Master Robert Douglas Spedden
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Photo: © Leighton H. Coleman III
Master Robert Douglas Spedden was born in New York City on 19 November 1905, the only child of Frederic Oakley Spedden and Daisy Spedden. The family lived in Tuxedo Park, NY.
In late 1911, Douglas accompanied his parents when they sailed for Algiers on the Caronia. He was attended by his private nurse, Elizabeth Burns, whom he called "Muddie Boons," because he had trouble pronouncing her name. From Algiers the family moved on, first to Monte Carlo and later to Paris. In April 1912, at the end of their European holiday, the family and their servants boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg for the return home, Douglas, and presumably Muddie Boons, occupied cabin E-40.
Following the collision with the iceberg, Douglas was woken by Muddie who told him that they were taking a "trip to see the stars." The Spedden party made their way to the starboard side of the boat deck, where they boarded lifeboat 3. After all the available women and children had been loaded the men were then allowed to join their families. Douglas slept through the night. When he woke at dawn he saw the icebergs all around and exclaimed "Oh, Muddie, look at the beautiful North Pole with no Santa Claus on it." All survivors in Lifeboat 3 were rescued by the Carpathia.
In 1913, Daisy wrote and illustrated a storybook that she gave to Douglas for Christmas. "My Story" was told through the eyes of a toy bear, and describes the European travels, the sinking of the Titanic, and the subsequent rescue.
On 6 August, 1915, nine year old Douglas was struck by a car on Grindstone Neck, Winter Harbor, near the family's summer camp in Maine. It was one of the first recorded automobile accidents in the state. He died two died later from the concussion he sustained.
He was buried in New York City. The inscription on his little headstone reads:
Courtesy of Michael A. Findlay, USA
References and Sources
State of Maine Record of a Death
Colonel Archibald Gracie (1913) The Truth about the Titanic. New York, Mitchell Kennerley
Daisy Spedden Polar, the Titanic Bear. Edited by Leighton H. Coleman III
Credits
Dave Aldworth, USA
Leighton H. Coleman III, USA
Michael A. Findlay, USA
Phillip Gowan, USA
Summary
Born: Sunday 19th November 1905
Age: 6 years
Last Residence: in Tuxedo Park New York United States
1st Class passenger
First Embarked: Cherbourg on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 16966 , £134 10s
Cabin No. E40
Destination: Tuxedo Park New York United States
Rescued (boat 3)
Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912
Died: Sunday 8th August 1915
Cause of Death: Road Traffic Accident (RTA)
Buried: Tuxedo Park New York United States
Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Miss Elizabeth Margaret Burns
Mr Frederic Oakley Spedden
Mrs Margaretta Corning Spedden
Miss Helen Alice Wilson
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