RMS TITANIC: A superlative letter written on Titanic station...

Hammer

£34,000

RMS TITANIC: A superlative letter written on Titanic stationery, dated 11th April 1912, by one of the true heroes of the Titanic Pastor John Harper. At the time of the Titanic disaster, Harper was 39, a widower with a six-year-old daughter, Annie Jessie (Nana), and pastor of Walworth Road Baptist Church in London. He was travelling with his daughter and sister Jessie W. Leitch to Chicago to preach for several weeks at the Moody Church, where he had been guest minister the previous Autumn, when the ship hit an iceberg on the night of 14th April 1912, and was lost. His daughter and sister were put on a lifeboat and survived, but Harper gave stayed on board and gave his lifejacket to a fellow passenger. Contemporary accounts state that Harper preached the Gospel to the end (especially Acts 16:31), first aboard the sinking ship and then afterward to those in the freezing water before succumbing to the inevitable.
The letter itself reads:
My Dear Brother Young. I am penning you this line just before we get to Queenstown to assure you that I have not forgotten you and especially all your kindness while we were north. I intended sending on Mrs Pratt's train fares just before I left but in the rush which was exceptional having had 11 or 12 services for the week-end I was unable to get it done. I will send it on from Chicago. We had a great season of blessing during the last few days in Walworth. I don't know how I am to thank dear Aunty Mary and yourself for all your kindness. The Lord will repay you for it all. Trust things are going well at Paisley Road. The warriors are with me here and are doing well so far on the journey. Very kindest love, your loving auld Pastor John Harper.