Edith Corse Evans

This article is about a Titanic fatality. For the actress Dame Edith Evans, see Edith Evans.
Edith Corse Evans
Born September 21, 1875
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died April 15, 1912 (aged 36)
RMS Titanic, Atlantic Ocean

Edith Corse Evans (born September 21, 1875 - April 15, 1912) was a prominent American socialite who died aboard the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. She was one of only four women to die in first class.

Early life

Edith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a wealthy family. She was the second daughter of lawyer Cadwalader Evans and his wife, woman's rights activist Angeline Burr Corse.[1] She had a sister, Lena Cadwalader Evans, who was a renowned painter.

A long-time resident of New York, unmarried Edith was a member of The Colonial Dames of America and a descendant of Andrew Hamilton. She had great interest in genealogical studies.

Titanic

On the evening of April 10, 1912 Edith boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg to return home from a visit to her cousins in Paris. Along the way, she met her aunt by Marriage , Malvina Cornell, and her sisters who where returning from a funeral in London. On April 15 1912, the Titanic hit a giant piece of ice. The captain wanted everyone to stay calm, but when everyone saw the water leaking in the boat, everyone panicked. The captain called for the women and children to go first and if there was more space in the boat, a man could come too, but the crew wanted for only the women and children to go first and then the men would go if there were any boats left. When the lifeboats were first lowered, Edith and Caroline Brown missed the opportunity to get to one in time. Another was prepared to set off at 2:09 am, which they reached. It has commonly been reported that there was not enough room for both of them in it so Edith persuaded Caroline to get in because Caroline had children, even though she repeatedly refused. However, Walter Lord stated in his 1955 book A Night to Remember that it was hurriedly lowered before Edith could get in. Additionally Collapsible Boat D, the last functioning one, was not filled to capacity when lowered and had 30 people aboard when it was designed to accommodate 50. It is not understood whether or not Edith intentionally stepped aside before it was lowered.

Edith went down with the ship. She was never identified among the recovered bodies.[2] On 22 April 1912, a memorial service was held for her at Grace Church in New York City, and a plaque was dedicated in her honor.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "New York Times obituaries" (PDF). New York Times. April 21, 1912. p. 13. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  2. ↑ http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/edith-corse-evans.html
  3. ↑ Laurel Graeber (8 April 2005). "Where Wolfgang Amadeus Meets Wolfgang Bigbad". New York Times.
  4. ↑ Geller, Judith B. (1998). Titanic: Women and Children First. New York: W.W. Norton. p. 34. ISBN 0-393-04666-4.

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