Emil Taussig

Emil in 1907

Emil Taussig (June 20th, 1857 - April 15th, 1912) was a First Class Passenger of the *RMS Titanic* when it sank on its Maiden Voyage on April 15, 1912.

## Biography

Mr Emil Taussig is born in Eisenbrod, Bohemia, on 20 June 1857. He was the son of Solomon Joseph Taussig (1829-1896), a manufacturer of children's clothing, and Rosie Pick. His family were Jewish. He spent his childhood in Bohemia and/or Vienna and had four siblings: Solomon Joseph II (b. 1855), Annie (b. 1859, later Mrs Sigmund Cahn), Jennie (1861-1938, later Mrs Abraham Klein), and Rory (1862-1915). His mother died at a young age and his father was remarried around 1863 to Charlotte Bundig (3) (1844-1906). From that union he gained six half-siblings: Rosa (1863-1931, later Mrs Moses Herman Mann, latterly Cohen), Olga (1868-1946, later Mrs Siegfried Lewisohn), Otto (b. 1870), Maximillian (1872-1878), Jacob (b. 1873) and Flora (b. 1875, later Mrs Emil Goodkind).

The family emigrated in 1866, leaving Hamburg aboard the Germania on 14 January that year, settling in Manhattan with his father becoming naturalised in 1875. The family appeared in Manhattan on the 1880 census and Emil, then aged 23, was described as a store clerk. He later became President of the West Disinfecting Company in Buffalo, New York. Emil's 1912 passport describes him as standing at 5' 7½", with brown hair, a fair complexion and an oval face. He was married on 18 January 1883 to Ruth Mandelbaum (b. 1862), the daughter of a New York tobacco merchant. Their only child, a daughter named Mary, was born towards the end of 1883.

The family appear on the 1900 census as residents of 1335 Madison Avenue, Manhattan and Emil was described as a disinfectant manufacturer. In 1903, Mary had wed to John Davis Weller, and in 1904, they had two children - Tillie and Millie. By the 1910 census, Emil was still one of the residents of Madison Avenue, later living at 777 West End Avenue by 1912. Emil and his family later went on Vacation to Vienna together.

## Titanic

Following the visit to Vienna, the family needed to get back home, so Emil, his wife, daughter and granddaughters boarded the Titanic at Southampton as first class passengers (joint ticket number 110413 which cost £79, 13s). Emil and Tillie occupied cabin E-67, while across the hall was Mary, Ruth and Millie. Their cabin was a switchable cabin which could be second or first class depending on the amount of passengers on board during the voyage. Throughout most of the voyage, his daughter and granddaughters explored the ship; often using the Turkish Bath or Tillie and Millie playing in the boiler rooms.

On the night of the sinking the Taussigs were reportedly alerted to the danger by German steward Alfred Theissinger, he telling them "You better put on your lifebelts and rush out on deck." "Is it as serious as all that?" asked Mr Taussig. "Yes, hurry" was Theissinger's reply. Mr Taussig escorted his family to a lifeboat (number 8) before standing back, despite the pleas from Millie and Tillie to have him join them. Emil then stood next to fellow jew Isidor Strauss.

According to Archibald Gracie IV, at about half past one, as he went to the Smoking Room, he saw Emil sitting alone and unresponsive in a chair, with his hands cupped in his lap, and he stared into space. Nearby, a man was reading a book and a gang of cards players had their final hand. By now, it the bow of the ship was beginning to become flooded with the rapidly rising water. Mr. Gracie asked if Taussig was going to "go for it?", and Taussig did not even look at him, seeming remorseful, contemplative, catatonic and unresponsive.

By 1:50AM, Emil Taussig had recovered from this state and was seen on the Boat Deck standing on the forward bulwark by the Bridge as Collapsible D was being loaded up with women and children. He was reportedly seen ushering reluctant women into the boat, one of them having been wrapped in a blanket by him, as he said "You won't want to catch your death of cold, ma'am, so best keep warm.". He then stepped back and the boat lowered without him, seeming completely distraught at the fact that some women were still aboard after this. He remained on the port side of the ship standing near the empty lifeboat davits, looking off onto the horizon of the ocean where the 8 starboard boats were lowered off. According to some accounts, shortly before that he had had a smoke with Jacquez Futrelle, Major Butt, and John Jacob Astor IV, before seperating off from them. All around him, the panicked crew tried to pull the last lifeboat off of the roof, the water began to rapidly slosh onto the deck at a fast pace, the lights were glowing a hellish red, the angle of the ship climbed higher, and the screams grew louder. As the water began to rush onto the deck, Mr. Taussig frantically tied his lifejacket, took off his coat and hat, and jumped off of the ship near where Lifeboat 6 was launched. According to some accounts, he tried to help women in the water onto deck chairs. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

## Legacy

The West Disinfecting Company later issued a notice that Mr. Taussig, their president, died.