An account of the Titanic from third class survivor Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker

Charlotte Zureick
Nov 29, 2024
5 min read

Bridgeport, Connecticut

1912 postcard showing Main Street in downtown Bridgeport. By Unknown author, image credit Wikicommons

“Mrs. Dyker Tells of Heroism of Wives: Many Were Forced Into Lifeboats Who Begged Desperately To Remain With Their Husbands, Her Own Hero, Adolph Dyker, Well Known to Many in Bridgeport, Lifted Her Bodily Into Boat–She Describes Suspense of Half Clothed Women Afloat in Tiny Craft–Mrs. Astor in Hysteria on Carpathia–Mrs. Dyker Now at Home in West Haven.”

The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer

April 20, 1912

“The story of the death of Adolph Dyker, who perished on the Titanic, is told by his wife, Elizabeth, a survivor, who is now at her home, 187 Centre Street, West Haven. Dyker was a conductor on the trolley line running between this city and New Haven, and was well known to many Bridgeporters. Mrs. Dyker reached her home at 11:15, yesterday morning, accompanied by Dr. A. P. Bergman, who met her at the Carpathian Pier. She had borne up bravely, but succumbed to hysteria as soon as she was greeted by the brothers, A.C. and F.C. Anderson.

“Mrs. Dyker was lifted bodily into the lifeboat by her husband, although she struggled to remain with him. Mrs. Dyker’s account of the scenes on the Carpathia, after rescue, differs somewhat from that of the scenes on the Carpathia, after the rescue, differs somewhat from that of other survivors with respect to Mrs. Astor. She says that Mrs. Astor was seized with violent hysteria and had to be locked in a cabin when she first arrived on the Carpathia.

“Mrs. Dyker’s narrative is as follows:

“‘It was not until 6 o’clock in the morning that the last lifeboat had been emptied of its human freight and taken aboard the Carpathia.

“‘I heard the revolver shots as the lifeboat she was on was being pulled away from the wreck. It is believed that in this manner Capt. Smith and other head officers of the Titanic ended their lives.

“‘All during the evening before the sinking of the Titanic, my husband and I had been about the boat enjoying ourselves. We were both fully dressed except that I wore no hat. At midnight we went into the main saloon. Fifteen minutes later the shock came.

“‘We both rushed with the others out on the deck. There was no confusion or shouting and everything was orderly. I do not believe that any of the passengers were aware that there was any danger and the rumor went about that the boat had lost a propeller.

“‘Half a minute after the shock came the engines stopped. Then the sailors commenced getting the lifeboats in order and the passengers knew that they would have to leave the boat. When my husband and I got to the upper deck the women were being stowed away in the lifeboats.

“‘Many of them did not want to leave their husbands and the men were forced to carry them aboard.

“‘I left on the last boat, I did not want to leave my husband and struggled with him when he attempted to put me on board the last boat, but he lifted me off my feet and shoved me into the boat.

“‘The ship was then in complete darkness. Our boat was jammed full of women and there were several sailors to take of it.

“‘The minute we hit the water the sailors pulled away from the Titanic, but we had gone but about a hundred feet when the ship lurched. It seemed that it rose and sank for an instant to the heave and lunge of the sea and then it dove in the water with all on board. The sailors on our boat pulled with all their might and it took the entire strength to keep us from the swirl of the waters as they closed over the ship.

“‘For five or six hours we floated about. Many times the sailors on our boats would see what they took to be a ship, but after shouting and pulling up to it like mad, would discover it o be an iceberg or an immense piece of ice. It was terrible cold.

“‘Most of the women were clothed in evening dress; many of them had on nightgowns with but a shawl or cloak thrown over their shoulders. Some of us were fully clothed except for an outer wrap.

“‘All during the five or six hours we floated about the waters the women took their sufferings in silence. Though brought with anguish over the loss of their husbands and other relatives they sobbed in silence. Many become hysterical later when the Carpathia hove in sight.

“‘The last I saw of my husband was when we were being lowered into the sea. He waved at me from the deck and when I saw the Titanic sink I knew that he had gone down with the ship and with the rest of the brave men who stood aside and even forced the women and children to go ahead of them to safety.

“‘It must have been nearly 6 o’clock when we were taken aboard the Carpathia. The decks there were already filled with survivors and the passengers and officers of the Carpathia were working heroically caring for them.

“‘Shortly after I had secured dry garments and food on the Carpathia I went around to see the other women who had been saved.

“‘One of them was crying and waving her hands in hysterics and I went over to her to take care of her. I learned that she was Mrs. John Jacob Astor.

“‘For half an hour I tried to soothe and comfort her but finally she became violently mad and the officials of the boat were forced to lock her in a stateroom.

“‘The scenes aboard the Carpathia from the time we were taken aboard until we were docked in New York last night are beyond description. It seemed as though everyone saved had lost a wife or husband or some other relative.

“‘Many of the women were in hysterics. The ship hospital was filled to overflowing, the boat’s physician worked hour after hour.

“‘Passengers on the Carpathia gave up their staterooms and berths and rendered aid to the unfortunates and the women who took matters more calmly worked hard soothing the more nervous women who would go into hysterics every once in a while as something or other would bring back to their memories the terrible scenes they had witnessed with the sinking of the ship and the loss of their children and husband.’

“Mrs. Dyker is still in a very nervous condition and is at times hysterical. Dr. Bergmann ordered her to bed shortly after her arrival. He said that aside from her nervousness and a very bad cold, she has stood the terrible experiences wonderfully and that no fears are felt for her full recovery in the course of a few days.

“Since 1 o’clock in the morning when Chief of Police Loomis notified them that Mrs. Dyker was safe aboard the Carpathia, the Andesron household had kept anxious vigil awaiting her return. All morning Mr. Anderson, the father, Wm. Anderson, the son and a daughter-in-law sat in teh sitting room of their home where they could command a view of the road running in front of their house, awaiting the sounds of the horses’ hoofs which would signal the return of Mrs. Dyker.

An account of the Titanic from third class survivor Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker

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