Left Alma Pålsson
Photos © Lars-Inge Glad
Mrs Nils Pålsson (Alma Cornelia Berglund), 29, was born on August 3, 1882 in Velinge, Sweden the daughter of Maria Berglund (neé Nilsson) and Anders Berglund (1). Alma had four brothers: Oskar Albert, Hilding Waldemar, Axel Ferdinand and Gustav Gabriel Berglund (2).
Alma was married to Nils Pålsson (3) who worked as a miner in Gruvan, Bjuv, Skåne, Sweden. Following a major strike Nils tired of mining and because the only professions available in Bjuv were miner, brickworker and farm hand he decided to emigrate. On 10 June 1910 he received his emigration certificate and travelled to Chicago. Having gained employment as a tram conductor Nils set about saving enough money for his family to join him. He lived at 938 Townsend Street, Chicago. Also living in Chicago were two of Alma's brothers: Olof (?Oskar) Berglund on 2304 North Spring St. and Axel Berglund, 1725 Kimball Ave.
Eventually enough money had been raised and Alma and her four children Torburg, Paul, Stina, and Gösta left Gruvan for Southampton, travelling via Malmö and Copenhagen.
On board the Titanic Alma got to know August Wennerström. When the ship was sinking it took a long time to prepare the four children and Alma came too late for the lifeboats. She met Wennerström on the Boat Deck near collapsible A. Wennerström tried to hold on to two of the children as she had asked him to but when water came up them Wennerström lost his grip and both disappeared.
Mrs Pålsson and the children boarded the Titanic at Southampton. They all perished in the sinking. Nils clung to the hope that stories about a rescued boy might refer to one of his children. He spent much money and time looking in vain for the boy but eventually Mr Pålsson was informed at the Chicago offices of the White Star line that his family was among the missing.
Nils Pålsson
(Photo © Lars-Inge Glad)
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Paulson looked pale and ill when he leaned hungry eyed over the desk and asked in broken English if his wife or children had been accounted for. Chief Clerk Ivar Holmstrom scanned his list of third class passengers saved. He failed to find there any of the names enumerated by Paulson. "Perhaps they did not sail," he suggested hopefully. Then he looked over the list of those who sailed third class on the Titanic...The process of elimination was now complete. "Your family was on the boat, but none of them are accounted for," said Clerk Holmstrom. The man on the other side of the counter was assisted to a seat. His face and hands were bathed in cold water before he became fully conscious. He was finally assisted to the street by Gust Johnson, a friend who arrived with him. Paulson's grief was the most acute of any who visited the offices of the White Star, but his loss was the greatest. His whole family had been wiped out. |
Alma's body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett:
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NO. 206 - FEMALE - ESTIMATED AGE, 30 - FAIR HAIR CLOTHING - Brown Coat; green cardigan; dark shirt; brown skirt under; boots; no stockings. EFFECTS - Wedding ring; brass keeper; mouth organ; purse and two coins; a letter; 65 kroner; had four children with her; letter from husband, Neil Paulsson, 94 Townsend St, Chicago. THIRD CLASS TICKET No. 349909 (5 TICKETS) - NAME - ALMA PAULSON |
She was buried in Fairview cemetary in Halifax on 8 May 1912.
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| Left: Alma Pålsson's grave) Photo © Fredric Nilsson, Sweden |
The Mansion House Fund paid 875.52 Kr (£48) to Alma's mother. Damages of 1366:50 Kr (£75) were paid to mother on 26 May 1914.
Nils remained in the USA. In the late 1920s he was joined in USA by Axell Tollof Kvist (a relative of Alma's, born: April 14 1896) from Gruvan, Bjuv. Kvist was to send for his wife to join him in America but he never made contact again. Nils died in 1962.
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