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The tragic sinking of the Titanic is one of the most catastrophic and shocking disasters in history. On the early morning of April 15, 1912, thousands perished in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
While countless sorrowful tales surround the Titanic's demise, there are also inspiring accounts of survival. It’s remarkable when any adult survives such a devastating event, but it’s even more extraordinary that children managed to live through the Titanic's sinking. The fear and trauma they must have experienced is beyond comprehension, and the impact it had on their lives was profound. Here, we share the stories of ten children who survived the disaster.
10. William Carter II
William Carter, known as Billy, was only 11 years old when he boarded the Titanic. A first-class passenger, Billy's family was among the wealthiest aboard the ship. The Carters, who were incredibly wealthy, had their children, including Billy, attending prestigious boarding schools, and they traveled with a servant. Despite their immense fortune, the Carters faced the same horrific fate as all other passengers.
When the Titanic struck the iceberg, the Carter family made their way toward the lifeboats. Billy’s mother and sisters managed to board a lifeboat, but Billy was initially told he was too old to join them. With quick thinking, Mrs. Carter disguised Billy as a girl, allowing him to board a lifeboat and escape the tragedy. This 11-year-old boy survived one of the world’s most devastating disasters thanks to his mother’s swift actions.
9. Robert Douglas Spedden
Robert Spedden was just six years old when the Titanic collided with the iceberg. He was traveling with his parents at the time. Spedden became famous as the subject of a book, *Polar the Titanic Bear*, written by his mother after the disaster. The book, dedicated to Spedden, tells the story of his teddy bear and their journey on the Titanic. During the chaos of the sinking, his mother and nanny did their best to keep him calm, telling him they were just going on a 'trip to see the stars' before they boarded a lifeboat.
Thanks to the composure of his mother and nanny, Robert Spedden remained calm during the Titanic’s evacuation. He and his mother were among the very last to leave the sinking ship, boarding one of the final lifeboats. As the last woman and child seen, the rest of their lifeboat was filled with men. During the journey away from the disaster, Spedden actually fell asleep on the boat. His story offers a unique perspective on how different people reacted to the Titanic’s sinking. While many of us would expect panic, some, like Spedden, remained remarkably serene during such a tragedy.
8. Jean Hippach
Jean Hippach, a 16-year-old girl, was aboard the Titanic with her mother. On the fateful night of the collision, Hippach remained asleep through the initial crash, only waking when she heard the steam hissing from the ship. She recalled that at first, no one seemed alarmed, and a crew member assured her to return to her room. Eventually, Hippach and her mother made their way to the top deck to board a lifeboat. However, they didn’t immediately board one of the first lifeboats, thinking they would be safer on the Titanic. A crew member ultimately insisted they get into a lifeboat.
As the lifeboat drifted away, Hippach looked back and witnessed the horrors unfolding aboard the Titanic. She described hearing a 'fearful explosion' and watching the ship begin to crack apart. Then, the lights on the Titanic went out, and the people in her lifeboat rowed frantically to escape the ship’s pulling suction. Had Hippach and her mother not been on that lifeboat, they would likely have stayed on the Titanic and perished with it.
7. Madeleine Violet Mellinger
Madeleine Violet Mellinger, a 13-year-old second-class passenger, was traveling with her mother when the Titanic set sail. When the ship collided with the iceberg, Mellinger was abruptly awakened by the crash. After the initial shock, she returned to her bed briefly until a man knocked on their door, urging them to go to the deck. The two of them headed up to find a lifeboat.
Once aboard a lifeboat, Mellinger felt a deep sense of sorrow for those left behind, wishing that they could all fit into the boat. She vividly remembered the sight of rockets shooting into the sky from the ship, signaling for help. She also recalled the harrowing sound of people screaming from the freezing cold waters.
6. The Navratil Children
This next tale highlights the power of kindness and how a stroke of luck can change a child’s life forever. On the night the Titanic sank, Mr. Navratil was aboard with his two young sons. Having lost custody of the boys to his estranged wife, he decided to flee to the United States with them. Before placing his sons on a lifeboat, Mr. Navratil wrapped them in a blanket for warmth and said his final goodbyes. The boys survived, but their father did not. After their rescue, it became apparent that the boys only spoke French, leaving the crew and passengers unable to communicate with them.
A compassionate woman passenger volunteered to take the boys to New York to keep them safe until a plan could be arranged. Miraculously, the boys' mother saw a photograph of them in a French newspaper and was able to travel to New York to bring them home. The family then returned to France, where they reunited and lived together. It's truly remarkable how the kindness of a stranger and a fortunate newspaper photo helped bring these boys back to their mother.
5. Millvina Dean
When the Titanic was on its fateful voyage to New York, Millvina Dean was only two months old, making her the youngest passenger on board. She and her family, traveling in third class, were on the Titanic because they were emigrating to the United States. On the night of the crash, Millvina, her mother, and her brother boarded a lifeboat and managed to reach New York safely.
Although Millvina has no memory of the Titanic's sinking, her significance lies in the fact that she became the last living survivor to pass away in 2009 at the age of 97. For years, she shared her story and helped keep the memory of the Titanic and the tragic events of that night in the Atlantic Ocean alive.
4. Mary Conover Lines
At 16, Mary Conover Lines was aboard the Titanic with her mother, heading to the United States to attend her brother’s college graduation. They were in the ship's reception room when the collision occurred. Afterward, they made their way to the deck to board a lifeboat, encountering ice scattered across the deck before eventually securing a place on a boat.
Lines’ story is particularly haunting as she recalled many events from that night that would stay with her forever. She later shared how calm the crew members were as they helped passengers into the lifeboats, despite knowing they would not survive. She also remembered the terrifying sight of the ship sinking, feeling fortunate that she was far enough away not to hear the agonizing screams.
3. August Abraham Johannes Abrahamsson
At 19, August Abrahamsson was aboard the Titanic as a third-class passenger, traveling with his parents and two siblings. On the night of the crash, he didn’t immediately believe there was any danger and delayed leaving his room. By the time he did, it was too late to grab a lifebelt. As he made his way to the deck, he headed to the front of the ship to see if any lifeboats remained.
Being 19 made it difficult for him to secure a spot on a lifeboat, but he eventually managed to board the final lifeboat to leave the ship. Had he been forced into the water without a lifebelt, his survival would have been unlikely. As the lifeboat drifted away, he heard muffled explosions and witnessed the Titanic sinking.
These Titanic stories highlight just how fortunate some people were. While it’s unimaginable how terrifying this tragedy must have been for the children involved, they were given a second chance at life. We can only hope they went on to live their lives to the fullest.
2. Eva Hart
At just seven years old, Eva Hart was aboard the Titanic when it struck the iceberg. Traveling with her parents as second-class passengers, she and her mother managed to get into a lifeboat and survive. Tragically, her father did not survive the icy waters of the Atlantic. However, Eva’s life after the accident took a positive turn.
Following the disaster, Eva Hart dedicated herself to living life fully. She shared her Titanic story with many to keep the memory alive and traveled widely throughout her life, showing no fear of the sea or long journeys despite her past. Eva’s message to the world was clear: even after tragedy strikes, life must be embraced, for that is what makes life worth living. Her example teaches us all to persevere and never give up, even when life seems overwhelming.
1. Jack Thayer
The story of John “Jack” Thayer is one of the most thrilling and fortunate accounts from the Titanic disaster. At 17 years old, Jack was traveling with his parents and had made friends aboard the ship. On the night the Titanic struck the iceberg, he and a friend were separated from his family. They tried to get onto a lifeboat, but were denied entry and watched as the last boat left the ship. Realizing their best chance of survival was to jump into the ocean, Jack and his friend made that fateful decision.
After Jack leaped into the icy waters, he lost sight of his friend. Though wearing a life preserver, he was sucked under the surface by the ship's suction and nearly drowned. When he finally resurfaced, he found himself beside an overturned collapsible lifeboat from the Titanic. Jack and 28 others clung to the boat or climbed aboard, eventually reaching safety. His remarkable stroke of luck saved his life, arriving just in time to turn the tide of his fate.
