The Tragic Story of the Goldsmith Family, Titanic's Miraculous Survivors

10.01.2024 - 20:12

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic met its fateful end, colliding with an iceberg and sinking into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. Among the passengers on board were members of the Goldsmith family. Despite the tragedy, Frankie Goldsmith and her family managed to find solace by boarding a lifeboat bound for New York, embarking on a journey fraught with countless challenges. Join us as we delve into the poignant narrative of Frank John William Goldsmith and the harrowing aftermath of the Titanic disaster, a story of resilience and survival against all odds.

On April 15, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, leaving around 1500 people still on the deck during this tragic event.

This incident has been immortalized in films and books, remaining a topic of conversation for years.

Today, we will take you back to the date when the Titanic sank, introducing you to Frank John Williams Goldsmith, a survivor with a heartbreaking story.

Born on December 19, 1902, in England, Goldsmith was the eldest child in the family, having lost two siblings to diphtheria years ago. Believing there would be more job opportunities in Michigan, Goldsmith decided to move to America.

The Goldsmith family purchased a "Third Class" ticket on the Titanic.

They were not alone; they had two friends accompanying them. Young Goldsmith made friends with peers while traveling and explored the ship with them.

On the night of April 14, 1912, when the Titanic struck, Frank Goldsmith felt the metals tremble from the melting ice.

He quickly woke up his son and two friends traveling with them. The 10-year-old Frank and his mother were placed in a lifeboat. According to Goldsmith's account, 16-year-old Alfred Rush was offered a spot in the lifeboat but declined, tragically losing his life.

From the lifeboat, Goldsmith could witness the Titanic sinking slowly into the abyss.

The real ordeal began as the rescue ship Carpathia took several hours to arrive. In the icy waters of the North Atlantic, 705 people were swimming. While Anne Goldsmith and her son floated on the boat, they witnessed the Titanic's demise, an indelible moment for young Frankie.

After the arrival of the rescue ship Carpathia, it hosted 705 Titanic passengers.

Conditions were challenging due to a lack of sufficient beds; people slept on the floor with blankets. Anne Goldsmith spent her time sewing clothes for survivors and calming her child. Upon reaching New York, Frankie Goldsmith and his family made their way to Michigan with assistance.

As Frankie grew older, he wrote a book about the Titanic.

In the book, he mentioned having a baseball field near his home and likened the screams from that field to the screams of the people on the Titanic. He never set foot on that field. Frankie married at the age of 23, became a father of three, and worked as a photographer during World War II after moving to Ohio. His book was published by the Titanic Historical Society in 1991. Frankie passed away in 1982 at the age of 79, with his last wish being for his ashes to be scattered where the Titanic sank.