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Message |
    
James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 443
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 4:38 am: | 
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To everyone interested in the Lusitania, the Pritchard letters, available from The Imperial War Museum are a must have. After hope of recovering his body had likely been lost, the mother of second class passenger Richard Preston Pritchard began writing to seemingly every survivor she could track down, as well as relatives onshore and Cunard staff members, in an attempt to learn as much as she could about her son's final moments.
The preserved letters read like a novel, and what is particularly interesting is how her initial batch of letters resulted in a waterfall of "leads" on how to track down more survivors- Norah Bretherton, for instance, provided a half dozen names and addresses, most of whom surface further into the stack. Reading between the lines, we learn that Mrs. Pritchard feared that Richard had been trapped below when the ship sank, as a large number of the survivors reassure her that such was likely not the case. One even assures her that "drowning is an easy death- at a time like that you think of nothing" (Miss Painton).
Highlights from a sample letter:
2 Princes Sq
Bayswater
Dear Mrs Pritchard
I received your two letters safely. Am extremely sorry not to have answered before, but I have not recovered from the fearful shock and tragedy of that awful affair "the sinking of the Lusitania" and writing about it is still very painful to me. No doubt you have heard of my terrible experience and how when the ship went down it carried my darling baby girl and self with it and how I held her in my arms under water until I became unconscious and she was dragged away from me and I have never seen her since. Twice I went under the water and the second time on coming to the surface I held onto a piece of wreckage and drifted around amongst the dead for some considerable time.....
(then talks about not remembering Richard for several pages) I feel I cannot write any more just now, it distresses me too much. My darling babe who I have lost was my only child and all the world to me. Since she has been taken from me in such a cruel way my whole life seems different. I loved her so much and at times I feel I cannot go on living without her. I know too what you must be suffering and my heart goes out in sympathy to you. I have written this letter as bereaved mother to bereved mother, and am sure you will understand.....yours sincerly Lillian Pye.
(Which is odd, since on all surviving records, including her Ellis Island entry from the fall of 1914, she was identified as "Charlotte" Pye. Perhaps like victim Nancie Grandidge, who went by the name of Lydia in her personal life, she only used her given name officially.)
The other letters range from intriguing (Miss Hardy rescued her camera but claimed that "the pictures did not come out and would be of no use to you" but is contradicted in an earlier letter by a friend who claimed not only to have seen the photos but also that they were to be published shortly) to infuriating (Oliver Bernard writes two letters- the first nearly unreadable, the second unbelievably rude and insensitive) to Hollywood-like (it seems that Grace French, who wrote a sheaf of letters to Mrs Pritchard had somewhat of a crush on Richard) and, in a few cases, tedious. As one reads through the letters, an appealing picture of Richard emerges from the handful of survivors who remembered him -Olive North, for instance, was "roped" (in the cowboy sense) by him one afternoon.
One can obtain copies by contacting The Imperial War Museum via e-mail. The sheer volume of the letters makes it rather costly, but since they read better than any Lusitania book published since 1956 and contain an archive's worth of information, research leads, etc, it is well worth the the cost. |
Brian Meister
Member
Username: davit16
Post Number: 80
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 8:17 pm: |
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Yes, Jim, the letters are indeed wonderful.
However, they are being catalogued at this time
and it took quite a bit to get to see them.
They have told me it will be several months
before they are to be available to queries.
I've already fit many of them into my collection
and will finish up when they are ready.
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Martin Owen Cahill
Member
Username: martin
Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 1:22 pm: |
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This is quite something.
Does the IWM have any plans to publish these letters as a book? Failing that, what do they ask for a copy?
I'd love to see the photos referred to in James message.
Martin |
Cliff Mark Barry
Member
Username: cb139
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 2:41 pm: |
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MARTIN- HAVE JUST ORDERED A COMPLETE SET OH PHOTOCOPIES OF THESE LETTERS THE COST IS £60.00+ £2.50 ADMIN CHARGE. IT WORKS OUT AT .33P PER A4. TOTAL NUMBER OF LETTERS IS APPROX 150 ACCORDING TO IWM
HOPE THIS IS OF USE
CLIFF |
Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 1:13 am: |
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Hello all,
I must say this is incredibly interesting. Mrs. Pye was a resident from my current home of Edmonton. I just recently completed compiling a list of the known Edmonton passengers both for my Social Studies class and for the resource department of Fort Edmonton Park (where I am currently employed). Once again thank-you for posting this. I hope it is no problem if I add this to my report? It is likely the most tragic local story from the Lusitania disaster. Incidentaly there where 17 (18 counting Mrs. Pye's child) passengers from Edmonton, that I can find.
~Kevin Spaans |
Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 1:17 am: |
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Oh and I will try to find any information about Charlotte (Lillian?) Pye from our resource department, it could take quite a bit of research though, but I'll see what I can do.
Thanks again
~Kevin Spaans
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Martin Owen Cahill
Member
Username: martin
Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 1:30 am: |
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Thanks Cliff,
That would be nz $201. so I will cool my heels a bit until UK goes Euro or my country's currency becomes worth more than the scrap value of its dollar coin! Sometimes I would like to put our so called finance wizards up against a wall for what they did to our currency.
I am not normaly this intemperate,
cheers
Martin
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James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 445
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 2:44 am: |
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Kevin- There was at least one photo of Mrs Pye and Marjorie, her daughter, published in the Edmonton papers soon after the sinking. She entered Canada via Ellis Island during the autumn of 1914, and her husband ran a tailoring business called the Pan-Vesta Pantorium.
Have you found anything on the Mainman family? That was an interesting story, with the family returning as a group to England to claim a unexpected (although the newspapers might have been exaggerating on that detail) large inheritance. |
Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:06 am: |
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James,
My goodness! Thank-you so much for the extra info. I'll have to make a trip to the Edmonton Archives soon and leaf through the old Edmonton Journals! We are looking to expand on 1905 Street (1890-1915 era) and 1920 Street (1916-1929 era) at FED, perhaps Pan-Vest Pantorium could be a possibility, I'll have a look through our literature at the park.
In fact no, I hadn't found much on the Mainman family. I think I have a few weekends of research to do! You have sparked my interest even further.
I had heard, however, that a Mr. Soren Sorensen of Edmonton played poker in the Second Class Smoke Room until the very last minute (probibly an exaggeration).
Thanks again, this forum has really been a wealth of information.
~Kevin Spaans
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James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 447
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:24 am: |
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Hi, Kevin: I had the name slightly wrong- it was Pan-Co-Vesta Pantorium (hardly an improvement) and the address was given only as "First Street."
John V. Mainman was body #118, and was buried in common grave B, Cobh.
Twins Elizabeth and Edwin Mainman, age 7, survived. Given their age, it is possible that they might have lived until fairly recently- or remotely possible that one might still be living.
Molly Mainman, 16, was the only other survivor of the family.
Marjorie Pye was body # 239, and was buried in a private grave (545) along with body #240, an unidentified female baby. Whether that was an act of kindness on the part of the Pye family, or ecomony by the Cunard Line remains to be established. |
Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:37 am: |
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Thank-you again James,
I will research the Pan-Co-Vesta shop and it's location. In Edmonton all streets were named (ie Jasper Ave., McDougall Ave., etc.) until a number system was developed in the late teens early twenties, I think. I do believe I know where First Street (which was it's first name, now possibly one-hundred and something street)was. I will be sure to add the info about Marjorie.
As for the Mainmans. I was aware of their ages and there whereabouts after the disaster, however I did not know what grave John was buried in, so that is appretiated information.
Thanks again! I'll have to pull out my FED Costumed Interpreter information binder and search for anything else. I hadn't realized that there were so many interesting stories so close to home.
~Kevin Spaans |
James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 448
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:40 am: |
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MORE FROM EDMONTON:
The Mainman family lived at 10535 Jasper Avenue, and were heading for Exeter, Devonshire, England.
Charlotte/ Lillian's married name was Mrs. William Pye.
EDMONTON SURVIVORS (From 1915 Edmonton papers)
Mrs. A.E. Adams
Joan Adams (Daughter of Mrs A.E.)
Miss Dorothy Dodd
Edwin Mainman
Elizabeth Mainman
Molly Mainman
Soren Sorenson
Violet James
Charlotte/Lillian Pye
LOST
C.D. Nicholson
Marjorie Pye
Miss Nellie Woolden
Colin Cately
D.B. Williams
Corporal R.I. Hendrickson
Archibald McIlroy
A.R. Mainman
Mrs. A.R. Mainman
John V. Mainman
A.S. Mainman |
James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 449
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:43 am: |
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What DID happen to the Mainman children who survived? I've been meaning to track down how the estate was disposed of, etc, but haven't had the time. |
Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:01 am: |
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James,
Thanks again. Boy it's interesting how the subject quickly went from the Pritcahrd letters to the "Edmonton connection". Well it's all very much appreciated, and all of the info you've given me is going toward the report I'm working on. The Mainman home MAY still be in existance as I believe there are some turn-of-the-century middle class homes at the west end of Jasper. I'll have to have a look.
Thanks again. I think I may have missed one of these names during my research, so I appreciate your posting them.
~Kevin Spaans
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James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 450
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:14 am: |
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You can also add:
John Ellis 8302 111th Avenue, en route to Bradford, England. Carpenter. Survived. Wife remained in Edmonton.
Dorothy Dodd had worked as a nurse at Royal Alexandra Hospital, and was returning to Exeter, Essex, England. According to the papers she left no family in Edmonton.
A telegram from Mrs. Pye to her husband was reproduced in the papers: "Safe. Baby Gone." |
James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 451
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:33 am: |
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Returning, for a moment, to the Pritchard letters. If they WERE to be published as a book, the ideal format would be to obtain photographs of as many of the people with whom Mrs. Pritchard corresponded as possible, and frame each letter with a biographical sketch.
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Geoff Whitfield
Member
Username: geoff
Post Number: 606
Registered: 11-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:00 pm: |
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Don't try looking for Exeter in Essex - it's Devonshire. |
Cliff Mark Barry
Member
Username: cb139
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 8:49 pm: |
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according to the Western Morning Newspaper in Plymouth Dorothy Dodd visited her brother at Paris Street Exeter. The Paper also added that she missed sailing on the Titanic because her application for passage arrived to late
hope this is of use
Cliff |
James A. Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 452
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 12:52 am: |
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About the Exeter, Essex thing- yes, I am aware that Exeter is in Devonshire- witness post 448 in which those words are used in conjunction. However, in the May 8th Edmonton Bulletin, in the article I was paraphrasing, Page 1 "Two Edmontonians Names in The First List Of Survivors" her destination was given as Exeter, Essex:
Miss Dorothy Dodd, formerly a nurse at the Royal Alexandria Hospital, was on her way to her home in Exeter, Essex. She has no relatives here.
and I, regretably, did not make the correction.
A day or so later, while discussing the Mainmans, the Bulletin mentioned that the previous Friday an article had run about the family and their sudden windfall. I checked, but did not find the article, in the weeks leading up to the disaster.
The Edmonton Journal, for May 8th, manages to place Exeter properly while discussing the Mainman family, and features a nice photo of Charlotte/Lillian and Marjorie Pye as well.
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Kevin Spaans
Member
Username: kevin_spaans
Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 1:16 am: |
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Thank you Geoff, Cliff, and James,
All of the information has been used for the list I'm putting together. I had not heard that anecdote about the Titanic, and, while it may not be completely true, I will include it as it is very interesting.
James, now I know what to look for at the archives. I think I may search through the still photo collection to see if there are any other pictures of the other passengers, it should be easy to find one of Archibald McIlroy as he was fairly active in the community.
Thanks to you all, your input is greatly appreciated. This passenger list has gone from a two page reference to an ever-expanding report!
Thanks again and happy Victoria Day (for those under monarchial rule)
~Kevin Spaans |
Geoff Whitfield
Member
Username: geoff
Post Number: 608
Registered: 11-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 8:39 am: |
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There is a memorial tablet to the memory of the Mainman family in All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Edmonton.
It reads "In loving memory of John and Alfred Mainman, sons of Mr & Mrs J R Mainman & for seven years faithful workers in this Parish, who with their parents, lost their lives in the Lusitania disaster May 7th 1915. Erected by friends.
Also a brass font ewar presented by Mrs Pye, in memory of her infant daughter, drowned in the Lusitania disaster. |
Ren-Horng James Wang
Member
Username: rjwang
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 11:41 pm: |
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Hey all,
I'm looking into these as an investment (hoping that I'll get a response from the IWM this time) and I was wondering if, for starters, there were letters that could be highly recommended? I'm not exactly sure if I have the means to buy a copy of every single one of them at the time.
Other questions:
Did these letters every bring closure to Mrs. Prichard? How did she know how to track down other survivors and correspond with them? It's just that I'm wondering how they could get so much information without having something like the internet readily available at their fingertips.
AIM: Aravantis
ICQ: 164747622
http://rmslusitania.info
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Jim Kalafus
Member
Username: jak
Post Number: 1121
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 11:59 pm: |
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The letters have a chain letter like quality. Norah Bretherton, for instance, gave several addresses for other survivors, and those survivors in turn gave more forwarding addresses.
The letters taper off in early 1916. In the file there are several letters FROM the Prichards which were returned as undeliverable and one does not get a sense, from reading them, that the family found closure. Their greatest fear was that he was trapped below decks. They received repeated assurances from survivors that he hadn't been -and a few callous letters which assured them he probably HAD. Alice Middleton, BTW, gives the last recorded sighting of Richard alive-she was alone on deck "her senses nearly gone" and he calmed her and, as I recall, helped her to ladder to a higher deck before disappearing. |
