R.M.S. TITANIC: An important archive sold via direct descent...

Hammer

£11,000

R.M.S. TITANIC: An important archive sold via direct descent relating to Second-Class passenger Marion Wright, a 26 year old who was travelling from Yeovil, Somerset to Oregon. The archive consists of a superlative handwritten letter over five pages that gives a graphic account of the sinking of the Titanic, together with a group of letters written shortly after the Titanic disaster to Marion's parents by relatives and friends, including one from her father Thomas to her mother. These give a unique snapshot into the mindset of parents of a passenger on the ship. The letter from her father dated 17th April starts "I have for the last two days been in a sort of listless bewildered coma". The highlight of the archive is written in black ink and transcribed in part:
"Copy
About 600 miles from New York
SS Carpathia - Cunard Line
April 16th 1912
Dearest Dad and all I love,
How can I express in a letter the time I have had since I've said goodbye but thank God I am saved and alive to write a few lines. We all had such a happy Sunday together service by the purser in the morning, I sang 2 songs There is a Green Hill and Nearer my God to Thee. In the evening I sang them again to a great number of passengers who had assembled in the drawing salon for hymns and a few words that were spoken by the only Church of England clergyman on board Rev. Carter, Rector of St Jude's Whitechapel who was with his wife. We all had supper together and sat talking with my chum of the boat Miss Kate Buss who is going on to California to be married. I didn't go to my berth until after 11:00 PM".
"It was terrible I don't think I will ever forget it I'd been in bed about 10 minutes when I heard a horrific crash which shook the whole vessel and the engine stopped dead I put on my dressing gown and a thick coat, I met my friend going on deck to find a reason for the crash. I was met on deck by a gentleman to whom I had often seen he said an iceberg has struck us but there is no danger, it was so cold I had been in the aft just freezing. One or two people had remarked we are in the region of icebergs this one they said was towering right above the vessel I didn't stay up many minutes, we went down again to get more clothing as I didn't feel I could possibly go to bed. At least the engines were going I brought my rug and clothes to E Deck where we met a steward who said all put on life belts, I put mine on saddled the petticoat to my dress, a dressing gown, long coat and woollen coat with my hat. There with my rug, gold chain, bracelet, 2 silver bangles, engagement ring and another small ring all that is saved but I am saved and for that I'm thankful. The Titanic struck the iceberg about 11:45 by 12:15 we were in a boat load including myself and several more people to whom I had spoken to, I mention a Scotch lady and a little girl who are going to Portland OR who have been so kind to me they're being met by her brother in New York who says he will look after me and see me married that should be when I see Arthur. I can't express my mind is so much in a muddle I thank God for being preserved so mercifully my heart goes out to all who were drowned Alfred Paine, Mr Whitby's nephew, Yeovil people who put me in a lifeboat he was such a nice man and I fear. I don't think we quite knew what was coming when we got into the boat we were on board for about 12:00 o'clock till 6:30 AM it didn't seem so long the dawn came very quickly and oh I was glad when we saw the Cunard boat it seemed almost too good to be true. Everybody has been so kind all the passengers have been giving us clothes and officers and crew have given us all attention for which we are truly thankful. The Titanic must have had her bottom taken away from first class to the steerage for she went down gradually bit by bit it was awful to watch her. We saw the crowds of people when she broke in two which she did a few minutes before she sank going down with a huge explosion over the cries of the people left on board. It was heart rending I didn't know how far we were from the Titanic as she sank, but we kept on asking the men to row further away and they did when she went down they pulled so hard that after seeing lots of boats around they drifted and rested the stars were glorious. It was bitterly cold and the icebergs were all around we had been watching we saw the boat as the men rowed as hard as they could we should have cither sic. at 3:30 and got there in 2 hours there were 35 of us in the boat and only six men who could pull or man an oar I longed to take one but it was so crowded the life belts were God sent to us. April the 18th I'm afraid this letter is very dirty but you'll forgive me but I have to carry everything and everything in my long coat pocket a gentleman is given me". The letter continues for a further page and a half.
NB. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich holds an extensive archive relating to Miss Wright.