Lifeboat 8

**Boat 8** was a lifeboat loaded under the supervision of Second Officer Lightoller and launched at about 1:00 am, with Captain Smith and Chief Officer Wilde also participating.

Ida Straus was asked to join a group of people preparing to board but refused, saying: "I will not be separated from my husband Isidor Straus. As we have lived, so will we die – together." The 67-year-old Isidor likewise refused an offer to board on account of his age, saying: "I do not wish any distinction in my favour which is not granted to others." Both Isidor and Ida were last seen on deck sitting in deck chairs holding hands when a huge wave washed them into the sea. Major Archibald Butt, a military aide and friend of US President William Howard Taft, brought Marie Young, who had been a governess to the children of President Theodore Roosevelt, to the boat. She later recalled that he "wrapped blankets about me and tucked me in as carefully as if we were going on a motor ride." He wished her farewell and good luck, and asked her, "don't forget to remember me to the folks back home." Other single women were brought to the boats by men who had earlier offered their services to "unprotected ladies", as the conventions of the time dictated. Ruth Taussig and her two 9 year old daughters (dressed in only pajamas) attempted to stay on the ship. Eventually, Tillie and Millie were pushed, falling into the lifeboat. They landed on their backs, and their slippers fell through the hole between the side of the ship and the lifeboat. The lifeboat was filled quickly and Tillie and Millie were squashed in the bottom of the boat. Ruth stepped in at the last moment.

After *Titanic* sank, Jones suggested going back to save some of those in the water. Only three of the passengers agreed (including Millie Taussig); the rest protested that they would be at risk of the boat being capsized by desperate swimmers. Jones had no choice but to acquiesce, but told the complaining passengers: "Ladies, if any of us are saved, remember *I* wanted to go back. I would rather drown with them than leave them." The passengers' conduct during the subsequent hours presented some striking contrasts.

The Countess of Rothes – who had been one of the few passengers to support going back to mount a rescue attempt – took charge of the tiller, putting the women to work on the oars. Her conduct was later complimented by Jones, who called her "more of a man than any we had aboard" and gave her the lifeboat's numeral 8, in a frame, as a keepsake. In contrast, Ella White was so annoyed that the stewards aboard were smoking that she complained about it to the subsequent US Senate inquiry into the disaster; she was particularly indignant that one of the ship's crewmen had told her, "If you don't stop talking through that hole in your face there will be one less in the boat!"

Throughout the night, Millie and Tillie Taussig were as cold as ice and sat freezing in the bottom of the boat, which was partially flooded. They only had their pajamas to wear. The occupants of Boat 8 spent the night rowing towards what they thought were the lights of a ship on the horizon, but turned round at daybreak when the *Carpathia* arrived on the scene from the opposite direction. They had travelled further from the scene than any of the other lifeboats and had a long row back; it was not until 7:30 am that they were picked up. Millie and Tillie Taussig were so cold by that point that the water on their body had frozen, and they were heated in Carpathia's pool.

## Occupants

* Thomas Jones (in charge) *Able Seaman*
* John Edward Hart, *Third Class Saloon Steward*
* Miss A. Bazzani *maid of Emma Bucknell*
* Ms A. Bessetti *maid of Ella White*
* Ellen Bird, *maid of Ida Straus*
* Miss Caroline Bonnell\* *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Lily Bonnell\* *First Class Passenger*
* Emma Eliza Bucknell, *Philadelphia heiress*
* Gladys Cherry, *cousin of the Countess of Rothes*
* Sarah Rebecca Daniels, *maid of Mr. and Mrs. Allison*
* Mrs. Edith Graham *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Margaret E. Graham *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Marion Kenyon *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs (Dr.) Alice Farnam Leader *First Class Passenger*
* Roberta Elizabeth Mary Maioni *maid of the Countess of Rothes*
* Fermina Oliva Y Ocaña *maid* *of Josefa Penasco*
* Mrs. Edith Pears *First Class Passenger*
* Josefa Peñasco de Satode *First Class Passenger*
* Lucy Noël Martha, Countess of Rothes, *who took charge of the lifeboat's tiller*
* Miss E.W. Shutes *maid of Margaret Graham*
* Margaret Welles Swift *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Tillie Taussig *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Ruth Taussig *First Class Passenger*
* Ella White *First Class Passenger*
* Mrs. Mary Wick *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Mary N. Wick *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Marie Young *First Class Passenger*
* Miss Maid Young *First Class Passenger*

\*= not certain