Dear George,
Thank you for supplying the news articles. I was familiar with the Detroit Journal article, but I don't recall seeing the one from the London (Ontario) Free Press.
Some observations. Mrs. Hamalainen claims she was in boat #10. Interesting. However, what she describes about the boat is contradictory to what was happening at boat #10.
From the London (Ontario) Free Press, Mrs. H. claims that it was one of the last boats to be lowered. Considering that boats #12, #14 and #16 were in full view, hanging in the davits, I do not understand how Mrs. H. would claim such a thing. Also, she states that a call was made for more women to come forward but none did so. The boat was then lowered. Evidence shows that there was a bit of a rush into the boat at the last minute - two men made successful attempts to jump into it. Many of the women and crewmen in the boat make mention of the "Armenian" and the "Japanese" who made leaps to save themselves. Mrs. H. also claimed "being kept there and having to wait for ages" to enter the boat. As you know, many women, mostly first-class passengers, waited for boat #4 to be made ready for loading since Lightoller first lowered it down to A-deck. Boat #10 experienced no delays in being filled and lowered.
From the Detroit Journal, 4/20/12, Mrs. H. claims that when she returned to the boat after dressing herself and the baby, that there was only one boat left - #10. Again, Mrs. H. would have certainly seen the three other boats hanging in the davits.
Since I am unfamiliar with the London (Ontario) account, does Mrs. H. make any mention of rescuing swimmers from the water, two of whom later died? In the Detroit Journal article, she does not mention this. This is something I wouldn't have forgotten, and I'm sure the reporter wouldn't have either.
If she was in boat #4, she would be correct in stating that it was "one of the last lifeboats" and that "there was only one boat left." She wouldn't have seen any others if she was on A-deck. If she was in boat #4, she would have been correct in stating that "she was kept there and made to wait" until the boat was loaded. Many women and children were made to wait until the windows were opened and #4 was made ready. The main reason is that Mrs. H. claimed that eight men were hauled into her boat, two of whom later died. This never happened at boat #10, and how would Mrs. H. have known such a thing if she wasn't in boat #4?
While I agree that many of the lifeboat assignments that appear on various places on the web are inaccurate and have no solid basis, most of my fellow researchers believe that Mrs. H. left enough of a description to place her in boat #4. Even the articles you kindly supplied contradict the theory of her being in #10. Yes, she does claim boat #10 but the descriptions she related do not match with the incidents that took place at this boat. Many survivors were incorrect in stating what boat they were. Edwina MacKenzie never could figure out which boat she was in. For years, she always claimed boat #13, then #16 and more recently, researchers have placed her in D. She always claimed boat #13 with Quartermaster Bailey in charge. Bailey was in charge of #16. How did she ever get into D? Who is correct?
Thank you for supplying the articles, George. I have already stated my position on this matter but would certainly interested to hear other views.
Best wishes to all for a prosperous New Year!
Michael Findlay