Titanic
The Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden UK-USA trip. At midnight 15th Apr 1912 Cunard liner Carpathia received a message saying Titanic was sinking. Carpathia’s captain altered course and steamed towards the Titanic, 93 ks away, arriving at 4am. The Titanic lifeboats arrived at the Carpathia's side with the survivors. The captain ordered his ship to sail around the disaster hoping for more survivors, but no-one was found. Grief increased with realisation of the loss: 705 people lived & c1,500 died.
Survivors from the Titanic in a lifeboat.
Wiki
4 days later, as the Carpathia sailed into N.Y Harbour, passengers saw Manhattan’s skyscrapers and heard the mournful bells tolling. On the pier, thousands waited in silence.
For survivors, the pain reverberated throughout their lives. Disassociation was common, so over the years it was not surprising that at least 10 survivors suicided. Nowadays we'd call it PTSD.
Newspaper coverage was everywhere, every day
Pinterest
Even 1st Class survivors did not escape horror. 18-year-old Madeleine Astor was travelling with her rich husband, John Jacob Astor. Recently pregnant, she was returning from her European honeymoon when her husband drowned. Madeleine became a HUGE trust fund heir, as long as she was single. The young widow was grieving, until she decided to marry a man she’d long known. Despite their two babies, by 1932 Madeleine was comfortable financially but bored. And mentally disturbed by Titanic.
In Jan 1932 Madeleine met a handsome Italian prize fighter, Enzo Fiermonte who was infatuated by her wealth and, although both were already married, they embarked on a messy relationship. After their own Nov 1933 marriage, Enzo faced gaol regarding compulsory military service while Madeleine faced bigamy charges as Enzo wasn’t legally divorced. In May 1938 she filed divorce papers for extreme physical abuse. Worse, the boxer sold of their marriage story to the vulgar True Story magazine, damaging Madeleine. In Mar 1940 she overdosed at 47.
Wiki
4 days later, as the Carpathia sailed into N.Y Harbour, passengers saw Manhattan’s skyscrapers and heard the mournful bells tolling. On the pier, thousands waited in silence.
For survivors, the pain reverberated throughout their lives. Disassociation was common, so over the years it was not surprising that at least 10 survivors suicided. Nowadays we'd call it PTSD.
Even 1st Class survivors did not escape horror. 18-year-old Madeleine Astor was travelling with her rich husband, John Jacob Astor. Recently pregnant, she was returning from her European honeymoon when her husband drowned. Madeleine became a HUGE trust fund heir, as long as she was single. The young widow was grieving, until she decided to marry a man she’d long known. Despite their two babies, by 1932 Madeleine was comfortable financially but bored. And mentally disturbed by Titanic.
In Jan 1932 Madeleine met a handsome Italian prize fighter, Enzo Fiermonte who was infatuated by her wealth and, although both were already married, they embarked on a messy relationship. After their own Nov 1933 marriage, Enzo faced gaol regarding compulsory military service while Madeleine faced bigamy charges as Enzo wasn’t legally divorced. In May 1938 she filed divorce papers for extreme physical abuse. Worse, the boxer sold of their marriage story to the vulgar True Story magazine, damaging Madeleine. In Mar 1940 she overdosed at 47.
The Astors drove from their honeymoon to the Titanic
Wiki
17-year-old Jack Thayer, who'd been travelling in first-class with his parents, jumped over a rail at the last moment. The shock of the water forced him right down, yet he survived! Thayer lost his father in the disaster, and after returning to America with his survivor mother, resumed normal life. In 1913 he met a woman whom he married in 1917. 6 children were born, even when Thayer was fighting in France. He witnessed mass deaths in the war-front, but at home he remained silent. And silent about the Titanic. In 1937 Jack became Pennsylvania University’s treasurer and then financial vice-president. But in 1940, after writing his Titanic story, fragmented memories triggered a new wave of taunting nervous emotion. In Oct 1943, he found that his 22-year-old son, co-pilot of a bomber, was killed when they plunged into the Pacific. Then his mother died, on the exact date of the Titanic disaster. Thayer’s depression overwhelmed him and in Sept 1945, he slashed his throat.
Film star Dorothy Gibson survived the Titanic with her mother and immediately met her wealthy married lover film pioneer, Jules Brulatour. Her film of the disaster starred herself, filming beginning in New Jersey’s Fort Lee studio and aboard a derelict freighter in NY Harbour. Wearing the same silk evening dress she’d worn the night the ship went down, she seemed to lose her reason in the film, Saved from the Titanic. But Gibson wasn’t acting. She broke down on set because of her inability to reconcile her lived behaviour with her acting fantasy. While in the lifeboat, she’d apparently colluded in the refusal to rescue the dying. Soon after their wedding in July 1917, both sought divorce.
Wiki
17-year-old Jack Thayer, who'd been travelling in first-class with his parents, jumped over a rail at the last moment. The shock of the water forced him right down, yet he survived! Thayer lost his father in the disaster, and after returning to America with his survivor mother, resumed normal life. In 1913 he met a woman whom he married in 1917. 6 children were born, even when Thayer was fighting in France. He witnessed mass deaths in the war-front, but at home he remained silent. And silent about the Titanic. In 1937 Jack became Pennsylvania University’s treasurer and then financial vice-president. But in 1940, after writing his Titanic story, fragmented memories triggered a new wave of taunting nervous emotion. In Oct 1943, he found that his 22-year-old son, co-pilot of a bomber, was killed when they plunged into the Pacific. Then his mother died, on the exact date of the Titanic disaster. Thayer’s depression overwhelmed him and in Sept 1945, he slashed his throat.
Film star Dorothy Gibson survived the Titanic with her mother and immediately met her wealthy married lover film pioneer, Jules Brulatour. Her film of the disaster starred herself, filming beginning in New Jersey’s Fort Lee studio and aboard a derelict freighter in NY Harbour. Wearing the same silk evening dress she’d worn the night the ship went down, she seemed to lose her reason in the film, Saved from the Titanic. But Gibson wasn’t acting. She broke down on set because of her inability to reconcile her lived behaviour with her acting fantasy. While in the lifeboat, she’d apparently colluded in the refusal to rescue the dying. Soon after their wedding in July 1917, both sought divorce.
After Brulatour married an actress in 1923, Dorothy left US! Gibson was living the dream life.. until WW2! She and her mother, believing Hitler would win, signed themselves up with the Fascists. Gibson fell in love with Antonio Ramos, press attaché for the Spanish Embassy in Paris. Her mother idolised Mussolini and stayed in Florence. But when Germany invaded Holland and Belgium, why didn’t they return to the US? The Titanic was a factor. Still in Florence in 1944, Gibson tried to escape via the Swiss border. But she was arrested, taken to a Nazi camp then imprisoned at San Vittore. She eventually crossed into Switzerland, exhausted. Post-war Gibson suffered from extremely high blood pressure and survivor guilt, living in Paris and dying in Feb 1946
Six months after the Titanic sank in 1912, Annie Robinson, a stewardess on the Titanic, threw herself overboard from a steamship after hearing its foghorn blow in Boston Harbour.
Dr Washington Dodge shot himself in the head in 1919. Dodge was under investigation in a Watergate-type corruption probe. Strain over this litigation brought against him as the result of his connection with the Poulsen Wireless Co is said to have caused him to suicide.
Dr Henry William Frauenthal was big, and when he jumped into a Titanic lifeboat, he had smashed a woman passenger’s ribs when he landed. In Mar 1927 he suicided from a 7th floor hospital window.
Six months after the Titanic sank in 1912, Annie Robinson, a stewardess on the Titanic, threw herself overboard from a steamship after hearing its foghorn blow in Boston Harbour.
Dr Washington Dodge shot himself in the head in 1919. Dodge was under investigation in a Watergate-type corruption probe. Strain over this litigation brought against him as the result of his connection with the Poulsen Wireless Co is said to have caused him to suicide.
Dr Henry William Frauenthal was big, and when he jumped into a Titanic lifeboat, he had smashed a woman passenger’s ribs when he landed. In Mar 1927 he suicided from a 7th floor hospital window.
Juha Niskanen was a 3rd-class Titanic survivor en route from Finland to Boston. He moved to California to pan for gold but after failing to find gold in 1927, he set his cabin on fire and then killed himself.
Fred Fleet, sailor on the Titanic lookout
Wiki
Frederick Fleet was the lookout sailor when the Titanic struck the iceberg and warned the captain. Fleet returned to the sea and served on the Olympic etc before leaving ships in 1936. In Dec 1964 Fleet’s wife died and her brother, with whom they lived, threw Fleet out! The ex-sailor hanged himself in the garden.
John Morgan Davies’ death, by deliberate barbiturate overdose, was reported in Dec 1951 in Daily Mining Gazette. The paper stated that he died suddenly in Detroit Sunday morning, acknowledging his experience in surviving the Titanic disaster. And despondent over a divorce.
3-year-old Phyllis Jane Quick arrived home in Detroit after surviving the Titanic in Lifeboat 11 with her mother, Jane. Mum then travelled the country and told audiences of her family’s Titanic experiences. Phyllis grew up, married, had children and lived in the same place for 40 years. In 1954, at 45, she shot herself in the head.
Other travellers and crew who died may or may not have been from suicide. What a tragedy. Thank you to Stephen Spignesi and Andrew Wilson.
Wiki
Frederick Fleet was the lookout sailor when the Titanic struck the iceberg and warned the captain. Fleet returned to the sea and served on the Olympic etc before leaving ships in 1936. In Dec 1964 Fleet’s wife died and her brother, with whom they lived, threw Fleet out! The ex-sailor hanged himself in the garden.
John Morgan Davies’ death, by deliberate barbiturate overdose, was reported in Dec 1951 in Daily Mining Gazette. The paper stated that he died suddenly in Detroit Sunday morning, acknowledging his experience in surviving the Titanic disaster. And despondent over a divorce.
3-year-old Phyllis Jane Quick arrived home in Detroit after surviving the Titanic in Lifeboat 11 with her mother, Jane. Mum then travelled the country and told audiences of her family’s Titanic experiences. Phyllis grew up, married, had children and lived in the same place for 40 years. In 1954, at 45, she shot herself in the head.
Other travellers and crew who died may or may not have been from suicide. What a tragedy. Thank you to Stephen Spignesi and Andrew Wilson.
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20 comments:
Psychological scars dig deep into human conscience. Scary to learn their stories.
Hi Hels - such a major tragedy ... as above scary to learn their stories - particularly back then when empathy was in short supply. Cheers Hilary
The term "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" has become a common diagnosis since its first appearance in a 1980 publication by the American Psychiatric Association. But the term "Shell Shock" was already recognised by the soldiers in World War One, including fatigue, damaged sight and hearing, tremor, confusion and nightmares. Certainly doctors could have missed the psychiatric components, but how did they not take the physical symptoms seriously?
Survivor guilt is a terrible burden. Sad to learn of a small child growing up and living her life and then killing herself.
This is very sad . I am reading a book at the moment by a Psychiatrist about the Physical effects on the brain of trauma. Its called "The body keeps a score " by Bessle Van der Kalk.
The effects on brain function are profound and the traumatic events are relived in real time over and over again . Its exhausting and very disturbing to people trying to live a normal life . These events can be triggered by sounds and events as we see in the cases sited above . Its a very good book and very readable . I think its a book w all should read because trauma exacts a terrible toll in the lives of those around us . Understanding what is going on for people in this situation is so important and maybe makes us better people .
roentare
I imagine that when millions of young men went off to war, they understood that half of them would be wounded or killed. That, after all, was the goal of war.
But the Titanic was a dream come true for most of the passengers. For the passengers and crew to see 1,500 people die was beyond understanding. I would have been psychologically scarred for life, for sure :(
Hilary
I wonder if empathy really was in short supply or if there was no understanding of, or services for severe trauma cases. At least they didn't call it malingering, as they did to damaged soldiers during WW1.
But you reminded me of another thing. Some of the suicides took decades to occur after the Titanic went down. Did nobody discuss the mental chaos in all that time?
Dr Joe
right! I must look for any analysis of Titanic survivors in the psychiatric literature and see what they understood. If I find anything, I will add it to the post.
jabblog
Thank you. Survivor guilt is an important concept that I didn't see mentioned anywhere in the vast newspaper coverage and journal articles about the post-Titanic year. Imagine men drowning in order to put their wives and children safely into the life boats.
mem
"The Body Keeps a Score" by Bessle Van der Kalk sounds perfect reading for me just now. And not just for this post. I personally suffered a deeply traumatic event 7 years ago and the effects on my brain and heart ever since have been appalling. Even sleep is impossible.
Yes I too am having a tough time with someone very dear to me . It helps to understand .
mem
Sorry to hear that. I realise not everyone goes through an unthinkable tragedy like WW1 or the sinking of a huge ship, yet everyone suffers the consequence of normal-ish events that are deeply traumatic in their personal lives eg still births, loss of beloved parents, being whipped by the school principal etc etc. Perhaps we should be treating normal-ish events with much more care in this day and age.
PTSD, what nonsense some say. Just get on with it. It's the past, forget it. The 20th century really seemed to be a time of PTSD well before it had a name. It ought not be ignored and those who may suffer need to be sought out and treated appropriately.
Of course as usual, I did not know about the events you presented to us.
Andrew
neither did I know about the suicides. But did the White Star Line want to avoid court cases brought by the families of passengers and crew who died in 1912? Apparently not. The drownings condemned many surviving families to lifetimes of poverty; the widows and their children had to rely on charities, unless they married again.
So we can be fairly confident that the White Star Line were NOT called upon to pay off the families of passengers who suffered in silence and suicided years later. I don't even know if anyone (the Company, doctors, insurance companies, employers, families) asked the survivors how they were coping with life.
After going through a disaster, one either keeps silent about it, or declines mentally/physically. My parents kept silent most of the time about the Holocaust, and that probably helped them survive and go on with their life.
Yes I think we are becoming more open to accepting that trauma is seen in many situations . It depends on temperament , experience and individual resilience as to what is perceived by the brain as traumatic . I think too often though ,people get stuck in judging whether someone should be traumatized or not rather than accepting that they just are and that that has consequences for them and perhaps their family . we need to focus on prevention by building a kinder society and solutions which research is on the way to doing .
DUTA
Agreed...people who lived through unthinkable tragedy may not have recognised where their psychiatric ill health came from or, more likely, did not want to relive the pain again through discussion. My mother in law in Sydney used to wrap small pieces of food in silver foil and hide them under mattresses etc for years, in case she was taken back to a camp in Eastern Europe. But she never EVER mentioned her parents and siblings being exterminated.
But I do think that even if people cannot understand or analyse their _own_ traumas, they will have to depend on those around them to support them psychiatrically. Otherwise the survivors might not survive, as we have seen.
mem
normally if people heard they were being judgemental about others' traumas, they would deny it straight away. But I have seen many women not take their rapists to court because the police or lawyers understated the seriousness of the crime. Let alone their grandmother surviving an luxurious ship having an accident at sea.
If quality research does come up with solutions, then those solutions will have to be offered to all traumatised individuals, regardless of other peoples' judgemental attitudes.
Bom dia e bom final de semana. Obrigado pela visita e comentário.
Excelente matéria de qualidade.
Luiz Gomes
Luiz
isn't it amazing that I knew a great deal about the Titanic, but never knew about the suicide of survivors. Thank you to the two writers I cited in the post.
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