Home » Uncategorized » Frank Goldsmith, a Survivor of the RMS Titanic, Ended Up Living Near a Baseball Stadium in Detroit. He Hated Game Days Because the Sound of the Cheering Crowd Reminded Him of the Screaming People During the Tragedy.
Frank Goldsmith

Frank Goldsmith, a Survivor of the RMS Titanic, Ended Up Living Near a Baseball Stadium in Detroit. He Hated Game Days Because the Sound of the Cheering Crowd Reminded Him of the Screaming People During the Tragedy.

The RMS Titanic sank with only 706 survivors, 492 passengers, and 214 crew members. The tragedy occurred early on April 15, 1912, and killed most passengers. But did you know how the tragedy affected Frank Goldsmith?

Frank Goldsmith, an RMS Titanic survivor, ended up living near a baseball stadium in Detroit. He despised game days because the sound of the cheering crowd reminded him of the screaming passengers on the sinking ship.

Who is Frank Goldsmith?

Frank John William Goldsmith survived the Titanic’s sinking. Later, he wrote a book about his experiences on the ship. His story was featured in the documentary Titanic: The Legend Lives On and two children’s books about the disaster, Inside the Titanic and Echoes in the Night.

Frank was the eldest child of Frank Sr. and Emily Alice Goldsmith and was born in Strood, Kent. Frank Sr. was originally from Tonbridge. His parents married between October and December 1901, and Frank was born the following December. In early 1905, he was joined by his younger brother, Albert John Bertie Goldsmith. He died of diphtheria in late 1911.  (Source: Titanic Fandom

Boarding the Titanic

Frank and his parents boarded the Titanic in third class from Southampton on their way to Detroit, Michigan. Frank Sr., a tool maker, was carrying his tool bag, which was stored in the ship’s cargo hold. They were accompanied by Frank Sr.’s friend, Thomas Theobald and Alfred Rush, the son of a family friend.

When the ship hit the iceberg, Frank Sr. roused Emily and Frank, and they made their way to the forward end of the Boat Deck, where Collapsible C was being loaded. A ring of seamen stood around it, allowing only women and children to pass through.

Mother and I then were permitted through the gateway, and the crew member in charge reached out to grasp the arm of Alfred Rush to pull him through because he must have felt that the young lad was not much older than me, and he was not very tall for his age, but Alfred had not been stalling. He jerked his arm out of the sailor’s hand and with his head held high, said, and I quote, ‘No! I’m staying here with the men.’ At age 16, he died a hero.

Frank Goldsmith, Titanic Survivor

Thomas gave Emily his wedding ring, asking her to give it to his wife if he died.

My dad reached down and patted me on the shoulder and said, ‘So long, Frankie, I’ll see you later.’ He didn’t and he may have known he wouldn’t.

Frank Goldsmith, Titanic Survivor

Frank Sr., Thomas, and Alfred were all lost at sea. Only Thomas’ body was found out of the three.

The RMS Carpathia rescued Frank and Emily in Collapsible C. As the Carpathia headed to New York City, Emily entrusted Frank to the care of one of the Titanic’s surviving firemen, John Collins, asking him if he would look after Frank to take his mind off the sinking.

While Emily was busy sewing clothing from blankets for women and children who had left the ship wearing only their nightgowns, Frank accompanied John down to see the Carpathia’s stokers, who offered to make Frank an honorary seaman by having him drink a mixture of water, vinegar, and a whole raw egg. He proudly swallowed it in one go and considered himself a member of the ship’s crew from then on. (Source: Titanic Fandom

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