Survivors Lifebelts

[Adam Odle]

Hello All,

Ok sorry if this is stupid question and if this topic have been discussed b4. But i was wondering what the survivors did w/ their lifebelts? Did they throw them away, keep them? I think i remember seeing Madeline Astor's Lifebelt in the Smithsonian Institute of History in Washington D.C? Not sure if it is still there, been 5 years lol Thank U!

Adam Odle

 

[Brian Ahern]

Hi Adam - most passengers would not have had the option of saving their lifebelts, as they were instructed to remove them while still in the lifeboats, before climbing the ladder or sitting in the swings to the rescue ship. Only a handful thought to save their lifebelts as souvenirs, and I have no idea how Madeleine Astor's was saved.

Regards,
Brian

 

[Adam Odle]

Brian,

Thank You for your input. So probably MOST the lifebelts were left in the lifeboats? I would like to know also how Madeleine Astors lifebelt made it's way to D.C that would b interesting. Thanks again Brian!

Adam Odle

 

[Cornelius Thiessen]

Adam, if I'm not mistaken Madeleine's lifebelt is now in the hands of the Titanic Historical Society.Someone correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Adam Odle]

Cornelius,

Thank You! I haven't been back to the museum in D.C for 6 years since seeing the lifebelt, so didn't know what happen to it. But now i know and thank you!

Adam Odle

 

[Dave Gittins]

There's a photo somewhere of a great pile of lifebelts dumped on Carpathia. I've no idea what became of them but they were not included in the stuff that was valued for the US civil court. It appears that only a few passengers kept their lifebelts, hence the few that exist today.

 

[James V. Bianco]

I believe Madeline Astor's lifebelt is in the Titanic museum here in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is listed as on display according to their website. I havent been yet, but plan on going soon, since it is 10 minutes from my home. Here is the link, if anyone wants to see what they have on display.

Titanic Historical Society, Inc.

Titanic Historical Society, Inc. Online.

web.archive.org

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

The Duff Gordons saved their lifebelts. Lucy Duff Gordon's belt was signed by all the crewmen in her boat. It was photographed by the London Daily Sketch in 1931 and again in 1935, accompanying her obituary. It was kept by her family after her death but was discarded at some point since. Cosmo Duff Gordon's lifebelt has also not been preserved.

 

[Donald J A Smith]

Randy: Most interesting. If "leaves don't fall far from the tree" is true, I would wager that Lucy's life-belt lies somewhere - quietly forgotten - in a boxroom or an attic belonging to her present family, their other relatives or close friends. There would be a number of leads to follow, Randy. And houses to investigate.

 

[Cornelius Thiessen]

I just finished rereading NTR and if Walter Lord is correct DR. Washington Dodge also saved his life-belt for a souvenir.I wonder if that one is still floating around somewhere,hmmmmmmm....

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Hi, Donald:

Unfortunately the family has already looked and hasn't turned up anything. Most think that it was sold or lost at the time of Lucy's death. A few of her things were auctioned by Sotheby's but the lifejacket wasn't one of them. Other items were given to family friends, one or two of whom have been tracked down, but most are untraceable at this point.

It was believed by some members of the family until quite recently that a small trove of Titanic-related items existed in the private collection of one descendant but this individual claims the articles have been lost. If was always my hunch that the lifebelt was among those things but the official word is that, if it was, it is now gone.

Randy