2011

In This Issue

Titanic survivor Renee Harris had to pick up the pieces of her life after her husband, Henry’s death. “Broadway Dame” Part 2 by Randy Bigham and Gregg Jasper describe the aftermath and the mark Renee Harris made on Broadway as a producer and her influence as a shrewd agent and promoter. Her insightful choice of plays and expert management of her Hudson, Harris and Fulton Theatres provided stellar opportunities for actors, playwrights and other performers. Harris managed some of the most sought after leading men on the American stage as well as a number of the younger generation of actresses.

While going through some files, Ed Kamuda came across the Catholic News, written a little more than week after the Titanic sank. The relatives of the Catholics who met their fate with the Titanic had the consolation that their dear ones had the ministrations of a priest in the last few terrible moments. There were three priests on board, and, as was to be expected, they gave their services to those who needed them and then accompanied them to the throne of God.

Jim Browne contributed an interesting Titanic connection. The Pierpont brothers were uncles to John Pierpont Morgan born in Hartford, Connecticut, the financier, banker and art collector who is best known to our readers as the man who formed the International Mercantile Marine Company that included the White Star Line which, of course, meant the Titanic. James was also a songwriter…

At the beginning of the 20th century, the wonder of the age was the construction of Panama Canal, an unprecedented engineering feat. David McCulloch’s book, The Path Between the Seas description: “The building of the Panama Canal was one of the most grandiose, dramatic, and sweeping adventures of all time.” With the necessary infrastructure in place by 1912 to accommodate visitors, steamship lines hurried to add the Panama Canal to their winter cruise itinerary. White Star chose Laurentic to do the honors.

Three articles are devoted to Teutonic, the last White Star liner to win the Blue Riband. She was one of the early steamships that no longer carried auxilliary sails and was truly dazzling in splendor. It was a time of intense competition and ships boasted lavish interiors––of lounges, smoking rooms, libraries, salons, extravagant suites and dining rooms decorated in Italian Renaissance, Spanish, Louis XVI, Georgian, Queen Anne, Tudor, Moorish and a host of other styles. Teutonic.

CONTENTS

ROADWAY DAME: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MRS. HENRY B. HARRIS–Part 2
By Randy Bryan Bigham and Gregg Jasper

HEROIC PRIESTS WHO WENT DOWN WITH TITANIC
The Catholic News

TITANIC CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL UPDATE

LAURENTIC AND THE PANAMA CANAL
Compiled by Karen Kamuda

JINGLE BELLS, JAMES PIERPONT AND THE TITANIC CONNECTION
By Jim Browne

TEUTONIC, SHIP OF LUXURY
Ocean Magazine

TEUTONIC AND THE BLUE RIBAND
Harper’s Weekly

TEUTONIC IN A TEMPEST
From contemporary newspaper reports

SEA POSTE
Announcement asking for stories from members for THS’s 50th birthday; what kind of footwear did Captain Smith wear?; identifying a button in the collection Frank Goldsmith donated to the THS; the significance of the medals and ribbons worn by Otto Reuter (Amerika’s wireless operator); a rare painting of Titanic; a pair of oars from a Titanic lifeboat; finding out who received a refund for not sailing on Titanic; identifying a broadsheet on Titanic’s sailing; a buffet table from Titanic; a family story of a crewman who worked on Titanic and helped rescue passengers?

BOOK REVIEWS
On Board RMS Titanic––Memories of the Maiden Voyage by George M. Behe.
Titanic, the Edith Brown Story by David Haisman. Reviews by Tim Trower

FRONT COVER A majestic Titanic plowing through the sea is actually a painstakingly detailed model complete with life-like people walking the decks. The model was made by Pete Bransky who donated it to the Titanic Historical Society and can be seen at the Titanic Museum.
Photo: Karen Kamuda

BACK COVER“A Traveling Salesman” a 1908 lithograph advertising a comedy by James Forbes and produced by Henry B. Harris. Photo: Library of Congress