Titanic survivor’s account fetches $32K in British auction
October 17th, 2010 - 2:42 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Oct 17 (ANI): A Titanic survivor’s first hand description of the sinking of the ocean liner has fetched 32000 dollars in a British auction.
The affidavit signed by Laura Mabel Francatelli, who got away in a lifeboat, easily topped its pre-sale estimate of 24,000 and was bought by an anonymous collector from Eastern Europe.
In Francatelli’s affidavit, she spoke of hearing an ‘awful rumbling’ as the Titanic sunk in the icy North Atlantic.
The most expensive item in Saturday’s sale was a poster of the Titanic, which went for 96,000 dollars to an anonymous U.S. collector.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge of Henry Aldridge & Son says it is the highest price ever paid for a poster of the doomed ship.
Francatelli was a maid to Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff-Gordon and her account tells of how she and her mistress refused to board a lifeboat unless Sir Cosmo joined them, which he at first refused until an officer insisted.
“We were dropped into this boat and lowered into the sea. Just as they were lowering the boat two American gentlemen came along the deck and got in also. The Officers gave orders to us to row away from ship. There were seven sailors in the boat Lady Duff Gordon myself Sir Cosmo and the two American gentlemen. Twelve in all,” CBS News quoted Laura as saying.
“We were a long way off when we saw the Titanic go right up at the back and plunge down. There was an awful rumbling when she went. Then came the screams and cries. I do not know how long they lasted,” she continued.Following their rescue, stories circulated that Sir Duff-Gordon had bribed crewmembers to get a boat for himself, his wife and employee.
Though cleared by an official inquiry, his reputation suffered before he died in 1931. (ANI)
- First hand account of sinking of Titanic finally published - Oct 02, 2010
- Titanic design drawing sells for 220,000 pounds - May 29, 2011
- Titanic hero's letter to be auctioned - Apr 08, 2012
- Titanic still connects its descendants: British writer - Apr 13, 2012
- Letter from Titanic passenger sells for 55,000 pounds - Apr 18, 2010
- Haynes produce manual for 'Titanic' - nearly 100 yrs after it sank - Mar 27, 2011
- Expert rules out Titanic scale disaster - Apr 05, 2012
- Sinking Titanic sketch found 97 years on - Apr 09, 2009
- Japan to make lifeboat for tsunami - Feb 23, 2012
- Titanic hero's sacrifice surfaces 97 years after tragedy - Mar 26, 2009
- Men dump chivalry to flee sinking ships - Apr 15, 2012
- Controversial JFK ambulance sold for $120K at auction - Jan 24, 2011
- Titanic cabin key sold for $88,000 at auction in Britain - Apr 20, 2009
- McCartney's piano sold for $240,000 - Apr 17, 2011
- Coal piece from Titanic auctioned - Jan 29, 2012
Tags: affidavit, andrew aldridge, anonymous collector, auctioneer, cbs news, eastern europe, gentlemen, hand description, henry aldridge, lady duff gordon, laura mabel francatelli, lifeboat, mistress, ocean liner, official inquiry, plunge, screams, seven sailors, sir cosmo, titanic survivor