Enjoyed this very much. My grandfather came to the US from Ireland on Carpathia. He was very proud of the fact that a few years later it was the ship that came to the aid of Titanic. I wrote about Punch Romaine recently, the 6th course in first class dining on that last night. Thought you might enjoy!
My aunt Katie Gilnagh survived the foundering of the ship. She was 16 years of age traveling to New York in steerage. The story goes that James Farrell from her county. Longford in Ireland was instrumental in making sure she got on a life boat. She stayed in the United States and returned wants to Ireland in our late 60s. On her return airplane ride to the United States the aircraft developed engine trouble, and has landed in Newfoundland. The pilots name was Captain Smith, a coincidence but highly remarkable.
The human interest story of Senior Officer Charles Lightroller and how he took over from the captain and did everything he could to get people off the Titanic has a supernatural quality to it; like how he got sucked into one of the funnels as the ship sank but was expelled into the sea by escaping air! He lived to save lives yet again by sailing one of the small boats across the channel to rescue British soldiers at Dunkirk. Amazing human, amongst many other heroes & villains in this salient tale of woe ; all are comprehensively covered in the book ‘Unsinkable-the full story’ by Daniel Allen Butler. Highly recommend reading it!
Very sad story indeed. So many hopes and dreams went down with that ship, especially in third class. These were the poor people who dreamed of a better life in America. Many of them were Irish immigrants. So sad.
Thank you for humanizing the myth. I thoroughly appreciated both the personal perspective and the information on the less glamorous aspects of the ship.
Fascinating and heart wrenching to hear these stories first hand, and I'm always intrigued by how unresolved trauma has a habit of repeating itself in people's lives through subsequent losses. Thank you so much for sharing.
I also enjoyed this tragic but real experience, your storytelling style reminds me the used by Garcia Marquez, while depicting the details told by the protagonist, is a pleasure read stories made that way. Are you the first to publish this investigation story, or you have a background story about it that you wish to relate, to follow this one?
I think of my ancestors who were on that ship, but certainly not in first or second class. One was a sailor who perished , the other 3 had traveled from Wales to be relegated to the lower class on board, with no chance of escaping via life boats. What a lesson for the ages...is any "boat" unsinkable?
Very sad indeed. So many hopes and dreams went down with that ship. Many of the ones who perished were in third class and Irish immigrants with hopes of a much better life in America.
Well told history of these lovely and loved individuals. I was struck by some odd coincidences with the daughter. First is with sharing our given name - Marjorie (after my maternal grandmother born in 1903). Growing up my brother referred to me as “Madge” to irritate me! But then I note that your story ends with a date - February 26, 1965. I turned nine years old that day. A little eery, but I count all my blessings as I read the hard turns taken in Marjorie Collyer’s life.
Enjoyed this very much. My grandfather came to the US from Ireland on Carpathia. He was very proud of the fact that a few years later it was the ship that came to the aid of Titanic. I wrote about Punch Romaine recently, the 6th course in first class dining on that last night. Thought you might enjoy!
https://open.substack.com/pub/timetravelkitchen/p/punch-romaine?utm_source=direct&r=jkx01&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Nice piece of writing, I felt I experienced the family’s Titanic’s experience
My aunt Katie Gilnagh survived the foundering of the ship. She was 16 years of age traveling to New York in steerage. The story goes that James Farrell from her county. Longford in Ireland was instrumental in making sure she got on a life boat. She stayed in the United States and returned wants to Ireland in our late 60s. On her return airplane ride to the United States the aircraft developed engine trouble, and has landed in Newfoundland. The pilots name was Captain Smith, a coincidence but highly remarkable.
The human interest story of Senior Officer Charles Lightroller and how he took over from the captain and did everything he could to get people off the Titanic has a supernatural quality to it; like how he got sucked into one of the funnels as the ship sank but was expelled into the sea by escaping air! He lived to save lives yet again by sailing one of the small boats across the channel to rescue British soldiers at Dunkirk. Amazing human, amongst many other heroes & villains in this salient tale of woe ; all are comprehensively covered in the book ‘Unsinkable-the full story’ by Daniel Allen Butler. Highly recommend reading it!
Very sad story indeed. So many hopes and dreams went down with that ship, especially in third class. These were the poor people who dreamed of a better life in America. Many of them were Irish immigrants. So sad.
Thank you for humanizing the myth. I thoroughly appreciated both the personal perspective and the information on the less glamorous aspects of the ship.
Fascinating and heart wrenching to hear these stories first hand, and I'm always intrigued by how unresolved trauma has a habit of repeating itself in people's lives through subsequent losses. Thank you so much for sharing.
I also enjoyed this tragic but real experience, your storytelling style reminds me the used by Garcia Marquez, while depicting the details told by the protagonist, is a pleasure read stories made that way. Are you the first to publish this investigation story, or you have a background story about it that you wish to relate, to follow this one?
Enjoyed this a lot!!
Enjoyed the read. It a surreal experience. Pls check out my poem: Queen. You might find it interesting.
I think of my ancestors who were on that ship, but certainly not in first or second class. One was a sailor who perished , the other 3 had traveled from Wales to be relegated to the lower class on board, with no chance of escaping via life boats. What a lesson for the ages...is any "boat" unsinkable?
Brilliant. Simply fascinating.
Very sad indeed. So many hopes and dreams went down with that ship. Many of the ones who perished were in third class and Irish immigrants with hopes of a much better life in America.
Well told history of these lovely and loved individuals. I was struck by some odd coincidences with the daughter. First is with sharing our given name - Marjorie (after my maternal grandmother born in 1903). Growing up my brother referred to me as “Madge” to irritate me! But then I note that your story ends with a date - February 26, 1965. I turned nine years old that day. A little eery, but I count all my blessings as I read the hard turns taken in Marjorie Collyer’s life.
This was beautifully written! I’ve always found myself connected with the Titanic story. Thanks for sharing this one!
While no particular passenger’s experience resonated with me, you created such a vivid experience. Thank you.