The unsinkable Margaret Brown/Heroes of the Titanic

[Resetting]

I watched Titanic last night with my ds, and realised that coincidentally the sank in the early hours of tonight/tomorrow.

I decided to do some reading about Margaret Brown, and wow was she some kind of woman, I hadn't realised just how amazing she was.

She was enrolled in the National Women’s Suffrage Association and took an interest in politics, pre Titanic.

She helped load lifeboats, and wouldn't get in herself, until what they thought was full capacity on lifeboat 6, was reached.

She taught the other women on her lifeboat how to row, to help them keep warm, and to keep their minds occupied/spirits up.

She attempted to get the lifeboat to turn back, as she realised it could hold a lot more people. The
Quartermaster in charge, thought it was a bad idea, and after several attempts to change his mind, she then threatened to throw him overboard.

When she boarded the Carpathia, she organised a survivor's committee of first class survivor's, to help second and third class passengers.

By the time the Carpathia had docked in New York, Browns committe had already raised $278,817 (in todays money) for desitute survivor's. She organised a thank you letter to the crew of the Carpathia, and would continue her work on the committee long after.

She ran for the senate, before women had the vote, but ended her campaign early, to work with the American Committee for Devastated France.

"Margaret used her new fame as a platform to talk about issues that deeply concerned her: labour rights, women's rights, education and literacy for children, and historic preservation. During World War I, she worked with the American Committee for Devastated France to help rebuild devastated areas behind the front line, and worked with wounded French and American soldiers (the Chateau of Blerancourt, a French-American museum outside of Paris, has a commemorative plaque that bears her name). In 1932 she was awarded the French Legion of Honor for her "overall good citizenship," which included helping organize the Alliance Francais, her ongoing work in raising funds forTitanicvictims and crew, her work with Judge Ben Lindsey on the Juvenile Court of Denver, and her relief efforts during World War I."

title edited by MNHQ at OP's request.

How interesting. Thanks for sharing that. I have always admired her.

DS9 is obsessed with the sinking of the Titanic and wants us to watch A Night to Remember today. He has been marking different times of the day as would have been happening.

I always remember my late Gran being horrified by the movie Titanic. She could remember it being a big thing still talked about in her childhood and didn't feel it respectful to be making a film about it for entertainment.

Never heard of her but this is fascinating, thank you.

I am firmly down a Titanic rabbit hole at the moment. Podcasts, YouTube videos, books, I can't get enough information at the moment.

I've been very interested in the wreck since I was very young, I remember it being found very vaguely (I would of been 3 at the time) and it's just an event that has always stuck with me. I went to an exhibition, many years ago now, of items that had been salvaged from the wreck site and they actually had a piece of the hull, which I (sneakily) touched and that is a moment that I will never forget. It was so cold.

Margaret Brown was a fascinating woman!

I've not seen a night to remember, but ds wants to watch it next. I downloaded the book last night, and am on chapter 3 so far.

The author wasn't on board, but afaik he interviewed survivor's and read every report available.

It's such an interesting read already, it dives right in, starting at 10pm on 14/04/1912. I was surprised at how many things I thought were made up for the movie, actually happened, some quotes in the movie were taken directly from survivor's, such as Thomas Andrews saying it was "a mathematical certainty", that she would sink.

I know it's entertainment, but I think entertainment can be informative as well as entertaining. I thought the movie really brought to life the class division on board, and the horror of the disaster.

There's a bit in the movie when a character says "I never let it in", I think this is based on James Cameron, who was obsessed with the wreck, but it wasn't until he dived down the first time to get the shots he wanted, that the reality of it hit, and apparently he broke down in tears afterwards.

I forgot to add, Brown wasn't allowed to testify, as she was a woman, so wrote an article that was published in various newspapers, telling her version of events. I've been looking but haven't found a copy of this yet.

I have visited her home in Denver which is a museum. It’s beautifully restored and very interesting. She was an incredible woman.

Wow. Thank you so much for this, OP. I'd heard of The Unsinkable Molly Brown but had no idea why she of all the passengers had become so well-known.

Another really interesting book is the official UK government report, which is packed with detail and very readable:
The Loss of the Titanic: The Official Report into the Loss of the Titanic, London: The Stationery Office. Wow. Thank you for this, OP. I'd heard of The Unsinkable Molly Brown but had no idea why she of all the passengers had become so well-known.

Another really interesting book is the official UK government report, which is packed with detail and very readable:
The Loss of the Titanic: The Official Report into the Loss of the Titanic, London: The Stationery Office.

www.amazon.com/Loss-Titanic-Official-Report-into/dp/0108511383?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It's been reprinted several times under various covers: clearly a popular book!

This is the lovely letter she wrote to the crew of the Carpathia.

"We, the lady passengers wish to express to the captain and officers, doctors and crew of the Carpathia our grateful appreciation of their tender kindness, courtesy, and generosity after a night of grief over the loss of fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers who in their fine gallantry and chivalry sacrificed themselves to make our escape and rescue possible. To their memory, we can only make too fitting tribute.

For the woman survivors,

Margaret Brown

Mrs. William Blanchett

Mrs. George W. Stone."

She was humble, and had a great sense of humour and spirit.

She wrote to her daughter

"After being brined, salted, and pickled in mid ocean I am now high and dry... I have had flowers, letters, telegrams-people until I am befuddled. They are petitioning Congress to give me a medal... If I must call a specialist to examine my head it is due to the title of Heroine of the Titanic."

To her attorney in Denver, she wrote

"Thanks for the kind thoughts. Water was fine and swimming good. Neptune was exceedingly kind to me and I am now high and dry."

hangsangwitch I didn't know her home was a museum, I'd love to visit, if I ever got the chance.

TressiliansStone thank you for the recommendation, I'll definitely give that a read, when I've finished a night to remember, (then I'll have a look at the American report, if available).

Yes, i agree with the sentiment that the film will have drawn lots of people to exploring more. I think it was just my Gran still felt the sadness, if you know what I mean. She couldn't bring herself to watch it.

It's a story that will continue to fascinate for many generations I think. My son has been down a wormhole of all the sister ships and how and when they were built and sank. He did a project at school about it. In fact, if you have the time and inclination to listen for hours he can and will regale you with many a fact. We have been known to have to say "it's too early for Titanic facts" when we haven't even opened out eyes properly

You should go and visit the Titanic exhibition in Belfast. It's great.
There is also one in Cobh, Co Cork which is the last place Titanic set sail from

Breathmiller One of the survivors (I just noticed my autocorrect has spelt this wrong all through my posts, d'oh), was invited to the premiere, but couldn't go as it still too raw for her, I imagine s lot of older people just couldn't face it.

gabsdot45
I live about a 10 minute drive away from the exhibit, it's excellent and well worth visiting, though I haven't been to the one in Cork (maybe one day). According to the 1911 census, at least one of my great great grandfathers worked in Harland and Wollf, at the time Titanic was built, and according to my dad, another that I can't find a record for, worked there too, he did something to do with Divots? So they both probably worked on the Titanic (and other white star ships).

There's also an exhibit at the ulster folk and transport museum, that's small but fascinating.

There's a memorial statue in the grounds of Belfast city Hall, some murals around the Newtownards Road, in the East of the city, and along Royal avenue (the avenue that leads to city hall), there are now a row of monuments, each represents a ship built by the white star line here in Belfast.

So good I recommended it twice.

I'm distantly related to Wallace Hartley the leader of the orchestra. My son is obsessed with Titanic and it's always interested me in an eerie way.

Ive been watching this week the series about 'life after the Titanic', your DS if he hasnt watched it will find it interesting.

Yesterday I watche dthe programme about Mrs Brown and the Quartermaster whose relative said he was bullied by Mrs Brown. I just think she needs to accept he was a bit of a coward

There's also a plaque on the H+W Welders football/social club/bar, dedicated to the workers who died in the building of the ship. Ship yard work was damn dangerous, one of my great grandfathers died in the 70's/80's in the shipyard, when he fell off a crane, hit a piece of sheet metal being hoisted up, on his way down, and was decapitated. My newly widowed gg grandmother, didn't receive so much as a penny in compensation either .

*g grandmother, not gg

"Oldraver" we'll definitely give that a watch, ds is learning about it in school atm, (that's what put us in the notion watch the movie), and is fascinated now.

I think the movie brought it all home to him, in a way talking about it in school didn't. During that scene, when Lowe frees up space in his lifeboat, and rows back looking for survivor's amongst a sea of dead, he had a good cry, and remarked "seeing that must have been so traumatic, I bet they had nightmares about it, for the rest of their lives".

I met Milvina Dean several times as a child and I got very obsessed with the titanic after that.

Resetting I agree, the exhibition in the Transport museum is excellent

She is one of my heroines, what a bad ass.

@fednlanders - how amazing! Do you remember what she was like? What an amazing life she had, didn't she say she saw Van Gogh once and said he was smelly?

We all sat and watched "A Night To Remember " this evening. Rrally worth a watch. I sae w it when I was quite young and it had always stuck with me.

We also went to the seaside today for the first time in a long time, a fishing village with a harbour. We stood mesmerised by the high tide coming over the harbour wall. It has a statue in honour of a local fishing disaster. So, today has been an ode to the beauty and power of the sea today.

I'd love to

Woops...love to take my son to the museums about the Titanic.

This came up on one of the groups I follow on FB think you might be interested.
It's a Youtube video 'Liverpool street scenes on the 15th April 1912 after the announcement that Titanic had sank'.

The Head office of the White Star lines was based in Liverpool that's why the announcement was made there.

Plus many of the crew were from Liverpool because of this.

@GizmoBasil

She is one of my heroines, what a bad ass.

@fednlanders - how amazing! Do you remember what she was like? What an amazing life she had, didn't she say she saw Van Gogh once and said he was smelly?

I do not remember too much sadly but she did used to come into the school every year and other schools in the Southampton area. She was very kind!