Selma Asplund

Selma Augusta Emilia Asplund was a passenger on *Titanic*.

## Early life

Selma Augusta Emillia Johansson was born to Otto Johansson and Johanna Larsdotter on October 10, 1873  in Alseda, Småland, Sweden. Selma emigrated to the United States and met Carl Oscar Vilhelm Gustafsson Asplund in Missouri.

Selma and Carl became a set, and several children were born: Filip Oscar was born on December 12, 1898, Clarence Gustaf Hugo on September 17, 1902, and on 21 oktober 1906 Lillian Gertrud Asplund was born, as well as her twin brother Carl Edgar.

Slema and Carl lived at 5 or 6 Rodney Street in Worcester, Massachusetts in the US and married there on 9 May 1906. Carl worked at Spencer Wire Works. When Carl's father died in 1907, they returned to Sweden in 1909 to arrange the estate and take care of his mother, and they intended to stay.

A new son, Edvin Rojj Felix, was born in Sweden after the family moved had moved back the same year, on 19 March 1909**.**

Eldest son Filip did not enjoy his new homeland and wanted to return. Although Selma wished to stay in Sweden, Carl felt that it would be better if their children were educated in America.

Carl contacted the relatives in Worcester (one sister of Carl and three sisters of Selma were living with their families in Worcester at this time) and was to be reinstated at Spencer Wire Works upon his return.

Carl eventually sold the farm to make it financially possible for all of them to travel. The family would thus emigrate for the second time.

## *Titanic*

It would be with the *Titanic* that they planned to make the crossing*.* Selma was 38 years old at the time when they left the Southampton harbor on this new liner to go on the sea voyage. Carl, Selma and their children Filip, Clarence, Lillian, Carl Edgar and Felix traveled in Third Class. Their destination was 151 Vernon St., Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Asplund family's cabin was in one of the aft compartments of the ship. Carl was irritated by the partying in the Third Class General Room, where alcohol was served. He said to Selma: "...it is a terrible life that is led here on board. Since we left England they have done nothing but drink and dance and play cards. If this goes well, it is remarkable, and shall we come in land after this trip, I think it will probably be the last time we travel across the Atlantic."

The night between April 14th and 15th was confusing for the Asplund family. Selma woke up at the impact, from a "violent shaking". She woke her husband, who quickly dressed and ran up on deck to find out what was going on. He soon returned.

She later said that "An hour before the *Titanic* sank, its crew yanked the life belts off the passengers, saying, "There is no danger here; the boat will leave again in a few minutes.'" Although she misjudged the time, it shows how it was for them. At first they were woken up and told to put on their life belts, but shortly afterwards information came that there was no danger at all and that they could safely go back to bed.

Regardless, Carl thought it was better to wake the children anyway. While Selma got them out of the beds and dressed them as quickly as possible, he looked for the lifebelts. Selma noticed that it was getting crowded in the corridor outside and she could hear worried voices. Carl could only find four life belts because it was a four-berth cabin. Selma said: They had to borrow a life belt from one of the crewmen.

Up on deck, the seriousness of the situation began to become increasingly clear. Selma thought they would die together, but suddenly Lillian was snatched away from me and thrown into a boat. Next up was Felix who was also snatched from her arms and thrown into the boat. It was her husband and he pushed Selma towards the boat as well, saying she can't leave the children alone.

Selma did not want to leave her husband. She asked him to come with her, but he explained that he was not allowed to enter the boat. The children were crying and one of the helmsmen took her by the arm and pulled her with him towards the boat, and before she knew it she had been hauled down. Looking up at the ship, she just happened to see Carl take the three remaining sons and set off to try to find a place in another boat.

Moments later, a man landed partially on top of her; the boat had begun to lower and he had thrown himself into it.

Selma, Lillian and Felix were the only ones who made it out of the peril. They were rescued in lifeboat 10. Early in the morning a rescue ship arrived, named *Carpathia, who* had come to their aid after *Titanic*'s wireless operaters released distress calls, and picked up their lifeboat, and transported the *Titanic* survivors to New York.

## After the disaster

After disembarking from the *Carpathia* , they were taken to St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City before beginning the journey home to Worcester.

On the evening of April 20, two days later, the Selma arrived at Worcester. She was naturally overwhelmed with grief. One of those who met her and the children at the train was pastor John Ekström. He tried to comfort her. "'Then we thank God, that at least you are here alive.' With an inconsolable loss in voice, Mrs. Asplund pressed forward in response to this: 'I don't think I can thank God for that.' The bystanders, who were fluent in the Swedish language, sensed the continuation: '- I would probably rather be where the others are.'"

The Asplunds settled at the intended address with a sister and her husband.

Carl had all of the family's important papers and the travel coffers (including the profits from the sale of the farm) on him, but although his body was found, neither the money nor the documents were found. Selma thought it strange that he had all seven tickets on him, but not the money. In addition to papers and money, they also had three large suitcases packed with, among other things, silverware from home in Sweden. On March 8, 1913, Selma received SEK 2,699:52 (£148) from the charity fund. The White Star Line did not pay any compensation.

In Worcester, it was known that she had lost almost everything in the disaster and the city started a big fundraiser, including a charity concert on May 5, the surplus of which went to the fundraiser. In the end, they had collected about 2,000 dollars. The money in this fund was invested and the interest of $40 could be withdrawn by Selma every month, which was written about on July 10 in the Skandinaviska newspaper in Worcester. The city's mayor, David F. O'Connell, was one of the trustees of the fund.

## Later life

In her older days, Selma was taken care of by Lillian and Felix, who never married.

She passed away on 15 April 1964, aged 90, her death cause being intestinal problems. During her lifetime, she never wanted to talk about the disaster.

Her daughter Lilian would be one of the last remaining *Titanic* survivors.