Passenger named Hubbard

C

Christopher Repole

Member
Hello

I vaguely remember a reference in Don Lynch's "Titanic: An Illustrated History" regarding a friendship between a prominent couple on the Lusitania named "Hubbard" (or something like this) and the Strauss family. It is my recollection that the couple in question met the same fate on the Lusitania that the Strausses had on the Titanic, likewise refusing to be separated. Is there any truth to this? As I have misplaced my copy of Lynch's book, I would appreciate any help with this question at all.

Chris
 
Hi Chris,

I've taken a look at my copy of Don Lynch's book and according to what he says, Elbert Hubbard referred to several passengers; but he gave noteworthy attention to the Strauses in one of his writings. There is no mention of a friendship though. Elbert had this to say regarding them:

Mr. and Mrs. Straus, I envy you that legacy of love and loyalty left to your children and grandchildren. The calm courage yours all your long and your useful career was your possession in death. To pass out as did Mr. and Mrs. Straus is glorious. Few have such a privilege.
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Elbert and his wife did lose their lives at sea together, just as the Strauses did. How ironic and tragic it was for them to meet the same fate, three years later.

I hope this helps.
 
Just last night I was admiring some of my LUSITANIA memorabilia, including a copy of the Philistine memorial issue..."Elbert and Alice Hubbard Are Dead". In part a section reads:
"There was no haste. There was no rushing to and fro. They were poised, smiling-arm in arm, Hubbard asked a ship's Officer, "Brother, will the LUSITANIA sink?" The Officer answered: "I think not; at least not for hours. Probably we can reach the beach!"

Also, I cherish my letter on Roycroft stationary, dated June 11, 1904, carrying a typewritten response, and a beautiful fountain pen sig. of Elbert Hubbard.

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA
 
Hubbard was quite a character. His Wife was quite a character. How they met was quite a scandal at the time. Divorce and the question of their first child legitimacy. Hubbard so loved to tweak the German Kaiser's nose but who got the last laugh. Sorry Michael, couldn't resist that last bit of tomfoolery. Actually my great-great Grandmother's maiden name was Hubbard. Any relation...not that I know of.
 
George, that makes you a relative of L. Ron Hubbard as well! BTW, Elbert Hubbard was a good swimmer, however his beloved wife Alice was not. According to the Philistine of my aforemention, when it was know that LUSITANIA would founder, the Hubbard's hand in hand, returned to their cabin to perish with tremendous courage and brave hearts.
As did Isidor & Ida Strauss on-board TITANIC.

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA
 
Michael,
Sorry for the hold up in my reply.
George, that makes you a relative of L. Ron Hubbard as well! BTW,
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Perish the thought. Although Scientology is a cockamamie theory I could see myself coming up with. Must be my Hubbard blood showing through.
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As did Isidor & Ida Strauss on-board TITANIC.
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I heard that The Hubbard's admired the Strauss's tremendously. Hubbard once said the the perfect death was from either old age or accident and that disease was indecent.
 
>>Hubbard once said the the perfect death was from either old age or accident and that disease was indecent.<<

He should take a page from Nelson Rockefeller's handbook. He allegedly died while spending....errrrr...."quality time" with his mistress. If ya gotta go, that's not a bad way to check out!
 
The only reliable acount of the Hubbards' final moments comes from a social acquaintance of theirs, Charles Lauriat. He confirmed that Alice, at least, was smiling beautifully. He left them standing on deck, to get lifebelts, and when he came back, they were gone.

They MAY have been in boat 14. There is an unsupported account by the ship's barber, Lott Gadd, which places them in 14. 14 was the only port boat to escape...and only just barely. It began filling with water at once, and its 60+ passengers began bailing with their hats, shoes, handbags as they sruggled to row away. It pitched over and all of the occupants were thrown out. Most climbed back in, but after an additional six or seven heels, only three or four remained to be rescued.

Gadd never claimed to have seen the Hubbards in any of his other accounts, so this is PROBABLY 'color' added by a reporter. But, then again, they may have died in one of #14s rollovers.

I most admire Hubbard for his promotion of non-period piece architecture. Thanks to him, the Buffalo NY area is actually far superior to NYC, when it comes to intelligent design from the turn of the last century. Enter 'Larkin Building Frank Lloyd Wright' into a a search engine to see a lost Hubbard-inspired masterpiece.

I've never found a first person account from the 'golden week' (May 7-14) in which anyone claimed to have seen the Hubbards returning to their suite. The story seems to have originated a bit later...and I do not know to whom it can first be attributed.

BUT, I'll say this. A man leading his non-swimming wife to a certain death in a flooding suite is neither noble nor romantic. It is, in fact, rather disturbing to ponder what the moment must have been like when they realised that escape was no longer possible. I prefer to think that he died trying to SAVE Alice in #14.
 
Howdy Jim,
That does make sense. I think in the Hubbard's case it was known among his friends that he admired the Strauss's and so a legend built up. There's also him supposedly telling reporters or friends if the ship is attacked and sinks that he would go down with it. If he did make such a statement he was joking. I admire Hubbard for his individualism and for following his heart and I also admire his wife for her views on Woman's Suffrage and doing her own thing. I wouldn't mind being related to them however distantly.
 
JIM K., I agree with you as for the Lauriat account, however the Philistine Elbert Hubbard memorial issue is of emotional heartfelt reading...QUOTING furthur:

"Those who knew Alice will remember that her silken-cord strength was mostly of the Will. The physical body was very frail. To trust Alice among the buffeting waves, life-belt or no life-belt, thought Hubbard, must surely mean Death. To survive without her was unthinkable."
"With open arms he told her truly, "Alice, my Blessed, my Blessed, here endeth the Chapter." She came close to him, and whispered, "Elbert, I know, I know!"
--END QUOTE--

And it was May '15 Lusitania passenger Charles Frohm (Playwright known for Peter Pan) who was heard to say..."Dying is the great adventure of all!"

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA
 
>And it was May '15 Lusitania passenger Charles Frohman ...who was heard to say..."Dying is the great adventure of all!"

Part of an exceptionally heroic group of passengers who waited inside the A Deck foyer until the last minute. George Vernon, Aleck Scott, Rita Jolivet (the only survivor) Charles Frohman, and a fourth man Miss Jolivet could not identify (the press arbitrarily decided that it was Vanderbilt) stood together for most of the sinking. Scott ran below, repeatedly, to bring up lifebelts. Rita later recalled that, when warned of the danger in which he was placing himself, he replied something to the effect of "If I must die, then I must." At some point, Frohman quoted Barrie to Miss Jolivet ("Why fear death? It is the greatest adventure in life.") and the group of five stepped out of the foyer on to the port boat deck just in time to have the water washing over the superstructure crash down on top of them. Rita survived. George Vernon was later seen atop an overturned boat, but became delirious and rolled off. Aleck Scott vanished. Frohman's body was recovered, as was that of George Vernon.

Lauriat's is the only reliable detailed account of the Hubbards final moments. His specific detail, that Alice was very calm and smiled almost beatifically ar her husband, has a ring of truth to it...and it was a detail which Lauriat brought up, essentially unchanged, in multiple accounts.

But, he never saw them during the latter phases of the disaster.

There are random sightings of the Hubbards, forward on the boat deck, which tie in with Lauriat's account. But, no one else who knew them well seems to have written an account of speaking to them, or spending time with them. The most one can say with confidence is that they were together, neither showed signs of panic, Alice was composed, and they seem to have played passive role in events.

The quotes in the Philistine must, like any unattributed quote, be viewed with scepticism. To whom was this said, or by whom was it overheard?
 
Jim: Pardon my spelling of Charles Frohman. I had minor brain trauma when I was ran over by a DUI assailant...but after nearly two yrs. it's all coming back to me now. BTW, I am seeking a Frohman signature (W/provenance) if you know of one? Thank You.

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA
 
The most one can say with confidence is that they were together, neither showed signs of panic, Alice was composed, and they seem to have played passive role in events.
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Well that's a Hubbard for you. Flighty or seemingly so but when the going gets rough they get calm and collected.

Perhaps though they might of decided at the last minute to make a go of the boats. Or Hubbard convinced Alice to go in #14. But they either got out or were thrown out when the boat rolled.

Michael C.
Pardon my spelling
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Let me just say, think nothing of it. You should see my spelling. Seriously!
eh.gif
 
Hey, Michael: I've never seen a Frohman document for sale, anywhere, and so cannot steer you in a practical direction. If I ever run across one, I will let you know.
 

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