Emily Ryerson

Emily Ryerson was a first-class passenger who survived the sinking of RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.

Early life

Emily Maria Borie Ryerson was born on August 10, 1863 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Emily married Arthur Larned Ryerson and they had 5 children, Susan "Suzette" Parker (August 3, 1890), Emily Borie Ryerson (October 8, 1893), Arthur Larned Ryerson Jr. (1891-1912), Ellen Ryerson (1895-1973) and John Borie Ryerson (December 16, 1898 - January 21, 1986)

RMS Titanic

Emily, her husband Arthur, and their children, Suzette, Emily, and John, boarded the Titanic as first-class passengers in Cherbourg, France after learning of the death of her son, Arthur Larned Ryerson Jr., an undergraduate at Yale. He had recently been killed in an automobile crash back home in the United States. With the family were their maid, Victorine Chaudanson, and John's governess, Grace Scott Bowen.

On the afternoon of April 14, 1912, Marian Longstreth Thayer invited Emily for a walk. It was the first time Emily had been on deck in public. After nearly an hour, they settled themselves into the deck chairs outside the aft staircase of A-deck to watch the sunset. Bruce Ismay joined them and told them about the ice warning from the Baltic.

Emily was awoke when the Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912, 11:40 pm. Emily woke her husband, children, the governess and the maid.

"Her (the maid) door was locked and I had some difficulty in waking her. By this time my husband was fully dressed, and we could hear the noise of feet tramping on the deck overhead. He was quite calm and cheerful and helped me put the lifebelts on the children and on my maid. I was paralyzed with fear of not all getting on deck together in time, as there were seven of us. I would not let my younger daughter (Emily Borie) dress, but she only put on a fur coat, as I did over her nightgown."

They went to A deck. They stood there for "fully half an hour". Emily and her family went to the deck. Emily, her two daughters, maid and John's governess stepped into Lifeboat 4 but they did not let John in. Arthur stepped forward and said, "Of course, that boy goes with his mother. He is only 13."

She saw the boat being cut in half. They were rescued by RMS Carpathia.

Emily, her children, maid and John's governess survived, but Arthur perished. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Death

Emily Ryerson died on December 28, 1939. She was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown, New York, USA.

References

• The Daily Star April 28, 1997 "Otsego Man Slips Away From Family'