Rhoda Abbott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rhoda Mary Abbott
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 14 January 1873 |
| Died | 18 February 1946 (aged 73) |
Rhoda Mary Abbott (born on January 14, 1873 – died on February 18, 1946) was a passenger on the famous ship, the RMS Titanic. She was the only woman who was in the water when the ship sank and still managed to survive.
Early Life and Family
Rhoda Mary Hunt was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, on January 14, 1873. Her parents were Joseph and Sarah Green Hunt. She grew up in Aylesbury and later lived in St Albans with her family.
In 1894, Rhoda moved to the United States. She settled in Providence, Rhode Island. There, she met Stanton Abbott, who was a boxing champion from London. They got married in 1895. Rhoda and Stanton had two sons: Rossmore, born in 1896, and Eugene, born in 1899. Rhoda was a homemaker and was active in her local church.
In 1911, Rhoda and her husband separated. She returned to England with her sons on another ship called the RMS Olympic. To support her family, she worked as a sewer. She also joined The Salvation Army.
However, her sons were not happy living in England. So, in April 1912, Rhoda decided to take her family back to America.
Journey on the Titanic
Rhoda and her sons boarded the RMS Titanic in Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912. They were traveling in third class. Onboard, Rhoda became friends with other passengers like Amy Stanley, Emily Goldsmith, and May Howard.
In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg. Rhoda and her sons were asleep when it happened. Around 12:15 AM, a ship steward told them to put on life jackets and go to the ship's deck.
After waiting in line, Rhoda and her sons went to the second-class saloon area. Her son Rossmore reportedly prayed, asking that his mother be saved even if he and his brother were not. Even though only women and children were usually allowed into the lifeboats, Rhoda's sons, who were 13 and 16, were able to go with their mother.
They reached the deck around 2:00 AM, just as one of the last lifeboats, Collapsible C, was being filled. When it was Rhoda's turn to get into the lifeboat, she realized her sons would not be allowed on. She bravely stepped back, choosing to stay with her children instead of saving herself.
When the ship finally sank, Rhoda was swept into the freezing water. She tried to hold onto her sons but could not find them. Risking hypothermia (getting dangerously cold), she managed to reach Collapsible Boat A. This lifeboat had floated off the Titanic at 2:15 AM.
Hours later, Fifth Officer Harold Lowe returned to the area with another lifeboat, Lifeboat 14, to rescue survivors. Many people in Boat A had either died or fallen back into the icy water. Rhoda was one of only 13 people from Boat A who survived. Sadly, both of her sons were lost at sea. Only Rossmore's body was found later.
Rhoda's friend, Amy Stanley, said that Rhoda did not regret staying on the Titanic until the very end. She was glad she could be with her sons. After being rescued by the ship Carpathia, Rhoda received special care. Her legs were badly hurt by the cold water, and she could not move until they arrived in New York. She spent two weeks in St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. She was one of the last survivors to leave the hospital.
Later Life
Because of her experience on the Titanic, Rhoda suffered from breathing problems, including severe asthma, for the rest of her life.
On December 16, 1912, she married her longtime friend, George Charles Williams. They settled in Jacksonville, Florida. By 1928, they moved back to England to take care of George's father's property in London. Rhoda cared for her husband until he passed away in 1938. For the rest of her life, she tried to move back to America, but she was always refused permission.
Rhoda Abbott died in London on February 18, 1946, at the age of 73. She passed away from heart failure caused by hypertension (high blood pressure).
See also
In Spanish: Rhoda Abbott para niños
