Bedroom Steward: Alfred Theissinger was born Franz Alfred Daniel Maximilian Theisinger in Dorn-Duerkheim, Hessen-Nassau, Preußen, Germany on 12 October 1865. He was the son of Maximilian Josef Theisinger and Johana Elisabetha Susanna Josephine Wolff.
He served on the Olympic before joining the Titanic on 6 April 1912. Theissinger was assigned to passenger cabins on E Deck.1
After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Theissinger looked into the passageway and saw a fireman running past carrying a bag of clothing. The fireman shouted, "There is water forward!" Someone else shouted, "All watertight doors shut!". Theissinger rushed to his section, peering into the mailroom and watched water pouring in. The second steward Dodd was standing in the companionway and shouting, "All stewards call your people. Warn them to go on deck."
Theissinger went to the Taussig's rooms, E-67 and 68. "You better put on your lifebelts and rush out on deck." "Is it as serious as all that?" asked Mr Taussig. Theissinger answered, "Yes, hurry." He told Ruth Taussig not to put on her coat, "Slip into this greatcoat. If you stop to dress you'll drown." He adjusted her lifebelt and moved on.
Theissinger finished waking passengers2 and went to D deck, meeting with bedroom steward Brewster. Passengers were running about, and as he passed the Purser's office he saw men and women receiving their valuables.
He went up onto the deck and watched boats being loaded toward the bow, but saw there was no chance to get into one. He went aft and helped push lifeboat 15 over the side of the boat. The officer loading the boat said, "There is no chance for you. I am sorry." Theissinger watched the boat lower and row away. He stood with Storekeeper Ricks.
"The vessel seemed to break in two" to Theissinger and he lost sight of Ricks. The steward grabbed a rail and was not thrown into the water like other people. The stern of the ship rose up into the air, standing on end for a while. All of the lights had gone out except for one near where he stood. Around him were hundreds of men. Among them was steward Siebert who, like Theissinger, wore his lifebelt. Theissinger said to him, "Come, we had better get away and take our chance before she sinks."
The account implies Theissinger was on board close to the Titanic's final moments but it is thought that he actually entered Lifeboat 11 with a large number of other stewards.
Theissinger was interviewed by a New York City newspaper on April 19th. His story was carried by many newspapers throughout the United States.
Alfred Theissinger and his sister lived in Hungen Germany where he passed away 6 August 1949.
He was buried in Friedhof Hungen, Landkreis Gieben, Hessen, Germany, The grave has since been removed the whereabouts of his remains is unknown.
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