Miss Dagmar Jenny Ingeborg Bryhl
Miss Dagmar Jenny Ingeborg Bryhl, 20, was born on 2 October, 1891, the daughter Gustaf Gottfrid Lustig, a lawyer in Skara, Sweden.
She boarded the Titanic at Southampton with her brother Mr Kurt Arnold Gottfrid Bryhl and her fiancé Ingvar Enander. They were travelling to Rockford, IL to stay with their uncle, Oscar Lustig who lived at 511 Pearl Street. Kurt, who, unlike Dagmar and Ingvar was emigrating to America, acted as interpreter for them.
After the Titanic struck an iceberg Dagmar and the two men made it to the Boat Deck. Dagmar had been in a hurry and had not put on her shoes. Ingvar had promptly brought with him her shoes when he saw her come in her red slippers. They went to the port side of the boat deck accompanied by Henrik Kvillner. Dagmar got her shoes and Ingvar put the slippers in his Ulster pocket. Dagmar didn't remember the number on the boat, but she noticed that it was not even half full when lowered. Looking up she could see Ingvar and Kurt and beside them Henrik Kvillner standing on the deck wearing lifebelts.
Dagmar was probably rescued in lifeboat 12.
Upon her arrival in New York Dagmar wrote to her uncle in Rockford little knowing that he was already in New York searching for her:
| Dearest Uncle, As uncle has, of course, read in the newspaper, the Titanic has gone down. I don't know whether my fiance or my brother, Kurt, are saved. Evidently they are not for most of the men went under. I was saved and have been taken in charge by good people. I am at a hospital, but am not sick, although very feeble. I have lost everything. I have no clothes, and so cannot get up, but must lay in bed for present. I would have been glad if I had been permitted to die, because life no longer has any value for me since I lost my beloved. I feel myself so dreadfully alone in this land. These people are certainly good, but nevertheless do not understand me. Could uncle possible come here, if it would not be too difficult or expensive? I would rather wish uncle to come, because father has spoken so much of you that I feel I know you best. I need someone to help me to rights. Perhaps uncle thinks I ask too much but I feel myself so bewildered and lonely. With the heartiest greetings to all relatives. Uncle's affectionate, Dagmar |
Mr Lustig came to New York searching for Dagmar at the Scandinavian Immigrants' Home. However, he was unable to find her (he reported this in a telegram back to Rockford). Fortunately the hospital where Dagmar had been recuperating had also sent a telegram to Rockford telling Dagmar's relatives where she was being cared for. The relatives telegrammed back to Mr Lustig and told him where he could find Dagmar. Eventually they were reunited and travelled on to Chicago (?Rockford), IL on 24 April. However Dagmer was completely broken down and shortly afterward decided to return to Sweden. The White Star line paid for a ticket on the Adriatic which arrived at Liverpool on 12 May. According to the Liverpool Post Dagmar appeared to have recovered but now and then seemed to fall into trance, brought on by some unpleasant memory.
Dagmar finally made it back to Sweden where she later married a teacher, Eric Holmberg and settled in Kungsälv. She died in August 1969.
References and Sources
Claes-Göran Wetterholm (1988, 1996) Titanic
Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL), 17 April, 1912
Liverpool Post, 20 May, 1912
Credits
George Behe, USA
Debbie Hanson, USA
Leif Snellman, Finland
Homer Thiel, USA
Sign in : Register : Sign Out
Terms of Use | Permissions | Add to the Encyclopedia | Contact the Editor | Privacy Policy
© 1996-2008 Encyclopedia Titanica
Become an Editor
Help us to improve this biography
Summary
Born: Friday 2nd October 1891
Age: 20 years
Marital Status: Single.
Last Residence: in Skara Västergötland Sweden
2nd Class passenger
First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 236853 , £26
Destination: Rockford Illinois United States
Rescued (boat 12)
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Died: August 1969
Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mr Kurt Arnold Gottfrid Bryhl
Travelling Companions
.htmlMr Ingvar Enander Companion
Related Images
Related Articles
TITANIC'S SURVIVOR COMES TO ROCKFORD Rockford Republic
DAGMAR BRYHL TELLS OF TITANIC DISASTER Rockford Daily Register Gazette
TITANIC SURVIVOR ARRIVES IN ROCKFORD Rockford Morning Star
Thanks for a Titanic survivor New York Times
Titanic survivor had Rockford connection Rockford Register Star