Mr Maximilian Josef Frölicher-Stehli

 

© Nicolas F. Frölicher, Switzerland

Mr Maximilian ("Max") Josef Frölicher-Stehli, 61, was born on 24 September 1851. In the early time of his career he was employed by R. Stehli-Hausheer & Sohn and visited regularly New York. In 1884 he was promoted to a managing clerk. On 5 September 1885 he married Margaretha ("Gritli") Emerentia Stehli, 21, the daughter of his employer Emil Stehli-Hirt. In 1892 he became a partner of the silkfactory. Between 1886 and 1894 five children were born to the couple. They lived at "Villa Riesmatt" 6 Mittelstrasse, Zürich, Switzerland.

In the beginning of 1912 he wanted to visit the dependancies in USA and Canada and also old friends. he booked for his wife, his daughter Hedwig Margaritha Frölicher and himself on the Titanic and bought ticket number 13567 from his agent: Im Obersteg & Co, Basel for 2100 Swiss francs (£79 4s).

Max Frölicher and his wife boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, they occupied cabin B-41.

On sunday evening, April 14th, Max Frölicher, Alfons Simonius and Max Staehelin sat in the first class smoke room and played cards till short after 11 pm. Around 11.30 pm they went to their staterooms.

Being in bed but not asleep he and his wife felt the collision. He got really upset. Max and his daughter, who came into her parents room, dressed and ran up to A-Deck. They looked over the rails to see the iceberg. After a while they went back to their cabins. Some time after Max Frölicher rose his daughter and said that a steward put her mother a life-preserver on, she shall do the same. The three moved up to the Boat-Deck. Standing near to lifeboat 5, the woman were helped into it. Shortly before the boat was lowered also Max was allowed to enter.

"While we were rowing away from the steamer, her lights still burning brightly, with the iceberg as a background, the scene was remarkable and fascinating. The steamer slowly sank, bow first. The water was covered with small boats and rafts. "The Titanic sank until the forward half was submerged and then there was a loud crash. The lights went out. Others who left the boat after we did, say she broke in two. "After the boat had sunk we began to search for food. There was nothing to eat in the lifeboats. We could not even find fresh water. Fortunately one of the gentlemen had some stimulants with him, which was given to the women."

On board of the Carpathia Maximilian Frölicher wrote three telegrams, the first to his parents-in-law Margaretha and Emil Stehli-Hirt:

Stehlihirt Zurich
All three save on bord Carpatia
Frölicher,

and:

Stehlihirt Newyork Greene Street
All three safe on bord Carpatia
Frölicher,

The first was transmitted at 6.52 pm on 18 April, the second at 7.6 pm.

In New York Maximilian Frölicher-Stehli was awaited by his son Max Frolicher and his brother-in-law Emil Stehli. He immediately went to business in that town, where he had a lot of friends, and where he had lived from 1876 until 1884.

On 6 May 1912 he travelled together with his son to Toronto and Montreal. After a week they were back in New York. They visited their company Stehli & Co. and found all to the best.

The Frölichers went back to Europe on 21 May on board the Kronprinz Wilhelm.

Maximilian Josef Frölicher-Stehli suddenly died from heart failure on 22 November 1913. He was buried in the family-grave at Enzenbühl cemetery, Zürich.

References and Sources

Newark Evening News, 16 April 1912, Article
Günter Bäbler (1998) Reise auf der Titanic. Chronos, Zürich
John Booth & Sean Coughlan (1993) Titanic Signals of Disaster. White Star Publicatons, Westbury, Wiltshire. ISBN 0 9518190 1 1
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port Of Arrival (Date: 18th-19th June 1912, Ship: Carpathia) - National Archives, NWCTB 85 T715 Vol 4183
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 19, 1912

Credits
Nicolas Frölicher, Switzerland
Phillip Gowan, USA
Hermann Söldner, Germany

     

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Summary
Born: Wednesday 24th September 1851
Age: 60 years
Last Residence: in Zürich Switzerland
1st Class passenger
First Embarked: Cherbourg on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 13567 , £79 4s
Cabin No. B41
Rescued (boat 5)
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Died: Saturday 22nd November 1913

Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mrs Margaretha Emerentia Frölicher-Stehli

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