered all the men back. Mr. Isidor, thinking that your Mother was safe in the lifeboat, stepped back with the other men. Your Mother, looking around and seeing that your Father was not with her, got out of the boat, went to where your Father was standing and put her arms around him. The officer in charge seeing that it was no use in trying to get your Moth
er to leave your Father ordered the boat lowered away. Your Father and Mother then walked to the opposite side of the ship and when last seen were standing, clasped in each other’s arms, calmly waiting for any help that might come. Just what happened after that is not quite clear, but I believe they did not attempt to enter any other boat or make any effort to get away, caused, I believe by the unruly behavior of a number of the passengers.

  It is now history all over the world that they displayed the most magnificent courage, self sacrifice and devotion known to modern times.

  Yours respectfully,

  John A. Badenoch3

  ❖ ❖ ❖

  MAY BIRKHEAD

  While on board the Carpathia, Miss Birkhead wrote the following account for publication:

  It was half-past four on the morning of Monday, April 15, when I was awakened by much rushing around of hasty footsteps on deck above, just over my head. I got out and on deck by five and was greeted with a most beautiful sight of icebergs on every side – some of much greater dimensions than the ship, and then some baby ones – all beautiful white in the calm sea and glittering sun, a most impressive view, but one that turned from gorgeous beauty to sickening pangs when I learned the great disaster one had caused.

  The sea was dotted with tiny life-boats from the Titanic, and much to my amazement there was one at our side and our sailors were pulling the passengers up onto our deck with ropes. Some were so cold it was impossible for them to climb the ladders, and had to be put in bags to be hauled up. Then I heard one, then another woman calling for her husband – husbands who have never yet appeared.

  One gentleman (Titanic passenger) told me that he was in the smoking room of the Titanic at quarter to twelve when he felt the shock of the big ship as if it had run against something, but he thought little of it – in fact, he thought so little of it that he went to his room to retire. He was ready for bed, but hearing increasing noises he dressed with his room mates, who had been awakened by the jar but thought nothing of it, and went out to see what it was all about, having no idea that anything serious had happened.