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THBCaptain Arthur H. Rostron of RMS Carpathia Fame, Collection of Signed Photographs, Letters, and More
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJun 10, 2016 - Jun 11, 2016
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (351)
- Lot Description
Captain Arthur H. Rostron of RMS Carpathia Fame, Collection of Signed Photographs, Letters, and More
Lot of 29 items signed by or related to Cunard Line Captain Arthur H. Rostron (1869-1940), best remembered as the captain of the RMS Carpathia when it rescued the survivors of the Titanic, including:
3 ALsS from A.H. Rostron to Louis Ogden in 1926, written on RMS Mauretania, RMS Berengaria, and Park Avenue Moor Lane stationery. In each letter, Rostron addresses Ogden as "brother" and speaks about his recent voyages and his family.
Signed photographs include: Hand-colored portrait of Rostron, 7 x 5 in. (sight), framed, signed With love to Wm. Thoms. Louis Ogden, 25-4-28.
Signed photograph of the captain posing aboard a ship, printed by Halls Studio, Times Square, NY, 5 x 8 in.
Signed photograph, 10.5 x 13.5 in. (sight), framed, 13 x 16 in., same photograph as above signed To my shipmates J.W. and Mrs. Louis M. Ogden in Titanic Rescue April 15, 1912.
Signed photograph of Rostron standing in uniform with his medals, 6.25 x 9.25 in. (sight), framed, 8 x 11 in. Signed, with affectionate regards, Captain R.N.R. 1925.
Signed photograph of Rostron, 7.25 x 9.25 in. (sight), framed, 9.25 x 11.25 in. Signed with very best wishes, RMS Mauretania, May 1921.
Signed photograph, 6 x 8 in., on 10 x 14 in. mount, taken by S.A. Chandler & Co. Exeter and Southhampton. Signed, A.H. Rostron 1929.
Additional items include typed copy of chapter entitled "America and England" from Rostron's autobiography Home from the Sea, signed by Rostron; approx. 17 original pencil sketches of Captain Rostron, 9 x 11.5 in. identified to the RMS Bernegaria; framed modern copy of a a decorated document honoring A.H. Rostron. 6.75 x 9.75 in. (sight), framed, 8 x 11 in; and 12 x 3 in. wood sign labeled Commodore in gold lettering.
RMS Carpathia Passengers Augusta and Louis M. Ogden,
Exceptional Collection of Photographs, Medals, Correspondence and More Related to the Titanic Rescue
Lots 229-234
Louis M. Ogden (1867-1946) was a member of the Tuxedo Park, NY elite. According to family lore he was one of Griswold Lorillard’s rebellious young friends who wore Lorillard’s father’s scandalous, modified “tailless” black jackets (the tuxedo) to The Tuxedo Club’s first annual Autumn Ball. Ogden was a Columbia graduate and lawyer. Later, he became Vice President and Director of the Ogden Lumber Co. and Director of the East River Mill & Lumber Co.
Like many enormously wealthy men, he traveled the world to exhilarating and exotic locations. In 1901, he and his wife Augusta visited Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Uruguay and the Argentine Republic. He then went on an expedition along the eastern slope of the Andes into Bolivia, travelling 500 miles by mule. He spent considerable time among the Indians, such as the Matacos, Chiriquanos, and Tobas, on the western edge of the "Gran Chaco." In 1904, Ogden made two visits to Cuba.
In 1911, Ogden bought a new camera for his next world tour through Algiers, the Sahara, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Greece, and Austria. In the middle of his excursion, a surprising and unplanned event occurred—a rescue!
On a clear, April morning in 1912, aboard the RMS Carpathia, Ogden rushed to his quarters to retrieve his new camera. On the horizon, several lifeboats appeared carrying Titanic survivors. Ogden photographed the oncoming emergency boats No. 1, 6, and 14, and listed the names of several lifeboat passengers in his photograph album (Lot 229), which included: The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Quartermaster Robert Hichens, and 5th Officer Harold Lowe. As the Carpathia traveled to the site of the wreck, Ogden expected to see scores of bodies; however, only a sea of cork pieces, an overturned lifeboat, and a few chairs remained. He photographed the desolate scene with the icebergs floating ominously in the distance. He also captured a scene involving Hoisting Titanic boats on board, as well as at least 2 views of the SS Californian in the distance, which was a British Leyland Line steamship best known for its inaction during the sinking of the Titanic despite being the closest ship in the area.
Curious about the sea of cork and lack of remains at the site of the Titanic disaster, Ogden grabbed a few pieces of floating debris and “cut up” some of the Titanic life belts, which contained “a poor quality cork” (April 20, 1912) (Lot 230). In reference to the life belts he saw, Ogden wrote to another passenger, Dr. Frank Blackmarr:
“The bodies that were picked up a week later were found floating with belts properly adjusted. In these circumstances is it not fair to assume that the belts were constructed with improper materials which, becoming water- logged, allowed the bearers to sink only to arise later owing to natural causes?” (Paris Herald, August 11, 1912).
Roughly 1,526 people died but various ships recovered only several hundred bodies. Contrary to Blackmarr and Ogden’s claims, several seamen aboard the lifeboats reported that there were scores of bodies surrounding them before their rescue. Seaman Frank O. Evans testified during the British Inquiry, “I was afraid to look over the sides because it might break my nerves down.” Seaman Joseph Scarrot said, “There were more bodies than there was wreckage . . . We made sail and sailed back to take our other boats in tow that could not manage themselves at all. We made sail then, but just as we were getting clear of the wreckage we sighted the ‘Carpathia's’ lights” (http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-where-were-the-bodies.html). Scholars say most of the people who died were probably in life jackets and a storm scattered the bobbing corpses, sweeping them far to sea in a line 50 miles long. By daylight, the storm cleared and most of the bodies might have disappeared, which could explain why Blackmarr and Ogden saw so few human remains.
Provenance: Descended Directly in the Family of RMS Carpathia Passengers Augusta and Louis M. OgdenCondition
Most images are in good condition, a few have damage to the bottom margin.
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