Mr Francisco Mauro Severiano Carrau

Francisco Mauro Severiano Carrau, born 8 November 1884 in Departamento Montevideo, Uruguay. Father: Pedro Carrau. Mother: Antonia Rovira.

A resident of Montevideo, Uruguay, he boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a first class passenger (ticket number 113059, £47 2s) together with his nephew (?cousin) Jose Pedro Carrau.

Francisco Carrau, though very young, was an active member of the board of directors of one of Uruguay's traditional companies, Carrau & Co., well known importers and also in the maritime business (the company is still operating in Uruguay today). Instructions on business procedures he left when he died, were used well into the '50s.

According to family legend, when they went to board the ship, their cabin had not been allocated, so calmly but with confidence, Francisco looked for someone in authority and threatened to cause a tremendous fuss if the problem was not immediately rectified. The cabins were, apparently, quickly found.

On the night of the sinking, Mr Carrau and his nephew were observed by second class passenger (and survivor) Mr Julian Padro y Manent standing with a fellow Uruguyan passenger, Mr Ramon Artagaveytia. They were also seen by first-class passenger Mr Elmer Z. Taylor. Mr Taylor and Mr Padro y Manent's versions of events differ quite widely.

While Mr Padro y Manent reported the three men joking and relaxed, Mr Taylor, who later escaped the wreck with his wife, clearly states that the Carraus were not joking about the situation and appeared quite alarmed.

The two men died and their bodies were never recovered.

References and Sources
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
Marriages, births, deaths and injuries that have occurred on board during the voyage (PRO London, BT 100/259-260)
Names and Descriptions of British Passengers Embarked at the Port of Southampton, 10 April 1912 (PRO London, BT 27/780B)