Archive for Survivor Stories
It’s difficult to fathom (no pun intended) that we have the technology to raise the Titanic virtually by revealing images from a wreck more than 12,000 feet beneath the sea. The images of the Titanic are as clear as can be thanks to 3-D scan images, but also because the water is clear and the wreck has so little residue on it. Miraculously, the wreck is in great shape considering its 98 years. Nevertheless, it won’t be long before there is total collapse. It is expected to implode floor by floor.
The dream team of Expedition Titanic is making a great effort to preserve a legacy– one that most of us will be able to enjoy virtually. The three-week long mission will reveal the debris field scanned by side scan sonar. It gives us a map (like the map of a city) of the gigantic ill-fated liner which sank off the coast of Newfoundland.
We will also come to understand the human tragedy of that tragic night in 1912. One example cited by the dream team is that first Officer William Murdoch did not commit suicide; rather, he was washed overboard attempting to launch a lifeboat.
The expedition is filled with challenges: a grueling 36 hour trip from the coast, hurricane weather, technological challenges, etc. But the team led by David Davino seems to be thrilled at every moment. In fact, two scientists who met on an expedition five years ago held a wedding ceremony on board the research vessel.
If only Leonardo and Kate would have had the same good fortune!
For videos, mission, photos (even of a wedding on board), check out Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rmstitanicinc?v=wall
Filed under: Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | Expedition Titanic, marine archeology, Newfoundland, North Atlantic shipwrecks, shipwrecks, Titanic|No Comments
Would you like to be the hero or heroine of your life story?
During this radio interview, my fellow author Katana Abbott and I discuss the value of gratitude for any situation.
Please click on the Smart Women Talk Radio link below. It may you the way you see your life.
mms://contacttalkradio.soundwaves2000.com/ctr/katanaabbott071310.mp3
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Survivor Stories | |No Comments
It was July 25, 1956. Elizabeth Hanson, six months pregnant, was returning to the U.S. with her three young children after her husband’s Fulbright professorship in Italy. He had flown ahead to retrieve the family car while they came across the Atlantic on a fine liner, the Andrea Doria. Here is an excerpt from the story as Elizabeth wrote it.
Andy (12), Ardith (7) and I woke up when the Stockholm plowed into the side of their ship, just a few cabins forward from our cabin as we later learned. The sensation was what one might feel sitting in a row boat as it bumped several times against a dock. Andy instinctively slammed shut the porthole cover beside him, as he saw lights flash by. We were instantly aware that our cabin floor was tilting. My mind was sort of blank. I just knew that something very serious was wrong. I went to the row of four metal lockers, in the bottom of which the life jackets were stowed, and I yank them out, one after the other, throwing them on the floor and noting with alarm that they slid across the tilted floor toward the outer wall, as I did so.
Our steward was in the hall, calling “Signore, signori, andate fuori! Signore, signori, andate su!” Essentially, “Ladies and gentlemen, come out of your cabins and go up on deck.” There seemed to be a smoky haze in the hall. (I believe now that it was exhaust from an engine that must have ruptured by the Stockholm). All I wanted to do was to get my kids and myself above deck. It didn’t occur to me to get dressed, although and he had the presence of mind to slip on his shorts. I put Ardith’s life jacket on her over her slip, but I forgot to tie it. I sent her and Andy out in the hall to go above deck. Then, I had to awaken Donnie (10). A sound sleeper, he had slept through it all! I had to urge and urge him to come right away. I got his life jacket on him, but he was conservative and wanted to get dressed.
In retrospect, there would have been plenty of time for him to address. But all I knew then, the ship could sync with us trapped below deck. I urged him, “You have to come now. Your life may depend on it.”
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | ocean survival, shipwrecks, Stockholm, survival, surviving families|No Comments
Scientists will launch an expedition to Titanic next month to assess the “deteriorating” condition of the world’s most famous shipwreck and create a three-dimensional map for the public. The 20-day expedition to the site, which is two-and-a-half miles beneath the North Atlantic, is billed as the most advanced scientific mission to the wreck since its discovery 25 years ago, the ‘Sunday Express’ reported. The team will leave St. John’s, Newfoundland, on August 18 under a partnership between RMS Titanic which has exclusive salvage rights to the wreck and is funding the project and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. Expedition leader David Gallow said they will explore a three-mile area, still scattered with debris from when the ship sank on April 15 1912, killing 1,522. “For the first time, we’re going to treat it as an archaeological site,” he said.
Dr. Gallow emphasizes that this project is not an exploration but a marine forensic examination to create the first deepwater archaeological site map. It will be done virtually and digitally using robots and sonars to create a model of the titanic ship–the one lost on its maiden voyage and only seen by its unfortunate travelers, designers, and builders. Finally, it will be available to a voracious public who can’t seem to satiate its appetite for the Titanic.
As for the man, who brought Titanic’s fame to the surface, will James Cameron be part of the investigation? My friend Bill Garzke, Cameron’s consultant for the movie Titanic and chairman of marine forensics for SNAME, explained:
“The marine forensics investigation is not being conducted by Jim Cameron but one of our Committee members, P. H. Nargeolet who is leaving today from St. Johns, Newfoundland to map the Titanic wreck site. I have asked him to locate any parts of the main reciprocating engines.”
You’ll receive updates in future blogs.
Filed under: Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | Dr. David Gallow, Marine forensics, North Atlantic shipwrecks, RMS Titanic, shipwrecks, Titanic, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution|No Comments
1706 people almost died suddenly as our Italian luxury liner, Andrea Doria, was penetrated by the Swedish liner, Stockholm. My grandparents and I were immigrating to America (from Italy) as we experienced the most catastrophic collision in history during peacetime on July 25, 1956. There were 51 fatalities and hundreds of injured passengers as many were crushed, thrown, overwhelmed by fumes, or catapulted onto the Stockholm.
The most traumatic moments are indelible from my mind: the loud crash, praying for a merciful death, being dangled over the dark Atlantic with a rope around my waist, the packed lifeboat ride from hell, climbing a ’skyscraper’ rescue ship on a Jacob’s ladder, and more.
I have learned that on the other side of tragedy, there is always a lifeline–gratitude! The catastrophe gave me the opportunity to be grateful for:
*documenting the human and scientific facts in a book, “Alive on the Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue in History. www.pierettesimpson.com
*thanking my grandparents for bringing me to America by dedicating my book to them
*vindicating our captain, crew, and the Italian maritime industry
*becoming a proponent of safety at sea along with the national chairman of marine forensics (James Cameron’s consultant)
My view of life is that we have two choices when faced with survival: sink or swin. I’ve been swimming to safe harbors in spite of several major trials–my husband’s passing at 33, severance from family ties in Italy and the U.S., loneliness, and personal illness. I’m grateful for all of these experiences as they have made me stronger.
I’ve learned to live my life to the brim: writing, speaking, advocating marine safety, etc. (after 37 years of teaching.) As a result, I’ve been honored with many life-achievement awards. I’ve also learned that in order to survive, we must constantly adapt—even if it means re-inventing ourselves.
I believe in the wisdom of Charles Darwin: in order to survive we must be “most responsive to change.”
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Survivor Stories | andrea doria, change, collisions on the Atlantic, gratitude, shipwreck fatalities, shipwrecks, Stockholm, survival|No Comments
Challenges are simply opportunities to be all we can be. They are also great lessons in survival. I have always maintained that humans who are pampered — hence unchallenged– lose their ambition and skill to survive. So, I totally concur with Mr. Ullman that challenge IS the core and mainspring of all human activity.
Quote:
“Challenge is the core and the mainspring of all human activity. If there’s an ocean, we cross it; if there’s a disease, we cure it; if there’s a wrong, we right it; if there’s a record, we break it; and finally, if there’s a mountain, we climb it.”
~James Ramesy Ullman
We must be thankful for situations and circumstances that challenge and stretch us. We must see these as opportunities to discover what we are made of; to test how far we can grow.
Without growing we atrophy, and atrophy is the opposite of survival.
Filed under: Survivor Stories | Challenges, James Ramsay Ullman, survival|No Comments
I received this welcomed news from my friends in Germany. Klaus Dorneich survived the Andrea Doria with me and was rescued by the Stockholm. Klaus and I correspond frequently, for which I’m very grateful. I’m also very grateful for his excellent English.
Pierette, thank you for your prompt answer – I have just posted my postcard with the Andrea Doria Stamp, you will receive it within the next 8 days. Although I was the only German aboard, many North Europeans (Austrians, Swiss, and even Dutch) were also on the ship and the Rescue became well known in Germany as well (remember I had written my eyewitness report while on the “Stockholm” that was printed by 48 German newspapers after 8 days). Also, there was a popular pop song about the Andrea Doria later on and the writer (Udo Lindenberg) apparently painted the picture that was used now for the stamp! I will look into it and if I find more details I´ll let you know. Besides – in 2006 the German dpa-Press Service published an interview with me (and Hilly) that also was reprinted in many newspapers across the nation! Of course, “Lostliners.de” even printed excerpts from my old Doria Diary in 2006. I think I have sent all that to you, although most of it was in German. Let me know if something is missing.
Before I forget – thank you also for the Newsletter! After Antony´s (Grillo) sudden death there was not much communication among the survivors, so your new efforts will certainly be appreciated by the public.
Perhaps you can use some of this information in you newsletter (correcting my English)? And thanks for your interest – I hope the stamp gets to you soon. Affectually, Klaus and Hilly
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | |No Comments
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us ‘Universe,’ a part limited
in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole [of] nature in its beauty.”
~Albert Einstein
I believe Einstein’s words are telling us that we must realize we are an intrinsic part of the whole.
No matter what our designations: age, gender, background, and community, we must think beyond borders and stop thinking our self-focused and self-important point-of-view.
My conclusion: if we love and respect our planet and our fellow human beings we will rid ourselves of misery caused by wars, greed, and destruction. Einstein’s wisdom is the foundation of survival and creation.
A message from Renaissance Unity Church, Michigan
Filed under: Survivor Stories | Albert Einstein, Einstein's quote|No Comments
Last week, Nick Schuyler, the NFL player who nearly escaped drowning like his three NFL buddies who were with him, painfully relived his experience on the Oprah show. It was evident that Mr. Schuyler was still feeling the angst for surviving against all odds, while his three boating friends did not. And now he faces another challenge: being ridiculed by the wife of one of the fatalities. In her personal pain she’s criticizing the publication of Schuyler’s book, Not without Hope. Mathias’ wife claims that Mr. Schuyler published the story without first disclosing the details of her husband’s death to her. “Why didn’t you tell the story me before publishing it?”
Oprah, in her wisdom turned to the audience and advised, “this is a lesson for all of us. “Share, personal stories with the family before publishing them.”
She then relayed four boating safety rules from the Coast Guard:
1. Always wear a life jacket
2. Always bring a flair or flashing lights
3. Always tell people when you expect to return
4. Never tie an anchor to the back of your boat
You can read an excerpt of Nick Schuyler’s new book Not Without Hope at http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Book-Excerpt-Not-Without-Hope
Filed under: Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | NFL boating accident, Nick Schuyler, Not without Hope, The Oprah Show|No Comments
A segment of The Gifford’s story:
Bud and Wink Gifford and their four children:
Dun (17), Jock (15), Chad (13) and Bambi (9)
On June 20 we set off on the Queen Mary for an adventure traveling on a months journey to London, Paris, Brussels, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Venice, Rome and finally Naples. We boarded the Andrea Doria on July 19th in Naples. My Mother who studied art in Florence, was overwhelmed by the beauty of the ship. The entire voyage was a special time on a very special ship; except of course the last night.
I remember the last night as they make it so festive in so many ways. I was wearing my “best party dress” as we went into dinner. We were always awed at having shrimp cocktail in those cute stemmed glasses. I think we had roast beef, but not sure about that. What I do remember is the grapefruit ice cream (though it was probably sorbet- and probably more to clear our palate). I know we all were excited about the choice of dessert: Baked Alaska or Crepe Suzette. Hard choice!
After dinner we went to the Belvedere Lounge to play the Horse Racing. I loved that room and loved to do the horse racing. My brothers were angry with me as I was the only one who won. I won 9 dollars and put it in my new Italian leather pocket book. (My winnings and the new pocket book are still on the Andrea Doria.) We were able to stay up late as it was the last night and there was a celebration everywhere. Dun, my oldest brother went up to the dance where he was joined by two girls he had met from Cedarhurst Long Island. My other brothers Jock and Chad and I went to collect swizzle sticks, which we were slightly obsessed with. My parents took a stroll around the deck.
Around 10:45 we meet my parents and headed down to our cabins. I was with Mom and Dad in #96, and my three brothers were in #98.We were preparing for bed when the ships collided. Dad and Dun (who was still upstairs with his lady friends) remember it as a “terrible grinding of metal.” Then there was “a screetching of metal and then a final bump”. The noise scared me, but I remember a slow motion glass of milk going from one side of the cabin to the other. It was a ribbon of white, similar to what you’d see in a cartoon. My Dad suffered from ulcers so he had a glass of milk every night. Of all the visual occurrences that I have witnessed in my life that is one of the ones that is still vivid.
I was taking off my dress and my mother yanked it back down. Dad grabbed our passports and we all took a life jacket. When we opened the door everyone was coming out of their rooms with the same puzzled expressions that we had on our faces. Jock and Chad joined Mom, Dad and I to get upstairs to our Life Boat Station. Dad was a bit mad that Dun was not back in his room. Luckily we ran into Dun as we were going up the stairs. However he didn’t have his life jacket so he went back to his cabin. When he went down he noticed the weird angle that the clothes in the closet were hanging at, and since he was a sailor he knew that the boat was in trouble. He grabbed two jackets, thinking that one of the girls might not have one. When he rejoined us he saw that both girls had life jackets. He walked around until he found someone who did not have one. It turned out to be crew member.
It was chaotic scene. There were not many announcements to tell us what was going on, and when they did make an announcement it was in Italian. My mother was a very calm person, who like any mother wanted to reassure and calm her children. She had us talk about our favorite country, our favorite hotel, our favorite meal, or our favorite city. It worked for a while as we tried to state why we liked what we liked best. I of course picked Venice, as it is so magical. Then I started to cry a little. Mom, who thought I was scared, asked what was wrong. Because of all the scary talk and the terrible list, I knew we were sinking. However I thought we would be saved. All the victims in the fairy tales get saved, so why shouldn’t we? I cried because everyday of the voyage I would go up the top deck and visit the poodles in the cage up there. I patted them, talked to them and thought about our dogs at home in Nantucket. I wanted Mom to tell me that they would be rescued. She said yes, of course the owners would rescue them. When I got older and read more about that night, I now know that she was trying to quell my fears.
Finally we all went up to get into lifeboats. The slide across the deck was very frightening for me. Going down the rope ladder was not, as I was a wiry 9 year old, who thought of it as an adventure.
We got into a very crowded lifeboat with Dad waving to us, as he stayed on the ship. Mother, I know was distraught, but very stoic. I sat in Jock’s lap. We sat next to a woman named Ruth Roman who was crying and carrying on. I know now that she was a famous actress, but didn’t then. She told us that she had no idea where her 3 year old son was, but hoped his “ nurse” was with him on another life boat. I was so scared for her, and wondered why she wasn’t with him. (I learned much later that she did reunite with him). The site of the Ile de France’s glowing letters is another sight I will never forget. It was almost looked like an amusement park sign. Remember I was only nine at the time; everything looks different to a child.
We were really warmly greeted and donations of clothes were everywhere. Mom even found out who donated ours so she could thank them.
Two hours after we arrived on the Ile de France, my father appeared. There is some argument among my brothers about who saw him first, but it was my Mom who was the most relieved and the happiest.
We have always been a close family. Going through an experience like this tends to bind you in ways that are hard to express. We would always get together on the anniversary of the sinking. I always wondered why as it almost seems macabre. But Mom once said that we were so lucky, and we should celebrate our luck, our love and our closeness.
Now the six of us are only three. My Dad died in 2004, my mother died in 2005, and my oldest brother Dun died this past May. It seems fitting that his memorial service here on Nantucket is this Saturday, July 24th, the day before the anniversary of the collision.
Told by Bambi Gifford Mleczko
Nantucket , MA
7/19/10
Filed under: Andrea Doria, Serving Our Seas, Survivor Stories | Ile de France, K. Dun Gifford, Nantucket, public service|No Comments
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